How To Bet On CS2

Before we get into anything, let’s first ensure you have a good grasp of what Counter-Strike betting is and what you are getting yourself into. First and foremost, please ensure you are of legal betting age, which is 18 or 21 depending on your country. Remember that partaking in betting activities can lead you to lose money, so only bet what you can afford to lose.

It is important to understand that CS2 betting and CS2 gambling are two different things. Betting is a form of gambling, but does not involve any luck-based game modes such as Roulette, Crash, Dice, Jackpot, or Coinflip. Instead, players are staking money on a specific outcome from a professional Counter-Strike match.

What Are Bookmakers?

The first thing you need to know in CS2 betting is what a bookmaker is. A bookmaker is another word for a betting site. These betting sites will provide their users with match lines and odds that are based on the probability of a specific outcome happening.

After placing a bet and winning it, the bookmaker will return your initial bet and your winnings so that you find yourself in a profit. In the unfortunate outcome where you lose your bet, the money staked will be eaten by the bookmaker.

When betting on a Counter-Strike match, you are essentially going against the bookmaker instead of another player, unlike PvP gambling game modes such as Jackpot or Coinflip.

Key Betting Terminologies You Must Know

Aside from bookmakers, there are additional betting terms you must know,

Odds: In betting, “odds” refer to the chances of a specific outcome actually happening. The likeliness of this outcome will determine the payout, which is how much you will win from the bet. When a bettor says “high odds,” they are referring to unlikely events with high rewards. Meanwhile, “low odds,” refer to bets with small payouts.

Stake: The term “stake” is a very simple and commonly used term, which refers to how much money you are placing on a bet. Stakes can differ between bettors, as it comes down to their income or bankroll. You should not follow the stakes of other people, and calculate your own depending on how much money you can afford to lose.

Payout: The “payout” is how much money you will receive after winning a bet. Most gambling sites include your initial bet in the expected payout, so you might want to reduce the amount by your bet to see how much profit you will make. Bets with higher odds will result in higher payouts, and vice versa.

Bankroll: Finally, the word “bankroll” essentially means the total amount of money you have set aside for betting in Counter-Strike. It is important to determine a bankroll and stick to it to avoid financial risks. Make sure your bankroll amount will not be a threat to your current financial situation. Set your limits and do not go over them!

There are more things you should know about Counter-Strike betting before you pull the trigger. You can choose from dozens of different betting types, so let’s ensure you are familiar with the most relevant ones.

Pre-match vs. Live Betting

The first two terms we’ll discuss aren’t necessarily betting types, but are instead betting categories. When betting on Counter-Strike matches, there are pre-match bets and live bets.

Pre-match Betting

As the name suggests, pre-match betting is when bettors place a wager before the match begins. You can place these bets minutes, hours, or even days before a particular match. However, you cannot cancel these bets, unless you take a cashout ticket which will lose you money before the game even begins.

The odds provided by bookmakers are fixed odds that are determined based on the recent form of the two teams. Though the odds are usually somewhat accurate, there are a lot of random factors that can influence a Counter-Strike match, such as a player having a “life game” or a crucial mistake that can cost the game.

So, you must do careful research when looking to place a pre-match bet. Check the form of these teams from days ago, and try analyzing how the map veto will turn out and which team it will favor.

Live Betting

The second and most popular category of Counter-Strike betting is live betting. As you can already guess, live betting occurs when players are placing new bets as the match is being played out. The available odds are constantly fluctuating depending on what is currently happening in the game and how it is developing.

The best part about live betting is that you will have additional information about the match than you previously would before it began. You can see which maps are being played, and which team the map pool will favor.

Additionally, you can also analyze the current form of players. If a specific player is playing out of their mind, there is a good chance they’ll continue such performance throughout the rest of the game or series.

The Best Betting Types in CS2

There are several betting lines offered to players in Counter-Strike matches. Most of them are available in both pre-match and live betting. Let’s go over some of the most popular betting in Counter-Strike.

Match winner: Also known as Moneyline. Betting on the match winner means you are staking money on the team that will win a specific matchup. Counter-Strike matches are often played in a Best of 3 format, so betting on such a match means you need your team to win two maps.

Handicap betting: Placing bets on teams with an additional advantage or disadvantage. The favorites to win a series will have minus (-) handicaps, while underdogs will have (+) handicaps. These handicaps can be maps in a series or rounds in a game.

