In a nutshell, Esports casino betting refers to placing wagers on the outcomes of high-stakes video game competitions. As Esports gain monumental traction, the elite players are transforming into worldwide celebrities, complete with dedicated fan bases and remarkable earnings. Gamers from across the globe unite in significant tournaments that boast colossal prize pools.
Along with countless players, millions of fans are either engaging through live streams or attending events in person, showcasing an enthusiasm level comparable to traditional sports enthusiasts. Streaming This expansion has welcomed numerous video game enthusiasts, while avid bettors have discovered a new domain teeming with gambling opportunities.
Is Esports betting legal?
Generally, wagering on Esports parallels betting on traditional sports. Some nations in the EU, like the UK, Germany, and Sweden, endorse Esports betting regulations, whereas countries like France continue in deliberation, although the practice remains lawful.
It is imperative for Esports betting sites to possess a legitimate gaming license for the regions they operate in. Checking local laws is advisable, but if betting on conventional sports like soccer is legal, then Esports bets should also be permissible.
Top Esports casino betting platforms
The simultaneous growth of both Esports and Esports betting has skyrocketed in popularity. Analysts project the Esports betting industry's worth might approach nearly $13 billion by 2020, defining it as a fast-evolving sector within sports betting. To leverage this burgeoning trend, platforms like Unibet Casino are worth exploring. best casino bonus section.
The history of Esports betting
Technically, the roots of Esports trace back to 1972 at Stanford University in California. Competitors faced off in a game named Spaceway, with the victor winning a Rolling Stone magazine subscription for a year. Historical photos display those massive cube-shaped television screens reminiscent of objects built in Minecraft.
The Esports scene turned a new leaf in 1980, when Atari hosted the Space Invader Championship with 10,000 gamers in attendance, won by Rebecca Heinemann. The event's scope and attraction shocked many, establishing video games in the public sphere. The early Space Invaders’ versions are not for the faint-hearted; its vivid colors might challenge those accustomed to contemporary color ranges.
In the 1990s, the dawn of the internet revolutionized the gaming sector, allowing players to connect globally for multiplayer games like Quake, resulting in large gatherings of gamers who might never meet face-to-face. Established bodies such as the Cyberathlete Professional League started hosting tournaments with prizes exceeding $10,000.
While that sum seems modest today, earning money through video gaming was a groundbreaking concept and a dream realized for millions. The CPL also offered online competitions featuring the highly notable team game, Counter-Strike, which dominated internet cafes at the turn of the millennium.
Further evolution came through Starcraft and its pioneering real-time strategy. The sequel, Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty, has become a cornerstone in Esports. Asian players, especially from South Korea, significantly influenced the industry due to their active involvement in these games.
As the new millennium progressed, gamers revelled in international tournaments like the Electronic Sports World Cup, World Cyber Games, and Major League Gaming. The MLG is now a significant body, awarding millions in prizes to elite teams and players.
The advent of online streaming technology gave another boost to Esports' popularity. Platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and, formerly, Own3d, allowed audiences worldwide to witness live gaming battles. Streaming quickly became monetizable, with audiences frequently tuning in for prolonged streaming sessions.
Today, Esports represents a vast and ever-growing industry. Data from 2019 indicates Esports revenue surpassed $1 billion, anticipates a 79% growth by 2022. Asia commands the most substantial market share, closely followed by the United States and Europe. This revenue primarily stems from advertising, sponsorships, prize pools, merchandise, and competitions. Adding in betting earnings adds to an exhilarating industry experiencing exponential growth.
Esports betting markets
Initially, Esports betting was treated like Bitcoin by online sportsbooks—an enigmatic, niche concept. Providers soon recognized Esports' rising popularity, the unwavering dedication of fans, and their adrenaline pursuits.
One way to participate is through betting, which has paved the way for Esports wagering's expansion. Although countless video games exist, competitive Esports focus on a more limited selection. Some common titles include:
- League of Legends – a game mixing strategy with roleplay, where two five-member teams aim to destroy the opponent's headquarters and maximize member eliminations. Regular bets involve match outcomes.
- Counter Strike: Global Offensive – a dynamic shooter from Valve where terrorists and counter-terrorists engage in deadly skirmishes or fulfil objectives like hostages freeing. Here, outright game winners, first kills, maps, and team nationalities feature in betting.
- Starcraft 2 – an iconic real-time sci-fi strategy from Blizzard. Bets include predicting outright winners, semi-finalists, quarter-finalists, and the champion's nationality.
