Analysis of Traditional European Sports vs Esports Betting

Traditional sports betting has long defined the landscape of the betting industry, offering a wide range. Bettors can choose from football, tennis, boxing, water polo, horse racing, or anything else they like. However, with the growing popularity of esports, bookmakers are rethinking their strategies and expanding their offerings to adapt to the trend. Today, we will closely examine both bet types, highlighting their differences. We hope this will help you choose your option.

Evolution of Betting in Europe

It all started in the 19th century with the birth of modern sports. Although they were far from current standards, horseback riding and boxing gave rise to the first betting practices. In the 20th century, the popularity grew, mainly due to football leagues. Technological advances and the growth of mass television broadcasts accelerated this process. Online betting and sweepstakes provided players more opportunities and were a great attraction.

The 21st century, with the Internet and mobile technologies, allowed bookmakers online in Europe to expand their services. That’s where interest in esports betting began to grow amid the development of computer games and console tournaments. The most popular games at that time were Counter-Strike and StarCraft. Developers seized the moment and released more titles, including the legendary League of Legends, Dota 2, and CS:GO.

Types of Bets and Formats

Let's compare traditional and esports bets. Here are the main types:

1. Live. They provide an opportunity to place bets right during the broadcast, which adds emotion and the ability to react to changes instantly.
2. Spread. The point of these is to predict the difference in scores between teams.
3. Over/Under. Players bet on whether the total score of the match will be higher or lower than a certain number.
4. Outright. Here, you predict the tournament or championship winner in advance.
5. Handicap. An analogue of spread betting, where players bet on one team, gaining or losing a goal advantage.
6. Rounds Total. Players bet on the total number of rounds, which allows predicting the match’s intensity.

Different formats are used in both traditional betting and esports. However, esports is more flexible and reflects dynamics and uniqueness, attracting bettors worldwide.

Strategies in Both Areas

In sports, the primary strategy is to analyse statistics, the form of teams and individual players. You must consider news about injuries, lineup changes, and even the most minor factors affecting performance. That is why experts advise you to bet on what you love and are good at. However, even beginners can place bets due to the rules' simplicity and prevalence. Esports betting is a bit more complicated, as it is unlikely to make a successful bet without a deep understanding of games and teams.

But there is another way to increase your chances - competent bankroll management:

1. Set a budget. This amount should not affect your basic expenses and obligations.
2. Determine the bet size. Keeping them from 1% to 5% of the total bankroll is best.
3. Minimise risks. Avoid aggressive bets and large volumes. Do not bet more than you are willing to lose.
4. Track and analyse the results. Bookmakers place your analytics in the personal account. Use it to work on your mistakes.
5. Do not pursue losses. Do not try to get your money back, no matter how much you want to. Emotional decisions lead to problems.

However, the first step is to choose a reliable bookmaker. Make sure it is licensed and guarantees data security.

The Difference in Bets and Odds in Sports and eSports

Traditional bets become more active during the World Cup, Europa League, etc. Of course, local matches are also popular, but statistics show it’s not the same. In esports, the volume and frequency of bets are more stable because tournaments and games occur throughout the year and are not limited to seasons. In both cases, the odds are set based on the bookmaker's assessment of the probability of the event's outcome. The payout depends on your stake and this multiplier.

Technological Influence

Technology has changed all aspects of our lives, including entertainment. For example, streaming technologies and mobile applications allow one to react to events during the game instead of waiting for it to end. It adds more emotion and interaction. Speaking of esports, it is impossible not to mention services such as Twitch. It allows fans to watch their favourite gamers and share comments and impressions.

Bottom Line

So, these types have more in common, although sports have been around much longer and offer more choices. However, esports has developed to a level in just 15 years, so we expect the trend to continue and new opportunities for fans.