A Beginner’s Guide to Esports

Whether you are an online casino player or enjoy playing online sports betting, you will more than likely have come across esports at some point. There are nearly 500 million global fans of esports, and it is considered one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, which is garnering a lot of attention from elsewhere. Competitive gaming is turning those at the top end into celebrities and stars in their own right, selling out packed arenas and seeing millions of dollars in prize money and sponsorship deals.

So what is the growing global phenomenon, how do you get involved, and what else is there to know about esports? Well, this handly article will hopefully fill in all of those details and more.

What is Esports?

Esports- short for electronic sports- refers to competitive video gaming. Unlike sitting at home playing video games purely for entertainment purposes, eSports games are played by professional, competitive players against other Esports pros. As a result, most of these events gather a huge audience, much like traditional sports. Like traditional sports, Esports are all about competition and take the form of organized, multiplayer video game competitions between those professionals, either on their own or as teams. There are rules, and players have coaches, teams, and managers. Games are broadcast online via streaming platforms such as Twitch, and some tournaments have a large live audience, with the biggest events booking out venues like LA’s Staples Center.

Types of Esports Games

There are four main categories that competitive video games fall under, all of which require incredible skill and determination, sharp reflexes, and teamwork. These are strategy games, including multiplayer online battle arena games and real-time strategy games, first-person shooters, fighting games, and sports games.

Strategy Games

Real-time strategy games help players control units to react to events that happen as the game goes on. They usually include resources and building materials to add an extra level of challenge to the game. The most popular of these kinds of games include Warcraft III and Starcraft II.

First-person Shooters

First-person shooter games are all about weapon-based combat. As the name suggests, the game is seen through the player character’s eyes and will either be played in teams or as individuals competing against each other. These kinds of games include classic and iconic video game franchises such as Call of Duty, Counter-Strike, and Rainbow Six and newer titles that include the battle royale genre like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and PUBG.

Sports Games

Sports games allow video game players to take control of their favorite sports teams and players and play out their fantasy matches against either team in the game or other players. Popular games in this genre include FIFA, NHL, and Madden, all based on established leagues around the world. This is a popular genre amongst virtual sports fans as well. Despite these games being based on actual players and teams, most Esports are based on real sports that are played 1v1, with the players being switched on the fly as the game is being played.

Fighting Games

Fighting games such as the iconic Mortal Kombat, Tekken, and Street Fighter series focus on individual tactics and skills in round-based matchups. Players take on each other in 1v1 areas to deplete your opponent’s life bar, use punches, kicks, and special moves that each in-game character possesses. If you win enough rounds, then you win the match; it’s as simple as that. These games have been around since the days of the arcade machines, but it was considered a dying part of the gaming industry until Street Fighter IV dropped and helped revive this classic video game genre.

Where Can I bet on Esports in the US?

According to an insightful article in 2019 by Inside World Football, Esports are becoming massively popular with spectators. However, the article also says that at least 40% of the spectators have never played the game they are watching, meaning these sports just as prevalent for sports betting as the more traditional sports of football and basketball. If you are looking for Esports betting tips, there are two ways you can go about it. First of all, as you would for traditional sports, spectators can place bets on individual players or teams at many online casinos by wagering money against set odds in a match-up. League of Legends makes up around 40% of the betting market, followed by Counter-Strike: Global Offensive at 29%, making these two the most popular betting markets. The second option is within the game itself. Players can gamble in-game rewards, such as character skins and cosmetic items, weapon skills, and much more. Whether you are a long time player of video games but new to sports betting, or a seasoned player who has just discovered professional gaming, it is important to choose a trustworthy platform to bet on, do your research of the games, the teams, and players, and get to know the playing field before you make your bets.