If you’re new to betting and haven’t decided yet, read about the difference between sports betting and esports betting, but first try placing a bet on 20Bet what you’re already used to.
The world of betting can seem tempting: place a bet – win money. But in reality, it’s not just a “guessing game”; it’s a whole system where knowledge, preparation, and a cool head matter. And while betting on football, hockey, or basketball is at least somewhat familiar to most people, esports is a completely different story. Let’s break down how to approach it and how preparation for these two types of betting differs.
1. Start by Understanding the Game
In traditional sports, things are simpler: almost everyone knows the rules of football or tennis. Before placing a bet, it’s worth refreshing your knowledge—understanding how points are scored, what extra time means, and how tournament tables work.
Esports is trickier. Here, there are various disciplines: Dota 2, CS2, League of Legends, and dozens of others. Each has its own maps, heroes, weapons, and mechanics. If you don’t understand, for example, how a team in CS2 can win a round even without a full weapon buy, making predictions will be difficult. So, the first step is to learn the game itself—ideally by watching matches along with commentary from experienced players.
2. Analyzing Statistics
In sports, we look at a team’s form: how many wins and losses they have, who’s injured, and how they perform at home versus away. All this influences the outcome.
In esports, the statistics are different. What matters here is a player’s performance on specific patches (game updates), their win rate on certain maps or with particular characters, and the team’s mental state. For example, in Dota 2, a patch might “nerf” a player’s favorite hero, and their effectiveness can drop sharply.
3. Information About the Opponents
In football, you can read about the coach, tactics, and playing style. In esports, there are also coaches and managers, but individual player form, communication, and even personal conflicts play a huge role. Sometimes, a minor social media scandal can affect a match more than strategy.
4. Sources of Information
Beginners should get into the habit of checking multiple sources. In sports, these can be sports news websites, player interviews, and expert predictions. In esports, it’s streams, specialized forums, analytical YouTube channels, and statistics services like HLTV or Dotabuff.
5. Emotions and Money
The main rule for both types of betting: never stake more than you’re ready to lose. And don’t let emotions take over—after a win, it’s easy to think you’ve “caught the wave,” and after a loss, that you must “win it back.” Both mindsets can drain your bankroll.
6. The Main Difference in Preparation
In sports, changes happen more slowly: a team’s form or strategy may shift over months. In esports, everything can change within a week after a new patch or roster shuffle. That’s why preparing for esports betting requires constant monitoring of the latest news, while traditional sports betting preparation focuses more on deep, long-term analysis.Conclusion:
To succeed in betting, you don’t just need to “feel” the game—you need to know it inside out, be able to analyze, and filter information. In sports, you study the season and team form; in esports, you follow patches, the meta, and player moods. But in both cases, your best allies are a cool head and sound judgment.
