What is an esports futures bet? Definition, examples & tips
- Futures bets require in-depth research into team form, rosters, upcoming patches, and tournament formats to make informed decisions about your bet.
- Once you place your bet, your money is locked in until the event is over. You need to be fully confident of your bet and always check the odds from different sportsbooks to get the best value.
- Bet with funds you can afford to lose, as you’ll be waiting a much longer period of time for the bet to settle as a win or a loss.
Esports futures bets are hugely popular with bettors, and with some eye-catching prices available far in advance of a competition concluding, it’s unsurprising to hear about their popularity.
In this guide, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about futures bets, including examples and top tips.
What is an Esports Futures Bet?
A futures bet in esports is a wager you place on an outcome that will be decided in the future. It’s also known as outright betting, which is a term more familiar to European-based bettors.
This could be a team winning a season or tournament, a player being the MVP, or even as specific as the top scorer in an EA FC league. So, instead of betting on a single match, you’re predicting the outcome over time.
Futures betting has become especially popular in esports betting because of longer tournament formats. Games like League of Legends, Counter-Strike 2, and Dota 2 all have major tournaments that span weeks or even months at a time.
How to Place an Esports Futures Bet
You’ll be pleased to know that it’s a relatively straightforward process when it comes to figuring out how an esports futures bet works. Below, you’ll find a step-by-step guide on how to place an esports futures bet.
- Open an account with a licensed esports betting site: Find the esports section and look for the “futures” category, which is usually listed under major tournaments.
- Choose the tournament or league you want to bet on: Remember, there are different events such as world championships, playoff races, and seasons.
- Choose your futures market: There’s a wide range to choose from, including tournament winner, a team to reach the playoffs, a player to win MVP, and more. It can also be specific to a genre or title, such as the most goals scored in EA FC.
- Check the odds and place your stake: Enter the amount you want to bet and confirm your selection to place your bet.
- Wait for the outcome to be determined: Since it’s a futures bet, you’ll be waiting a bit longer for this one. Keep an eye on the tournament or season and see how the team you backed is performing.
Esports Futures Bet Examples
Futures bets can be different between genres and titles of games. They can also vary depending on the structure of a tournament or league. Let’s take a look at three examples below that show how futures bets can change depending on the game.
League of Legends – Tournament Winner
A popular futures bet on League of Legends is predicting which team will win a major event like the World Championship. If the team you wagered on wins the tournament, your bet wins. It doesn’t matter how many individual matches the team wins, as long as they end up as champions.
Dota 2 – First Team to Qualify for Playoffs
In Dota 2, some bookies offer futures bets on the playoff race. You’ll win this bet if the team you chose secures a spot in the playoffs. It doesn’t matter where they finish in the rankings, as long as they qualify for the playoffs.
Call of Duty – Regular Season MVP
A common futures bet in Call of Duty is predicting which player will be the MVP (most valuable player) at the end of the regular season. To win this bet, the player you choose must officially receive the MVP award once all the matches are finished.
Futures Betting vs. Moneyline Betting
Futures betting and moneyline betting are different types of bets in esports. Futures bets look at long-term outcomes, while moneyline bets focus on a single match result. We’ll take a look at the key differences between these two betting markets.
| Feature | Futures Bet | Moneyline Bet |
|---|---|---|
| Timeframe | Settled at the end of a tournament or season | Settled after one match |
| Risk level | Higher risk due to long-term uncertainty | Lower risk with a clear, immediate outcome |
| Payout potential | Often higher because odds are set early | Typically lower and based on matchups |
| Betting focus | Predicts champions, playoff teams, MVPs and more | Predicts which team wins a specific match |
Top Tips for Esports Futures Bets
Futures bets are incredibly difficult to get right. It takes a lot of in-depth research and patience to make the right decision – and even then, it could all unravel halfway through.
However, there are some things you can do to twist to odds in your favor just a little bit. Here are our top tips for esports futures bets:
💡 Keep track of roster changes and team news: Player swaps and role changes can have a drastic change on how a team performs. If a team finds a new dynamic or strategy that works for them, they could go on a winning streak.
💡 Watch for patch updates and meta changes: Games like LoL and Dota 2 change often, and a new patch can shake up the order or boost a team’s performance.
💡 Compare odds across multiple sportsbooks: We covered this earlier, but each bookie will set their own odds. Make sure you find the best value by checking the odds at different sportsbooks and finding the one that offers you the best prices.
💡 Look for early value before the public catches on: Monitor team news and form to keep an eye on who’s performing. Then place a bet when the odds are good, before the hype builds around a player or team and the odds get worse.
💡 Understand the tournament formats: Each tournament and league will work differently. Some may give good opportunities to underdogs, whereas others will have one team dominating over a longer period of time. Understanding the format helps you to make the right call.
Pros and Cons of Esports Futures Betting
Futures bets are a great way to stay invested over the course of an esports season or tournament. In the table below, we’ll dive further into the pros and cons to consider with esports futures bets.
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| Higher potential payouts due to higher risk over long-term bets | Your money is locked in until the event ends |
| Rewards you for making informed and well-researched decisions | Harder to predict because performance can change over time |
| Keeps you invested throughout the entire tournament | Injuries, roster changes, or patch updates can hurt your bet |
| Great if you can spot value before public hype increases odds | Not ideal if you prefer quick, short-term results |
Conclusion
Esports futures betting is a great way to invest long-term over the course of a season or tournament.
On the other hand, these long-term bets carry much more risk because things can change quickly in esports with meta updates, roster changes, and even teams’ performances. But with higher risk comes higher potential payouts as well. The odds are generally much higher for futures bets, so if you can spot value and place a good bet, it’s well worth it.
Always remember to gamble responsibly and with funds that you can afford to lose. With more risk attached to futures betting in esports, you should manage your bankroll even more carefully compared to standard esports betting markets.
FAQs
How does a futures bet work?
A futures bet is a wager on an outcome that will be decided later, usually at the end of a tournament or season. Your bet stays active until the event finishes, and you win if your long-term prediction is correct.
How does esports betting work?
Esports betting lets you wager on competitive gaming events. You can bet on match winners, prop bets, totals, live bets, and futures bets, depending on the bet types and markets offered by the sportsbook.
Can I cash out a futures bet?
Some sportsbooks allow you to cash out on futures bets, but not all of them. The cash-out amount will also depend on how likely your prediction is to win at that moment.
What are the risks of esports betting?
Esports betting involves financial risk, unpredictability in team performance, roster changes and game updates.
