Three important tips before making your first esports bets

Betting on esports for the first time can be intimidating, but these three tips will give you peace of mind when filling out your first bet slip.

Esports has quickly grown from basement competitions into a billion-dollar affair, and the gambling industry has taken notice. There are hundreds of betting sites to pick from, with hundreds of lines across several competitive titles. It’s easy for new esports bettors to feel overwhelmed by choice. Whether they want to bet on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Overwatch, or Apex Legends, a few simple tips can help them get comfortable in the sportsbooks. Here are three things that every new esports bettor should know before staking their first claim on a match.

Compare online sportsbooks to find the best deals

With so many online sportsbooks to choose from, it can be difficult to find one suited to any given player’s needs. There’s a massive amount of features available across sites, from cryptocurrency support to digital casinos to live esports betting. In addition, handsome bonuses are a major draw for new esports bettors. Licensing is also important, and United States-based bettors have extra reason to pay attention.

The best thing to do is to compare top online US sportsbooks among each other and choose one that ticks all your necessary boxes. Looking up reviews for esports betting sites can also help by providing a list of their features. First-time deposit bonuses are usually quite rewarding, so make sure to check several sites to find the best deals.

Pick an esport you’re familiar with

When it comes to getting comfortable betting on esports, spectators should stick with what they know. As an esports fan, maybe it’s easy to mix up betting sites if you’re less familiar with odds, bet slips, and props. Start by picking one single game and sticking with it. For example, if you’re a fan of Valorant, try following events in the Valorant Champions Tour. Overwatch fans can watch the Overwatch League while Dota 2 bettors can check in for the Dota Pro Circuit. It’s fine to bet on multiple games but stick to one to get acclimated to betting.

As for what kind of bets to make, a simple match bet is the easiest way to get accustomed to a new site. This prediction is purely about which team wins a match. It doesn’t matter if it’s a close victory or a total stomp. The only way to win is to predict the winning team. Once comfortable, you can explore other kinds of bets like the spread or match length.

Bet with a budget and pace yourself

There’s always an opportunity to earn big money off clever match predictions, but many players have let a little success get to their head. The opposite is also true, with losing streaks only leading to more losses. To prevent any issues, it’s important to create an esports betting budget and stick to it. New bettors can start with just a few dollars on a match here and there and ramp up once they’ve learned to bet smoothly. 

There’s nothing worse than winding up with an empty betting purse, but if players budget carefully, they should be able to tank a losing streak and keep betting in the long run. It’s also important to bet with a clear head and not fall victim to tilt. A cool, calm, and collected gambler usually makes better decisions than an upset one. 

Esports betting is still a new field, and technology is constantly changing. Even tech-savvy esports fans can initially feel overwhelmed, but the best way to bet with confidence is to get some experience in the sportsbooks. Keep these three tips in mind when you make your first esports bets.