The gambling industry has undergone significant transformations over the last few decades, with punters able to obtain a variety of new experiences. New advancements and innovations have provided new ways in which the activity can be enjoyed, with new options now possible to consider.
The ability to wager on eSports has become more and more prevalent, with a top sportsbook typically offering a plethora of betting opportunities through various markets and odds.
What are eSports and why have they become a popular betting market?
While traditional sports betting continues to remain very popular, eSports wagering has experienced its fair share of increased popularity over the last decade or so.
It involves wagering on video games that are played by people – either as solo player or as part of a team. Punters are able to make a variety of bets, with many of them similar to the bets that are possible to place in traditional sports. For example, bettors can place a wager on what the final outcome will be, or they can try and predict a certain prop bet if they want to maximize the enjoyment that can be obtained.
Given that video games are popular and can provide a degree of familiarity to players of these games on a general level, they have become a go-to betting activity. Gamers will know how the title should be played and what needs to happen; much in the same way as a football fan will know what to expect or what could happen in a match that they are watching. This makes eSports wagering popular as many have an understanding and can enjoy what they are witnessing at the same time.
Understanding the odds and markets available in eSports betting
Of course, with any type of betting that may want to be enjoyed, it is important punters have an informed understanding and knowledge of the markets and odds that are being offered.
Sites will always look to be as competitive as possible in this regard as they look to differentiate themselves from their competitors. This can often result in differences between the markets and odds that are being provided across eSports.
Starting with the odds that are made available, it is important bettors try to understand why certain values are being offered. If an individual is able to appreciate why a price has been set, it can help them to make a more informed decision and have a greater understanding of what may happen.
If the odds are short, then there is a bigger likelihood of the outcome happening compared to those that have longer odds. That does not mean it is a guarantee by any means, but based on probability, that is what is likely to happen.
In terms of markets, eSports bettors will be able to find a variety of different options that they can wager on. As mentioned, there are some markets that will be very similar to traditional sports, such as final outcomes, over/under on certain props, etc. However, there may be game-specific markets available to enjoy, too. These will relate to in-game features or mechanics that may not be found in other video game titles.
Again, it is important for punters to be able to understand what each market refers to when placing a bet to ensure a positive experience is enjoyed. Without any prior knowledge, an informed decision can not be made, which will likely only result in a negative outcome.
The Bottom Line
As is important across all gambling activities, bettors need to have an understanding of all aspects, especially when wagering on eSports betting activities.
Betting on video games can be an entirely appealing proposition for many because they may have a familiarity with how a game should be played. However, with others playing them, betting on them can be difficult.
Each player is unique and may have a different way of trying to accomplish a desired outcome, thus making it important for punters to ensure they have an understanding of the markets that they are wagering on and an ability to try and deduce what the odds presented are actually trying to tell them. If they can, then they may have a more positive experience.
