What this guide covers
Stake names CS2, Dota 2, League of Legends and Valorant among its esports. The thing that sets esports apart from most sports is the series. A match is usually best of one, best of three or best of five maps or games, and the markets are built around that structure. This guide explains maps versus series, the extra markets each game has, and the void rules that come up more often here than anywhere else.
18+ only, or the higher legal age where you live. Esports draw a young audience, and we want to be plain about it: if you're under the legal age, this page isn't for you. Check the availability page before you sign up.
Markets
- Match winner. The series result.
- Map winner. One map at a time.
- Correct map score. For example 2 to 1.
- Map handicap. A head start in maps.
Match winner is the result of the whole series. In a best-of-three, the first team to win two maps takes it.
Map winner lets you bet on a single map, such as map 2, without caring about the series. It's useful when you think an underdog is strong on one particular map.
Correct map score asks for the exact series result. In a best-of-three, the options are 2 to 0 or 2 to 1 for either team.
A map handicap gives a team a head start in maps. A favorite at minus 1.5 maps must win 2 to 0 in a best-of-three. An underdog at plus 1.5 wins the bet if it takes at least one map. Our handicap guide covers the idea in more depth.
Maps versus series
How series length changes things
| Format | What it means for betting |
|---|---|
| Best of one | One map decides it, so upsets are more common |
| Best of three | The stronger team has room to recover |
| Best of five | Usually finals, and favorites are shorter |
Shorter series are more random. A best-of-one can turn on a single good half. That's not a flaw. It's just something the price should reflect, and usually does.
Game by game
Game by game
| Game | Typical extra markets |
|---|---|
| CS2 | Rounds total, pistol round |
| League of Legends | First blood, dragons |
| Dota 2 | First blood, Roshan |
CS2
A CS2 map is played in rounds. Markets include total rounds on a map, round handicaps and the pistol rounds that open each half. Map choice, called the veto, matters a lot, because teams are much stronger on some maps than others. Overtime rounds usually count toward totals, but check the market.
League of Legends and Dota 2
Both are games with objectives on a single map. Common markets include first blood, first tower, the first dragon or baron in League of Legends, the first Roshan in Dota 2, total kills and game length. These depend on the game's current balance patch, which changes regularly.
Valorant
Valorant works much like CS2, with rounds, halves and maps. Expect similar markets where Stake lists them.
Forfeits and remakes
If a team forfeits or a map is replayed, settlement depends on Stake's rules.
Esports have problems traditional sports rarely do: server crashes, disconnects, remakes, teams forfeiting, and matches moved at short notice. A match that's postponed may stand if it's played within a set time, and be voided after that. A map that's replayed from scratch may be settled on the replay. A team that forfeits before the match usually means voided bets, but a forfeit mid-series can be settled differently. Because these situations come up often, read Stake's esports rules before you bet, not after.
Coverage and information
Top-tier events attract the most markets and the most public information. Smaller tournaments may have only a match winner, and the teams can be hard to research. Roster changes and stand-in players move prices sharply. Integrity issues have also been a problem in lower-tier esports over the years, which is one more reason to stick to events you follow.
Live esports
Many esports matches are offered in play, often alongside a stream on the tournament's own channel. Prices move with every round, kill or objective. Streams can run behind the live game, so the market may know something the stream hasn't shown you yet. Read our live betting guide and set your stake before the match starts.
Related
Learn handicap betting and live betting. Totals like rounds and kills work as explained in our over and under guide.
A worked example
Made-up best-of-three: Team A is 1.45 and Team B is 2.70. You think B is strong on its own map pick but weaker overall. Instead of backing B to win the series, you could back B plus 1.5 maps, which wins if B takes at least one map, or back B on map 1 if that's B's pick. If A wins 2 to 1, the plus 1.5 bet wins, the map 1 bet wins if B won that map, and a B series bet loses. Matching the market to your actual view is most of the skill in esports betting.
Keeping it in proportion
Esports run around the clock, across time zones, with several events at once. It's easy to keep betting on matches you weren't planning to watch. Pick your games, treat every bet as money you can lose, and if you're chasing losses, stop and read our responsible gambling page.
FAQ
Is there live esports betting?
Yes, for many matches.
What if a match is postponed?
Check how long Stake waits before voiding.
Are smaller tournaments covered?
Coverage varies.
Does overtime count in CS2 round totals?
Usually yes, but read the market rules on Stake before you bet.