Betting on Esports Games: Pre-Match or Live?

The growth of the esports sector over the last 25 years has been remarkable. From obscure origins, esports have expanded their reach to become a multi-billion-dollar industry, with fans in every corner of the globe, enormous and expanding prize funds for tournaments, and high-level corporate sponsorship.

At the same time, there has been a parallel growth in the sports betting sector, thanks to the development of online sports betting, and the crossover between betting and esports has been fascinating.

Initially, the sports betting industry was reluctant to embrace esports, but now there are esports markets at almost every sports betting site such as those listed at https://legalbet.uk/betting-sites/, and there are even esports-only betting sites dedicated to this dynamic form of betting.

Yet even within the world of sports betting, there are new and developing trends, including the rise of live betting, which is becoming almost as popular as pre-match betting. These two forms of esports betting require different skills, and those looking to find the best esports bets may be curious about which one to choose.

What is Pre-Match Betting

This is the standard form of esports betting when bettors make their selections before the event has started. The most popular bets are those in the Match Winner and Tournament Winner markets, but you can also bet pre-match on a variety of other markets, depending on the sport, such as Map Wins, Total Kills, Best Player, Match Score, and so on. So, what are the pros and cons of betting pre-match?

Pros

•         Betting pre-match can give you an edge over other bettors if you can spot prices early.
•         Pre-match betting is not as fast-moving as in-play betting, allowing you to refine your strategy.
•         There will always be pre-match betting on any event covered by the bookmaker.

Cons

•         The pre-match markets become more efficient nearer the event, making it harder to find value.
•         Sportsbooks focus their efforts on these markets, so mistakes are rarer.
•         In these markets you are competing against a wider bettor base than with live markets.

Live Betting

Betting on an event while it is ongoing has only become possible with the development of new streaming and internet technology. This allows bettors to follow the action remotely and enables bookmakers to update their prices rapidly to reflect developments in the game. Live betting has become extremely popular, and many sportsbook sites offer live streaming of esports events alongside their in-play markets.

The live betting markets are similar to the pre-match betting options, and you will find markets on match winners, Total Kills, Map Handicaps, and others. There is also a range of live markets based on what bettors think will happen next, and these can be the most volatile, providing opportunities for those who can spot the value, but potentially leading to big losses.

Pros

•         If you know your esports, players, and teams well, live betting enables you to gain an edge on your fellow bettors, through spotting developments quickly.
•         Those with quick reflexes can also gain an advantage.
•         It is harder for bookmakers to accurately price markets in-running, leading to more mistakes.

Cons

•         Live betting requires fast reflexes and can be very volatile.
•         If your streaming link is slower than other bettors’, you could be betting at a disadvantage.
•         Live betting requires strong discipline and the ability to instantly adapt.

Live or Pre-Match?

So, which is the best betting option? Whether you go for in-play or pre-match betting will largely depend on your betting style and your strengths. If you have fast reflexes, access to high-quality streaming, and the ability to stay calm under pressure, then live betting may be a good option. On the other hand, if you prefer to be more strategic and consider your options calmly, pre-match betting could be a better choice.

One thing to remember is that live betting can be frenetic and volatile. It is easy to get carried away and lose significant amounts of money when betting this way. So, in addition to the essential betting rule that you should never bet with money you cannot afford to lose, those considering betting in-play should take time to learn the necessary skills and bet cautiously until they have mastered them.