Teresa Hoy 
Betting on sports is one of the age-long pastimes. While gambling platforms such as ICE Kasyno have only recently popularized the pastime, it is an event that has been with us for generations. Just recently, eSports was introduced to the traditional sports betting niche. But how well do you know about it? What is the difference between traditional sports betting and electronic sports wagering? Our expert has prepared a detailed and helpful guide pitting these two together. Discover what eSports wagering is all about, the popular betting niches in the event, and how it compares to the classic form of wagering.
Esports
It’s not every day you see a new sport come along, let alone one that will capture the imagination of fans worldwide. Be it in the Americas, Asia, Africa, or Europe. But this is what eSports has achieved, and with minimal effort. What started as a mere video gaming niche has become a worldwide sensation, filling up stadiums across Asia and the world. The supporting gambling industry has also grown rapidly over the past decade, putting eSports into the limelight. With such an established few years under its belt, one might be mistaken to think it has reached its peak. On the contrary, it has only started as more and more people join it every day.
What Is Esports Wagering?
If you’ve wagered on any sporting event before, then you should be familiar with eSports betting. As the name implies, it is the process of placing bets on the sport. As you will see soon, it is very similar to regular sports wagering events. Despite only becoming mainstream in the betting circle over the last decade or so, it is a much more established event. The roots of this go as far back as 1972 when a group of Stanford University students faced off in a Spacewar game. By 1980, a score-keeping body had been formed – Twin Galaxies – which gave birth to the US National Video Game Team in 1983.
While the origins of eSports may largely be linked to the United States, the Asian continent (particularly South Korea and Japan) has pulled significantly in front as far as popularity and audiences of modern-day are concerned. The competition has become so popular in the continent that it was included in the 2022 Asian Games as a medal sport, making it the first time eSport has been recognized at such levels of competition.
Popular Betting in Esports
If you are more interested in electronic sports wagering than history, you’ll be pleased to know you can still wager on the same markets as other popular sporting events. Below are some of the common and popular betting in eSports:
● Moneyline betting: In this, you are simply wagering on who will win the match. An eSports event can last anywhere from 5 minutes up to 40 minutes. So, when you pick your preferred winner, you simply place a moneyline bet on eSports. The shorter the odds, the higher the chances of your pick to win.
● Totals betting: This encompasses a wide variety of events. Basically, you are betting a certain number of events will happen in the match. It could be goals, points, yellow cards, etc. The available markets vary depending on the sporting event you are wagering on.
● Handicap betting: This allows you to give one team a virtual disadvantage or advantage. This gives one of the teams a balance to the odds. It’s widespread in FIFA eSports wagering.
Traditional Sports Betting
Traditional sports betting is quite a common and ‘primitive’ venture, especially if you follow the old-school ways – pre-betting sites. Simply head out to the nearest joints, place your bet, and walk away with your ticket. If your prediction passes, come in and cash in your ticket. Online sports betting has changed this. Today, you can bet on virtually every sporting event (including eSports) from anywhere in the world. You’ll receive your feedback as soon as the event is over. In fact, you can cash out even before the event is over, thanks to innovative features such as the cash-out.
Traditional vs. Esports Wagering
So, how do the two compare in terms of popularity, revenue, and age group? They are pretty much the same, although there are subtle differences this section looks at below:
● Popularity. Traditional sports betting might have an edge over esports due to age. However, if you can compare both over the past decade, it’s safe to say electronic sports wagering is much more popular. According to a report, esports betting is expected to generate over $30 billion annually by 2025. This is much lower compared to the brick-and-mortar establishments, which seem to be on the decline with the growing popularity of online bookmakers.
● The nature of the game. A significant difference between the two lies in the nature of the game. eSports is a video game played in a much more competitive environment, mainly in tournaments. Some might argue about traditional sporting events such as basketball, cricket, football, or horse racing. But the truth is that these are all physical games. The goals, tactics, and rules employed in them are pretty different from each other. These are reflected in outcomes and wagering patterns.
● Age group. As far as it is concerned, gaming betting is much more tailored for the younger generation and the few older generations who started playing video games in the past – before they reached mainstream.
Can You Make Money Gambling on Sports & Esports?
The truth is that you can make money betting on traditional sports and eSports. Whichever way you decide to place your bet, it’s not guaranteed to make a profit from it. You must know the sporting event well, have a betting strategy, and remember that you must quit while you’re ahead!
