Here's Everything You Need to Know about SC2 Betting Success

There you have it. The best SC2 Betting sites around! We curate these recommendations based on their available odds, community engagement, respective security measures, and recent reviews written by impartial players with honest ratings.

When researching SC2 bookmakers, odds, and promotional betting offers, we enlist a series of checks to safeguard you, our community. We will only ever recommend establishments that hold the necessary licenses with UK, EU and CA based governmental bodies. It’s also worth mentioning that we only recommend bookmakers that are tried, tested, and reputed for payouts and fair odds.

However, if you’ve already found a specific promotion, or have a site in mind and are questioning its legitimacy, read on to discover all the betting tips and tricks you can utilise to protect yourself.

StarCraft II Betting Basics 

“Basics” is maybe an understatement. SC2’s consistent popularity is attributed to the high-level of skill involved and the variety of tactics competitors can employ in their attempts to out-do each other. There is tremendous room for upset in StarCraft II and this is what makes it such a delight to bet on. However, because of the fast-paced nature of play and the possibility of lengthy match-ups, live-betting is generally favoured.

Before betting on SC2, you should familiarise yourself with gameplay, tactics and competitors. The best way to develop this game knowledge, prior to betting, is to play the game, but watching professional streams is also a great way to cultivate your understanding. Most, if not all, of the sites listed above, host streams of the matches they take bets on. Strafe aims to be especially useful, offering head-to-head records and insight into competitor’s recent form. These are great starting points when it comes to developing your own betting strategies too.

If you’re new to the scene, or are interested in reading up on how to bet on SC2, then we recommend reading our SC2 betting guide:

StarCraft II is a high-octane real time strategy (RTS) game created by Blizzard - the very same folks attributed for the success of Competitors favourite’s Overwatch and World of Warcraft. With decades of industry experience, and a plethora of highly competitive titles under their belt, StarCraft II was inaugurated into the realm of eSports almost immediately upon release and now, over a decade later, it still sees play alongside staggering prize pools - some of the largest the industry has ever seen!

The goal, put simply, is to outperform your opponent. Although destroying your opponents base is the primary win condition on a StarCraft II map, as a courtesy, and because of game lengths, losing players often “gg”, saying good game and surrendering when a loss is certain and victory is irredeemable. This is because comebacks from severe disadvantages are very unlikely in a game of SC2. Think of it like chess; almost all games end with a surrender or a draw rather than a mate.

StarCraft II Betting Types

eSports betting sites offer a variety of betting types and available markets when it comes to SC2 betting, although these will vary depending on your chosen bookmaker.

As with a RTS, developing a style of play that best caters to your game knowledge and time-commitments is essential when it comes to SC2 betting. When we consider the length of the average SC2 game, it’s understandable that some punters may not have the time to watch an entire SC2 tournament, or even a single match!

Fortunately, there are a variety of ways that you can participate.

Pre Match Betting VS Live Betting - Live-betting demands extensive game knowledge in order to quickly capitalise on fluctuating odds and upset during live games. If you are a newcomer, or feel less confident betting live, then pre-match betting beforehand can offer a more comfortable pace of play to develop your skills and strategies, or simply make an evening in that little bit more exciting. That said, if you like the sound of live betting, consider yourself an experienced StarCraft II player, or want to know more, we recommend checking out our StarCraft II Live Betting article:

Match Winner - Simply put, you are betting on the result of the match in play. Who do you think will win? Always remember that in SC2, the match will be scored according to the amount of victories achieved by players across several maps. For example, in a “best of five” match, five maps will be played and whoever wins the most maps will claim the win.

Outright Winner - If you’ve been following a tournament and feel confident in a specific competitor, you may wish to place a bet on them to win the entire tournament. Remember, if you’re betting on an “outright winner”, ordinarily you are not betting on the game at hand, but who you believe will take the crown across the broader tournament.

Scoreline Betting - Predicting the final score of a game isn’t quite as advanced or lucrative as live-betting, but it can yield some exciting results and is a fairly simple concept. Essentially, the aim is to predict the final score of a match. For example, if odds are bad for a simple “Match Win” bet, you may wish to place a bet on the final score being 3-2 foir increased odds.

Handicap Betting - Commonly referred to as “spread betting”, handicaps are an accommodating yet challenging means of participation. They are often favoured when a game’s outcome feels especially predictable as they implement new rulings, or the titular “handicap”, that boost odds in the event of obvious outcomes.

If you like the sound of handicap betting, consider yourself an experienced punter, or an especially competent strategist, we recommend checking out our StarCraft II Handicap Betting article:

Choosing the Right Bookmaker for SC2

In recent years, the eSports scene has scene unprecedented growth. We’ve seen insane sponsorship deals, colossal prize pools, and the rise of “professional gamers” akin to their athletic counterparts.

In tandem, punters and enthusiasts have seen an increase in the number of eSports bookmakers. Whilst offering greater freedoms, enticing promotions, and unparalleled variety in betting types and markets, the vast selection can be a little intimidating, especially for noobies, or punters accustomed to conventional sporting bookmakers. After all, how can you be certain you’re in safe hands if the majority of eSports bookmakers are fresh-faced and new?

