
So you want to sign up on Esports betting sites but don’t know where to begin? Then you’ve come to the right place because I am here to guide you on how you can get started with Esports betting.
With the stellar performances of Canadian teams like Luminosity Gaming and Shopify Rebellion on the world stages, it comes as no surprise that Esports has become more than just a niche betting market up north. In this article, we’ll explore the top Esports betting sites in Canada, popular games, and the essential strategies to succeed in the long-term.
Esports betting is similar to traditional sports betting. In this case, however, you will be wagering on video game matches. You can place bets on professional Esports tournaments or individual matches on games like Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, Valorant, League of Legends, FIFA, and Call of Duty.
Similar to NBA betting in Canada, it has betting markets such as Moneyline, Handicap betting, Over/Under, Player prop bets, and Outright Winner. One thing I noticed about Esports betting though is it has exclusive betting markets like First Blood/Kill and Map Betting, which are quite profitable if you can find excellent betting spots.
Esports betting is gaining popularity across Canada for a reason. With plenty of betting markets and limited statistics available, there’s always a good chance of finding value bets in Esports betting, especially if you are quite familiar with games like League of Legends, Valorant, and Tekken 8. However, there are still a few things you need to keep in mind to ensure an enjoyable Esports betting experience at Canada high stakes betting websites.
Esports betting is rising and from the looks of it, it’s not stopping anytime soon. Here are the reasons why bettors like me are gravitating towards Esports betting especially during the offseason when soccer betting in Canada is unavailable.
One thing that is quite surprising about Esports is the number of betting markets available. Compared to traditional sports betting, Esports betting is relatively new. So, one would expect that it only offers limited ways for punters to take part in the action. However, that isn’t the case, especially when you sign up for top Canada betting sites.
Besides the popular moneyline, handicap, and over/under betting, you can also wager on match handicaps, pistol round winner, first blood, total towers destroyed, and kills spread. Even more impressive is that you can even find mispriced odds, especially when live betting, since bookmakers don’t react quickly compared to basketball, football, and soccer.
Unlike the UFC where you have to pay for Fight Pass to watch events live and start UFC betting in Canada, you’ll almost never have to splash a few dollars to watch Esports events. This is because they are usually streamed for free in popular streaming sites like Twitch and YouTube Gaming. If you’re lucky, your bookmaker might even stream it live.
As a matter of fact, the first Esports bet I’ve made was streamed live. Since you can follow events easily and in real-time for free, it makes it easier for fans to take part in the thrilling action of Esports betting. Whether you are a fan of First-Person Shooter or Multiplayer Online Battle Arena games, you can see everything as it unfolds for free, making every wager quite exciting.
Its highly-engaging community is perhaps one of the massive draws of Esports betting in Canada. If you’ve been betting on Esports for a couple of weeks or so, then you’ll begin to realize that there’s a huge community of individuals like yourself. What I love about these communities is the fact that you can share healthy discussions about picks, game strategies, and match predictions.
Every now and then, you’ll even come across expert bettors who will provide data-driven insights that can help you evaluate your selections. If that’s not good enough, you can also find inside information and roster updates in these communities, which are crucial in succeeding in the long-term. One thing I’ve noticed about Esports teams is that they often make last-minute changes because of health or visa issues.
Esports events occur around the world across different time zones. So, there’s always an event happening. Put simply. Esports events are year-round unlike traditional sports, which tend to have breaks and offseasons. From tournaments in North America, Europe, Asia, to South America, there’s always a new match to watch and bet on. This constant action makes Esports an attractive option for bettors, especially during the offseasons of traditional sports like soccer or basketball.
The ongoing nature of Esports allows for greater flexibility, especially if you are looking to stay active. Whether it’s a major tournament or a smaller regional event, the number of tournaments across various games like League of Legends, Dota 2, or Counter-Strike guarantees there’s always something to keep you entertained.
Esports betting has grown significantly, with several games dominating the market because of their competitive scenes and large fan bases. If you’re just starting out, then here are some of the most popular Esports betting games that you should take part in.
🎮 Esports Gaming Category | 🔎 Examples |
---|---|
First-Person Shooters (FPS) | Counter-Strike (CS2), Valorant, Call of Duty, Overwatch 2 |
Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) | League of Legends, Dota 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang |
Battle Royale | Fortnite, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Apex Legends |
If you love fast-paced action and high-variability, then you should definitely try betting on First-Person Shooter (FPS) games like Counter-Strike 2, Call of Duty, Overwatch 2, and Valorant. First-Person Shooters games feature rapid gameplay wherein momentum can change in an instant. This is perfect if you are live betting since most of these games often have quick rounds where betting odds shift frequently.
