How Does CS:GO Betting Work?
One of the elements that makes Counter-Strike: Global Offensive so popular as a spectator sport is the simplicity in which viewers can follow and understand what is going on. Unlike in esports like League of Legends and Dota 2 where the learning curve is high when it comes to playing styles and strategies and unique abilities, CS:GO is a first-person shooter in which each team has clear and easy-to-understand objectives. This makes CS:GO an excellent esport for both casual new fans and experts alike to watch and bet on.
Betting on CS:GO works the same way that betting on conventional sports does. The most standard way of betting on a game is simply to bet on which side will win the game. There are other options as well ranging from betting on how long the game will go to specific in-game events. Regardless of what type of bet you decide to place on CS:GO action there will be betting odds on them. Teams that are likely to win pay less than those that are considered underdogs and these differences are reflected in the odds.
Understanding CS:GO Betting Odds
Depending on what sportsbook you decide to place your bets at, betting odds will generally be listed in one of two formats; moneyline/American odds or decimal odds. We will cover both in this section so that you will feel comfortable reading odds in whatever format they are displayed.
Reading Moneyline Odds
In an example CS:GO match between NRG and Imperial, NRG would be a heavy favorite to win. As such, in American odds, this game might be listed as NRG (-500) vs. Imperial (+350).
When a number has a “-” in front of it, this number is an indicator of how much money you would have to risk to win $100. So in this example, at -500, you would have to risk $500 on NRG to win $100. The ratio stays the same no matter what the bet amount is, so you could also bet $100 to win $20 or $1000 to win $200.
The underdog is indicated by the “+”, and this number tells you how much money you would profit on a bet of $100. In the case of Imperial at +350, a $100 would pay out a profit of $350 if Imperial pulls off the upset.
Reading Decimal Odds
Decimal odds solve for your whole payout instead of just your profit. Using the same match and odds as an example, decimal odds for this match would be listed as NRG (1.20) vs. Imperial (4.50). So betting $500 on NRG, $500 x 1.2 = $600, which is your original wager plus a profit of $100. Similarly, a $100 bet on Imperial at 4.5 will pay $100 x 4.5 = $450, your original $100 plus a profit of $350.
What Type of CS:GO Bets are There?
- Moneyline
- Total Rounds
- Spreads
- Proposition Betting (aka Prop Bets)
- Most kills?
- Round Advantage?
- Futures
- Winner of Dreamhack
- Winner of IEM Katowice
What Can You Bet on in CSGO?
Bet Counter-Strike Spreads
The example of NRG vs. Imperial above is a moneyline wager in which a CS:GO bettor is simply betting on which team will win the game. But there are many other ways to bet on games including betting on teams against the spread.
An NRG supporter that believes that the team will cruise to an easy victory over Imperial can earn a much better payout than the -500 offered by betting on NRG against the spread instead. This game might have a spread of NRG (-6.5 rounds, -130) vs. Imperial (+6.5, -110). A bet on NRG -6.5 will pay out if NRG wins this match by seven rounds or more, such as a final score of 16 to 5. Betting on Imperial at +6.5, your wager would win if Imperial pulls off an upset or if they lose by six or less, such as an NRG 16-12 win.
Bet Counter-Strike Totals
Instead of picking a side on the moneyline or spread, CS:GO bettors can also bet on whether a game will go OVER or UNDER a posted number of rounds. Most games have the total set at 25.5 or 26.5, and bettors can bet on whether the combined final score will be over or under this amount. In the examples above, an NRG win by a score of 16-5 would be a total of 21 rounds and pay out the bettors who bet on the UNDER. The 16-12 scenario would be a total of 28 rounds and pay out the OVER wagers.
Counter-Strike In-Game Betting
There are also plenty of in-game options to bet on as well. Round 1 and Round 16 are known as the “pistol rounds” due to the fact that players begin these rounds with pistols as their weapons. These matches set the early tone on a map and can be bet as individual events. For example, if you bet on a team to win Round 16 and they do but then go on to lose the game, your wager is still a winner as you were only betting on that one pistol round.
Some sportsbooks also offer prop bets on individual players and how they will perform against one another. For example, a prop bet might ask which player between two choices will get more kills during the game or more headshots during the game. Props like this allow Counter-Strike Global Offensive bettors to take advantage of their knowledge of specific players’ strengths and weaknesses.
Where to Bet on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
There are many excellent online sportsbooks to choose from to bet on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. But with so many options, it can be overwhelming. There are plenty of online reviews you can check out so you can find the best esports betting site for you.
