eSports Betting Guide: Learn How to Place Your Bets on Your Favorite Game!

You probably already know that the gaming industry is booming, right? With revenues surpassing $236 billion according to PwC, the sector is growing fast—mainly thanks to electronic sports. And yes, betting on eSports is possible.

This applies to any game, tournament, or match, since gamers—or rather, fans—can get excited about a wide range of betting markets. Today, it’s possible to place your bets in a safe, responsible, and thrilling way.

And if you clicked on this article, you’re definitely interested in learning how to bet on eSports. Your search ends here, because we’ll explain how it works, the key terms, and tips for betting—plus, of course, whether it’s different from traditional sports betting. So hit start and keep reading!

How does eSports betting work?

Although different from traditional sports, the basic mechanics of eSports betting are quite similar. You choose the game you want to bet on, select the tournament, and then pick a match to place your wager.

It’s simple: you pick an outcome, check the odds for each possibility based on the chance of it happening (or not), and create your betting slip. If your prediction is correct, you win a reward based on the odds of that outcome.

Each game has its own set of betting markets tailored to its competitive dynamics. You can even explore Future Markets to bet on final standings — and leverage rivalries between teams or pro players to guide your picks.

Plus, you can bet before the match starts or make Live Bets to enjoy the thrill while watching. And of course, you can go for Single Bets or combine multiple events in Multis or System Bets.

How to bet on eSports?

If betting on games is so similar to traditional sports betting, why not just direct you to our Sports Betting Encyclopedia and call it a day? Simple: you should always consider the specific characteristics of each game or tournament when planning your bets — in other words, knowing the betting mechanics is just as important as understanding the unique details of the game.

So this article is tailored especially for you: a gamer and eSports fan. We’ll walk you through all the essential points to help you bring even more excitement to the competitive scene.

1. Choose Which eSport to Bet On

Before anything else, it’s important to understand that eSports is a broad term used to refer to all games with competitive scenes. Each game is a distinct digital sport with its own characteristics, leagues, and tournaments.

For example, League of Legends is an eSport with leagues such as the League of Legends Championship of The Americas and the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) — along with tournaments like the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) and Worlds. It’s similar to football, where you have leagues like the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and the English FA, each organizing their own competitions, such as the Campeonato Brasileiro and the Premier League.

Each eSports discipline is therefore tailored to the unique features of the game, and tournaments follow their own rules. Understanding these characteristics is key to making your choice, and a good tip is to go for game genres you're already familiar with.

For example, if you enjoy FPS (First Person Shooter) games, choosing Counter-Strike 2 or Call of Duty: Warzone might be a good idea — and in fact, they share some gameplay similarities.

2. Study the Specific eSports Terms

Choosing a game isn’t enough, as each one comes with its own terminology used in the competitive scene. For example, in Counter-Strike 2, the term In-Game Leader (IGL) refers to the team captain, and Entry is used for players who excel in 1v1 duels — responsible for initiating plays to gain an early-round advantage.

In League of Legends, player positions are defined as Top, Jungle, and Mid, referring to the top lane, the jungle between lanes, and the middle lane, respectively. Meanwhile, Valorant defines positions based on character type: Controllers specialize in area control, Duelists rely on raw power and entry ability, and Initiators and Sentinels function similarly to CS2’s Entry and LoL’s Support roles.

You get where we’re going, right? These are three of the most popular games in the competitive scene, and it’s crucial to understand the terminology for any game you plan to follow and bet on. So be sure to look up the specific jargon to help your learning process — and consider checking out our eSports Glossary to deepen your knowledge.

3. Understand the Main eSports Betting Markets

In addition to terminology, each game features its own betting markets adapted to its dynamics. That’s why understanding the most attractive types of eSports bets is essential for profiting from the competitive scene. The main ones include:

First Blood

Common in MOBAs like LoL and Dota, as well as FPS titles like Call of Duty and CS:GO, First Blood simply refers to the first kill of the match. You can bet on which player or team will score the first elimination.

Total Kills

Total Kills allows you to bet on how many kills will occur during the match. It uses an Over/Under format similar to football goals. For this one, it’s important to analyze whether the game is likely to have a fast-paced or slower tempo.

Total Maps

Similar to Total Kills, Total Maps involves predicting how many maps will be played in a match. The Over/Under model is also used here, based on the format of the series.

Handicap

Present in all sports, the Handicap is a mechanism used to balance matches with a large skill gap — giving an advantage to the underdog. Whether in the Asian or European format, it can be applied to various types of events.

Tournament Winner

This type of eSports bet focuses on predicting who will win a specific tournament. It usually follows the Moneyline format, where you simply choose the champion.

Match Winner

Similar to the previous option, this is also a Moneyline bet but on a short-term basis. You just need to quickly analyze recent results and the current form of the players or teams involved to predict who will win the match.

Map Winner

Many eSports competitions use best-of-three or best-of-five map formats to determine the winner. Therefore, you can bet on who will win each specific map. Besides analyzing historical performance, you should also consider the map’s characteristics.

4. Follow eSports Experts

Of course, it’s essential to study the dynamics of the chosen game and the performance of pro players and teams in the competitive scene before placing your bets. Top sources of insights include content creators, eSports analysts, and tipsters who provide detailed and useful information to help you plan your wagers.

It’s worth noting that developing your own critical thinking is crucial when betting. After all, the knowledge shared by others should only support your decision-making — which should ultimately be done independently, not by blindly following advice.

5. Understand the Risks Before Betting

Knowing stats, data, and the dynamics of eSports is fundamental to betting safely. However, that’s not the only thing you need to study — there are real risks that shouldn’t be underestimated.

In terms of mental health, Gambling Addiction is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a mental health disorder — often linked to depression, anxiety, and other serious impacts.

Financial matters should also be managed responsibly and within your personal limits. That’s why it’s important to study bankroll management strategies to plan your entertainment budget without risking financial harm.

6. Follow the Responsible Gambling Guidelines

eSports betting lets you combine two passions in one, which is why it’s becoming increasingly popular on betting platforms. Before placing any bet, remember that betting is a form of entertainment — not an investment.

This awareness is key to staying safe and avoiding unnecessary risks. To steer clear of problems, follow the principles of Responsible Gambling and seek help if needed.

Bet on eSports at Blaze!

Now you know the key tips for betting on the world’s top gaming tournaments! Which title will you choose to get hyped for every match? Bet on eSports at Blaze and get ready for some serious fun!