eSports Betting Introduction: Types of Bets Part 2

Thinking of getting into eSports betting for the first time?  It may seem odd to wager on the outcome of video gaming competitions if you are used to betting on athletic sports, but you will find it a fun and accessible pastime—one which may become profitable as well.  Hundreds of millions of dollars are being wagered on games like League of Legends and Dota 2 each year now, and those numbers are expected to climb into the billions within the next few years.

What kinds of bets can you place on eSports?  You may be surprised to discover that they are very similar to those you probably already place on football or other traditional sports that you follow.  In eSports Betting Introduction: Types of Bets, Part 1, I talked about outright bets and match bets.  Now I want to tell you about several other types of bets.

Handicap Bets

If you are looking at a match bet where there is a clear favourite and an obvious underdog, it can be hard to get a good value (unless of course you are wagering on the underdog). 

A handicap bet offers a way around this problem.  On the eSports handicap market, you can wager on the same match, but with points added to the underdog and subtracted from the favourite.  The odds are generally going to be around 10/11 or 1.90 for both of the players or teams involved.  This gives you a chance to bet on the favourite and still win big, since the favourite needs to “catch up” in order for your bet to succeed.  In fact, even if the favourite wins in reality, you could still lose your wager if it isn’t a big enough lead to overcome the handicap.  This can really add to the challenge!

Special Bets

This is the same thing as a “prop bet” or “novelty bet.”  You are probably familiar with them from betting on traditional sports—they are especially popular in golf.  With a special bet, you are wagering on something highly specific (and sometimes bizarre) happening.  Right now, prop bets are not a big part of eSports wagering, but they are likely to grow in the future.

Read on to eSports Betting Introduction: Types of Bets, Part 3 to learn about one more popular type of eSports bet!