Over/Under betting: You can place over/under bets on the number of maps played on a series or the number of rounds played in a map. You are essentially wagering money on whether the result will be over or under a set number provided by bookmakers.

Map winner: Also known as Game Winner. You are essentially betting on the team that wins a specific map/game in a series. For example, there are a maximum of three maps in a Best of 3 series. You can bet on the team that will win Map 1, 2, or 3 of the series.

Exact score: Betting on the exact score of a series means you are not only predicting the winner, but also how many maps will be played. For example, you are betting on the outcome of the match to end 2-0, 2-1, 1-2, or 0-2.

Outright winner: The outright winner betting type is very unique, as it involves you predicting which team will win an entire tournament. Outright winner bets are almost always placed before the tournament begins. The odds on these bets are always high, even if you are betting on the favorites.

Proposition bets: There are special betting types, which are often called proposition bets. Examples of these bets include pistol round winner, first to 5 round, player with the most kills, etc. The outcomes can be very random, so you are essentially gambling with these bets.

As we’ve discussed earlier, Counter-Strike bets are placed specifically on esports bookmakers that have markets for CS2. However, the real question is which websites should you use to bet?

It is vital to take time and careful consideration when selecting a bookmaker to play on. This is because you will be depositing and withdrawing funds frequently, and most bookmakers require you to provide personal information to abide by the laws.

Other than legal considerations, you should also lean toward bookmakers who provide generous odds to maximize your returns. Additionally, you want a website that opens lots of betting lines to spread out your wagers.

Choosing the Correct Bookmaker

Here are some tips and things to consider when choosing a go-to bookmaker to play on.

Reputation and trustworthiness: Of course, the main thing to look for when choosing a bookmaker is how reputable and trusted it is. The best esports bookmakers usually sponsor professional CS2 teams, so there’s a good chance they’re not a scam site since they received the trust of these organizations.

Website security: Security is another top priority when choosing a betting site. When interacting with bookmakers, you are sharing information such as your personal details, bank accounts, and more. Ensure the website is protected with industry security measures such as SSL Encryption to protect your data.

Generous odds: The primary way for bookmakers to make money is through offering players lower odds. Generally, smaller betting sites will have less generous odds since they have a lower player base to generate revenue from. However, prominent bookmakers have hundreds of thousands of users and can give everyone on their platform better odds.

Payment methods: When betting, you will likely deposit and withdraw funds frequently. Make sure your bookmaker of choice supports your preferred payment methods and processes transactions quickly. It is recommended to use a local bookmaker that supports local payment methods for the best experience.

List of Reputable and Safe CS2 Bookmakers

If you’re not looking to do much research, here is a list of some of the most reputable CS2 bookmakers that also sponsor professional teams and tournaments.

Betway Esports

Betway is a company based in Malta, and has been around in the esports scene for a very long time. They have formed partnerships with esports organizations such as Ninjas in Pyjamas, BIG Clan, and MIBR.

GG.Bet

GG.Bet is based in Cyprus, and is one of the biggest bookmakers in all of esports. They have worked with the most prominent Counter-Strike organizations including Natus Vincere, Team Vitality, and FURIA.

1xbet

1xbet is highly popular in the Eastern European regions, and is a massive bookmaker in the Counter-Strike scene. Their most notable sponsorship deal is with Team Spirit, one of the best-looking teams of 2024.

Pinnacle

Pinnacle is a bookmaker based in Curaçao. They do not have notable sponsorships with professional teams, but they actively host their own Counter-Strike events distributing hundreds of thousands in prize pools.

Bet365

Bet365 is a global bookmaker that is very popular in the United Kingdom. They do not have direct team sponsorships but have been around in the esports space for years. Bet365 has a very strong reputation and is 100% safe.

BetBoom

BetBoom is a new bookmaker entering the market. They have their own esports teams, including one in Counter-Strike. They have also recently partnered with Team Spirit. BetBoom is also responsible for hosting Counter-Strike tournaments, their BetBoom Dacha series.

If you’re keen on starting your Counter-Strike betting journey, here is a comprehensive guide on how you can place your first bet and cash out your winnings.

Selecting a Bookmaker

As covered above, the first step is to obviously choose a bookmaker site to use. Ensure the website of choice is reputable, safe, and supports your preferred payment methods. Checking all these boxes will help you avoid scams and fraudulent websites that are not legal.

Creating an Account on the Website

Once you have chosen a website to play on, the next step is to sign up and create an account. Most prominent bookmakers will ask you for a lot of personal information, such as your full name, address, age, and more. This information is required to ensure no underaged users can breach into the site.

