One of the newest and most exciting areas of sports betting is being able to place a wager on professional video game tournaments and leagues. It’s called eSports betting.
‘eSports’ (electronic sports) is an umbrella term used to describe competitive/professional video game competitions worldwide that are heavily regulated by various official governing bodies, authorities, and organisations.
Let’s dive straight in to discover more about the global phenomenon of eSports betting and discuss a few of the main differences and similarities between this modern form of betting and traditional sports betting in South Africa on the safest iGaming platforms, such as the official 10Bet (https://www.10bet.co.za/) sports betting and casino website.
What exactly is eSports betting, and how does it compare to betting on traditional sports?
For millions of people worldwide, video gaming has become more than just a fun hobby or way to pass the time and fend off boredom. eSports is now a multi-billion-dollar global industry where hit titles are played professionally.
It has also become a huge spectator sport, and many online sports betting sites, such as 10bet, offer a range of eSports betting markets per event with some of the industry’s most highly competitive odds.
Just like tennis and several other sports, there are very few betting markets available in eSports betting. For example, there usually isn’t the option to bet on an eSports event ending in a tie. There’s usually only an outright winner or loser.
In other words, there’s simplicity in eSports betting. It’s usually just a case of assessing the teams [or individuals] competing in an event and then placing a wager on your preferred selection. It’s far less complicated than other sports, which often have hundreds of different bet types per event.
Additionally, you may also find that some eSports betting events have handicap betting options available, which is relatively easy to understand. In handicap betting, one eSports team or individual will be given an initial ‘notional’ amount of starting points, and the handicap’s opponents must win that event by exceeding the extended handicap points total, just like in any other handicap sports betting event.
Today, it’s possible for anyone aged 18 or above in South Africa to bet on eSports events either long before the action has started (known as pre-match betting) or place more strategic/informed bets as the live action unfolds (known as in-play or live betting services).
What are the biggest eSports tournaments worth betting on today, and which titles do pro gamers play?
Various major eSports competitions occur at different times throughout the year, usually starting with regional qualifiers and culminating with finals after the group stages and knockout phases have ended.
Some of the most notable eSports events you can typically wager on today or at other times throughout the year are the BLAST Premier League, the North American ESL Pro League, the Fortnite World Cup, the International, the PUBG Global Championship, and the CCT South America Series.
Others include the Perfect World Shanghai Major APAC RMR, Intel Extreme Masters Qualifier, the Honor of Kings International Championship, the ESL One Bangkok, the European Pro League, and the Svenska Cupen, to name just a few.
Throughout these events, competitors battle it out in the digital arena, playing a range of blockbuster video games, such as the following hit titles:
- Call of Duty
- PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG)
- Valorant
- Starcraft 2
- Overwatch
- Dota 2
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
- Rocket League
- Fortnite
- Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
- NBA 2K
- League of Legends
The events are well-organised and sponsored by some of the world’s biggest brands, and there is usually a huge prize pool up for grabs. Plus, the winners also typically receive global eSports ranking points.
Final thoughts
If you are tired of traditional sports betting or just fancy betting on something entirely different for a change, then you might want to consider eSports betting. It’s easy to bet on eSports events on trusted sites like 10Bet, but you must be at least 18 years old.
This site is free to join. It accepts South African Rand, and it welcomes several perfectly secure SA online deposit and withdrawal methods.
You can place bets on this world-class iGaming site using any decent Wi-Fi/internet-connected PC or mobile device at any time of the day, and you can claim a guaranteed new player welcome bonus when depositing for the first time.
The important thing to remember when signing up here to place eSports bets is never to treat sports betting as a job and to gamble responsibly at all times.
To give your bets the best chance of winning, remember to conduct your own research into an event by gathering as much information and relevant statistics as possible.
Finally, understand that the odds are subject to change at any time and that betting on the favourite won’t always guarantee a return on your profit.
