Bo3Sat 16:00
Mirage · Nuke · decider Ancient
Esports betting · CS2 · LoL · Dota 2 · Valorant
Previews that show their working.
Esports match previews with the map veto, form and team news laid out, prices turned into chances, and every bet kept on the record. Plus plain-English guides to each game and its betting markets.
- 4
- games covered
- +6.2%
- sample ROI
- 0
- results hidden
Match of the week · CS2 · Bo3Example fixture
Harbour Foxes to win
Harbour Foxes v Iron Kestrels · Example Cup Europe quarter-final · Mirage, Nuke, Ancient
1.732 pts
Match slate
This week's matches
The matches we are watching across the four big games, with the prices, the likely maps or draft, and our lean. Filter by game.
Example fixturesAll previews →
Bo3Sat 19:30
Inferno · Ancient · decider Dust II
Bo1Sat 17:00
Both teams draft for early fights
Bo2Sun 13:00
Bo2: a 1-1 draw settles the match market as a draw
Bo3Sun 18:00
Ascent · Lotus · decider Bind
Bo1Sun 17:00
We make it close to 50-50
Example teams, events and prices for demonstration. Prices move: check before you bet. 18+.
Pick a game
Four games, four ways to bet
Each game settles differently. Start with what decides matches, then learn the markets that follow from it.
Counter-Strike 2The CS2 betting guide
Maps decide everything
Counter-Strike 2 is played map by map, and teams pick and ban maps before each series. Read the veto before you read the odds: a team can be favourite overall and an underdog on the map that matters.
- MR12
- First to 13 rounds wins a map
- 7
- Maps in the active pool
- Bo3
- Usual playoff format
- 24
- Rounds in regulation
Markets to know
- 1Map handicapBack a team -1.5 to win 2-0, or +1.5 to take at least one map.
- 2Total mapsOver 2.5 maps wins if the series goes to a decider.
- 3Map winnerBet on one map, once you know which it is.
League of LegendsThe LoL betting guide
Drafts and objectives
League of Legends is won through the draft and the objectives: dragons, Barons and towers. Most regular-season games are single maps, so upsets are common.
- Bo1
- Most league games
- 5
- Players and champions a side
- ~32
- Minutes in a typical game
- Bo5
- Playoff finals
Markets to know
- 1First dragonWhich team takes the first dragon of the game.
- 2Total killsOver or under a line such as 26.5 kills.
- 3Game handicapIn a series, a team to win by two games or more.
Dota 2The Dota 2 and Valorant guide
Long games, big swings
Dota 2 games run longer than LoL and comebacks are common, so live prices swing hard. Group stages often use best-of-two, where a draw is a real result.
- Bo2
- Common in group stages
- ~40
- Minutes in a typical game
- 120+
- Heroes to draft from
- Draw
- A 1-1 in a Bo2
Markets to know
- 1Match result (3-way)In a Bo2, back either team or the draw.
- 2First bloodThe first kill of the game.
- 3Game durationOver or under a time such as 39.5 minutes.
ValorantThe Dota 2 and Valorant guide
Rounds, economy and maps
Valorant plays like CS2 with abilities: map picks, first to 13 rounds and an economy that decides which rounds a team can win. Pistol rounds matter more than they look.
- 13
- Rounds to win a map
- 2
- Pistol rounds a map
- Bo3
- Usual format
- 5v5
- Agents on each side
Markets to know
- 1Map handicapAs in CS2: -1.5 for a 2-0, +1.5 for at least one map.
- 2Round handicapA team to win a map by a set number of rounds.
- 3Total roundsOver or under a line such as 22.5 rounds on a map.
Road to the final
Example Cup Europe playoffs
The playoff bracket and the outright prices, updated as results come in.