Don’t worry. We’ve got your back! Choosing an esports bookmaker doesn’t have to be as hard as pushing a payload in a Grandmaster match. Read ahead and take a look at what you can do to cover your back and protect your interests when it comes to SC2 betting!

When searching for SC2 Betting Sites, your priority should be secure bookmakers with great usability, fair bonuses, and a variety of markets. Remember, if something sounds too good to be true - it usually is!

Licenses. Ensure that your chosen bookmaker deals in your local currencies and holds the necessary licenses with either UK, EU and CA based governmental bodies. If a bookmaker doesn’t deal in your local currencies, or does not list your country when it comes to entering payment details, then odds are they don’t operate in your region. This is especially important as, even if you win, upon verification, the operator may not payout. That said, legitimate establishments will usually see your initial bet refunded and your account terminated.

Coverage. The variety of coverage and betting types that a bookmaker offers is a good indication as to whether they are worth your time. This is a common problem when it comes to conventional sporting bookmakers - their coverage sucks! They rarely stream the game you’re betting on, and the available bets are limited and unspecialised.  If there’s great coverage, generally you’re in the right place.

Promotions. Study their promotional offers page and see if anything is currently running. Even past promotions will give you a good idea as to how competent a bookmaker is. Usually, SC2 betting offers, such as a free bet or specialised promotion, will run alongside a tournament, which means that they will usually be posted in the weeks leading up to the event you have in mind. These can be great, low-risk ways to engage with the tournament and practice your strategies for more advanced play.

Odds. Once you have found a handful of potential bookmakers, before your initial deposit, monitor the sites odds. Often, at a glance, SC2 betting odds may appear fair and well-calculated, however the depth of the game mechanics - and the varying degrees of player skill - leaves plenty of room for unexpected outcomes. Once you know the game, try and identify “value bets” that you believe may be particularly advantageous.

If you’re looking for the best SC2 Odds, want to know how to identify “value bets”, or are want to learn how to find the best SC2 Odds, then we recommend reading our article on the matter:

It might not be difficult to find an esports betting site, but finding the right site for you can be a little more challenging. There’s no ‘one size fits all’ deal as every punter has their own needs, expectations and desires. Thankfully, we’ve curated a strong list here to help you on your way and get you started - but always exercise caution if you’re venturing into the unknown!

StarCraft II Betting Payout Speed

As with conventional bookmakers, you should expect payout speeds between 24 to 72 hours. The waiting time greatly depends on three factors—your bookie, your payment method, and the amount of money you are trying to withdraw. Generally, the larger the sum, the longer it will take to process.

Additionally, prior to withdrawal, it is often required that you verify yourself with an additional means of identification that matches your card. This is to protect against fraud, for the most part, and is customary across most online bookmakers.

Contrary to popular belief, there’s no way to speed up payouts, but payout speeds do generally differ bookmaker to bookmaker. Some are notorious for taking the full 72 hours, others are heralded for taking less than 24 hours, but their stated terms remain intact and there are no shortcuts unless you’re willing to change your bookmaker entirely.

StarCraft II Betting Sites Customer Support

When comparing eSports betting sites, you should also consider the standard of customer support that you experience. This is especially important when it comes to the locality of your chosen bookmaker: Can you contact customer support at the times you’re most likely to be betting, and what contact options are available?

Adept and respected bookmakers tend to at least have a 24/7 live chat option available - not that you should need it, but as a security measure just in case. If things go south, it’s best to have the option there, so keep your eyes peeled and have a quick browse through reviews so that you know what to expect circumstantially.

It’s important to join a bookie that pays close attention to the quality of their customer care. If reviews are hard to gauge, as is often the case, the best way to assess their customer care is to check the number of communication channels they have available, or even test them with a simple enquiry.

StarCraft II Betting Bonuses and Promotions

eSports betting sites are always competing for new player deposits. One of the most popular ways they attract enthusiasts and punters is by offering generous deposit bonuses or running tournament promotions.

Websites that offer bonuses will typically require that you, as the player, make a deposit first, and often the bonus is rewarded as a direct proportion of the amount you deposit. However, when capitalising on these rewards, you should be sure to read your ‘wagered terms’, as often free bets, matched bets, and tournament promo codes come with a set of rules that make profiting fair for both the consumer and the bookmaker.

For example, in the event you redeem a promo code in conjunction with a tournament, that gifts you a “bonus balance” or “matched balance”, your wagered terms may require you to ascertain 10x your initial deposit in order for the bonus balance to “rollover” into your “real balance” where it is eligible for withdrawal.

These bonuses can be especially fun when you reverse engineer a strategy in order to meet your wagered terms, and should be used in a calculated and educated manner.

If you’re interested in SC2 promo codes, free bets, or promotional offers, then we recommend reading our article on the matter. In it, we break down complicated bookmaker lingo, and make sure that you’re prepared with strategies, and the very best betting tips and tricks!

Bet with confidence

Ultimately, when searching for your SC2 Bookmaker, the aim is to bet with confidence. Whether you’re reading wagered terms or checking their licenses and reviews, you want to find a bookmaker that operates in your best interest and values your custom.

Do the groundwork. Start small, spend time with your research and choose a bookmaker with respectable practices and fair odds. As with gambling, going in blind is reckless. Breakdown the site at hand and ensure you have a plan of action in place so that you can bet with confidence.

StarCraftII Betting FAQ