Esports Bets Explained: Moneyline, Maps, Totals

Bets on esports are no longer considered niche, as they are now a billion-dollar industry. According to Newzoo, revenues in the global esports business are estimated at $1.38 billion in 2022, backed by an audience of approximately 532 million worldwide. Sportsbooks are aware of this, and so are all the online casinos in 2026. These days, esports betting sits right at the center of the industry. It’s not treated as a side category anymore. To get your bearings in esports betting, start with the core markets: match winner, map winner, first blood, totals.

Each market has its own system of operation and level of risk. This esports betting guide explains the calculation of e-sports betting odds, including implied probability and bookmaker margin.

Types of Esports Bets You Can Place

There are different markets that are encompassed by esports bets, and they are similar to those of conventional sports betting, but they are based on video games. Esports betting has changed over the years as the esports bets market is growing. The global esports bets market is valued at billions, and the number of viewers is also growing. For instance, the League of Legends World Championship, which took place in 2023, reached a record of 6.4 million concurrent viewers.

Once you know these markets, comparing top esports betting sites becomes much simpler. You can clearly see how odds are set and how implied probability differs from site to site.

Match Winner

Match winner, often called the moneyline, is the simplest esports bets market. You choose who wins the match. It applies to:

• Bo1 (best of one);
• Bo3 (first to two maps);
• Bo5 (first to three maps).

Every major esports bets platform offers it. Odds reflect implied probability. Favorites carry lower prices. Underdogs pay more. For many players, this market forms the base of any esports betting strategy.

Map Winner

A map winner bet is a bet that focuses on a single map instead of an entire match. For instance, in a match of CS2 or Valorant, played in a best of 3 format, you bet on a winner.

• Map 1;
• Map 2;
• or Map 3.

Map betting is a more specific form of betting, which is available online for use in Esports online betting, facilitated by the use of multiple maps within a game. “Over 2.5 maps,“ for instance, is a bet that is predicated on the assumption of a third map within a game played using the mod Bo3.

First Blood

First Blood is a proposition where one can place a bet on which team gets the first kill in a particular game or map. This proposition is common in MOBAs (e.g., League of Legends, Dota 2), and shooters, where early engagement can greatly affect the match.

First, blood markets are settled fast and are often listed along with other props on many esports bets sites. They are based on in-game actions, not results.

Over/Under

Over/Under esports bets focus on totals rather than winners. The bookmaker sets a line. You decide if the actual result will land above or below it. Common totals include: number of maps played and total rounds in CS2 or Valorant.

For example, over 2.5 maps in a Bo3 cashes only if all three maps are played. It lets bettors avoid picking a side.

Handicap

Handicap betting adjusts the score before the match begins. It creates balance in uneven pairings. In a Bo3 series:

• +1.5 maps gives the underdog room to lose one map and still cover.
• -1.5 maps requires the favorite to win 2-0.

If the favorite drops a map, the bet loses. This structure follows the logic of traditional spread betting.

Live/In-Play

Live or in-play eSports betting allows you to place bets as the game is in progress, and the odds will be adjusted in line with the happenings in the game, such as kills and round wins. All major sportsbooks provide the following live esports bets options:

• CS2
• Dota 2;
• League of Legends;
• Other games.

It’s popular because it allows quick reactions while the game is still unfolding.

Outrights

Outright (futures) esports bets target the champion of a tournament or league before the event concludes. These odds typically move as teams advance and form shifts. Outright markets are available well before finals and are common at online casinos and esports bookmakers, offering value for long-term forecasts.

Micro Bets

Micro esports bets are small, short-term wagers on certain aspects of an in-game event, like who will win the following round, objective, or kill. Micro bets, or prop markets, become possible due to the data provided by esports games, which offer numerous platforms. Micro esports bets will be attractive to those who know how games work, as they offer fast-paced betting.

