The world of competitive gaming goes all the way back to the 1960s and 1970s, with the first pioneering computer games, and during the 1980s and 1990s, there were regular attempts to bring together the world’s best game players, but esports really took off in the internet era.

From the late 1990s onwards, the rapid development of internet technology has enabled the sport to thrive and in the 2020s there are hundreds of millions of esports fans all over the world, with established and prestigious tournaments and Tours, particularly for the major esports such as Dota 2, CS:GO and League Of Legends.

Alongside this rapid growth there has been an explosion in demand for esports betting opportunities. Every day esports fans check out the best sites for esports betting, but as with every form of betting, there are advantages and disadvantages to betting on esports.

Esports Betting Advantages

Getting an Edge

One of the keys to successful betting is gaining an edge: both over your fellow bettors and the bookmaker you are betting with. For the knowledgeable esports bettor, it is possible to find edges when you bet at traditional bookmaker sites. The market-setters and odds-compilers at these sites won’t have the same in-depth knowledge of esports as they do for sports like football, and this can present opportunities for shrewd esports bettors.

Transferrable Skills

There are dozens of high profile esports to bet on, but it is often possible to group together types of esports games. For example, League of Legends and Dota 2 are both Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games – as are Vainglory, Arena of Valor and Heroes of the Storm. Becoming familiar with one game in a genre can make it easier for you to find betting opportunities in related sports.

Plenty of Coverage

For the major esports in particular, there is lots of coverage out there. In fact, it is possible to see almost every major esports match at the top tournaments, and there is a huge online resource of statistics, reporting and analysis to help inform your betting strategy.

Esports Betting Disadvantages

Unscrupulous Operators

Unfortunately, esports betting is still not legal in a few betting jurisdictions, and this encourages unscrupulous operators to set up unlicensed betting sites. Esports betting interest is greatest among the 25-35 age bracket, but these younger bettors may be more vulnerable to scams and illegal operators than older bettors in traditional sports. That’s why you should never bet at unlicensed, unregulated sites, no matter how attractive their site or betting offers appear to be.

Limited Payment Options

Esports fans tend to be more sophisticated than traditional sports betting customers when it comes to payment methods, but many betting sites lag behind when it comes to offering the latest methods. Esports fans who are familiar with cryptocurrencies and the latest e-wallet payment methods may find that they have to switch to older options such as debit cards when using some sports betting sites.

Extremely Competitive

One of the keys to betting success is to be thoroughly well informed on all aspects of your chosen sport, but staying on top of everything is tougher in esports than it is in traditional sports. The world of esports is so competitive, with new star players and teams rising every few months, and constant changes to team line-ups, that it takes a lot of effort and commitment to stay informed. Esports bettors have to put in long hours if they are serious about profiting from their betting.

Summary

For esports fans who know their sports in detail, and who also take the time to learn about the way that betting markets operate, there are opportunities in the esports betting sector, particularly as traditional bookmakers and bettors are often unfamiliar with some aspects of esports.

It is important to remember, however, that bookmakers are not foolish and will be quick to correct any errors they make. To be successful at esports betting takes hard work and strong psychological skills and whether you are betting for fun or because you hope to make a profit, it is important always to keep your betting in perspective and never to bet with money you can’t afford to lose.