The odds will change in-game as the momentum shifts through the game and the teams’ or players’ performances are monitored. It’s an exciting way to bet on esports, but it takes some strategy and patience to get right. In this article, we’ll break down how live betting works in esports, the strategy involved, and give you some tips to get started.

What Is Live Betting?

Live betting (also commonly known as in-play betting) is the act of placing bets during an event, after it has already started. Unlike traditional betting, where all your wagers are locked before the start of the match, live betting allows you to react to what’s happening live in the game.

The odds will change during the match based on what’s happening, making it a much faster-paced and challenging experience. For example, if one player scores a goal on EA FC, the odds will update accordingly. 

But it gets even more granular than that. If one player is awarded a penalty, the odds can change within seconds before the penalty is taken, giving you a few precious seconds to get your bet in.

In other titles, live betting may be based on which team wins the next round or even which player gets the first kill. It’s unique to each esports market, which also makes this type of betting more interesting.

How To Place a Live Bet on Esports

If you’re used to standard esports betting, such as moneyline bets and handicap betting, for example, the concept of live betting might be a bit strange. Luckily, it’s just as easy as placing a standard bet on esports, but it’s a bit more fast-paced, so you need to keep your eyes open. Timing and awareness are key with in-play betting! If you want to get started, just follow these steps:

1. Find a reliable sportsbook that offers esports live betting. 
2. Create an account and add some funds to your wallet to get started.
3. Go to the sportsbook’s “Live betting” or “In-play” section. Most good sportsbooks will automatically filter live games to the top of the feed or have a special section for it.
4. Choose a match to bet on and click on it. This will open the live updates and in-play bets available. You’ll see live stats, odds, and different betting markets.
5. Place your live bet. Simply click on the odds of the market you choose to bet on, enter your stake, and place the bet. You need to be quick, though; live odds can change in seconds.
6. Track your bet in real-time and look for more opportunities.

What Esports Events Are Available to Place Live Bets On? 

Esports live betting has become incredibly popular over the years. As a result, it’s been added to multiple games, including first-person shooters, MOBAs, Battle Royale, and more. Each genre of game has a unique approach to in-play wagering, which adds even more variety to this type of esports betting. 

For example, in an FPS game, you might be able to bet on the total kills, while in a sports game, you could be betting on who scores the next goal. We’ll cover some of the most popular esports titles that feature in-play betting below, and the type of markets you can expect to be wagering on.

Esports Live Bet Examples

Esports live betting gives you a wide range of markets to choose from. You don’t just have to predict a winner or loser. As the action unfolds during the match, you can wager on specific in-game events such as kills or objectives with the best esports betting sites.

The odds will update live as the game goes on, which means you need to perfect your timing to find the right opportunity to place a potentially winning wager. Below are two detailed examples of the common betting markets you’ll find for live betting in esports.

Correct Score Live Betting in Esports  

The first, and most basic one, is a simple correct score live bet. In this market, you simply need to predict the exact final score of a match or series while it’s in play. 

For example, in a best-of-three series, you might see one team dominating the other after the first round has been played. You can then bet on the team to win 3-0, or if you think the other team might put up a bit of a fight, you could bet on a 2-1 win.

Unlike with pre-match betting, the odds change every second in live betting. So, if the underdog starts strong and wins the first map, their odds will shorten quickly and you might miss the opportunity for big profits. That’s why in-play betting is tricky and you need to keep your wits about you at all times.

Kill Handicap Live Betting in Esports 

Another popular in-play betting market is kill handicaps, which involves wagering on whether a team will finish with more kills than their opponent by a set margin (or avoid losing by that margin, depending on which way you are betting).

For example, if one team has a -5.5 kill handicap, they need to win with at least 6 kills more than their opponents for your bet to win. Handicaps will continuously adjust during the match based on a team’s performance, so the longer you wait to lock in your bet, the more difficult it becomes to secure a winning bet.

Esports Live Betting Strategy

If you’re new to esports betting, in-play wagering might seem like a lot of luck. However, you can increase your chances of success by having a solid strategy in place and adhering to it. 

Any successful bettor will tell you that it’s much more than just a guessing game. Here are a couple of decent strategies to get started with.

Analyze Pre-Game With Flexibility

Ensure you conduct thorough research before the match begins. It might be tedious, but you need to thoroughly review the data and statistics, watch previous matches, and stay up to date with the meta to get a clear idea of what to expect. Going into the match blind is one of the first steps to losing your bets. Study the teams’ form, the players’ strengths, and the in-game strategies they use most commonly.

But the key here is to stay flexible. Remember, you’re betting in-game, which means you need to make decisions on the fly. 

