Ready to explore the online esports betting world? You’re in the right place with our extensive line of competitive esports games to bet on, there are virtually endless opportunities for bettors to find value and earn cash. However, getting started can be a bit overwhelming—especially for beginners!
But that’s where we come in! This guide will walk new esports betting fans through the intricacies of how it all works and share a few top tips to help you bet with confidence. Think of it as your pre-game plan, ensuring you’re prepared to make informed decisions and win wagers.
Disclaimer: These tips are provided for educational purposes only and do not guarantee success. Thunderpick will not be held accountable for any losses incurred. Odds examples are fictional. Always gamble responsibly.
Esports Betting Tips For Beginners
1. Do Your Research
Always conduct thorough research before engaging with online betting. This tip cannot be overstated, whether it’s for traditional sports or esports. It is best to start with a single event. Then, research the different esports teams, the tournament’s format, specific game rules, and historical match outcomes.
While you’re at it, compare your findings with the odds to determine if placing a bet is even worth it. If it is, remember to track the results and consider branching out to other events or esports titles if the initial efforts resulted a profit. Otherwise, go back to the drawing board and try a different strategy.
Looking for even more insights? Visit the Thunderpick blog for the latest news, guides, analysis, and expert betting predictions. You’ll find a treasure trove of information to supercharge your bets!
2. Watch, Listen, And Learn
Watching a live stream of a top esports tournament on Twitch is exhilarating. But did you know it can also provide valuable insights to enhance your betting strategy? By paying close attention to the commentators and leveraging their knowledge, you can learn to predict where a match is headed.
They may also explain the significance of seemingly minor occurrences that could impact the game’s trajectory. Combining this information with your own research may boost your odds of success. So, the next time you tune in to a live esports event, keep your ears open and let the casters guide you to greater potential returns!
3. Don’t Tilt In Esports Betting
Keep your emotions in check! “Tilting” is a slang term used in both Poker and gaming. It describes a state of anger or frustration that results in significantly deteriorated ability. If you feel your emotions boiling over, take a step back and reevaluate your prediction instead of making erratic (potentially costly) decisions.
At the heart of tilting is the Martingale loss recovery betting system. This staking method involves doubling your bet after every loss to recover the initial wager and turn a profit (or incur substantial losses). You should avoid the Martingale system at all costs. Instead, you should practice responsible gambling and bankroll management.
4. Understand Esports Betting Odds
Odds represent a bookmaker’s confidence in a specific outcome occurring and are crucial for any bettor to understand. However, they can be a bit confusing due to the different odds formats typically used by bookmakers. That said, let’s review a few ways esports odds can be expressed.
Suppose that Ninjas in Pyjamas (NIP) has odds of 2.8 to beat Natus Vincere (NAVI) in a Counter-Strike 2 match, while NAVI has odds of 1.3. In this case, the chances that NIP will win are relatively low. However, if NIP does win, the bettor will gain a significant payout for assuming greater risk.
Decimal Odds
Decimal odds reflect the total payout for each unit bet. For example, if you wager $100 on Ninjas in Pyjamas with odds of 2.8, you will receive a $280 payout with a $180 profit. However, a $100 bet on Natus Vincere at 1.3 odds will yield a $130 payout with a $30 profit. The formula is Bet x Odds = Total Payout.
Fractional Odds
Fractional odds express the potential profit relative to the stake. If NIP had odds of 9/5, it means for every $5 bet, the payout would be $9 in profit if they win. On the other hand, NAVI’s odds may be represented as 1/3, indicating that you need to bet $3 to make a $1 profit. This format clearly shows the ratio of risk to reward.
American Odds
American odds (or “moneyline odds”) reflect the amount of money you need to bet to win $100 or the money you would win if you bet $100. For example, if NIP is listed at +280, a $100 bet would return $280 in profits. Meanwhile, NAVI would be listed at -330, meaning you need to bet $330 to win $100.
Always choose the type of esports odds you feel comfortable with, whether it’s Decimal, Fractional, or American.
5. Pick A Strategy For Esports Betting
Most successful bettors employ one or more “staking methods” in esports betting. While each has its own distinct merits and risks, the best choice ultimately depends on your risk appetite, bankroll size, and experience. In the next section, we’ll explain some popular strategies you can use in esports betting.
Flat Betting
Also known as “fixed betting,” this strategy involves staking a fixed amount (e.g., $10) on every game, regardless of the odds. For example, if your total bankroll is $200, you’ll place 20x $10 bets until it is depleted. This method’s simplicity helps minimize risk and is perfect for beginners, especially in special esports betting lines.
Proportional
This staking method is ideal for bettors on a tight budget. Sometimes called “percentage staking,” bettors decide on a percentage budget to place per bet. For example, if you have a bankroll of $200 and decide on a 10% bet, your first bet will be $20. If you lose your first bet, your second bet will be 5% of the remaining budget.
Fibonacci
The Fibonacci method is a negative progressive betting system that uses the Fibonacci sequence (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, etc.) to determine the stake. After a loss, you move one number forward in the sequence for the next bet amount. When you win, you move back two numbers. It is similar to the Martingale strategy described earlier, albeit less aggressive.
Bet Everything At Once (“All-In”)
This is a super high-risk betting strategy that is primarily reserved for high-rollers and ballsy bettors. Essentially, it involves you wagering your entire bankroll on a single bet. It’s the fastest way to flush a chunk of cash down the toilet—or cash in on massive winnings! It is not recommended for beginners (or anyone, unless you’re super confident!).
