Pre-Match Esports Betting: Games, Markets and Strategy

Esports betting will look strikingly familiar to anyone who has ever used sportsbooks to make wagers on regular sports. For example, as in football or basketball, players may predict the overall winner based on listed odds and their own expertise. There are Totals for overall maps, points, and rounds, just like goals and scores. However, esports also innovate, as with various markets for predicting the results of each individual map. Similar to times and rounds in regular sports, but each corresponds with a point in an overall result.

To know more, read on VivatBet’s guide to esports and its odds! We’ll explain how to locate the esports section on our platform, which games to focus on, and how to optimize strategies.

How to Bet on Esports at VivatBet

We’ve built VivatBet to ensure that everyone, from an experienced bettor to a complete novice, can place their esports bets with ease. Sign up or log in, using the website’s Registration sections, then follow these five steps:

Start with the site’s main page. Then, open the Line section to access the entire sports betting line, listing all upcoming games and matches across all sports present at VivatBet.
Select Esports to filter out all competitions but upcoming e-tournaments. Alternatively, choose the E-Sports section from the top menu on the main page. This way, you’ll navigate to the same menu even faster.
Now select the e-discipline you want to bet on to narrow the focus even further. Available e-sports include League of Legends, Dota 2, Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, and many additional ones. Finish this step by selecting a specific upcoming game you want to bet on.
Assess available odds on the game’s page. Markets represent potential outcomes, odds – their likelihood (and the player’s payout). To make a prediction, add the odds to your bet slip.
Review the list of odds in your slip, and enter your stake. Once done, confirm the bet – the odds will lock, and it’ll go live.

Additional esports betting tips include using VivatBet’s mobile betting app to access odds and markets faster, and survey the statistics.

Esports Betting Markets: What to Choose

While some of the esports betting odds might be familiar to fans who’ve wagered on sports already, many of them are unique to competitive gaming. Depending on the tournament’s popularity, we add extra markets (such as frag-based-totals, or first blood), but here are the basic ones you should know of:

Match Winner. Allows punters to predict the game’s overall winner. Note that, despite this bet sometimes being called 1x2, as in football betting, there are no draws in esports. Teams play on a set of maps from 3 to 7 (sometimes even 9) – whichever team wins the most bouts gains an overall victory.
Map Winner. This market lets you predict the team’s odds for a single round, regardless of the order (except the first). Available in CS2, Dota 2, and other competitive games.
Total Maps. Another market that’s using esports unique points system. It allows placing a wager on whether teams will play the full set of rounds or decide the outcome before the game concludes.
Handicap. Allows to even the odds by giving one participant an advantage. Stake with a 1.5 handicap indicates that a squad has to win with at least a 2-round advantage.
First Map Winner. Since the first round is the most unpredictable one, this market isn’t part of the “map winner” circuit. Allows predicting which team gains their first point by winning the initial collision.
Correct Score. A wager for seasoned bettors, allowing them to predict the ultimate score of the game. Relatively easy with 3-round games, far harder with 5- and 7-bout competitions.

These aren’t the only available pre-match betting odds; they're the general ones, suitable for almost all e-games at VivatBet. See who they fit and how complicated they are in the table below.

Market	Complexity	Best for
Match Winner	Low	Beginners who are starting their esports stakeholder journey.
Map Winner	Low	Bettors are willing to be more specific
Total Maps	Medium	Game enthusiasts
Handicap	Medium	Evening the odds on the favorite
First Map	Medium	Early game specialists, risky bets
Correct Score	High	Experienced bettors, especially when staking on playoffs and finals

Map Betting — The Most Tactical Esports Market

While most of these markets are fairly popular, one stands out. Map betting esports is a unique chance to wager on the result of a contest limited to a single round. It’s simple: since most multiplayer matches happen in several rounds held on various maps, this wager’s result is independent of the total score. This means that by wagering on a single map, VivatBet players can strategize without having to consider the overall odds.