Example bracket
Quarter-finals
Harbour Foxes
Iron Kestrels
Granite Hawks
Paper Lanterns
Northwind2
Static Owls1
Tidebreakers0
Glasshouse2
Semi-finals
Winner QF1
Winner QF2
Northwind
Glasshouse
Grand final
Winner SF1
Winner SF2
Sun 19:00 · Bo5
To win the cup
| Harbour FoxesOur pick: easiest side of the bracket | 3.25 |
| NorthwindThrough to the semis | 3.60 |
| Granite Hawks | 4.50 |
| GlasshouseThrough to the semis | 5.00 |
| Iron KestrelsPlaying with a stand-in | 8.00 |
| Paper Lanterns | 15.00 |
Example tournament and prices for demonstration. 18+.
Game guides
Betting guides by game
How each game works, what decides matches and which markets suit it.
Price lesson
What the odds are telling you
Every price is a chance with a margin built in. Convert any price, and see how much the bookmaker keeps on a two-way match.
- Decimal
- 1.73
- Fractional
- 8/11
- American
- -137
- Implied
- 57.8%
A £10 stake returns £17.30 if it wins: £7.30 profit plus your stake.
The bookmaker's margin
Enter both prices of a two-way match to see how much is built in.
Margin 5.4%. Fair prices without it: 1.82 and 2.21.
| Price | Decimal | Implied | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 | 1.25 | 80.0% | Heavy favourite |
| 8/11 | 1.73 | 57.9% | Clear favourite |
| evens | 2.00 | 50.0% | A coin flip |
| 6/4 | 2.50 | 40.0% | Slight underdog |
| 3/1 | 4.00 | 25.0% | Underdog |
Every bet, on the record
The record
Every bet is settled at the price we advised and stays on the page, winners and losers. Judge us on ROI over hundreds of bets.
Sample record · replace with your results
+4.46
points profit from 58 bets over 12 weeks
| By game | Bets | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| CS2 | 24 | +2.9 |
| LoL | 16 | +1.2 |
| Dota 2 | 10 | -0.8 |
| Valorant | 8 | +1.16 |
48.3%
Strike rate
+6.2%
ROI on 72 pts staked
57%
Beat the closing price
5
Longest losing run
Profit by week, points
Last resultsWWLWLLWWLW
Sample data for demonstration, not real results. Past results are no guide to future results.
Partner offers · UK customers
Featured offers
Esports bookmakers from our partners, with the terms that matter pulled out. We may earn a commission if you sign up; it never changes a preview or a price we quote.
Example offers · placeholder partners
| # | Bookmaker | Welcome offer | Best for | Min odds | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BBookmaker ANew customer offerOur pick for CS2 | Bet £10, get £20 in free bets | Map and round markets | 1.50 | 4.7 | 18+ · New UK customers · T&Cs apply |
| 2 | BBookmaker BNew customer offer | £10 esports free bet | LoL objective markets | 2.00 | 4.5 | 18+ · New UK customers · T&Cs apply |
| 3 | BBookmaker CNew customer offer | Bet £20, get £10 | In-play streams | 1.50 | 4.2 | 18+ · New UK customers · T&Cs apply |
Replace these example partners with your own offers: add your affiliate links in the page editor.
Safer gambling
Set a limit before the first map.
Betting is for adults aged 18 and over (21 in most US states). Skin betting sites need a licence too. If betting stops being fun, Gambling Therapy offers free support worldwide, and in Great Britain the National Gambling Helpline is on 0808 8020 133. GAMSTOP blocks you from UK betting sites.
FAQ
Straight answers
The questions we get most about esports betting.
What is a map handicap?⌄
A head start in maps. Back a team -1.5 and it must win the series 2-0; back a team +1.5 and it only needs to win one map. It gives a bigger price on a favourite, or a safer bet on an underdog.
What happens to my bet if a team plays with a stand-in?⌄
Usually nothing: most bookmakers settle the bet as normal. Some void bets when a team changes name or withdraws. Check your bookmaker’s esports rules before you bet.
How old do you have to be to bet on esports?⌄
18 in the UK and most of Europe, and 21 in most US states that allow it. Betting with game skins is gambling too and needs a licence in Great Britain.
Where can I get help if betting stops being fun?⌄
Gambling Therapy offers free support worldwide at gamblingtherapy.org. In Great Britain, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, or block UK betting sites with GAMSTOP.