How esports betting odds are calculated

Once you know how esports odds work, it’s easier to weigh the trade-off before placing a bet. Odds are basically a shortcut to likelihood. They show how likely an outcome is in numerical form. When something is expected to happen, the odds are smaller. When it’s unlikely, the odds increase.

There is consistent mathematics used in esports betting odds, though they may be represented differently.

Odds Format	Meaning & Use	Example & Calculation	Where Common
Decimal Odds	Shows total return for every 1 unit staked (stake included). Used to calculate payout quickly.	Odds of 2.50: 1 ÷ 2.50 = 40% implied probability. A $100 stake returns $250 total ($150 profit).	Europe, Canada, Australia, and most international bookmakers
Fractional Odds	Shows profit relative to stake (profit: stake). Popular in traditional UK betting markets.	Odds 5/2: $2 stake wins $5 profit. $100 stake returns $350 total ($250 profit + $100 stake).	UK, Ireland, and some regulated sportsbooks
American Odds	Displays profit relative to $100 (positive) or athe mount needed to risk to win $100 (negative).	+200: risk $100 to win $200 profit. −150: risk $150 to win $100 profit (total $250).	United States & US-facing sportsbooks

Esports Games to Bet

When betting on esports, focus on games with established leagues. Look for those with big prize pools and steady viewership. These tend to offer the most reliable betting markets on top sites and sportsbooks. According to the Esports Earnings database, competitive gaming has generated over $1.6 billion in prize money. That comes from thousands of tournaments across hundreds of games. Some titles stand out as the most popular for wagering.

1. League of Legends (LoL) is right at the top. The 2023 LoL World Championship drew a record 6.4 million concurrent viewers. That’s the highest ever for any esports event outside China. It really shows how dominant LoL is in live betting esports and outright wagers
2. Dota 2 remains a major player in esports betting. Its flagship event, The International, always boasts the biggest prize pool in gaming. TI 2021 hit around $40 million in total prize money. That made it the largest single esports tournament ever at the time. The high stakes keep things exciting. Shifting metas add constant unpredictability. This creates deep, liquid markets for bettors.
3. Valorant took off fast after launch. Riot Games built solid global circuits and Majors around it. These draw in plenty of bettors. Viewership numbers fluctuate depending on the event. Still, the structured leagues and frequent matches offer tons of betting options. You get live in-play bets plus map-specific markets.
4. Fortnite grabbed massive attention back in 2019 with its World Cup. The event drew huge crowds thanks to the game’s enormous player base and open qualifiers. Even now, it keeps strong esports support through regular seasons. Those seasons pull in both casual fans and serious competitors. That steady interest creates solid betting markets. You’ll find options like match winner bets and fun first-elimination props.

Other games, like PUBG and Mobile Legends, offer regional and world championships with large audiences and prize pools, and these factors have all contributed to the variety of esports bets on various platforms. The presence of data feeds for these games ensures that the odds offered by various esports betting platforms and esports betting software are fair and allow users to compare odds on the best esports gambling platforms.

Esports Betting Strategies

Successful eSports bets depend on probability discipline, not intuition. Here are some betting on esports tips:

1. The first rule of any esports betting strategy is bankroll control. The UK Gambling Commission advises consumers to set deposit limits and only risk money they can afford to lose. Fixed percentage staking, e.g., 1-3% of bankroll per wager, is well known in risk management models used in sports wagering.
2. Familiarize yourself with the calculation of esports betting odds. The decimal odds can be used to obtain the implied probability (1 divided by the odds). For instance, if a team’s odds are 1.67, the implied probability is 59.9%. The comparison of the implied probability with your own is the most important aspect when betting on esports online.
3. Monitor format and patch cycles. Valve and Riot regularly update competitive rules and balance, which directly affects live esports betting volatility.
4. Avoid chasing losses. Multiple research emphasizes that chasing increases financial risk. Sustainable betting esports activity requires structured limits, data analysis, and disciplined execution.

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