Esports has made a name for itself and is now regarded as a major sports betting category, but it faces a substantial stumbling block. The problem is that there are so many titles and subcategories that makes it difficult to make a specific choice when it comes to placing a bet.
For example, with football betting, you know the sport and probably have a set of teams you follow. But with esports? There is racing, Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA), first-person shooter, third-person shooter and so many more. Then under each category, there are so many titles. For instance, with MOBA, there is League of Legends, Dota 2, Arena of Valor, just to name a few! We believe you are starting to get the idea of what we implied with “stumbling block.”
The aim of this piece is to help you get around it and introduce you to five of the best video games of esports betting. If you haven’t tried them before, you don’t know what you are missing. Let’s get into it!
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO)
If you are a fan of first-person shooters, you’ll love CS:GO. We specifically love this game because it is not one of those shooters where everyone runs around aimlessly hunting for the win. With CS:GO, although the gameplay has a fast pace, the game is tactical. So, in team play, everyone has to work together and make the right moves.
For starters, the game is a simple plot of “terrorists vs. counter terrorists.” Whichever one you support; the aim is to eliminate the other and complete the necessary objectives.
The game has solid backing in the esports industry, and it is no surprise since the franchise has been in existence since 1999. In fact, Global Offensive is the fourth in the gaming line—the best so far. And in terms of popularity, it is second to none. That is why as more US states are beginning to legalize online gambling, it is one of the first titles you’ll see in sportsbooks.
Some of the best competitions to bet on this game are:
- Major Championship
- Intel Extreme Masters
- ESL Online
Call of Duty (COD)
Even if you are not a gamer, you’ve probably heard of Call of Duty (COD) before. It is popular in the regular gaming space, and we can also say the same for the esports sector. The strength of COD lies in the presence of different modes; that way, it doesn’t seem one-dimensional each time you bet on it. Some of what you have are:
- Search & Destroy
- Hardpoint
- Domination
The goal of each one is different so the betting styles may vary slightly. For instance, Search & Destroy is mainly to eliminate opponents while Hardpoint requires players to dominate certain zones for a specified time. While they are still going to eliminate players in the process, the objective adds a different flavor, making the game interesting for both players and bettors.
Another implication of the different modes is that you have a wider range of betting options. You’ll find options like:
- Outright match outcome
- Map wins
- Total Kills
- And several other in-game events.
League of Legends (LoL)
League of Legends (LoL) is another MOBA game that has been in the esports space for a long time. In fact, some people think this is the only type of game played in this niche. As with other multiplayer games, you team up to eliminate your opponent’s team. It is a head-to-head battle of 5v5 so you can imagine the level of teamwork that goes into it.
Since it is a free-to-play game, it has over 3 million people playing daily, so you can imagine how huge the betting market is. In fact, it has a dedicated championship—League of Legends World Championship—which is a global event that sees players from all over the globe compete for a prize pool. Whatever you do, don’t miss this championship on your bookie.
You can also catch up with good LoL odds in tournaments like ML: BB Professional League and Mid-Season Invitational.
Dota 2
Defense of the Ancients, popularly known as Dota 2, is a giant in the esports history. Besides the betting aspect, this game is actually interesting to watch and follow. It is a multiplayer action franchise that brings a new dimension to strategy and tactics. In the developer’s words—there is always a new strategy or tactic to discover—and they are not wrong!
Every team consists of five players that compete against each other for a grand prize pool. One thing that stands out about this game is the number of characters that it has; players can choose from more than 100 different playable characters!
What makes Dota 2 interesting to bet on is the level of competitiveness. Due to the large prize pools that are attached, players always have something up their sleeves. Just have a look at some of the Dota 2 prize pool we’ve seen over the years:
- The International 2021 – $40,018,400
- The International 2019 – $34,330,069
- The International 2018 – $25,532,177
- The International 2017 – $24,687,919
- The International 2016 – $20,770,460
Looking at these prize pools, you can understand why it is the perfect competition ground for betting too.
Valorant
Compared to other titles on this list, Valorant is relatively new. Released in 2020, it quickly became a fan-favorite and today, it is featured in major tournaments like:
- Intel Arabian Cup Playground
- Game Changers
- Asia Esports Championship
- EMG Series
- Project V
Considering that it is a free-to-play game, we are not surprised that it has a very large community (especially with the recent addition of the game to console). The game also backs it up with a unique gaming mechanism that sets it apart from other titles in the same category.
The game has a totally different approach to everything; for example, as opposed to player characters, the game tags them as “agents.” Each of them have their unique strengths and weaknesses that players choose based on their objectives. And you as a bettor would position your bets based on who you believe to have the upper hand, and which teams have the most synergy. A lot of former CS:GO pro players migrated to Valorant after its release, the fact that many of these players were known streamers really helped boost the game in the public eye within a short period of time.
We believe Valorant is here to stay, and as the years go by, we’ll monitor to see how it upfolds and adapts to this constantly evolving community.