If you’ve done enough homework, you’ll be able to see the strategies each team or player is developing and be able to react based on what the outcome of that strategy could be. 

Always be ready to adjust your bets based on what’s happening in the game, but keep your research in mind as the match plays out.

Exit Plan Strategy

It’s always essential to have clear betting limits in place by gambling responsibly, but it’s even more important to have these solidified with in-game wagering. Always have an idea of the maximum stake you’re willing to put down per bet or match. 

Also, don’t be afraid to cut your losses if things aren’t going your way. Cash out if the bets aren’t going as you predicted they would and you need to lock in your profits or reduce your losses. This strategy is important to keep in mind to avoid emotional betting and protect your account balance during live betting.

Multi-Setup Strategy

I’ve already emphasised how fast-paced esports live betting is. The solution that many bettors bring to the table is getting their setup right. Most serious bettors will have a multi-monitor setup, or at the very least a split-screen setup. 

One screen has your live stream running while the other screen has your sportsbook open and ready. This can massively reduce the time it takes for you to submit a stake and get good odds. 

Remember, the odds change within seconds, so by the time you switch tabs or windows, you could have lost out on a big chunk of profit. With a multiscreen setup, you can get your wager in right away.

Live Betting vs. Traditional Betting

There are plenty of positives to shout about when it comes to live betting, but it’s important to know about the comparison between live betting and traditional pre-match betting.

Feature	Live Betting	Pre-Match Betting
Betting Markets	A wide range of live betting markets is available for numerous esports events.	Tends to offer a more extensive range of pre-match markets compared to traditional sports betting sites.
Betting Odds	Odds can change in a matter of seconds depending on the game situation.	Betting odds are more stable over a longer period, allowing more time to place pre-match bets with potential value.
Betting Strategy	It can be challenging to have a strategy when odds change so frequently for in-game scenarios.	More analysis and research can be conducted without worrying about in-game changes.

Top Tips for Esports Live Betting

Esports in-play betting requires you to be focused, quick-thinking, and decisive. If you’re taking it seriously, it’s not an easy form of betting by any means. So, whether you’re just getting started or you’ve got a couple of bets under your belt, these tips could help point you in the right direction and improve your win percentage.

✔️ Always watch the matches live: You need to make decisions based on what’s happening in the match, and the live stats and updates don’t always tell the whole story.

✔️ Focus on the games and markets you know: Betting on something new might be exciting, but you need to understand it if you want to win bets.

✔️ Always be ready to act: Odds change in seconds, and the games move fast. Always be prepared to place your bet to get the best possible value.

✔️ Use the cash-out feature: Smart bettors know when to cut their losses rather than holding onto a final string of hope. Just trust your gut.

✔️ Don’t bet on your favorite team: We all want to do it, but we know we shouldn’t. Try to bet from an objective viewpoint rather than choosing your favorites.

Conclusion

Esports live betting allows you to wager on different markets while the match is in-play. This is a common type of bet that you can also find in real-world sports like football. The odds will be updated live as the match progresses, so you need to pay attention to what’s happening and put your stake down as quickly as possible to get the best value for your money.

In-play betting has a wide range of different markets to choose from. These are often tailored to the type of game that you’re betting on as well. For example, in EA FC betting, you could be betting on which player scores the next goal, whereas in CS2, you might be betting on who gets the highest number of kills in a match.  

Always remember to play responsibly to avoid significant losses. Stick to titles that you know and markets you understand, and make sure to use the cash-out features if a bet goes south.

FAQs

Can you bet live on esports?

Yes, most major sportsbooks allow feature esports live betting, allowing you to wager on markets while a match is ongoing.

Is esports live betting legal?

Yes, esports live betting is legal, but it depends on where you live and the local laws that apply to your location.

How to bet on esports live?

Most online sportsbooks that offer esports also feature live betting. Simply head to the live betting section, and you’ll find all the available esports events you can wager funds on.

How is live betting different from regular esports betting?

In regular esports betting, you can only place your bets before the match starts. With live betting, you can place your bets throughout the match as it progresses.

Which esports games offer live betting?

Most esports games offer live betting, but the most popular options are CS2, EA FC, Dota 2, LoL, and Valorant.

What are common live betting markets in esports?

It depends on the genre and title of the game, but the most common markets include next round winner, next map winner, correct score, total kills, and next goal.

Where can you do esports live betting?

You can place live bets on esports on online sportsbooks like Bet365.

What are the risks of esports live betting?

In live betting, odds change fast, which could lead you to make impulsive decisions. Fast gameplay means the momentum can quickly change after you’ve placed a bet, and a lack of player discipline could unravel your bankroll fast.