The second season of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) is upon us, which means it’s time to put on our thinking caps and begin calculating just how much we should be betting on each game. There are so many variables at play here, so let’s run through them all and get back to you with some educated guesses.
How Popular Is It?
If you’re looking to hedge your bets, it’s best to check out how popular a game is going to be. Not only will this give you an idea of how many people are playing it, but it will also let you know how likely it is that Steam ratings (the PUBG of Steam) are going to be affected by small sample sizes or outliers. For example, while PUBG has undoubtedly seen plenty of upsets, especially in the early days of this year’s Steam Holiday Sale, I would not bank on those trends continuing for the entirety of Season Two.
What Is the Prize Pool?
Another important factor to consider when calculating betting ratios is the prize pool associated with each game. The more valuable the prize pool is, the more attractive the game becomes to bettors. One of the advantages of PUBG is that its prize pool is guaranteed, whereas the prize pools of other games, such as CS:GO, can vary greatly. In the case of CS:GO, the prize pool was originally $1.5 million USD, but it has since been halved to $750,000 USD. The decreased prize pool does not affect how much value this game has, however, as the drop in USD does not equate to a proportional drop in value.
How Is Player Behavior?
One of the most important things to consider when calculating the right CS:GO betting ratio is how engaged are the players. If you’re looking for a game that will keep you glued to your screen for the entirety of the competition, check out CS:GO, as player behavior in this game can be rather interesting. One of the best things about CS:GO is its diverse population, with over 1.7 million players on Steam as of April 20th. As with any large, competitive gaming audience, some interesting behaviors evolve alongside the rising popularity of this game. For example, during the later rounds of the ESL Pro League, the commentators frequently refer to the “Battle of the Bots,” with skilled human players going head-to-head with computer-controlled bots in what is essentially a “survival of the fittest” scenario. While certainly not unique to CS:GO, the existence of these bots complicates the question of whether or not a game of skill is emerging.
Is It A “Race To The Bottom”?
In some cases, the answer to this question is yes. Games like Dota 2 and Hearthstone are highly popular on Steam because they offer fun, competitive experiences at a relatively low cost. Whether or not this trend continues is questionable, as the barriers to entry for many games have been lowered to ridiculous degrees. Even games that were previously considered “casual” have been optimized to near-perfection through a combination of paid DLC and free updates, which offer an incredible amount of value for very little investment. While there is certainly still some merit to the “race to the bottom” theory in the case of Hearthstone, Dota 2 and other similar games, it would be a mistake to assume this trend applies to all games.
What’s The Weather Like?
Another important factor to consider when calculating the right CS:GO betting ratio is the weather, as you likely want to avoid games in bad weather conditions. When it comes to extreme temperatures and precipitation, some games are more prone to these elements than others. One of the reasons why Fortnite is so popular on Steam is that its seasons are just right for gameplay. During the winter, it’s too cold for most people to move around very much, so that means fewer people playing and better odds for you. Similarly, lightning storms and heavy downpours of rain make for difficult gameplay in many games, so you’d better avoid those as well.
What About Other Demographics?
Depending on how much you’re wagering, you might also want to consider what other demographics are playing. If you’re playing with friends, family or colleagues, you might want to consider whether or not they have any gaming preferences. For example, does your loved one like first-person shooters or is she more of a Magic: The Gathering player? Knowing the tendencies of your audience will help you choose games that they are more likely to enjoy. While this is certainly not an exact science, it is something that you can utilize to your advantage. You can also use this data to determine whether or not you should be playing on certain days or at certain times, as certain days and times are more suitable for certain games.
To conclude, the answer to the question “What should the ratio be for CS:GO 2X betting?” is quite simply “it depends.” There are a variety of factors that you need to consider, including how much are you willing to wager, how popular the game is, how engaged the players, the weather and some of your audience’s personal preferences. As with any other form of gambling, the absolute best approach here is simply to do some research and see how things stand at the present time. Then, you can move forward from there. Good luck!