- Dota 2 – a game by Valve featuring two five-player factions vying to demolish each other's base on a battlefield.
- Hearthstone – a collectible card game by Blizzard where players compile decks through missions and aim to diminish their rival's Health. A market for outright winners exists, with odds tending to be high due to numerous participant involvement. Individual matches and contestant progress predictions are also bettable.
- Heroes of the Storm – another Blizzard creation amalgamating characters from Diablo, Starcraft, Overwatch, and Warcraft in a large-scale multiplayer clash.
- Fortnite – surged in 2017 with diverse styles, including cooperative shooting, Battle Royale, and Creative, destined to become a top Esports title.
- Call of Duty – a WWII-themed first-person shooter from Activision and Infinity Ward featuring mass multiplayer engagements. Standard bets focus on match results and tournament victors.
- PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds – inspired by the Japanese film Battle Royale, PUBG features simultaneous action for up to 100 players. Teams might form, but the final stander wins.
- Overwatch – a six-on-six battle from Blizzard where players select a hero with four distinct roles like Damage, Defence, Tank, and Support to outplay the competition.
Tournaments
Esports enthusiasts and bettors have much to anticipate with a packed calendar of events presenting an array of exciting opportunities. Though not exhaustive, this selection represents major European-centric tournaments.
Besides, myriad regional and global competitions are available on numerous Esports Betting platforms: Fortnite World Cup (over $100 million prize pool in 2019), The International, League of Legends WC, IEM Katowice, Call of Duty World League, DOTA 2 Asia Championships, Fortnite Secret Skirmish, HALO World Championship, PUBG Globals, and The Overwatch League.
How to bet on Esports
With deeper insight into this esteemed arena, it's time to immerse into the action. The process of making wagers through an Esports betting platform is delightfully straightforward, akin to placing bets on sports like football or ice hockey.
Start by registering, navigate to the Esports section on your chosen betting site (we suggest a few standout platforms), and you may find yourself greeted by enticing bonuses as a newcomer.
Always meticulously survey an offer's fine print to ensure compliance with all conditions, securing entitlement to promotional benefits. Different platforms offer varied markets with most covering significant events and seasonal tournaments.
After finding intriguing events, picking and placing a bet is as effortless as pie. Here are some typical options for Esports betting aficionados.
Match Winner
Among the simplest bets in the world of Esports, match bets stand out as a great entry point for beginners. These are the essence of Esports wagering, and any platform offering Esports odds is bound to provide these. The basic idea is straightforward: forecast the winner before the match begins. However, don't be deceived by this simplicity; crafting a successful match bet requires thorough preparation, quite similar to betting on a major football game.
Tournament Winner
For those who have patience and enjoy strategizing, placing bets on tournament winners could be particularly appealing. These bets can be placed long before the tournament begins, allowing fans to support their chosen teams or players. Conducting comprehensive research can make these types of bets extremely rewarding when you guess correctly.
First Map
First map wagers focus on predicting which team or player will claim victory in the opening map of a game. Such bets are especially popular in games like Counter-Strike and other first-person shooter genres. They are exciting when following a team on a victorious streak or an underdog team with a reputation for winning the first map.
First Kill
Some Esports betting options go further into specifics, enabling you to bet on who will achieve the first kill or first blood in a match. Analyzing the strengths of players designated as entry fraggers on each team can help you choose more wisely and evaluate the odds.
Odd or even bets
Similar to traditional football wagering, certain platforms permit betting on whether statistics, such as the number of kills or maps won, will result in even or odd outcomes. Luck plays a major role in these instances, as opposed to relying on detailed analysis.
Under or over
In line with popular sports betting practices, the over/under bets have been adapted for Esports. These involve betting whether a certain number—like total kills in a game—will be higher or lower than a predefined figure, for instance, 30.5.
Wrap up & a look to the future of Esports
Esports betting on platforms akin to casinos has surged in popularity, showing no signs of diminishing. Exponentially growing, Esports are on track to surpass traditional sports like Formula 1 by 2023. Players receive compensation rivaling that seen in the Premier League. For instance, Fortnite's prize pool once exceeded $100 million in a single year, with just qualifiers giving away millions.
At the individual level, gamers like Johan Sundstien from Denmark are securing multimillion-euro payouts from a single event. The rapidly increasing betting profits suggest Esports might soon rank among the world's most significant sports. Consequently, it's perhaps the best moment to dive into Esports betting.