The first-person shooter video game (or just FPS for short) has been around for decades. But it wasn’t until the 2000s that the genre really started to become popular and recognizable.
There was a surge of interest in FPS games following the rise of esports in the early 21st century. And it wasn’t until the 2010s that the genre really started to dominate competitive gaming. Since then, it has become the go-to game for e-sports betting.
The demand for esports betting grew in line with the growing popularity of FPS games. So much so that today, betting shops and websites specializing in offering gambling odds on professional Overwatch, Fortnite, and other popular game modes and leagues now exist.
Which sites are the best in offering betting odds on esports? We’ve compiled a list of the best CSGO betting sites based on a variety of factors including safety, odds, and user interface. So, read on to find out more.
Key Facts About Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
First of all, let’s cover some basic facts about Counter-Stike: Global Offensive (CSGO).
CSGO is developed by the Swedish company, Steam, and first released in 2007 for Microsoft Windows. The game was inspired by Half-Life, another first-person shooter developed by Valve, the developer behind the immensely popular Steam platform. So it’s safe to say that CSGO was inspired by some of the greatest games of all time.
Since then, the game has been available on nearly all platforms including Steam for PC, Xbox One, and Android. This makes it easily accessible for players worldwide.
CSGO is a team-based game. This means that players on your team need to work together to advance through the game. You can’t rely on individual gameplay to triumph over your opponents. The game encourages teamwork and strategy, two crucial advantages for any competitive gamer.
The Popularity of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Counter-Strike was originally released in 1996 as Counter-Strike: global offensive. But the game has had several major updates and remasters over the years. Most notably, in 2019, Valve added a new game mode to the hit FPS titled “Operation: Blackout.” The mode is set in an urban environment and tasks players with defending a train station from waves of attackers.
Blackout is the highest-rated game mode of all time on Steam with an average review score of 4.3. And it’s not hard to see why. The update added a horde mode to the game which tasks players with fighting through waves of increasingly difficult attackers. In between defending your base, you have to find health packs, weapon caches, and other items to stay alive.
But beyond adding new gameplay elements, the game mode also received frequent updates in the form of new weapon skins and other visual fidelity improvements. These updates make the mode feel almost like a full release all on their own. And this is what makes it popular. Every new release of CSGO adds more variety to the game. While older updates add more features and improve the overall gameplay experience.
How to Pick a Winning Team in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Now, let’s get to the good stuff. Once you’ve played enough games to feel comfortable making picks, the next step is learning how to properly choose your team. This is easier said than done, especially if you’re new to the game. But with some practice, you’ll become an expert at selecting the right team for any given situation.
If you’d like to pick the outright winners of each matchup, you could go with the popular team, Gamblers. Every member of this team is experienced at placing bets on sporting events and are more than happy to take your money. Even if you’re just interested in making the money back on your investment, you could opt for the safer choice of Optic Sport. The chances of losing all of your money are slim, but it’s still a possibility. Especially since they don’t offer the appealing betting odds that many other sites do.
As you gain experience, you’ll be able to tell the difference between professional teams and online communities of skilled players. The former are groups of players who have practice squads and perform under the direction of a coach. This is the perfect option for those who want to learn and play simultaneously. Optic Sport and the like are perfect for those who just want to place a bet without any expectation of winning. Since it’s not a competitive environment, there’s minimal risk of losing your investment.
Top 5 CSGO Betting Sites
Now, let’s move on to the part of the article where we cover the five best CSGO websites and their deposit methods. First, we have OddsBeast.com. This site has been around for almost two decades and is one of the most trusted names in the industry. It was once the home of Pinnacle.com. One of the most popular booksmakers in the world, Pinnacle.com merged with OddsBeast in 2011.
Depositing at odds of less than 2 is available at oddsbeast.com. US players are also able to use PayPal as a form of payment. Additionally, withdrawals up to $1000 are entirely free of charge.
OddsBeast also offers a mobile version of the site which makes it even more accessible for players who want to place a bet while on the go. Even more impressively, the site offers a live stream of game days which allows for remote watching of sporting events and live betting during particularly exciting moments in games.
The next on our list is oddsbetting.com. This platform is owned by BetOnSports, a company with ties to the UK National Lottery. They ran into some trouble with the UK authorities in 2014 due to problems with gambling advertising. After the UK government reviewed the site’s operations, they were forced to remove all published odds and shut down their live betting section.
However, BetOnSports launched a revised and regulated version of oddsbetting.com in 2018. The new site is available in both the UK and USA and is operated under the same stringent rules as the original. Players can use a variety of reputable payment methods including PayPal and Visa to fund their accounts. After verifying your age, you will be able to make deposits and place bets as normal. The good news for UK players is that BetOnSports offers a UK-specific website which allows for full access to all of the markets and promotions available on the international site. This means that if you’re based in the UK, you don’t need to be restricted by the smaller betting options offered on the national lotteries-backed oddsbetting.com site.
Bet On Leicester City vs Tottenham Hotspur
We’ll begin with one of the most popular matches of the 2020 Premier League schedule. Leicester City host Tottenham Hotspur at the King Power Stadium on March 6th. This match will determine the eventual winner of the Premier League title as well as whose team will qualify for the UEFA Champions League. With both teams struggling for form and confidence, it’s anyone’s game.
This is an important game for Leicester City. Backed by impressive financial backing, the Foxes own the largest soccer club purse in the world, valued at around $52 million. Leicester City are one of the most popular betting favorites to win the Premier League title this year, along with Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.
Tottenham Hotspur are another team struggling for form and confidence. They lost their first two games in the league before earning a draw against London rivals Chelsea. Although they are still in the hunt for a top-four finish, Spurs are no longer considered a threat to win the Premier League title. The club has sold most of their star players in the past year, and the current management team does not have the track record of success that the Foxes do. The management also lacks the deep pockets that the Glorious Foxes possess, putting them at a decided financial disadvantage.
Leicester and Spurs are almost certainly going to tangle on March 6th. This will be one of the most heavily-watched games of the season. And with each team being backed by numerous wealthy individuals and institutions, there’s no surprise why. But if you’re looking for safe and secure esports betting, then you could do a lot worse than Tottenham Hotspur. The team has been around since 1862 and have always been considered one of the safer options for esports betting.