Esports

The Origins of Esports

Esports is becoming more and more popular today, but its origins date back to the early 1970s, with the rise of home consoles. In particular, in 1972, the first known video game competition was held at Stanford University. It was a “Spacewar” tournament, organized several years after the creation of the game by three students of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

The prize for the best player was a subscription to Rolling Stone magazine. In 1980, a nationwide Space Invaders Championship was organized, in which 10,000 people took part. These early events laid the groundwork for the future of esports.

In the 1980s, the popularity of high-score lists began to emerge. Players competed with one another for the highest scores in games like Asteroids and Starfire. Tournaments began to take place, and high scores were an exciting new medium of skill. Additionally, fighting games like Street Fighter emerged, adding a whole new dimension to competitive gaming with head-to-head battles.

Esports as we know it today developed in the late 1990s with the advent of professional leagues, more corporate sponsorships, and the increased visibility of the internet. In this period, it also evolved from small-time competitions to more significant tournaments that were more likely to attract global attention and be known as spectator sports. All these transformations have made eSports what it is today.

The Background of Esports Betting

Esports betting is a relatively new type of betting that reflects the growing popularity of video games. If traditional sports betting has been around for centuries, such an offshoot just emerged at the end of the 2000s. The format of big tournaments and professional players attracted a wide audience as betting structures began to appear.

Along with the overall rise of esports, fans of this entertainment now have another opportunity to participate in the development of their favorite games. The first esports betting sites came up, offering the most popular leagues and games, including League of Legends and Mobile Legends. The widespread availability of the internet, as well as its international aspect, contributed to the phenomenon's popularity.

Nowadays, esports betting is a multi-billion dollar industry with hundreds of top online casino Singapore sites, sponsorships of major esports teams, and even being incorporated on some streaming platforms. Although it is still a bit regulated in some countries, esports betting is not going anywhere and is here to stay, alongside other sports.

Different Types of Esports 

Just like traditional sports, E-sports has a variety of genres that professional gamers compete in and opportunities for bettors to place bets. These genres can be categorized based on the style of gameplay and perspective. Here are some of the most popular types of esports:

First-person shooter (FPS)

These games allow you to see the world through the eyes of your character (1st POV). In Esports, the most popular FPS games are Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Overwatch, and Valorant. Here players or teams of players will compete to get to an objective, like planting a bomb or taking a point from the other team by eliminating them.

Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA)

These are online strategy games in which a player controls a character or several characters, each with special abilities, and battles other players on a multi-faceted map. The most popular games in this genre are League of Legends and Dota 2. Two teams of five players each compete against one another; their task is to destroy the opposing team’s base and to protect their own.

Fighting Games

These games involve one-on-one combat where players fight against each other with a set of moves and special attacks. Fighting games such as Street Fighter and Super Smash Bros. are the most popular in esports. To succeed in this type of game, players should become proficient in their character’s moves and get around others’ attacks.

Traditional Sports

Esports also cover traditional sports. You can take part as your favorite team or player in games like FIFA (football) and NBA 2K (basketball). These games wonderfully capture the connection between sports strategy and gaming expertise.

Popular Esports Betting Markets

Esports betting is a thrilling variation of betting on sports, including many markets you would recognize with a digital twist. Here’s a quick look at some popular options:

• Match Winner: Exactly what you might expect, this bet is simply picking which team you think will win any given match. This is the easiest way to get started in the world of esports betting, drawing on your knowledge of the teams involved and how they have performed in the recent past.
• Tournament Winner: If you want to keep a bet longer, you may try to guess the winner of the whole tournament. This requires a broader understanding of the entire competition landscape, including team strengths, matchups, and potential upsets.
• Map Winner/Handicap Bets: Most heart-stopping esports, such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive or Dota 2, are played in a multiple-map format. You could bet on the winner of any map or involve yourself in handicap bets. Handicaps add a point spread, evening the odds between stronger and weaker teams.
• First Blood: In a game like Mobile Legends or Dota 2, “First Blood” refers to the first player to kill. Considering the pace of the game and the overall gameplay, the best online casino Singapore sites frequently allow betting on which team will score first blood or against it occurring within a specific timeframe.
• Time: In this market, you bet on the total match time. It is possible to state whether the match will go over or under a certain limit, as illustrated by the sportsbook. 
• Correct Score: It represents one of the most challenging markets since you are expected to predict the correct score of the match. The rewards are high due to the risks associated with multiple outcomes in a single game.
• Over/Under: Betting on whether a statistic of the match, such as total kills, map wins, or the number of times a specific hero picks will be used in the matches in MOBA games, will be over or under a target value. 

Things to Consider Before Betting on Esports

Before you place your first bet as a newcomer, it’s important to make some well-informed decisions. The first would be to research which sites are considered the best when it comes to betting on esports. Numerous safe and reputable sources offer real odds on various games, but not every source might cover the certain game you’re interested in. 

Keep in mind that there is still no perfect coverage of all esports games one might be interested in, and also that the choice of a licensed and long-standing site is the best option with esports betting still growing.

Next, learn about the game you want to bet on. Understand the game’s mechanics, strategies on each map, heroes and characters, etc. If possible, try playing the game yourself. You might understand the finer points of professional matches and find advantages and disadvantages for teams.

Then, research the teams and the players. See how they played recently and what strengths and weaknesses their players have. Also, think about the changes in the team’s roster, if there are any. Did the team have a history of losing on big stages? How well do they play on a specific map or game mode?

To do all of the above, regularly watch professional esports matches. Framing your predictions is essential for learning. Just remember to bet responsibly. Gambling should only enhance the entertainment related to eSports.

Place Your Bets on Esports and Choose Your Betting Site Here at TopBettingSiteSG

It is said that esports is one of the best markets that you can see in the betting industry. There are plenty of opportunities for you to bet on your favorite esports events. TopBettingSiteSG is here for you and has prepared the best esports betting sites that you can join. The best and most valuable options are provided to you.