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ESports Betting Guides

Best eSports Betting Sites for UK Players

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You may know a lot about betting, but if you don’t know how eSports work, you might not be all that successful. If you know a lot about eSports, but you don’t understand betting, types of bets, how to read the odds, etc. you will face problems.

The aim of our guides are to equip you with all of the useful information you need to enable you to expand your knowledge and become better at betting on eSports. The guide is suitable both for novices, as well as punters who already have some experience in this field.

WHAT IS COUNTER-STRIKE: GLOBAL OFFENSIVE?

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, or CS:GO, is a multiplayer, first-person shooter game that was released in 2014. It’s played by two teams who compete to eliminate each other, while also achieving various objectives. One team are the terrorists, the other, the counter-strike unit.

Within the game, there are numerous maps to traverse as well as various obstacles to make the game more interesting. To win, one team needs to wipe out their opposition, preventing them from placing bombs (in the case of the terrorists), or from killing the entire team.

STARTING CS:GO BETTING

CS:GO is one of the top eSports games in the industry. As such, bookmakers are all rushing to offer betting options to players in order to get a piece of the action. There are now a plethora of different sites available on which to place your CS:GO bets.

When choosing where to bet, it is important to also check out the security and licensing for the bookie site. You will also need to take a look at the bonuses and promotions offered for eSports bets as these can help you to get ahead.

KNOWING THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS

CS:GO has a large number of different betting markets because there are several different factors in place throughout the game. Each map requires different skill sets to achieve success. Overall success will also depend on the team’s ability to play as the terrorist or as the counter-strike team.

TOP CS:GO TOURNAMENTS

  • ESL ESEA Pro League
  • Counter Pit League
  • CEVO Professional
  • ELEAGUE Major
  • Esports Championship Series

TOP CS:GO TEAMS

Unlike other eSports, Swedish players and teams seem to dominate in CS:GO. However, there are a number of top teams from around the world that offer high quality competition. FaZe Clan is one of the top groups and is made up of players from all over Europe.

The Danish team, Astralis, has proved to be consistent throughout the years despite not always succeeding at big events. The Brazilian SK Gaming has moved from bottom to top in an impressive turnaround. French G2 Sports and Danish North also offer top-quality competition.

BEST PLAYERS IN CS:GO

Similar to other eSports, CS:GO is a team game. However, there are still a number of top players that stand out from the crowd. One example is Karrigan who recently joined FaZe. Karrigan is known for his excellent strategic plans, helping teams win in complex situations.

FalleN and fer also rank among some of the top CS:GO players. They have helped teams such as SK Gaming reach top level success. shox and body have joined in with G2 Esports and propelled that team to success, such is the power of single players.

BEST CS:GO STRATEGIES

If you’re looking to be successful in CS:GO, you’ll need to have a few strategies of your own to get ahead. First, it’s important to maintain a bankroll and not start betting over your budget. Sticking with a manageable limit will help you bet for a longer time period.

PISTOL ROUNDS

A great strategy is understanding pistol rounds, one of the most important parts of CS:GO. Teams that top the pistol rounds are more likely to succeed later on. The first team to win 16 rounds wins the battle. Winning these rounds can see a team gain an advantage quickly.

CS:GO BETTING OPTIONS

There are a number of different betting options available for CS:GO bettors. There are simple bets, such as the outright winner of a map, game or tournament. For longer tournaments, you can choose to place bets on how far a team will make it through the tournament stages.

Handicap betting is also on the rise in CS:GO. This has developed from the dominance of some teams and is an effort to level the playing field. In these handicaps, maps or points are added to the final total, so it’s best to do this in a best-of-three scenario.

RESEARCH FOR SUCCESS

CS:GO games are actually some of the most unpredictable in eSports. In order to give yourself the best chance at success, we recommend taking time to do research before placing a bet. Things to check include roster changes, form, opponents and the type of tournament.

TOP TIPS

Whenever you start betting, there are always a large number of promotions, bonuses and rewards on offer. It can be overwhelming and highly tempting to get sucked in and bet instantly. But don’t! Be patient and wait for the right odds, team and tournament.

Going all in may also sound like a solid plan, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. No matter what your bankroll is, we suggest that you only ever bet a percentage – usually 20-30% is good. This will mean you’ll always have something to spend another day.

ODDS AND BETTING TIMES

There’s always a risk to placing a bet, that’s the whole point, but there are ways to minimise it. By checking the odds carefully, you can stay in a safer betting zone. For example, start with betting on successful teams to get early winnings under your belt.

It can also be a good thing to bet last minute. This gives you time to check out all options as well as score some decent odds. You may find last-minute information that tips a different team into favour, which the bookies may not have picked up.

FINAL THOUGHTS

CS:GO is a highly popular eSport with a massive fanbase and numerous tournaments to attend. In light of this, there are numerous betting options available with many different bookies offering competitive odds. Make sure you’re up to date with the players and teams if you plan on betting successfully.

