Esports Betting and Esports Odds

When video games arrived in the 70s, they transformed entertainment. From the arcades to home consoles, this once-niche pastime has grown to astronomical proportions in terms of popularity.

In the age of the internet, competitive battles are now fought online to spectators of millions. Of course, where there is competition, there is always an opportunity to place a bet. 

Now known as esports, these competitions are even included in major sporting events like the Asian games, alongside track and field sports. With mainstream acceptance, more and more people are betting on the sector. Below, we give our essential guide on esports betting. 

Esports stands for electronic gaming and it can be broadly categorized as competitive video gaming. Since broadband internet has made it possible for people to compete against each other in titles online, across the world, leagues and rankings have become extremely popular.

With people streaming games and battles on platforms such as Twitch, esports has quickly gained large numbers of followers, sponsors, and people wanting to bet on it. The International is the biggest esport tournament in the world, with a prize pool of over $40 million. It is dedicated solely to the game Dota 2, a tactical arena battle game. 

It is important not to confuse it with virtual sports betting. This is when you bet on a virtual event, such as a digital horse race. In this, computer algorithms are deciding the outcome. When you bet on esports, an individual or team is making the choices and using skills that will decide who wins. 

When it comes to making esports bets, there are numerous different choices. These may also depend on the type of esport you decide to bet on. For example, fighting games will have a different way of winning and scoring than team shooters. 

The match winner is the most basic esports bet type and is a prediction of who will win the overall game. This will either be a group or an individual. 

You can take it even further and predict the overall winner of a specific tournament. Betting this far in advance is known as futures betting, and can often yield better odds. You may decide that team Fnatic will win the Pro League and place a bet before the first league game begins. 

If one team seems to outclass another, consider handicap betting. This is where one team has to win by a certain total for you to win the bet. This can make it more exciting if the odds are stacked in one team's favor. 

Betting on maps is another option in games such as Dota 2 and League of Legends. Perhaps our favorite CS:GO team is on a popular map like Mirage, that you know they do well on and want to place a bet on. 

You may decide to bet on who wins a certain map, or even how many maps are played using over-and-under betting formats. Over and under betting is where you make a bet that a statistic will be above or below a given amount. 

You may also use an over/under type bet to predict how many kills are made in a game. Alternatively, you may bet on which player makes the first kill in a game. 

Across the world, esports odds are given in different ways. In Canada, when betting on esports we use decimal odds. Luckily, these are the easiest to understand. 

All you need to do is multiply the decimal amount by your wager, to see the payout you will get if your bet is successful. Be aware that this also includes the money you get back for making the initial bet, so is not all profit. 

For example, imagine you are betting on Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO). Two popular teams, Vitality and Heroic, are playing in the final. Hypothetical odds for Vitality winning are 2.43. You want to bet $10. $10 x 2.43 is $24.30, which is the amount you would get back if the bet was won. Deduct your stake of $10 to see how much you gained, giving you a total of $14.30.

 If you want to place a bet on esports in Canada, it is easier than you may think. Below is a handy, step-by-step guide to making a wager on BetVictor. 

Begin by creating an account. Head to the sign-up page and fill out your details such as your name, email address and other information. You then need to verify your identity, which will be checked almost instantly. 

The next step is to make a deposit into your account. There are several payment methods and you may be able to benefit from our attractive welcome bonuses. Remember to only deposit an amount your feel comfortable with and if you ever feel you are betting too much, had to our safer gambling portal.

Once logged in, you can navigate the different markets by using the menus as the side. Find the esports section, and once you click on it you will see a range of events and bets. Click on them to place a wager, confirm and enjoy watching the match.

In some ways, esports has many similarities to other sports that you must consider when betting. The first is to take an in-depth look at the team or individual player's performance. Consider how they have performed in recent competitions or against similar opponents. 

In team games, the composition of the squad can change and this may impact the outcome. Perhaps a star player is not on the team, or they have had a dip in form. It may be that certain combinations tend to work better than others. 

Consider the impact of the tournament itself. A team may favor a knockout-style event or a league-based competition. Even being at home with a bigger crowd can be an advantage. 

After this, you need to dig deep into the data. One team may have a better record in head-to-head matchups between the two. Look into how your favored team fairs on certain maps, in specific game modes or certain situations. 

Finally, take a look at the team and player news, to see if any significant events may impact performance. There are plenty of analyst insights and predictions online from experts which you may follow, either through podcasts, websites or social media. 

When it comes to esports there are a range of titles to bet on. Yet four games remain the most popular and have the biggest tournaments and prize pools. 

Defence of the Ancients 2, most commonly known as Dota 2, was released in 2013 by Valve. It is a battle arena video game which sprang from a modified version of World of Warcraft III. Due to its crowdfunded prize system, it has the biggest pools in competitive video gaming and a thriving esports scene across the world. Get DOTA 2 odds with us.

League of Legends is another online battle arena game, developed by Riot Games. Teams are made up of different champions, who must defend and battle for half of the map. Victory is claimed by pushing through defenses and destroying a Nexus, the hub of the other team's territory. We have a whole range of LoL betting markets to explore.

CS:GO is one of the world's most popular first-person shooters. Teams are made of terrorists and counter-terrorists. A host of game modes are available, with bomb drops and hostage captures being the most popular. Created by Valve, it is highly tactical and has a huge number of fans across the globe. Discover our selection of CS:GO odds at BetVictor.
 
Valorant is another title by Riot Games and is a fairly new game, having been released in 2020. A first-person shooter, it also adds unique abilities to the characters providing a strategic depth not found in other similar titles. In teams of 5v5, players must attack or defend using these abilities combined with unique weapons and items. 

BetVictor is one of the best esports betting sites around and a great place to make your first wager. We have a range of competitive odds across varied markets, allowing you to bet on different esports titles or venture out to other sports. With a user-friendly interface, bets can be placed without fuss in an instant. 

Another great feature is live esports betting, which allows you to bet as competitions and matches are taking place. Combined with our great security, customer support and commitment to responsible gambling, you don’t need to go anywhere else. 

Is There Esport Betting?

Betting on esports has become extremely popular, with most online bookmakers now providing some degree of esports betting. Others offer more comprehensive betting options, such as a wide range of bet types and events. 

Is Esports Betting Legal in Canada?

Esports betting is legal in Canada. Each jurisdiction has its own rules and regulations, so you must check on the requirements in your area. In most provinces, you need to be 19 years of age to gamble in any form.