Betting on CS:GO, Dota 2, or LoL tournaments isn’t as complicated as it might seem. Our professionals have spent many hours tracking odds, following top teams like NAVI, G2, and SK Telecom T1. We’ve learned that knowing a team’s skillsets, recent scrims, and counterplay strategies can be the key to making better bets.
This guide is for anyone who wants to understand the basics: how to place a Match Winner Bet, how to work with Handicap Bets, or even what a Prop Bet like LoL First Blood means.
We’ll cover the History of CS:GO Betting, explain strategies for Dota 2 Tournaments, and highlight significant events like The International (TI) and League of Legends Worlds.
A Look At How Esports Tournaments Have Changed Over Time
Back in the early 2010s, esports started taking off. CS:GO, Dota 2, and LoL were growing fast, and I was one of those players getting involved in skin betting. By 2013, real-money bets entered the game, and tournaments like Intel Extreme Masters made it a crowd favourite. These tournaments also led to some intense rivalries.
Dota 2 got its big break with TI in 2011, where prize pools were larger than some GDPs. I remember watching TI and all the exciting bracket matches and qualifiers. These tournaments made me start paying more attention to the bracket format, intense qualifiers, and outcomes.
Meanwhile, LoL Worlds turned betting on First Blood into an art form, with coaches and team formations playing a massive role in the predictions. The more I watched, the more I understood how to read the game. You’ll learn to do the same when you start betting on Esports with us.
What We’ve Learned: Key Insights for Successful Esports Betting
You can’t just bet on a cool team name and hope for the best. For example, in CS:GO, we learned the hard way that not all teams are great on every map. We once bet on a favourite team, but then saw that they were terrible at Overpass. Lesson learned: always check the map statistics and team compositions before placing a bet.
Additionally, events like TI or DreamHack aren’t just about skill—they’re about handling pressure. We’ve seen underdogs rise (hello, Team Spirit at TI 2021!) and big names choke. Knowing how teams handle those key moments, rotations, objectives, and game pace, can make all the difference.
Betting on your favourites all the time doesn’t pay much. We once backed an underdog in a best-of-three CS:GO match just because they had a killer track record on Inferno. That bet? Total win.
How to Bet on CS 2 Tournaments
Betting on CS:GO is where a lot of us started. It’s simple to get into, but if you want to win more consistently, there are a few things to know.
CS 2 Esport Betting Betting History
Betting on CS:GO major tournaments really took off in 2013, thanks to skin betting. Who didn’t want to flex a rare AWP Dragon Lore? By 2016, platforms moved into real-money betting. Tournaments like ESL Pro League and Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) made CS:GO the king of esports betting. With the release of CS 2, the betting scene continues with updated gameplay and fresh betting.
CS Bet Types
These are the main bet types you’ll find:
- Match Winner: Pick the team you think will win.
- Handicap Betting: Adds or subtracts rounds to even the playing field.
- Over/Under Rounds: Predict if a game will have more or fewer rounds than a set number.
- Map Winner: Bet on the winner of specific maps.
- Live Betting: Perfect for those clutch overtime moments.
Popular Teams to Watch and Bet On
Some teams are classics, like NAVI and Astralis, while others, like Team Vitality or Team Liquid, are rising stars. We’ve noticed that form can change fast, so always check recent match stats. And don’t ignore underdogs; they’ve surprised us more than once.
Betting Strategy for Counter-Strike
Here’s what we’ve learned from years of CS:GO betting:
- Study the Maps: Not every team plays every map well. If a team bans Nuke every time, don’t bet on them dominating there.
- Team Form: We’ve seen teams go from unbeatable to terrible after a roster change.
- Watch the Meta: Updates can shake everything. When the SG553 meta hit, it threw teams off.
How to Bet on Dota 2 Tournaments
If you’ve mastered CS:GO betting, trying Dota 2 tournaments is the next logical step. This game is like chess with explosions, strategy, teamwork, and a little chaos.
Dota 2 Betting History
Betting on Dota 2 really took off with TI in 2011. Back then, the $1.6 million prize pool felt massive. Fast forward to 2021, and TI10 shattered records with a $40 million pool.
Markets like Match Winner and First Blood became staples, but unique bets like Total Kills and Map Winner also gained traction. Fun options like that are perfect for predicting moments such as tactics or counters.
Dota 2 Betting
Here are the most common Dota 2 bet types:
- Match Winner: Pick the team that wins.
- First Blood: Bet on which team lands the first kill.
- Map Winner: Predict who wins specific games in best-of-three or best-of-five series.
- Total Kills: Under/Over bet on the total kills in a match.
- Tournament Winner: Place long-term bets on which team will take home the trophy.
- MVP Bet: Bet on who will be the most valuable player in the match.
Popular Teams: From All-Time Winners to Underdogs
The Dota 2 scene has always had legendary teams. Remember OG’s back-to-back TI wins in 2018 and 2019, or NAVI dominating the early years of TI? Teams like these are icons, but today’s scene has plenty of rising stars.
Tundra Esports and Team Spirit shook up the meta in recent years. PSG.LGD consistently perform but seems cursed to miss out on the big win. Keep an eye on underdogs like teams from South America and Southeast Asia which often pull off surprises in Dota 2 premier tournaments.
Knowing the rosters, recent performance, and regional meta trends can help you pick winners.
Betting Strategy for Dota 2
Here’s how we’ve found success betting on Dota 2:
- Hero Selection Trends: Some heroes are overpowered in specific patches. If a team’s draft leans on the meta, they’re likely in a good spot.
