The eSports scene has, recently, been gaining a lot of traction. Competitive gaming has been around since, pretty much, the advent of the multiplayer co-op game. However, it wasn’t until the late 1990s and early 2000s that gaming tournaments as we know them today started popping up. In the 21st century, gaming has reached a wider audience, and a ton of people are now interested in watching top players compete on a professional level.
In some ways, eSports has a lot in common with online casinos and sportsbooks, like Stake. For one, both industries skyrocketed in popularity at the turn of the century. The truth is, we have the internet to thank for that. The growing presence of the online sphere makes it possible to access gambling sites and streaming services that broadcast eSports events. But, there is also something else that links the two markets; gambling.
Betting on eSports
A lot of people may not have thought about betting on eSports. However, if you really think about it, there isn’t much of a reason why one wouldn’t wager on competitive gaming. Much like sports proper, eSports events feature multiple teams, some of whom have a better chance of winning than others. A savvy odds maker could look into the history of the market, and place odds on the teams and players involved.
For a long time, eSports was not popular enough to warrant odds. However, in the 2020s, the market has become quite profitable. Many bookies have already jumped the bandwagon, and are now creating odds for eSports. Most prominent and reliable among them is Stake, an Australian-Curacaoan online casino, with offices all over the world. But, why do many gamblers and bettors consider Stake the best choice for betting on eSports? That is what we are here to explain.
Reputation
First and foremost is reputation. In the iGaming business, having a good reputation is absolutely key. There are so many gambling websites that operate without any sort of license and regulation, and with cybercrime on the rise, many are afraid to hitch their wagon to just any website. However, Stake has been operating for seven years now, and has garnered a reputation as one of the best online casinos in the world. To confirm, we need only take a look at the sponsorship deals which they’ve managed to secure.
Stake has worked with the Ultimate Fighting Championship on multiple occasions, with their most prominent deal being with fighter Israel Adesanya. They’ve been involved with several English football clubs, most notable of which is Everton F.C. The casino has also had sponsorship deals with Formula 1 drivers and Formula 2. But, their dealings don’t stop at sports. They’ve also worked with rappers, musicians, and Twitch streamers, building a strong and trustworthy reputation among the general audience.
Coverage
Apart from their reputation, Stake is also one of the first casinos to actually cover eSports odds. As we said before, many have simply not thought of eSports as something worth betting on, which is why most bookies don’t even pay attention to the growing market. However, the team at Stake were among the first to recognize the potential in gaming. A lot of people consider them the best bookie for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Counter-Strike 2 odds. But, their coverage doesn’t stop there.
If you were to visit the Stake eSports page, you will find individual pages dedicated to a lot of the most popular games in eSports right now. Of course, League of Legends is at the top of the list, what with it being the biggest game in the world, especially after the release of the Arcane series on Netflix. Other games that you can wager on at Stake include Arena of Valor, DOTA 2, Age of Empires, Call of Duty, and even eCricket.
Diversity of Bets
For a lot of gamblers, simply offering the odds is good enough. However, Stake does not stop there. The sportsbook also places several different type of wagering options, which diversify the experience, and make everything just a bit more interesting. Of course, you can expect to find standard “to win” odds. All you have to do there is place a bet on which gaming team you think will win the match, and if you called it right, you are set.
However, Stake takes it a step further. You can bet on your favorite gaming tournament live and in real time. Live wagers are not for everybody. They require fast decision-making, and a willingness to take risks. Some gamblers prefer to think about their bets and really study the odds. But, for those who want to plunge headfirst into the wager, live betting is an excellent choice. On top of that, Stake offers prop bets and future bets for a lot of eSports, making them an excellent choice.
Payment Methods
Finally, we have to talk about Stake’s unique payment methods. Most casinos operate with traditional currencies, using credit cards or digital wallets. At Stake, however, crypto is the way to go. Most of their customers make transactions using Bitcoin, which may throw some people off, especially if they know very little about the market. However, there is nothing to worry about. If you are new to crypto, the casino itself offers a very simple to understand guide on betting with Bitcoin.
Customers can buy Bitcoin using PayPal, their debits cards, or even do it directly through a digital wallet. As for payment methods, Stake accepts credit and debit card-based payments, as well as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more. They are also quite unique in that they do not demand any wagering requirements for taking advantage of some of their generous bonus features.
Closing Thoughts
Betting on eSports is a relatively new concept for many. However, the industry is growing, whether we like to admit it or not. Those who thought video games were a passing fad have clearly been proven wrong, as the interactive storytelling has resonated with many. The competitive aspect of games is one of the most attractive thing about them. And as this competitive spirit is similar to that of sports, why not treat eSports like sports proper, and let people wage on tournaments?
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