Here are several examples of the possible map wagers with examples of how to use them for the best outcome:

Map 1 Winner. Teams tend to approach the first map with their strongest game plan. It also means it has the most concrete odds of all. This makes the outcome fairly predictable, but also means that an upset will yield even more substantial winnings. Perfect wager for beginners, Dota 2 betting, and as a part of a parlay.
Map 2 Winner. Heavily depends on the result of Map 1. On the one hand, the team in the lead can capitalize on its advantage. On the other hand, this is where the underdog gathers their fighting spirit and takes the point back. Fairly vague for pre-match stakes, but ideal for live esports betting, when teams compete right in front of bettors.
Map Handicap. Handicaps are there to even the odds, like when the heavy favorite clashes with an underperforming squad. Works best for three-map games, as a handicap of 1.5 means the team must win 2:0.
Total Rounds per map. This bet is at home with points-based games, like CS2. To illustrate, a total of over 25.5 means that teams have to play at least 26 rounds to determine a winner.

Refer to the table below to see the best use cases for each of the esports map bets.

Bet type	Game	Example	Note
Map 1 Winner	CS2, Valorant, Dota, etc.	Team A wins Round 1	Independent of the total score of the series
Handicap	CS2, LoL, Valorant, ML: BB, etc.	Team A −1.5 rounds	This wager covers only when the team wins decisively, 2:0
Total Rounds	CS2	Under 27.5 rds on Map 2	Combined number of rounds for both squads
Map 2 Winner	Dota 2	Team B wins Map 2	Useful for live, since it works best after Map 1 result

Games and Disciplines: What to Bet On

There are hundreds of competitive multiplayer games out there that draw huge audiences to their tournaments. However, only the select few are the pinnacle of e-sports, proudly boasting millions of viewers and gathering wages from all around the world:

Counter-Strike 2. One of the most sought-after disciplines players bet on after they join VivatBet, CS 2 betting offers the widest range of options and competitions.
LoL. League of Legends betting allows staking on the tournaments with one of the biggest prize pools in competitive gaming. The discipline also has the largest number of players worldwide.
Dota 2. Extremely popular in Europe, Dota 2 betting fits fans of larger, strategic matches. Has both general (match or map winner) and unique (first blood, next tower) wagering options.
Valorant. The second most popular competitive shooter on the market. Fast-growing scene, lots of major events.
And others, including, but not limited to, Call of Duty, PUBG, ML: BB, Rainbow Six, and even occasional HOMM 3 tournament!

Exploring cybersports is even better with VivatBet’s welcome bonus, allowing players to experiment with different strategies and discover new disciplines.

Pre-Match Esports Betting Strategy

Speaking of strategy, we’ve prepared a set of recommendations for new players. They won’t guarantee a victory, but are designed to put you on the right path:

Competitive multiplayer games receive regular updates. Read the patch notes for recent updates to keep yourself in the loop regarding potential balance shifts.
Esports teams are highly sensitive to roster changes. Sometimes the substitution can significantly shift the team’s balance
Compare the team’s head-to-head results: some squads can be stronger overall, but a bad matchup for a particular opponent or a map.
Study map pools; some teams tend to ban maps they struggle on, which directly influences strategies.
Avoid betting on games you have no first-hand experience with. Experimenting is good, but we advise learning first and placing wagers second.
Finally, set a bankroll for each playing session and limit your max stake before placing it, no matter how certain you are.

That last piece of advice is the most important one, which leads us to why betting responsibly is essential.

Responsible Gambling

One of the unique aspects of esports wagering is its global availability. This leads both to constant access to tournaments and impulsive nighttime betting. We strongly advise against practicing it, as well as always keeping your physical and mental health in check before placing wagers. If you’re struggling with self-control, it’s possible to set deposit limits or self-exclude from esports staking at your Personal Account settings.

E-betting and the rest of the services from our online casino Estonia are available only to the country’s residents aged 21 or older. VivatBet operates under an EMTA license and follows its directives and recommendations in conducting our operations.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Esports Betting

What is pre-match esports betting?

These are wagers bettors place before the game begins. Once the bet slip is confirmed, the odds are locked.

How do I bet on esports at VivatBet?

To bet on esports, you have to sign up at Vivatbet, open the Esports section, and choose a game. Then, select the odds you want to set your stakes on, enter the bet, and confirm it.

What is map betting?

Players can bet on the result of each individual bout in a 3-, 5-, or 7-round competition – it is independent of the total score.

Which games can I bet on?

Call of Duty, LoL, CS2, Dota2, and more – all stakes are structured around competitive tournaments.

What happens if a match is canceled?

Your wager will be canceled and returned to your Account Balance intact.

What is the minimum age to bet at VivatBet?

21 years old or more. It is a strict requirement by the EMTA (Estonian Tax and Customs Board).