With esports steadily emerging into the mainstream, several of the leading online sportsbooks are starting to do brisk business from this new market.
If you are a bettor on esports, or you’re considering joining the club, it is essential to formulate some kind of strategy in advance to improve your chances of success.
We have put together some key considerations; a dos and don’ts list for esports betting, which will help you when planning your own successful esports betting system and strategy. When you found a way and you feel safe and secure there are plenty of sites out there like live-sportsbetting.com, just to name a one of them.
Do When Esports Betting
Understand the Game(s)
Only bet on what you know something about. While this may sound like the most obvious advice in the world, you’d be amazed at how many bettors blindly enter the fray without the required knowledge to succeed.
Personally, I do not bet on horse racing, simply because I do not know enough about the sport to believe I would win more than I’d lose. If you are a gamer, stick to betting on games you have the best understanding of. You might be awesome at League of Legends, but that does not mean you’re the best at Dota2.
The more knowledgeable you are of the game, the much higher your success rate is likely to be.
Research Teams and Players
Most people would not bet on Rotherham to beat Manchester United as they know Man Utd are one of the top clubs in England and Rotherham are not. The same rules apply to esports teams.
Within your chosen game(s), learn which teams are the Manchester United equivalents and which are the Rotherhams. Who are the best players? What are their strengths and weaknesses?
Online bookmakers will mainly use big data to compile their prices, This, I believe, presents a good opportunity for the bettor who has a meticulous understanding of the game, teams and players. Perhaps, certain teams do not match up well against others, or particular event formats do not tend to suit certain players. Knowledge is power – but only if used correctly.
Comparing and Choosing Bookmakers
You will find a bit of variance in the odds (also known as ‘prices’) offered from bookmaker to bookmaker. They are competing against one another for your business, so take advantage of this.
Additionally, some bookmakers offer a wider array of betting markets which could fit in better with your strategy. A little effort put in here, will definitely serve you well further down the line.
Learn About Betting
As mentioned above, there are different betting markets open to bettors. The most common is the ‘match result’ market where you bet on a team to win overall. However, other markets (depending on the game) might include; winner of the first map, first team to 10 kills, most kills overall. Furthermore, handicap betting is popular in esports betting, which is a method used to even up the chances for both sides.
It is also good practice to have a pre-prepared staking method and sticking to it. This means how much of your bankroll should be used on each match/market. Coupling all this knowledge together will give your strategy a solid foundation to kick on from.
Don’t When Esports Betting
Bet on too Many Games
It is very easy to get caught up in the buzz and start placing wagers left, right and centre. This is a terrible idea and it will likely lead to your bankroll vanishing before you know it.
Smart bettors limit themselves to the best opportunities. Stick to the games you know, the teams you have researched and the markets which will bring you the best chance of success.
Use Emotion
Betting on emotion is probably the worst thing a bettor can do. This takes several forms such as betting on your personal favourite team. While your support is commendable, it’s not the best strategy to employ if your team is likely to be beaten.
Chasing bets is another big no! We’ve all been there and had a winning ticket snatched from our grasp at the death so we’ve decided to place another bet to make up for it. Suddenly, your whole strategy is thrown (emotionally) out of the window. You are betting blind and that spells trouble.
Use Chain Logic
Fulham beat Liverpool; Liverpool beat Manchester United. Does that mean Fulham will also beat Manchester United? Of course it does not! There is no place for simple chain logic in a successful betting strategy.
Research everything, perhaps a team lost a game which they were expected to win. Did they have a key team member sick? Was a normally reliable player was off his game? Did the opposition get a bit lucky? Use what you know to place sensible bets – do not rely on illogical chain logic.
A Final Word
Let us emphasize again, research is key. Knowledge is power. Bet only on games which you have researched and have a good knowledge of. The only exception to this rule is betting upon a tip from someone else but make sure that person has done their homework.
Manage your bankroll and gamble responsibly. In case you feel this fun is turning into addiction, seek help. It’s a marathon not a sprint as the saying goes. Don’t let emotion play a part in your betting. Bad luck happens – take the dog for a walk and clear your head. Keep these key points in mind as you develop your esports betting strategy and your chances of success will no doubt improve.
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