Legends World Championship offer prize pools that rival or surpass traditional sporting events, and top players are treated like celebrities, with endorsement deals and sponsorships.
The Growth of Esports Betting
As esports has grown, so too has the betting market surrounding it. Esports betting follows a similar structure to traditional sports betting, with sportsbooks offering odds on various matches, tournaments, and player performances. Bettors can wager on a wide range of outcomes, from the winner of a single Betlike match to more detailed bets, such as who will score the first kill in a game of Counter-Strike or which team will destroy the first tower in League of Legends.
The esports betting market has grown exponentially in recent years, driven by several factors:
Popularity of Esports: Esports has grown into a billion-dollar industry with millions of fans globally. As more people watch and follow esports, the demand for betting on these events has naturally increased. The younger generation, which grew up with video games, is especially engaged with esports, and this audience is driving the growth of esports betting.
Increased Legitimacy: Major sportsbooks and betting platforms have started to offer esports markets, further legitimizing esports betting. Additionally, many traditional sports betting operators have entered the esports space, seeing it as a way to attract new bettors. This has given esports betting more visibility and credibility.
Advancements in Technology: The rise of online and mobile betting platforms has made it easier for people to place bets on esports. With just a few clicks or taps on their smartphone, bettors can wager on live esports events from anywhere in the world. The integration of live streaming and in-play betting has also enhanced the experience for esports bettors, allowing them to watch matches and place bets in real-time.
Types of Esports Bets
Like traditional sports betting, esports betting offers a variety of wager types, allowing bettors to engage with matches and tournaments in different ways. Here are some of the most common types of bets in esports:
Match Winner: The simplest and most common bet in esports is wagering on which team or player will win a particular match.
Handicap Betting: In games where one team is heavily favored, handicap betting allows for more balanced odds. For example, a stronger team might start with a hypothetical disadvantage (e.g., a -1.5 map handicap), and the bettor must decide if they will overcome this.
Totals (Over/Under): In this type of bet, the bettor wagers on whether a specific statistic will be over or under a set number. This could be the total number of kills, maps won, or rounds played in a match.
First Blood/First Kill: A popular in-play bet where bettors wager on which team or player will score the first kill or take the first major objective in a game.
Outright Winner: This bet involves predicting the winner of an entire tournament or league, rather than just a single match. This type of bet usually has higher odds and payouts, but it's more difficult to predict.
Prop Bets: These are more specific, game-related bets that can involve anything from predicting how long a match will last to which player will have the highest kill count.