The growth in popularity of video games during the 21st century has been the driving force behind the creation of a professional circuit for the genre.
The eSports industry is one of the fastest growing in Australia, with interest from sponsors, media outlets, and online betting companies driving the boom.
Games such as Counter-Strike, League of Legends (LoL), Dota 2, and EA FC are the most popular, drawing almost as much attention as some traditional sports.
Numerous major eSports events are live-streamed worldwide, presenting an ideal chance to engage in betting while watching the action.
As interest in video games grows exponentially thanks to massive investments, many leading bookmakers in Australia have ramped up their eSports coverage.
Given the multitude of matches across numerous popular video games available on a daily basis, growing interest in eSports betting comes as no surprise.
There is minimal difference between betting on traditional sports such as cricket or Australian Rules Football and eSports. Let’s take a closer look at eSports betting.
There are several different ways to bet on eSports in Australia. Here are some of the most popular:
Pre-Match Betting
- Match Result: A wager on a player or team you believe will come out on top of a specific match.
- Maps: In games where players or teams battle to win a map, you can bet on the number of maps you think they will take control of.
- Correct Score: In games such as EA FC, you can place bets on the final score between two players in a single game.
- Over/Under: Predict whether a team will score over or under a designated number of points or achieve a specific quantity of map wins.
- Outright Betting: Bet on a player or team to win a league or tournament.
Multiple Bets
A multiple bet, also known as an accumulator, offers bettors a chance to wager on multiple outcomes with the potential for boosted profits.
For instance, you can pick two teams to win their opening matches of a CS:GO tournament on one bet slip. You can also back one team to win and another to drop a map.
While multiple bets come with the promise of accumulated profits, they carry more risks than a single bet.
Live Betting
Live betting has become a popular trend among Australian punters since it gives them a better insight into the game once the action gets underway.
For example, you can bet on a football team to score the next goal in match. In eSports, you can back an EA FC player to do the same or a team to win the next map in LoL.
With more and more betting platforms offering live streams, you can also monitor the progress of your wagers as the action unfolds.
Tips for New eSports Bettors
If you have never previously wagered on eSports, here are a few handy tips:
- Familiarise yourself with eSports: Although you don’t need to be an expert or a professional gamer to bet on eSports, it’s crucial you understand the basics of a specific game before you place your wager.
- Due diligence: Not all eSports events are final tournaments. You must gather information whether you’re betting on a knockout tournament or a league match.
- Take baby steps: You must learn to crawl before you can walk. Avoiding unnecessary risks at the start of your eSports journey is the key to a healthy betting experience.
- Keep an eye on bonuses: Any experienced bettor will tell you that taking advantage of bonuses and promotions is a vital strategy to bolster potential returns.
Choose Bookmakers Carefully
As with traditional sports betting, finding the best bookmaker for eSports in Australia is often the most difficult task.
It is imperative to sign-up with sportsbooks which are fully licensed and regulated to operate in the jurisdiction to ensure the requisite player protections are in place.
If you are an Australian resident, resources such as BettingTop10 Australia can prove invaluable and help you learn how to bet on eSports in Australia.
This respected comparison platform offers credible listings of licensed and regulated sportsbooks, and provides details about where to find the best bonuses and promotions.
Examining reviews can be crucial in identifying trustworthy betting platforms. This helps new customers make informed betting decisions and place deposits with legitimate operators.