If that’s not good enough, First-Person Shooters games like Counter Strike 2 have year-round tournaments like ESL Pro League and Blast Premier while Valorant has Valorant Champions Tour (VCT). This gives you plenty of consistent betting opportunities not to mention several ways to find value bets as the season goes on.
Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) is arguably my favorite Esports gaming category mainly because of its large communities which provide discussions and stats. This was especially helpful when I was just starting since expert insights and analysis can help you make informed betting decisions. Similar to First-Person Shooters, MOBA also have frequent tournaments that ensure year-round betting action.
Upsets also happen more often than you’d expect in MOBA games since they pretty much rely on teams working as a cohesive unit. Several MOBA games I place some action on are League Legends and Dota 2 with the latter’s The International event being the most intense with teams fighting for a prize pool of roughly $40 million.
Unlike traditional esports games with small teams, Battle Royale games often feature 60 to 100 players per match. This alone allows for multiple ways to join in the action and bet on markets such as Outright Winner, Top 5 or Top 10 Finish, First Kill and Most Kills, and Map betting. One thing I’ve noticed here though is there are times that bookmakers overvalue luck and undervalue strategic gameplay, especially with the number of players involved.
If you are sharp, then this can play to your advantage. Although Battle Royale matches feature plenty of randomness, you can still identify patterns in player behavior and performance. By studying the past performances, tendencies, and strategies of each player, you can make educated selections on players who consistently perform well under pressure-packed and unpredictable scenarios.
Besides these three, Esports betting allows you to bet on popular gaming categories such as Fighting Games, Real-time Strategy, Racing, and Sports. If you’ve been betting on sports, then it might be a good idea to try the Sports category, although you should still take into account the Esports player handling your chosen sports team. This is because each player brings a unique approach and play style, often relying on rapid decision-making and strategic depth in a way that sometimes differs from conventional team dynamics.
Contrary to popular belief, Esports betting requires more than just understanding traditional sports betting strategies. You’ll also need a deep understanding of the gaming scene to remain profitable in the long-term. Here are some of the top strategies I’ve used to handle the volatility of Esports betting.
Similar to traditional sports betting, Esports has a massive betting market. From League of Legends and Mobile Legends to Dota 2 and Counter-Strike 2, there are plenty of betting opportunities available in Esports. A good rule of thumb, however, is to specialize in one or two games. While it can be tempting to bet on multiple events, especially if you are a gaming enthusiast, doing so can be overwhelming in the long run.
Unlike traditional sports betting, there are frequent patches and meta shifts in Esports games that can change mechanics, strategies, and character balancing overnight. By specializing in one or two games, you can gain an edge in understanding teams, player tendencies, and strategies. This allows you to make sound betting decisions and find value betting angles that you may have otherwise overlooked.
Live betting is where I make bread in Esports betting. Although you can still find some excellent angles on pre-match bets, in-play betting allows you to exploit momentum swings and adjust to unexpected errors. For example, in a Dota 2 match, Luminosity Gaming has controlled the game early and is pushing to Shopify Rebellion’s base with a comfortable 3-0 kill lead after securing a Roshan Kill.
However, in a shocking turn of events, Shopify Rebellion catches Luminosity Gaming off guard with a nicely executed team fight enroute to wiping out their heroes and killing Roshan. Depending on your risk appetite, you can take advantage of the odds after the fight, especially if you believe that Shopify Rebellion can capitalize on the momentum. By spotting trends early, you can exploit the slow line adjustments of bookmakers and find bets with juicier odds.
As I’ve mentioned above, Esports betting is extremely volatile with constant momentum swings. So, it’s always a good idea to stick to a bankroll management strategy. Whether you are opting for Kelly Criterion, Martingale System, or Fibonacci System, having a staking plan ensures you can handle the ups and downs of Esports betting.
I’ve personally used a flat betting approach when betting on Esports. This is when you wager the same fixed amount on every bet, regardless of your confidence level and odds. However, I’ve made some slight twist into it and only bet on events and markets with a minimum odds of +100. This ensures that I am getting an even value for every wager. So, if I placed a $100 bet on Shopify Rebellion at +100, I can get $100 in profits plus my stake back. Furthermore, sticking to a staking plan reduces the risk of going on a tilt and placing rage bets.
As you can see, there are definitely plenty of exciting betting opportunities in Esports with unique markets like Map betting and First Blood. Although the lack of in-depth data and volatility make it a bit riskier than traditional sports betting, following a disciplined staking plan and specializing in one or two games ensures an enjoyable and potentially profitable experience for everyone.
Esports betting offers players multiple ways to join in the action with games like League of Legends, Mobile Legends, and Dota 2.
Leading Esports betting sites offer plenty of markets for players wanting to take part in the exciting action.
Esports betting has plenty of exclusive betting markets such as Pistol Round Winner, Map Betting, and First Kill.
21+ and present in VA. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.