StarCraft 2 is the hugely popular sequel to the exciting StarCraft. Released in 1998 by Blizzard, the original quickly gained immense popularity around the world, paving the way for other eSports games. The sequel has since overtaken the original in popularity thanks to its superior graphics and gameplay.

WHAT IS STARCRAFT 2?

StarCraft 2 has been available to players for a long time. But if you are to become a successful bettor on the game, you need to understand a little more of what the game itself is about and how it works. StarCraft 2 is a real-time strategy game.

Usually the game is played by just two players who battle against each other. To do so, each player has to collect resources, teching up with these acquired items and training their armies. Players also choose to play different races – Zerg, Terran and Protoss.

STARTING STARCRAFT 2 BETTING

Once you understand how the game is played, the first thing you will need to do to begin betting is to find a decent bookmaker. While eSports are becoming more and more popular, not every online bookie will offer eSports, or all eSports games, as a betting option.

Once you have found a bookie that offers StarCraft 2 bets, you’ll then need to check out the bookmaker itself. Make sure you are picking a reputable site, one that offers competitive odds, good bonuses and a range of StarCraft 2 betting options.

KNOWING THE VARIABLES

When gathering betting information, you’ll need to cover such aspects as the teams or players in the game – some players will have different skill sets. Bear in mind that the maps being played are also important, as are the match formats. Essentially, keep an eye on player form.

TOP TOURNAMENTS

  • 2019 WCS Summer
  • Global StarCraft 2 League
  • World Electronic Sports Games
  • IEM Season XIV

STARCRAFT 2 TOP TEAMS

For the most part, StarCraft 2 is a 1v1 game, but despite this, there’s always been a strong emphasis on the teams involved. However, really, StarCraft 2 success is based on the individual’s skills and ability rather than the team as a whole.

However, there are still some big-name teams out there. These include SK Telcom 1, Jin Air Green Wings, KT Rolster and Team Expert. Within each of these teams though, there are star players that bolster the group, bringing in a lot of the winnings.

TOP PLAYERS

There are many criteria that can make a top player. Here, we’ve chosen to look at the overall earnings as the significant factor. Maru currently comes in number one with a massive set of earnings in excess of $800,551.50. Serral and Dark run in a close second and third.

INnoVation, Rogue and sOs all have respectable scores ranging in the $600,000 mark making them worthy competitors for the top spot. What’s important to note is that each of these players has joined numerous teams, so make sure you follow their latest moves to bet accurately.

BEST STRATEGIES FOR STARCRAFT 2 BETTING

When it comes to StarCraft 2 betting strategies, there are few options. This is because a lot of betting comes down to common sense, knowledge and a load of research. We do suggest checking out smaller tournaments though, to research player skill level before they reach the big time.

KELLY CRITERION STRATEGY

If you’re betting on an underdog, the Kelly Criterion strategy can help double your bankroll when you stick to a specific percentage. For instance, there’s a 15% winning chance, but the odds are 10:1. This gives you a 65% edge meaning that, in the long run, you could win.

STARCRAFT BETTING OPTIONS

Unfortunately for bettors, the way StarCraft 2 is played, there are not so many options for different bet types. Betting markets usually revolve around outright match/tournament wins, although there are some options for handicap betting. Match or map winner are popular options but will require player knowledge.

You can place bets on which team/player will win which map, predict the exact map score and even try over/under map bets. For other outright bet options, you can choose which team will win the tournament or group or even pick the region the winning team will come from.

RESEARCH IS KEY

We can’t emphasise this enough, but you really need to know the players and understand the game if you are to successfully bet on StarCraft 2. Research will give you a better understanding of the players’ capabilities, enabling you to more accurately gauge player success on different maps.

TOP TIPS

Playing the game can help you get ahead. Doing so will enable you to understand all aspects, the problem areas, the core mechanics and more. Of course, many successful punters don’t play the game, but it could give you an edge in the long-run if you know the details.

Pay attention to patches. The game developer is always looking to improve the game and releases patches regularly. Some can introduce massive changes to the game thus altering the likely success of different players, especially if they are specialists in a certain game area.

ODDS AND FORMATS

Analyse the players and their game style, the maps they will use as well as the odds given by the bookie. Terran players work best with strategies, while those who prefer Zerg are not so strategy-orientated. Knowing this can help you figure out if a bet is worth it.

Whether the game is a best of three or best of five is also crucial to your success. This is because certain maps might get played more than once, giving the edge to the player that prefers that map, thus increasing their chances of winning.

FINAL THOUGHTS

StarCraft 2 offers a relatively simple eSports game to bet on. However, due to the small betting market, it’s imperative that you do your research on the players and their form, before making any bets. Shop around for the best odds too, especially if you intend to be successful.

