The massive global growth of the eSports industry has undoubtedly been one of the biggest success stories of the past few years.
Previously dismissed as nothing more than a passing fad, professional video gaming now attracts huge interest from audiences worldwide.
Major sponsors, broadcasters, and gambling companies are falling over themselves to get involved in eSports, helping the genre gain even more legitimacy.
North America, Europe and Asia are the established powerhouses in eSports, but the landscape is changing with other regions eager to jump on the bandwagon.
For emerging jurisdictions such as the Middle East, eSports presents an opportunity to boost their bid to be viewed in a more positive light.
Several nations have previously frowned on popular commercial activities such as online gaming, while their negative views on gambling are well-documented.
However, the landscape is slowly changing, with some Arab countries in the midst of creating a formal infrastructure for eSports and betting to flourish.
The growing popularity of professional video gaming in the Middle East has sparked inevitable interest in gambling in the different leagues and tournaments.
Many Middle East-based bettors consider the availability of eSports odds and markets as a key factor when they are comparing online sports betting sites.
For many other Arab players, eSports betting remains an unfamiliar concept. With that in mind, here is a useful beginner’s guide to betting on eSports.
In simple terms, eSports is defined as competitive video gaming. The best exponents of eSports are able to showcase their talents on a professional circuit.
This bears many similarities to traditional sports, where players and teams compete in leagues and tournaments around the world.
There are two main eSports categories – real-life sports simulators such as football and basketball, and classic eSports titles such as DOTA 2 and League of Legends.
Many eSports events are streamed live, with millions of viewers tuning in worldwide to watch the showpiece events each year.
How Do You Bet on eSports?
Betting on eSports is the same as traditional sports wagering – you can place bets before an event has started or when the action gets underway via the ‘in-play’ markets.
Some of the most popular eSports markets are as follows:
Match Winner: Predict which team or player will win an eSports match.
Map Winner: Bet who will win a map in a game. This is effectively the same as wagering on which team will win a selected period in a football match.
Total Maps Played: Similar to the over/under market in traditional sports. Bet on how many maps will be played in an eSports match.
First Blood/Kill: Select which player or team will make the first blood/kill in a match. Effectively, this is the first goalscorer market in traditional sports.
Outright Winner: A bet on which player or team will win an eSports league or tournament.
As mentioned earlier, there are two main eSports categories – real-life sports simulators and classic eSports.
Real-life sports simulators are closely aligned with the traditional sports they represent, making them really easy to wager on.
EA Sports FC (formerly the FIFA series), NBA 2K and Formula 1 are among the real-life sports simulators featured extensively on online betting sites.
The most popular classic eSports titles for betting purposes include DOTA 2, League of Legends, Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO), and Fortnite.
Which Leagues and Tournaments are Best for Betting?
There are a ton of eSports leagues and tournaments staged around the world each year. Here are some of the most popular among eSports bettors.
Before you sign up for a new account with an eSports betting site, make sure it is fully licensed and regulated to operate in your jurisdiction.
It also makes sense to check whether the site covers the eSports events you are interested in, as some operators only offer odds on the major tournaments.
Your chosen site should offer odds on a vast array eSports leagues and tournaments, with their markets covering both pre-event and in-play betting.
Consider what payment options are available to ensure you can make deposits and withdrawals efficiently, and assess whether the customer support options are up to scratch.
Sites that offer eSports-specific bonuses and promotions are well worth checking out as they clearly take this element of their operations seriously.
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