The best esports betting odds can give you the edge needed to win more. And the best part is that you can easily compare the sharpest lines before you make your bet. Odds are at the heart of every wager, whether you’re backing NAVI in Counter-Strike, going all-in on LoL Worlds or experimenting with new titles like Marvel Rivals.
We have a clear explanation of how odds are used in esports betting, why they matter, and how to read them across formats like decimal, fractional, and American. We’ll also examine expected values and betting strategies. To get started right away, check out a complete list of the top sites for esports betting odds here:
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Understanding Esports Betting Odds
Here’s a quick lesson on getting to grips with fractional and decimal odds and how they can help you work out esports odds for your favorite titles.
We’ve also provided a short section that helps you understand how bookmakers come up with esports odds so that you can make a decent profit by betting on CS2 and LoL betting.
We will also include information on how to calculate expected value so that you can quickly see how much you can earn on the various esports betting odds. And with some handy coverage of how American odds work, as well as strategies like arb betting and matched betting, you should have everything you need to get a good payout on betting on your favorite gaming titles.
How American Odds Work
If you go to the best esports betting sites to place a bet, chances are you’ll see odds displayed in the American format.
Negative American odds (-): The number shows how much you need to bet to make a $100 profit.
Positive American odds (+): The number shows how much profit you would make on a $100 stake.
While this method may seem unusual at first, it provides a clear connection between the odds and your potential wager. American odds are growing in popularity as esports expands worldwide, so understanding this format is essential for anyone betting on CS2, LoL, or other esports titles.
What Are Decimal Odds?
Decimal odds can apply to anything in the esports world. They provide a clear way to calculate potential winnings for your bets.
A $10 bet on Team Dignitas to win the Global Loot League in PUBG at odds of 7.00 would return $70, including your original stake.
A $5 bet on Optic Gaming to win the Dota 2 ROG Masters challenge at odds of 3.00 would return $15, including your original wager.
The larger the decimal amount, the more the bookmaker is willing to pay out on that betting outcome. However, these high-odds bets are considered less likely to happen, which is why they are always a riskier betting strategy.
Fractional Odds Explained
Some betting enthusiasts will be familiar with fractional betting odds. While this method isn’t as popular in the US, it’s still commonly used overseas to predict how likely an event is to occur. The key thing to remember about fractional odds is that they don’t include your original wager.
Betting on Fnatic to win their next CS2 match at the ESL Pro League Finals at fractional odds of 2/7 means that for every $7 wagered, you would get $2 in return.
Backing their opponents, Luminosity, at CS2 odds of 2/5 means you would get $2 for every $5 wagered.
This shows that the bookies view Luminosity as slightly more likely to win, so the payout for backing them is smaller. The main thing to remember is that there aren’t real advantages to choosing decimal over fractional odds; it’s about whichever format helps you best calculate your esports winnings.
Comparison of Different Esports Odds
No matter which odds format you prefer using for esports, the numbers will indicate the same thing: how likely a team is to win and how much your bet will pay. As a result, esports odds calculators can be useful for switching between the different types so that you have a clear image. Here is an example of the same odds displayed in different formats.
| Bet Amount | American Odds | Decimal Odds | Fractional Odds | Implied Odds | To Win |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | 100 | 2 | 1/1 | 50 | $100 |
| $100 | 200 | 3 | 2/1 | 33.33 | $200 |
| $100 | 300 | 4 | 3/1 | 25 | $300 |
How Esports Betting Odds Are Calculated
All sports will calculate odds in a precise way so that they give themselves the upper hand whilst making sure that they keep customers coming back for more. Bookmakers do this by employing experts in each area to try and work out the likelihood of each betting outcome happening.
So, just as you might get a football expert to act as an oddsmaker for creating odds on the Super Bowl, you would also get a Dota 2 betting expert to work out odds for the upcoming International tournament by checking the past form and statistics of each player. The same is valid for LoL betting, Valorant betting, or any other esports title.
You can now get a good idea of who the best esports players and teams are in any domain just by looking at how their odds have been formulated. No matter how much research goes into creating the esports betting lines, there can always be surprises. This is what makes betting so exciting since even an underdog can take down the biggest team of the tournament.
