Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is one of the world’s most popular online video games and a major name in the global esports scene. Widely known as one of the biggest esports titles, CS:GO boasts a massive following of fans who watch professional matches and an extremely well-developed competitive scene.
But not only is CS:GO a big esports title, it’s also a major player in the online betting world and easily one of the most popular esports titles among bettors – besides League of Legends and Dota 2. This also explains why many online sportsbooks offer CSGO markets, making it very easy to get into betting on CS:GO.
However, while it’s very easy to start betting on CS:GO, you have to know how to approach it if you want to succeed. This betting guide will teach you everything you need to know about CSGO betting, what you must know, and how to approach it, including where to find the best odds and what steps you must take to come out ahead.
What is Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
CS:GO is a multiplayer tactical first-person shooter (FPS) game released by Valve in August 2012. It is the fourth game in the Counter-Strike series and one of the most played online games in the world.
The game pits two teams of five players – who take over the role of Terrorists or Counter-Terrorists – against each other in an objective-based game mode, each with a different objective. Terrorists must plant a bomb at one of two locations on the map, while the enemy team, Counter-Terrorists, must attempt to stop them by either eliminating all Terrorists or defusing the bomb. Likewise, Terrorists can win the round if they eliminate all Counter-Terrorists.
The game’s rules are fairly simple and CS:GO by itself is not that complicated to understand. However, at the highest level of play, it offers a lot of depth and an insane skill ceiling, which explains why CS:GO is very popular among viewers and bettors. Likewise, betting on CS:GO is pretty straightforward, but if you want to be good at it, there are a lot of things you must learn.
Where Can I Bet On CS:GO?
CS:GO is one of the most popular esports games and a big hit in the online gambling world, which explains why most bookmakers offer CSGO markets. So if you want to bet on CS:GO, you can do it on all esports bookmakers and various traditional bookmakers.
Nowadays, there are more online betting sites that offer CSGO markets than those that don’t, which might sound like a bold take, but it’s true. Even prominent traditional bookmakers in Bet365, William Hill, and Pinnacle cover CS:GO well, so as far as finding a website where you can place CS:GO esports bets is concerned, you will have plenty of options.
CS:GO Betting Strategies
Due to the accessibility of online CSGO betting sites, anyone can bet on it, but not everyone will make a profit. If you want to bet on CS:GO and succeed at it, you need to know how to win betting on CS:GO, what you must look out for, and which steps you must take to set yourself up for success. Some websites will promote a betting strategy that will “guarantee you profits,” but we’re sad to inform you that there is no such thing.
There is no hidden betting strategy that you can use to always come out on top; instead, there are steps you can take to increase your chances of winning. Here are five tips and betting strategies you want to know about before you start betting on CS:GO.
Learn About The Game
The most important CSGO betting strategy and the critical thing you must do before you can start betting on CS:GO, is to learn a thing or two about the game. Like you need to know what Dota 2 is and how it is played before you wager on it; you have to get familiar with CS and know all ins and outs of the game before you place your first bet.
The best and easiest way to learn about CS:GO is to play the game, and since it’s free-to-play, there is really no reason not to give it a try. Even if you’re not a gamer, it helps to learn the basics of CS:GO before you start betting on it. You should also consider watching professional matches and tournaments, which will help you understand the game better and familiarize yourself with the teams and players.
Find A Good Bookmaker
Before you can place your first bet, you need to find an online gambling site that will offer CSGO betting markets and accept your esports bets. Although there are many bookmakers where you can bet on Counter-Strike, know that not all offer the same experience.
Some bookmakers are better for betting on Counter-Strike than others, and you should do everything you can to find the former. You must bet only with the best betting sites, which can offer you competitive odds, enough markets, and other features like live betting and promotions in free bet stakes, deposit bonuses, and more. Finding a gambling site that will check those marks requires some time investment, but it’s worth it in the long run.
Know The Basics Of Betting Odds
Not understanding how CS:GO odds work and what they mean will be the downfall of many new bettors. Although learning CS:GO odds for newbies might sound daunting, it’s pretty straightforward even if you don’t have any prior experience in CSGO betting.
Still, you should not take it for granted. You should know what the odds represent and how to read them, and if you want a helping hand, you can check out our CS:GO odds guide, where we cover everything you need to know, including how America, Fractional, and Decimal odds work, and more!
Gather As Much Information As You Can
Our next betting strategy is the simplest one, but also one that many new bettors overlook. If you want to succeed at betting on esports or in traditional sports betting, you have to make educated bets, and you can only do that if you do your research. You not only need to know what you’re betting on but also why.
Before you place your CS:GO bets, carefully analyze the teams, players, and the tournament/match format. A lot of things go into making the right choice when placing your CS:GO wagers, and it goes beyond the team’s form or their head-to-head record. Find a solid source of information, data, and stats and use it to make your bets.
Preferably, you should follow reputable esports betting websites that can offer you the needed information. Ultimately, you need to make your own choices on what to bet on, but it never hurts to get a second opinion.
Spot Betting Opportunities
All of the best CS:GO bettors are able to spot great betting opportunities from a mile away, and even though this skill does not come naturally, everyone can learn it. If you pay close attention to the happenings in the CS:GO world and are on top of all the news, you will be able to spot great betting opportunities and take advantage of them.
