What is CS:GO? – A brief overview
The full name of this game is Counter Strike: Global Offensive, but it is most commonly referred to as CS:GO. It is a highly popular online first person shooter (FPS) game which was originally developed over 10 years ago by Valve and Hidden Path Entertainment. Since that time it has attracted millions of online players and grown into a global esports phenomenon.
In tournaments, CS:GO is mostly played as a team game, with five players on each side, but some contests are open to individual competitors as well. One team plays as terrorists whose aim it is to plant a bomb in the given time. The other team is made up of counter-terrorists who will attempt to stop the terrorist team from planting the bomb by killing them, or by defusing the bomb if they have been able to plant it successfully.
CS:GO games are played on maps and a new one is used for each round, meaning that players must be able to react quickly to the new terrain and know how to use it tactically. Each round lasts just 1 minute, 55 seconds and in addition, a planted bomb has a 40 second window of opportunity for the opposition to defuse it.
Tournament matches are played over a maximum of 30 rounds and each successful map/round wins the victorious team one point. After the fifteenth round of the match, the teams switch sides and their roles are reversed.
As it is the best of 30 rounds, the first team to score 16 points are declared the winners. In the event that both teams score 15 points, then the match is a tie, there is no overtime or tie breaker option. Any match can also be ended if one team unanimously votes to surrender.
With each round being very fast-paced, CS:GO live betting is usually best left to the experts. But fear not, there are plenty of other ways you add to your enjoyment of a CS:GO tournament with a carefully planned CS:GO betting strategy, one that uses different types of bets and we will take a look at those next.
Types of CS:GO betting – A quick guide
Knowing how to bet on CS:GO and strategy are the keys to an enjoyable betting experience. In this section we are going to give you a brief guide to CS:GO betting which we hope will help to enhance your fun.
Outright bets
These are also known as futures bets, as you will be betting on the future winner of a tournament. Outright bets can only be placed up until the start of the first tournament round. To get the best odds in this market, you’ll need to wager as soon as the prices first become available, they’ll shorten quickly as more bets are placed.
Win bets
This type of bet is just as straightforward as it sounds. You are wagering on the outcome of a contest between two teams or individual players. If your prediction is correct, you win and if not, you lose. Win bets can be placed on the winners of a single map, the whole match, or sometimes on individual players.
Handicap betting
For handicap betting the odds are displayed in a format that is similar to American (money line) odds, using + and - symbols. The purpose of the ‘handicap’ is to level out a discrepancy between opposing teams and make betting more interesting than wagering on a straight win outcome.
There are two different types of CS:GO handicap betting you can try out, a single map or the whole match. Although the risk of losing a handicap bet is greater, the odds are also much higher to compensate.
Example:
In a match, Team A is the clear favourite to win and team B is the underdog. However, once handicapped, both teams theoretically start with an equal chance. This is achieved by the handicapper giving the favourite team a minus (-) odds handicap and the underdogs a plus (+) odds handicap.
If the odds for Team A are - 4.5 and + 4.5 for Team B, you can easily see how the handicap works. Team A must now win by at least five clear rounds, any fewer than that and a bet on Team B, the underdogs, would be successful.
Handicap betting is not the easiest to understand when you first encounter it, especially if you are used to the UK’s standard fractional odds format. However, it does actually make more sense for bettors when there is a clear favourite for a match and only very short odds available.
Prop bets
Prop bets are where the fun side really starts to come in and bookmakers who offer this type of wagering can be really inventive. The props available vary immensely and you will find different options for each match or tournament.
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Take your pick – Learn to specialise
The massive popularity of CS:GO means that there are simply too many matches and tournaments going on to keep track of them all. A vital part of your CS:GO betting strategy is to decide how and what you will specialise in.
Leagues
As you will find with most mainstream sports, there are a number of different CS:GO leagues you can wager on. For the major leagues you are likely to find more betting markets available, but as they will also be the most popular, odds are tight. Conversely, the lesser leagues may feature fewer alternative types of betting, but you’ll find bigger prices on show.
Tournaments
Whether you are fortunate enough to attend a live tournament, or prefer to watch on your favourite live stream channel, placing a few bets is sure to increase your enjoyment. As CS:GO is such a fast-paced game, in-game betting is best left until you have plenty of experience, but a good combination of other bet types are always on offer.
Teams
As with football, one of the mainstays of CS:GO matches is the teams themselves, which is why the majority of bettors tend to focus their wagers in that direction. In recognition of that fact, bookmakers will usually offer more betting opportunities for team achievements than for many other aspects of the game.
Individual players
There are millions of CS:GO players across the globe, but only a few will make it into the top ranking esports teams. Those who do gain a huge fan following and many spectators get a thrill out of taking the time to learn how they play and wagering on their individual performance.
Major CS:GO Tournaments - Prime targets for CS:GO bettors
Competitive CS:GO tournaments run throughout the year and are played in a number of different formats. Some use a league system with play-offs and a final, whilst others are single elimination tournaments with qualifying rounds.
