At first, esports betting can feel daunting but hey, there’s no shame in needing some help! Each video game features unique mechanics. And even when games are in the same genre, there are diverse tournament formats and intricacies to learn. That’s where our expert esports betting tips for beginners can help, offering essential details all bettors should understand.
Once you’ve gone through this post make sure to check all our esports betting odds.
Please note: We do not guarantee success with these tips. Odds examples are fictional. Thunderpick is not responsible for any losses incurred.
1. Do Your Research
Possibly the most important tip is to do diligent research. The value of research in betting is undeniable for any market, including esports. We suggest starting with one esports event and researching subjects such as the teams, tournament format, game rules, and match histories.
Once you finish your research and place your bets, monitor the results. From here, especially if the research paid off, you may want to branch out into other events or maybe even a different esports title. As part of your research, we suggest heading to our esports betting blog, which is filled with interesting, detailed posts and esports news and guides such as How To Bet On CS:GO.
2. Watch, Listen, and Learn
Watching a live stream of a top esports tournament on Twitch is exhilarating, but it can provide much more than just excitement. If you pay close attention and listen to the commentators, you can pick up valuable information. Thanks to their wealth of knowledge, casters could, for example, predict where a match is headed. They may also explain why a specific, seemingly minor occurrence could spell doom or victory for a team.
Learning how to use caster comments to inform your betting strategy via our live esports betting feature can give you a distinct advantage. Combine your live betting expertise with proper research and the upcoming esports betting beginner tips to maximize your potential.
3. Don’t Tilt in Esports Betting
To tilt, also known as the act of “tilting,” is a slang term with origins in Poker, where a player makes emotional, rash decisions due to previous losses. If you feel your emotions boiling over, we suggest taking a step back and reevaluating your prediction using research.
At the heart of tilting is the Martingale loss recovery betting system. With this staking method type, bettors double their wager every time they lose as a way to win back the original sum. You should avoid the Martingale system at all costs.
4. Understand Esports Betting Odds
Understanding esports betting odds is critical, and seeing the numbers on betting sites could confuse some beginners. In simplest terms, odds represent a bookmaker’s confidence in a specific outcome. For example, in a CS:GO betting match, if Ninjas in Pyjamas (NIP) has 2.8 odds of winning against Na’Vi (1.3 odds), then the chances of NIP winning are low. However, if NIP wins, the bettor scores a big win.
To calculate Decimal odds, the equation is Bet x Odds = Payout.
In the example above, if you bet $100 on NIP to win with 2.8 odds, you would get $280, making 180 profit. However, those who bet the same amount on Na’Vi to win only get $130 if their prediction was correct, making $30 profit.
Always choose the odds type you feel comfortable with, whether it’s Decimal, Fractional, or American.
5. Pick A Strategy For Esports Betting
Most successful bettors have a strategy or multiple strategies for different esports titles. At the heart of a betting strategy is a “staking method.” The most widely used staking methods are Proportional and Fixed.
There are advantages to mixing and matching the two staking methods above as a best esports betting strategy. For example, Proportional can work better with match-winner bets, while Fixed can work well with Handicap or Over/Under wagers.
Proportional
This staking method is perfect for those on a tight gambling budget. It is also called the percentage-based method, where bettors decide on a percentage budget to place per bet. For example, if you have a gambling budget 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.
Fixed
With the fixed staking methods, bettors limit the amount they can bet. For instance, you’ll allow yourself to bet only $10 at a time. This method is widely used with special betting lines/markets in esports.
6. Practice Makes Perfect
Choosing to practice esports betting is advantageous. You could, for example, take a cold practice run, where you do not place bets but instead write down your picks for esports matches. Then, when the matches are finished, you can check your betting predictions’ accuracy.
You’ll learn much if you practice betting on specific teams, such as FaZe Clan or Cloud9, or video games like Call of Duty or League of Legends (LoL). Further, keeping diligent notes will foster improvements and allow for cost-free practice, increasing your esports prediction accuracy.
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.
However, gamers shouldn’t get put off by some early losses either, as there is a learning curve. After all, you could become an esports betting king with practice and enough experience!
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 (MOBA) games such as League of Legends and Dota 2, to popular first-person shooters (FPS) like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, 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.
Remember always to practice Responsible Gambling and check out our latest promo offers. T&Cs apply.