But besides being on the lookout for important events that might alter how the next match or tournament will play out, you shouldn’t forget about comparing your findings with betting odds, and the best way to do it is to use odds comparison tools, where you can follow the market movement and find the best CS:GO odds for the match you plan to bet on. Other things to look out for are free bets and other promotions, which can be highly valuable for you as a CS:GO bettor.
How To Find The Best Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Betting Sites?
Finding a good bookmaker for CSGO betting is the first and most important step you must take before you start placing bets. Many bookmakers offer CS:GO odds and markets, so it won’t be hard to find a website where you’ll be able to place your bets – but know that not all bookmakers offer the same quality experience.
Some betting sites are better suited for CSGO betting than others, and you need to pay close attention when picking a bookmaker to choose the right one.
The best CS:GO bookmakers will have competitive odds and enough betting markets. Odds quality is essential to your long-term success since you can expect to earn more per wager if you bet at better prices. Likewise, it’s important that you pick a betting site with a solid market offer, which will expand your betting options, allowing you to bet on whether you like.
Beyond the odds quality and betting market offer, a solid CSGO betting site needs to be legal, licensed, regulated, and follow online gambling regulations. You should never bet on a shady bookmaker, as this way, you put your personal information and your money at risk. So first, make sure that the bookmaker you choose is safe and legit!
Although not as important as the odds quality or safety, you should not ignore bookmaker’s betting offers such as welcome bonuses, free bets, and other promotions. Betting offers and bonuses are the best and easiest way for you to get extra value for your money, and you should always take advantage of any promotion you can.
Lastly, a solid bookmaker needs to have features like live betting, live streaming, and the availability of a mobile betting app. Even if you don’t plan to bet on CS:GO in-play, or you aren’t a mobile bettor, it’s advantageous to have the option to do so.
Why Should You Bet On CS:GO?
Learning how to bet on CS:GO is pretty straightforward, and with enough time, anyone can do it and be good at it. But you might still wonder why you should bet on CS:GO? There are many reasons why you should at least try it, and here we will touch on a few.
It’s Exciting
Betting on CS:GO is very exciting, largely thanks to the game, which is entertaining to watch. From breath-taking moments and incredible displays of individual skill to carefully thought-of strategies which produce unbelievable in-game moments, CS:GO has it all.
And while watching the games is highly entertaining by itself, betting on CS:GO games can add another layer of excitement, keeping you on the edge of your seat while you cheer for your favorite team and have an additional reason for why the team you support should win.
Esports Betting Can Be Highly Profitable
Any betting endeavor can be profitable if you approach it the right way and have the right tools to succeed, and CS:GO is no exception. Moreover, it’s much easier to find value bets wagering on CS:GO, mainly because the betting site are still fairly inefficient in pricing the games correctly.
Experienced bettors will know where and how to find these betting opportunities and spot wrongly priced matches, which will set them up for success and potentially a nice profit from betting. But while you have to know how to find solid betting opportunities, you must also use the best CSGO betting sites for the job that can offer you competitive odds and enough betting options.
It’s Easy To Star Betting On CS:GO
Not only is it pretty straightforward to learn how to bet on CS:GO, but it’s also very easy to find esports betting sites that will offer CSGO markets. As one of the world’s biggest and most popular esports titles, CS is well-covered by most online bookmakers, so it won’t be tough to find a bookmaker where you’ll be able to bet on it.
Admittedly, not all bookmakers will offer you the same quality betting experience, but if you follow our guides and expert bookmaker reviews, you’ll find a solid CSGO betting site with good odds and enough markets in no time.
Conclusion
CS:GO is not only one of the most popular video games but also a huge hit in the online esports betting world. It’s extremely well covered by betting sites, and there’s a plethora of websites that can offer you valuable information about the games, helping you on your esports betting journey.
If you’ve never bet on esports before, CS:GO is probably the best way to start; however, if you’re not into FPS titles and prefer MOBA games, starting your betting journey with League of Legends or Dota 2 is a solid alternative.
FAQ
Can you make money betting on CS:GO?
Yes, you can make money betting on CS:GO, just like you can make money betting on League of Legends, Dota 2, or any other esports title. But you need to be smart about it, approach it the right way, and have the right tools to succeed. Betting on CS:GO is like an investment – it takes time and dedication.
Is it worth gambling on CSGO?
We can’t tell you that you should gamble on CS:GO, but if you plan to do it, it’s definitely worth a go. Betting on CS:GO can be exciting and even lucrative if you approach it the right way, and as long as you’re smart about it, you won’t regret it.
What is +2.5 in CSGO betting?
A +2.5 in CSGO betting can mean many things, but it’s definitely a handicap (or spread) bet, more precisely a betting line. Most commonly, the +2.5 will mean a map or round handicap, but it could also mean a kill handicap, granted the latter is far less common than a map/round handicap bet.
What does ML mean in CS:GO betting?
ML in CSGO betting works the same ways as in traditional sports betting and means moneyline, which is the most common bet type for betting on CS:GO. With a moneyline wager, you’re simply predicting which team will win the next match, and it doesn’t matter how they do it or how long it takes them. The only thing that matters is the final result.
What is map winner?
Map winner is a special bet type, which, as the name suggests, is a bet on which team will win a specific map. It works the same way as moneyline bet, but instead of predicting the winner of the match, you’re predicting a winner of a map.