- Draft Analysis: A team with a strong late-game draft might lose early but dominate later.
- Meta Shifts: Every patch changes the game. When zoo stats (beastmaster, lycan) were strong, betting on tower-heavy teams was golden.
- Recent Form: Teams have hot and cold streaks. Don’t bet on past glory. Check how they’re doing now.
How to Bet on LoL Tournaments
We’ve spent so many hours watching LoL tournaments, yelling at our screens, and placing bets on First Blood or that one underdog team we believed in. Sometimes it paid off, sometimes not. If you want to bet on League of Legends tournaments, like LCS, MSI, or Worlds, you need to understand the game and how spot opportunities.
Betting History of the Most Watched eSport
LoL betting really took off with the rise of Worlds in 2011. By 2013, it wasn’t just fans watching, punters were also looking at teams like SK Telecom T1 dominating the scene. Over time, events like the LCS and MSI added more betting opportunities.
Types of Bets
Here’s what you’ll be working with when betting on LoL tournaments:
- Match Winner: Pick the team you think will win.
- Handicap Bet: Useful when one team is a clear favourite It levels the odds by adding or subtracting points.
- Total Maps: Bet on how many maps will be played in a series.
- First Blood: Who gets the first kill?
- Prop Bets: Fun options like total kills, dragon control, or turret destruction.
Popular Teams Conquering the Rift
Over the years, some teams have become legends:
- SK Telecom T1 (now T1): If Faker, their star player, is on the roster, you can never count them out.
- G2 Esports: Famous for bold plays and strong drafts.
- Cloud 9: NA’s hope, always surprising at Worlds.
Today’s scene has new challengers like Team Liquid and Team Falcons, but the classics still bring in the most bets.
Strategy for LoL Betting
Here’s what’s worked for us, though it was a hard lesson to learn:
Player Rosters
A strong list of players can transform a team. We saw G2 Esports go from average to fantastic when they added the Caps. Look out for changes to the team line-up – they are important.
Team Synergy
If the players don’t work well together, they won’t win. We’ve seen top players fail because they just couldn’t get along. SK Telecom T1 was always strong because the team was well-matched.
Patch Updates
If the meta changes, so do the odds. Teams that adapt quickly usually have the advantage, so keep an eye on the updates and make sure your team is ready!
Esports Betting Tips: What Works
Back in 2010, when I just bet on the team I liked, I didn’t win much. Surprise, surprise. Over time, I realised that betting takes more than having a favourite team. Here’s the best advice I can give:
- Research the Game: Find out all about the teams, how they’re doing recently, and any changes to the players.
- Understand Tournament Formats: Formats matter. In single eliminations, underdogs have fewer chances.
- Manage Your Risk: Don’t go all-in. Spread your bets across Match Winner, Handicap, or Total Maps and always keep some of your bankroll safe.
- Live Betting: Watch for in-game momentum. For example, in Dota 2, a late-game draft might start out weak but turn things around mid-match, those wager shifts are golden.
Popular Esports Tournaments to Bet On
Big tournaments mean big bets. From CS:GO Majors to LoL Worlds, these events are where the action happens. Here’s why we think they are worth your attention:
- CS:GO: ESL Pro League and IEM offer nonstop elite gameplay. Majors are iconic for their upsets and massive viewership.
- Dota 2: TI dominates with record prize pools, while ESL One and Majors are key stops in the competitive scene.
- LoL: Worlds and MSI League of Legends bring the best regional champions, while LCS and LCK deliver consistent excitement year-round.
22Bet Esports Betting: Why Players Keep Coming Back
We’ve gotten plenty of messages from players who’ve tried other bookmaker platforms, but they keep coming back to 22Bet. Why? Maybe it’s the simple setup, or perhaps it’s the endless options for CS:GO, Dota 2, and LoL. If you want to try, too, here is what you need to do:
- Create an account with basic info in minutes.
- Deposit funds using your credit or debit card, e-wallet, or other methods.
- Go to the esports section, choose a game like CS:GO, Dota 2, or LoL, and check the markets.
- Select your bet type, set your amount, and confirm.
If you like bonuses, you should know that we don’t currently have any special offers for esports betting. However, our general bonuses are available to all players. For the latest 22Bet bonus offers, you can visit our promotions page.
Popular Esports Betting Markets at 22Bet
I would also personally recommend you know the markets. You’re probably familiar with LoL and Dota 2, but there’s so much more out there. Check out games like Valorant, StarCraft 2, King of Glory, Wild Rift, Call of Duty, WarCraft 3, Apex Legends, and even Geo Guesser.
Responsible Gambling in Esports Betting
Betting on esports should be fun, not stressful. We’ve seen players lose a lot of money after a few bad bets, like betting on a Dota 2 team just because they had a star player. So, what can you do? Set a budget, stick to it, and take regular breaks. Don’t let the variances in each match mess with your head. Enjoy the games, but keep it in control.
Conclusion on eSports Betting
Love Dota 2, LoL, or CS:GO? Shouting at the screen when NAVI or T1 make a big play? Then esports betting is for you. Maybe you’re testing your predictions during TI or Worlds or just looking for a First Blood bet to keep things interesting.
22Bet options like parlay bets, playoffs, and all kinds of regions to explore are here for you. Placing a quick Match Winner bet or overthinking odds like we do, sometimes? It’s all here, too. Just bet wise, have a laugh when it goes wrong (we’ve been there), and enjoy the games.