The format for most major CS:GO tournaments is usually with teams of five players, although there are specific contests where individuals compete against each other too. CS:GO betting odds are available from many UK bookies and you’ll usually find CS:GO under the esports tab or listed amongst their other mainstream sports.
Despite the fact that CS:GO is mostly played online, some of the biggest tournaments are actually played offline and hosted at major sports venues like Wembley Arena. These are where you will find the biggest prize pools and some prime CS:GO betting opportunities. As with other major sporting events, it’s worth keeping a lookout for tournament promos and more prop bet options.
How to bet on CS:GO – Top tips for CS:GO bettors
In many ways, CS:GO betting strategies are very similar to those used for betting on other team sports. But there are certain tools you’ll need to ensure you have the right CS:GO stats and information to hand. In this part of our guide, we’ve put together a few ideas for you to consider.
If you are going to wager on CS:GO it really does help to have played the game yourself. That way you can get a feel for the pace of the game and learn to anticipate moves that will help you to develop your own CS:GO betting strategies. If you don’t play, the next best option is to learn the rules carefully, especially those which relate to the type of competitive play you’ll see during a tournament.
Even though the basic concept of playing CS:GO is relatively simple, the tactics and strategies used by pro teams are highly complex. The only way to get a feel for these different styles of gameplay, is to watch as many CS:GO matches as you can. Most bookmakers will allow you to watch live streams if you have a funded betting account, or you could opt for a dedicated streaming channel like Twitch.
As with most sports, there is a whole glossary of gaming slang terms and acronyms that go with the territory. Some are generic to all gaming, but others are CS:GO specific terms which you will need to understand in order to know what is happening at any given time in a match.
#4 Find a good stats site
There are a number of CS:GO stats sites available online, but some are undeniably far superior to others. It’s worth trying out a few different ones to establish which you feel the most comfortable using. That way, you can take advantage of the facts you compile to hone your own CS:GO betting strategies.
It may well be the case that you prefer to fund your betting account with a payment method other than your bank account. In which case, you’ll be pleased to learn that most UK betting sites offer a decent number of alternatives. Several UK bookmakers accept a variety of ewallets, although it must be said that PayPal esports betting sites for CS:GO are still a little thin on the ground.
A word about bookies - Only the best will do
Although there are some specialist esports sites which also enable wagering, we think it’s always better to stick to the tried and trusted UK bookmakers. We only recommend bookies that hold a UKGC licence, where you can be certain of a safe and enjoyable betting experience.
The examples below are just three of the many reputable brands which offer CS:GO betting opportunities.
Bet365
Well known for offering very competitive odds for esports fans, along with a great selection of prop betting options and we have found it to be one of the best CS:GO betting sites in that respect. Bet365 is a highly reputable bookmaker with a generous welcome offer and a very reliable live streaming service.
Unibet
For those not fully familiar with how to bet on CS:GO, Unibet offers plenty of help in the form of useful guides for CS:GO bettors. In addition, the betting platform is exceptionally easy to navigate and you can also view live stats, as well as a real time live stream direct from Twitch to make in-game betting a really immersive experience.
Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes is another standout UK bookmaker. Along with a good range of mainstream sports, it also has a dedicated esports section with plenty of emphasis on CS:GO leagues. You’ll always find plenty of live streaming action available, along with plenty of great betting options to keep you engaged.
Bookie bonuses
You’re not likely to encounter specific CS:GO betting promo codes, but the majority of bookmakers include esports in their list of available sports, which means you can usually use your bonus to wager on CS:GO. However, you must be sure to check the terms and conditions applied to the betting bonus first. It’s also worth noting that some bookies have ongoing promos for esports, which you can use to enhance your CS:GO betting strategy.
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Game over – but yours is ready to start
CS:GO is an incredibly exciting game to play or watch, so it will come as no surprise that betting on CS:GO has become equally enjoyable. As you have seen, there is a fair bit to learn about the game and some decisions you’ll need to make about which aspects you will specialise in.
Knowing how to mix and match different types of CS:GO bets and using them to create your own unique CS:GO betting strategies can be an interesting pastime. As you gain more experience, you might enjoy the thrill of betting whilst a match is in play, but nothing beats the pleasure of seeing that your hard work and research has paid off in the form of a well thought betting strategy.
CS:GO betting strategies FAQ
🏅What is the best CS:GO betting strategy?
There is no ‘quickfire’ solution. Developing a good CS:GO betting strategy will take time and commitment on your part. How to bet on CS:GO and where to find vital information on this exciting esports is all detailed in our unique CS:GO strategy guide here at Strafe.com.
💯 What is CS:GO handicap betting?
Handicap betting is a popular alternative to simply betting on the winner of a sports event or a CS:GO match. However, you will need to fully understand how it works to use it successfully in your CS:GO betting strategy. To help you out, we have explained handicap betting, along with the other types of bettings you can place, in our CS:GO strategy guide.
❓Can I use a CS:GO betting strategy for other esports?
Whether it’s mainstream sports or esports, each different one has its own unique strategic betting approach. It will definitely be worth your while to head over and browse our in-depth esports strategy guides. Whether it’s CS:GO, Fortnite or any other esports that you want to play, they’re certain to set you on the right track.
