Game the System! 8 Esports Betting Tips to Help You Beat the Odds

Are you interested in the esports betting scene but aren't sure where to start? Click here for 8 absolutely essential esports betting tips.

Keyword(s): esports betting

A decade ago, when people referred to video games, most everyone thought of a children's past time and nothing more. Not only have video games continued to explode as an industry, they now have breached the area of sports.

The concept of eSports may still feel alien to some, but for those who have been paying attention, it is a massive market. Where high payoff and well-regulated tournaments come, betting will follow.

Curious how you can get in on the eSports betting scene? Here are the tips and tricks you need to get your head in the game.

The Difference Between Sports and eSports

There are still many detractors of eSports, saying that calling them a sport is absurd. The massive tournament payouts, huge fanbase, and successful training programs for eSports may say otherwise, but there is a difference.

Physical sports like football and baseball require intense physical training. eSports requires major mental training in addition to quick reflexes. The requirements of reaction time can be massive.

Games like Poker have been betting staples for years. The eSports leagues provide a wider variety of even more intense gaming.

When it comes down to it, most of the difference between eSports and classic sports is small. All of the classic betting ideas can still transfer over.

That said, there are a few tips that can help you break into the betting scene.

1. Understand the Games

You wouldn't put money down on a game of baseball if you didn't know the difference between a home run and a strike. The same applies to eSports.

Every eSports game is different, each with their own little details that shift and change as the game and scene evolves. Some keep a well-tuned constant of gameplay and organization, some switch often to keep things interesting.

Keep your focus on a small handful of games. You want to be able to know the rules, the basic strategies, and how a game can go before you put any money down.

2. The Game Genres

Like any other sports, there are differences in each game. Unlike the differences between baseball and football, eSports categorize their genres in more detailed and organized areas.

The main game genres in eSports are MOBA, FPS, RTS, and Card Game. Several other genres may come into play, but those cover the majority.

The MOBA, or Multiplayer Online Battle Arena, is a game genre where players select a champion with a particular skill set to maximize their team's abilities while countering their opponent's abilities.

An FPS, or First Person Shooter, involves fast past action where players arm themselves with various guns and attempt to kill the other players first.

An RTS, or Real-Time Strategy game, pushes players to build armies and manage resources as they fight their opponent's armies for dominion of an area.

The card game is a large genre. This involves players creating a deck of cards, each with a special ability, and using their in-game resources to outplay and destroy an opponent.

Knowing what each genre is can help you recognize what players are best suited for these games and who may be a viable bet.

3. What's a Meta?

A meta or metagame is the term coined for competitive gaming that showcases the most popular strategies for a particular game at the moment.

Metas can change very often, with many games having scheduled patches and releases that shake up the metagame by design. This prevents games from getting stale and keeps the dynamics interesting.

This is a major reason why you should focus on one or two games instead of eSports as a whole. You need to pay attention to the metagame and they have a lot of detail that can change from release to release.

4. Leagues and Event Timing

Like the leagues of football and baseball, eSports have schedules for their events. Most will have a series of smaller events that lead to a world or national championships.

Each game will have its "season" placed at certain times. Keep an eye on where each game has their schedule. Some games might shift their overall schedule around from year to year. You don't want to miss a big game!

5. Recognizing Professional Events

Some people may have concerns about how legitimate eSports is from a betting standpoint. Collusion and cheating can ruin a betting scene fast.

As eSports burst in popularity, many organizations stepped up to set up regulations and organization to prevent this. Most high profile tournaments are well recorded to catch cheating and caught players will get bannings and bets refunded.

Find the tournaments hosted by reputable sources, often by the game makers themselves. As well, most of the biggest games in eSports have recognizable names.

The level of professional coverage can also be a good indicator of a professional event. Items like sports announcers and arena venues.

6. Streaming Content

The majority of eSports content comes in the form of live streaming on a variety of websites.

Due to the change in the atmosphere around TV and internet streaming, you can catch most eSports games at a much cheaper rate than sports TV packages.

As well, it is easier to keep up on certain players as they often stream their practice games in their "downtime". This can allow you to see which players are keeping up with their game's meta and which ones may have the favor to win.

7. Recognizing Handicaps

Like all sports and betting platforms, there will be handicaps. Many eSports already have breakout players that have swept multiple championships. Even whole teams and nations have had better rankings overall.

Many betting sites will display handicaps for these players and teams. Keeping up with the big names will help you determine whether a handicap is worth betting over.

8. Keeping an Eye on New Games

The gaming industry has never been bigger and new games get launched all the time. With classic sports, there hasn't been a new game in decades.

Most video games are not aimed to become eSports at all. The ones that do are often advertised as such and make a big play to get recognized.

While not all make it to big tournaments and eSports recognition, keep an eye on the hopefuls. You never know where the next big betting scene may be.

The Quality eSports Betting Scene

The world of eSports betting grows each and every day as more recognize the massive flow of money and recognition that comes from these games. Tournaments fire all the time and bigger events happen each year.

When you want to get the most out of eSports, we are the website to get you going. We have a host of tips and betting options to keep you in the game. Interested in more information? Contact us today!