Understanding eSports Betting Markets Explained

Introduction to eSports Markets

eSports betting has evolved far beyond simple match winner bets. Modern bookmakers offer dozens of markets for major events, giving bettors plenty of options to find value.

Pre-Match Markets

Match Winner (Moneyline)

The most straightforward bet. Pick the team you think will win the entire match (BO1, BO3, or BO5).

Map Winner

Bet on the winner of a specific map within a series. This is useful when you think a team is strong on particular maps.

Map Handicap

Similar to spread betting in traditional sports. A team is given a map advantage or disadvantage.

Total Maps Over/Under

Bet on the total number of maps that will be played. In a BO3, the over/under is typically set at 2.5.

Correct Score

Predict the exact map score (e.g., 2-0, 2-1 in a BO3).

Game-Specific Markets

CS2 Markets

Total Rounds: Over/under on rounds played per map
Pistol Round Winner: Which team wins the pistol round
First Kill: Which team gets the first kill
Knife Round Winner: Rare but offered by some bookmakers

League of Legends Markets

First Blood: Which team gets the first champion kill
First Tower: Which team destroys the first tower
First Dragon: Which team slays the first dragon
Total Kills Over/Under: Total champion kills in a game
Game Duration: Over/under on game length in minutes

Dota 2 Markets

First Blood: Which team scores the first kill
First Roshan: Which team kills Roshan first
Total Kills: Over/under on total kills

Live / In-Play Betting

Live betting lets you place wagers while a match is in progress. Odds update in real-time based on what’s happening in the game.

Tips for live betting:

Watch the match while you bet
Be decisive — odds change quickly
Focus on momentum shifts
Use cash-out features to lock in profits

Finding Value

The key to profitable betting is finding bets where the odds are better than the true probability. This requires:

Deep knowledge of the game and teams
Comparing odds across multiple bookmakers
Understanding how odds are set
Disciplined bankroll management