DotA 2, or Defence of the Ancients 2, is the successor to the very successful and hugely popular Warcraft 3 modification. Released in 2013, the game is now one of the most well-known, commonly seen as the face of eSports with major events and big betting options available.

WHAT IS DOTA 2?

DotA 2 is a real-time strategy game that involves teams rather than individuals. There are 10 players, five on each side. These teams then have to take control of two different bases. Each of these bases release ‘creeps’ that attack players and towers.

Each team strategically places their towers along three paths, but the locations will remain the same for each game. The team that can destroy the central building, or the Ancient, is the winner. There are 100 heroes for players to choose from, and each has unique skills.

STARTING DOTA 2 BETTING

One of the most popular eSports games, even in its early test phases, you will have no trouble finding somewhere to bet. DotA 2 is generally found at the majority of online bookies, and that number is growing rapidly. Even better, you’ll find a wide betting market too.

However, when you are selecting your online bookie, remember to also think about the security and licensing of the site, the customer service and any welcome bonuses or promotions they might offer. It’s also a good idea to see if they offer live streaming of DotA 2 events.

KNOWING THE CHARACTERS

When it comes to understanding DotA 2 on a deeper level, it’s important to know the different character options. Characters are separated into 9 areas depending on their skills. These include pusher, infiltrator, nuker, escape, disabler, support etc. The choices made by each team can determine the final outcomes.

TOP DOTA 2 TOURNAMENTS

  • The International
  • Asia Championships
  • ESL One
  • StarLadder I-League Star Series

TOP DOTA 2 TEAMS

DotA 2 is unusual compared to other eSports in that it’s not dominated by teams from specific regions. Instead, teams from all over the world successfully compete to claim top tournament titles. Some teams do stand out: Team Secret was ranked world no 1 for the longest run.

Vici Gaming is a top Chinese team, running another Chinese team, LDG, a close second. Newbee is up-and-coming, beating Vici in The International and holding a top prize-winning total of $7 million. Virtus Pro, OG and the US-based Evil Geniuses also deserve places in the top ranks.

BEST DOTA 2 PLAYERS

Despite being a more team-orientated game, there are always standout players. Our list is based on the top prize money earned by a player, although there are other aspects that top rank could be assessed. Right now, NOtail holds top spot having earned in excess of $6 million.

JerAx and ana, from Finland and Australia, respectively, are giving Norwegian NOtail a run for his money, having also broken the $6 million mark. In fourth and fifth spots are the French Ceb and Finnish Topson, each with a hefty $5 million plus haul. All five play for OG.

BEST STRATEGIES FOR DOTA 2

With so much going on in a DotA 2 game, especially when it comes to in-game character development, developing a specific DotA 2 strategy is more complicated than it sounds. There’s the usual options for research and betting wisely (see Top Tips), but this only gets you so far.

CHARACTER STRATEGIES

Knowing which character a team has picked is essential for success. For instance, carry heroes start the game weak, but gain in strength the longer the game goes on. For the opposition, preventing this from happening is imperative. Simply understanding this, helps you to place more pertinent bets.

DOTA 2 BETTING OPTIONS

In DotA 2 you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to the betting market. There are numerous bet options available, although the full range depends on the level of the tournament you’re betting on. Traditional bet options include which team will win a match/map or tournament.

More exciting options include handicaps, which help to reduce the dominance of top teams. For other betting options you can choose things like first blood, first ten kills, first team to destroy the barracks, pick the correct map score, first team to kill Roshan and much more.

GET RESEARCHING!

As we’ve said, ad nauseum, success in DotA 2 does come down to how much you know about the game. This is an eSport where you really need to know your stuff if you want to succeed. Research, keeping up to date with player and team form, is essential.

TOP TIPS

As we’ve mentioned, you’ll need to keep an eye on overall team form. Check out a team’s winning run as this can help to boost their confidence and potentially see them increase their winning streak. Generally, a team that’s lost four in a row is a bad bet.

It’s also important to check out any changes to a roster. Teams constantly change in an effort to find new winning combinations and improve performances. You should also make sure you stay updated on any new patches, as they can influence match results very quickly.

LONG TERM AND FAVOURITES

When you start betting, make sure that you are not making huge numbers of bets on your favourite teams. It’s important to bet at a sensible level so that you can maintain your bankroll. It’s also a good idea to check for major tournaments and save for those.

As a general rule, we also recommend against betting on the favourite. This is because bookies will offer lower odds on those likely to succeed. This is especially the case during best of one tournaments, where making money from favourites can be a slow process.

FINAL THOUGHTS

DotA 2 is a thrilling eSports game that tops the eSports tournament rosters. Thanks to its popularity there are large numbers of sites that offer betting options as well as a diverse betting market. If you’re to succeed though, it’s important to remain up-to-date with team form and rosters.

Curious to see how we ensure our reviews are of the highest possible quality? Check out our rating guidelines and principles.

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