6. Practice Makes Perfect
Like everything in life, practice makes perfect! And the same goes for esports betting. The best way to practice is to do a “cold run,” which involves placing bets without doing any real money betting. You can do this by writing your match predictions on paper and following up on the outcome afterward.
Cold runs don’t offer any monetary incentives but are useful for finding your footing. They also help you gain confidence about your predictive ability, which is key in esports betting. Further, keeping diligent notes will foster improvements and allow for cost-free practice, increasing the accuracy of your esports predictions.
Pro Tip: To get started, try placing bets only on specific esports teams, like FaZe Clan or Cloud9, or video games like Call of Duty or League of Legends (LoL). Hone your strategy before branching out!
7. Don’t Rush B
Our final tip for esports betting beginners is simplistic but essential. Do not rush it! Rushing B is a term originating from Counter-Strike on the iconic Dust II map, where a team without a proper strategy decides to take a chance and rush to the B bombsite. To be clear, rushing into betting without thought, planning, or research could negatively impact your gambling budget.
Losing is part of the game and represents an opportunity to learn and grow from your mistakes. In fact, sometimes upsets happen even if your research is spot on, which is exactly why esports betting is so exciting. With enough practice and experience, you’ll eventually be an experienced bettor. So, don’t rush it!
8. Learn The Different Bet Types
Much like traditional sports betting, there are many different types of bets in esports. Each option caters to diverse interests and allows bettors to spread their risk across many markets. Here are some popular esports betting markets you may encounter:
Match Winner
This market is the easiest to understand: You’re predicting which team will win the match. For example, you may wager that Tundra Esports will win in a best-of-three series between OG versus Fnatic. However, your bet will only pay out if they win at least two games (i.e., the majority of the games within the series).
Map Winner
Many esports matches occur over a series of games. This betting market lets you bet on a specific round rather than the entire series. This option is especially relevant in map-based games like Counter-Strike 2, where you can place bets on the winner of specific maps within a match series.
Over/Under
Sometimes called “totals betting,” the Over/Under betting market involves predicting if a specific statistic (e.g., total kills, points, or rounds) will be above or below a value set by the bookmaker. This line has many variations, including betting on the combined points of one or both teams at different game stages.
Handicap
Handicap betting is popular when matchups are not balanced or if a strong favorite is playing. It involves assigning a hypothetical point advantage (e.g., +12) to the underdog and deficit (e.g., -12) to the favorites. The stronger team must win by more than the handicap for a bet on them to pay out.
Parlays
Combo bets (or “parlays”) allow bettors to combine multiple esports bets into one, drastically increasing the potential return. However, parlays are considered extremely risky because every bet must be successful before a bet will pay out. What’s more, you can even parlay bets between different esports titles.
9. Follow Esports Events
Keeping up with esports events can be extremely beneficial. They help temper emotional betting by encouraging more rational, strategic decisions. For starters, you can identify trends like a team’s performance on specific maps or against certain opponents.
It also offers a chance to react to real-time events, like when a team makes a big comeback, secures a major objective (e.g., killing Roshan in Dota 2), or gains an economic advantage (like an anti-eco round in CS2). By spotting these trends, you can potentially capitalize on them in live in-play betting.
Here are some esports events you should keep a close eye on:
- Counter-Strike 2: ESL Pro League, Intel Extreme Masters, BLAST Premier
- Dota 2: The International, Riyadh Masters, PGL Wallachia, ESL One, DreamLeague
- League of Legends: Mid-Seasonal Invitational, World Championship (Worlds)
- VALORANT: VCT Champions, VCT Masters
10. Pick A Reputable Site
Before you place your esports bets, consider your options very carefully. Inspect each provider’s offerings and,more importantly, check reviews to assess their reputation. Beyond the array of esports odds and betting markets available, here are a few other factors you should consider:
Credibility
You wouldn’t trust your hard-earned cash with anyone, right? The same goes for online esports betting sites. Check if the provider is licensed and regulated by a recognized authority and read user reviews on TrustPilot. This is a fool-proof method of avoiding scams and safeguarding your funds.
Safety And Security
Your esports betting provider should have security measures to protect you and your finances. These include using encrypted connections for all data transfers, having safe and reliable payment processors, and strictly adhering to GDPR policies when handling personal data.
Bonuses And Promotions
Bonuses and promotions are the cherry on top of the betting cake. So, ensure the provider has a hearty menu of promos that you can leverage! They can not only boost your bankroll but also give you more chances to bet on your favorite esports teams. It’s like getting free samples at the grocery store, but instead of a tiny piece of cheese, you get a chunk of potential winnings.
Customer Support
Having a responsive customer support service is absolutely vital. When you run into issues with your betting account, it’s crucial to have a knowledgeable and resourceful human operator at your disposal. After all, the quicker they can resolve your problems, the sooner you can return to placing esports bets.
Enjoy Esports Betting at Thunderpick
As one of the best bookmakers, we focus on crypto esports betting and feature all the best titles to enjoy. From multiplayer online battle arena games such as League of Legends and Dota 2 to popular first-person shooters like CS2, Overwatch 2, and VALORANT, you can find plenty of esports games to be on at Thunderpick.
We have an ever-growing list of esports tournaments and leagues for your betting needs. You can watch these esports events via live streams incorporated into our match pages and employ all the betting tips we’ve shared.
Always practice Responsible Gambling and check out our latest promo offers and boosts. T&Cs apply. 18+ to play.