How to Calculate Expected Values
Expected value shows how much you can expect to win on average for each bet. By running the same scenario repeatedly, you can see whether the esports betting odds are worth wagering on. To calculate it, multiply the probability of winning by your potential payout, then subtract the probability of losing multiplied by your stake.
What these figures reveal is that all bookmakers will tilt the betting odds slightly in their favor so that they can stay in profit. But the trick is to use an esports betting resource to make sure that you are only using online sportsbooks with the lowest possible betting margins, so as to give yourself the maximum possible profits if you win.
All About Arbs: Tricky Betting Strategy
Expected value helps you see how much you can expect to win on average for each bet. By running the same scenario repeatedly, you can determine if the esports betting odds are worth wagering on.
Multiply the probability of winning by your potential payout
Subtract the probability of losing multiplied by your stake
Use discrepancies in esports betting odds to create potential guaranteed profits
For example, if you were betting on Fnatic versus Luminosity in an upcoming ESL Pro League Final, you could bet on both teams to win the CS2 match. By using a discrepancy in different esports betting odds, you could create a situation that guarantees a profit.
Understanding expected value is essential for maximizing profits and making smarter decisions with esports betting odds.
Matched Betting and Esports Odds
Some esports betting fans have found that matched betting is another advanced technique that can be used on titles like CS2. This requires you to bet against the eventual winner by backing potential losers from a variety of different sites. By using a betting exchange to place an opposing lay bet, you can hedge all possible outcomes to try to guarantee yourself a profit.
To successfully carry out this betting tactic, you’ll need to find sportsbooks offering odds on your chosen esport. So this is not a tactic to use on niche esports titles like Heroes of the Storm.
In addition to this, it can take a lot of patience and skill in finding the right odds for your chosen esport. Whilst football fans can find plenty of alternatives for making up their matched betting strategy, when it comes to esports, it’s a much trickier challenge. However, as esports grows in popularity and features on more and more platforms, then hopefully we will all soon be able to try some matched betting as a way of guaranteeing ourselves some decent profits.
Most Popular Esports Markets: Bet on Your Favorite Games
Although there is a rapidly growing range of ways that you can make your esports bets, it’s evident that even the most respected bookmakers will only include esports betting odds for a handful of games. This is probably due to the fact that esports has been with us for less than two decades, and bookies are still working out which games will prove to be the most popular for people to put their bets on.
As a result, you can expect to find sites that focus on esports betting markets to allow bets on iconic titles like
- Counter-Strike 2
- Dota 2
- League of Legends
- Valorant
However, forward-thinking brands like the ones we feature have seized the initiative to offer esports odds on a much larger selection of titles, with games like
- Street Fighter
- PUBG
- Overwatch 2
- Fortnite
- StarCraft II
- EA FC
- NBA 2K
- Mobile Legends
- PUBG Mobile
- Call of Duty
- Hearthstone
So whilst the betting markets for esports might be fairly limited at the moment, it’s expected that we will see plenty more betting options arriving in the future.
FAQs
What sites offer the best esports betting odds in the USA?
BetWhale, BetUS, and BetOnline often have the best esports betting odds in the United States. These are renowned sportsbooks with great coverage of esports events and competitive betting lines. You can also benefit from bonuses to further improve your margins for every tournament.
How can I compare esports betting odds online?
The best way to compare odds for esports betting is to sign up to several platforms featured on this page. Then, navigate to the game you want to bet on and see what odds each sportsbook offers. Go with the lines that give you the best profits for your bet, if successful.
What are the most popular esports to find betting odds on?
League of Legends, Counter-Strike 2, and Dota 2 are the big three when it comes to esports betting odds online. All of the leading platforms cover these games in detail. Other popular picks include Valorant, Overwatch, Rocket League, and Fortnite.
Why do esports betting odds vary between sportsbooks?
Esports betting odds differ from one sportsbook to another because each bookmaker uses its own data models, analysts, and margin settings. Factors like recent team performance, betting volume, and regional preferences can also influence prices. Comparing esports betting lines and odds across multiple sites helps you find the best value for every wager.
Can I make money from betting on esports?
It’s possible to profit from esports betting odds if you combine research, bankroll management, and smart strategy. Focus on understanding team stats, game meta shifts, and market movement rather than betting on instinct. While no bet is guaranteed to land, consistently spotting value odds can give you a long-term edge.
