Do you think the term eSport refers to physical activity? Then, think again! In the last couple of decades, other competitions that involve determined skills have started to be considered sports. That’s, for example, the case of games such as chess or competitions like mathematical Olympiads. However, the most recent addition to this category is without a doubt the so-called electronic sports, or eSports for short. These kinds of competitions have been rapidly increasing in popularity in the last decade, especially among the younger generations. Actually, it has everything other traditional games have. Ranging from popular athletes to a complete fan base that passionately follows each match. They even have betting going on. That’s right; all the top Asian bookmakers have offers for electronic sports!
Nevertheless, did you know that there is one game at the top of all others when it comes to eSports betting? It could be a bit hard to believe considering that. However, the facts are undeniable, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, commonly known as CS: GO, is currently the number one video game for wagering. And, if you didn’t know of this, then you are going to find all out about it now.
Main Appeal
In that regard, CS: GO’s concept is extremely helpful, as it is not complicated whatsoever. There are no monsters or contrived winning conditions, only two teams fighting each other, and that’s it. That doesn’t mean it is so simple that it rapidly gets boring, though. Of course, there are different game modes and teams need to come up with strategies in order to achieve victory or apply the entirety of their skills to drive their enemies into a corner.
In spite of all of that, the fact stands that it is an extremely basic first-person shooter game in which two teams try to best one another. In case you are wondering about the betting types and markets, the most probably ones you will find are:
- Moneyline
- First Blood
- Draw
- Handicap (here it can apply to kills, rounds or maps)
- Region Winner
- Over/Under (applied to kills and rounds)
- Total Rounds
- Top X
Great adaptability and customization
One of the best features most e-sports games hold is the sheer amount of available customization that can be applied to the characters, also known as skins. In CS: GO that is especially the case for the weapons, for example, the AK-47 Vulcan; the Neo-Noir series, which is widely known as the prettiest and most detailed ones around; or the USP-S Kill Confirmed, which features one of the flashiest designs around and drives home the point that you are one of those players that no one should mess with.
This was the very core of where the betting industry centered its focus on e-sports, being a step that cemented the concepts of betting into the game, and soon, many competitions would be developed to bring the most professional of players out into the field to test out their skills in the most competitive environments imaginable.
Massive Events, massive opportunities
There are major competitions almost every month depending on the game and the league. And while some are more competitive than others, the great variety of options makes it almost certain that you can find a suitable market to wager on. When it comes to betting on CS: GO, the biggest is the ESL Pro League which is widely seen as the Premier League of Counter-Strike.
Overall, betting on Counter Strike may be one of the best alternatives at the time. Especially since eSports are growing exponentially. In fact, there are many online sports betting agents who are aware of the possibility that eSports could very well replace the more classic sports; therefore include them in their betting portfolio. With more and more people drawn to this most enticing market, it´s certainly a good strategy.