‘Esports’ is an umbrella term used to describe the industry of playing video games professionally. Just one branch in a part of the entertainment industry that is now worth more than the worlds of music and film put together, Esports has grown from a niche pursuit pulled together by a few hardcore fanatics, into a multi-billion dollar industry that routinely blurs the lines between high-intensity sports competition and jaw-dropping entertainment spectacle.
The skill ceilings of the pros and their chosen titles are constantly being raised and the rising amount of interest in the world of Esports has led to wagering on events and tournaments becoming more and more popular with fans right around the world.
Here’s your full lowdown on what Esports betting is, and how you can get involved.
What Is It?
At its heart, Esports betting is exactly the same as real-world alternatives you’re probably familiar with. Riding the wave of the digital revolution present in the world of wagering, the bulk of Esports betting is done online at either established bookmakers such as Betway, or at specialist industry experts such as Unikrn. Just like with real-world sports wagering, Esports betting revolves around placing bets on pros and teams on events and tournaments present within the industry.
And one look at the the LoL, Dota 2, Fortnite or CS:GO odds at an Esports specialist site such as Unikrn will show you just how diverse and stacked this activity has become over the past few years.
The likes of Riot Games’ League of Legends and Valve’s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive have arguably been the faces of the rise of Esports as an industry over the years, and it is perhaps unsurprising to learn that they are the two games that are easily the most popular games within the Esports betting community. Both these games have the most fleshed out and stacked competitive scenes so there’s naturally more to bet on, but they’ve also become some of the leading lights in terms of flexing the variety of bets that can be placed.
How Can You Start?
When looking to begin betting on Esports, the first task every user faces is choosing which games they are going to wager on. One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding betting on Esports is that a user can drop in and out and simply bet on whatever games have an event on at a time. Much like you wouldn’t expect everyone who bets on sports to be able to boast an expert level of knowledge on every sport a bookmaker has to offer, the same can be said for Esports.
As mentioned above, ‘Esports’ is an umbrella term for an industry filled with a multitude of diverse titles, all of which house their own wagering scenes. Take the time to single out no more than three games available for wagering on, and become familiar with both the nuances of the game, as well as its professional scene in terms of how a competitive calendar works, who the leading faces are, etc.
With everything to do with betting, users will quickly find themselves torn between whether this is an activity they want to do to sprinkle some adrenaline into their experience within the industry, or whether it is genuinely a pursuit they want to refine so much that they can begin to make some serious money from.
For those hoping to opt for the latter, it’s important to remember that, just like those who are able to make a lot of money from the real world sports wagering scene, betting on Esports should be approached like it’s a job. This includes put any loyalties for certain teams or players aside, sinking hundreds upon hundreds of hours into following scenes, and studying markets so much that value bets, lucrative parlay builders, and underdog opportunities so that’s almost second nature in learning where the real chances of stretching wagers lie.
Sites like Unikrn now come complete with handy blogs, calendars, and guides on understanding the world of Esports, and even house expert insights from upcoming events and tournaments to help users get ahead of the curve and begin their wagering journeys in the right way.