Depositing Funds to Your Account

Once your account has been successfully created, the next thing to do is deposit funds to your account on the website. The deposit section should be very easy to find. There should be several payment methods – just choose which one you’d prefer. On-screen instructions will be provided to help you deposit funds smoothly. Your money should arrive in a matter of minutes.

Placing the Bet

After your account and funds are settled, you can finally begin playing on the website. Navigate to the Counter-Strike section, where you will see a list of upcoming and ongoing matches. Select a match you are interested in, and place a bet on a specific outcome. Make sure to do avid research beforehand to make educated decisions. You’re playing with real money, after all.

Withdrawing Your Winnings

If you have successfully won a bet, congratulations! You can continue playing or cash out your winnings whenever you please. There will always be a withdrawal section where you can take out your website credit for real money. You should expect to see fewer withdrawal methods than deposits. Also, withdrawals usually take longer to process. It can take up to hours, so be patient.

As we’ve discussed several times throughout the article, it is crucial for bettors to do prior research before placing their bets. Here are some of the best resources and tools related to Counter-Strike 2 that you can use to make better decisions.

Best CS2 Website – HLTV.org

When betting on Counter-Strike matches, the HLTV.org website is your best friend. HLTV.org is the leading Counter-Strike news aggregator website with complete match details and statistics. This is the place to go if you’re looking to see what matches are coming up and how teams have been performing.

You can see a bunch of useful information, such as a team’s past matches and win rates on every map. The best part is, that HLTV.org understands that current and recent form are incredibly important, which is why they filter their statistics to recent months only.

The website updates its news section daily so you can track roster changes and player interviews to get a good feel of how the team will perform for their next match. Additionally, HLTV.org also serves as a forum, so you can read what others are thinking about a specific matchup.

Live Streaming Platforms

In general, live streaming platforms are required for you to watch an ongoing match. It is pretty pointless to place a bet on a match and not watch it, as you are essentially paying to watch the match with additional thrill.

Still, tuning into live matches is crucial in live betting, as it allows you to analyze how the teams are doing and what the game score is looking like. If you notice anything such as a player starting to heat up, or a potential comeback is brewing, you can take these hunches and place live bets.

The two main streaming platforms for Counter-Strike matches are Twitch and YouTube. Almost all tournaments are streamed on Twitch, while only several are streamed on YouTube.

Live Score Websites

It is important to note that most tournaments, especially the ones held online, have delays on their live streams which are usually around 2 to 3 minutes long. This means the match you are watching on the live stream isn’t actually “live,” and is behind by a round from what is actually happening.

When you are looking to place a live bet on a team to win a map, you must check these live score websites as they are always one round ahead. If you have basic knowledge of Counter-Strike, you will understand that a round can shift the entire state of a game, so you must know the “real” live score.

The best live score website to use for Counter-Strike is Cross.bet. Alternatively, most bookmakers also provide users with a live feed of the score and kill feed.

Do note that most tournaments played in stadiums in front of a live crowd do not have any delays. However, always double-check just to make sure. Some of these events may have 30 second delays only.

Betting Tipsters and Communities

If you’re really new to the betting scene and do not have enough knowledge and confidence to call your own shots, you can always turn to betting tipsters and communities where you can discuss matches with others.

There are numerous betting experts that share their predictions with others. After all, we’re all playing against bookmakers and not each other. However, most of these tipsters charge a membership fee for bettors to have access to their predictions.

If you’re not looking to pay, you can always find betting communities on forums or Discord and ask members there about upcoming matches. Though these people may not be experts, a second opinion never hurts.

Conducting your own research is necessary before placing a bet, but there are other strategies you should keep in mind to end up at a profit.

Take Note of Map Picks

The first strategy is related to live betting. Before a match is about to begin, stick around for the veto phase, which is where teams ban and pick maps. In a Best of 3 series, each team will get to pick one map, which is usually their best map or an uncomfortable map for the enemy team. Either way, the odds will always favor teams on their map picks.

After seeing how the veto went, go to HLTV.org and look for the statistics of both teams on the maps that will be played. Once you see a good opportunity, bet on map winner lines or round handicaps.

It is also important to note that a team can choose which side to start on for their opponent’s map pick. These teams will choose the more favorable side of the map, so you might be able to cook something up by betting on the first half.

Comeback Potential

Counter-Strike 2 is using a new round format, the MR12 format, as opposed to MR15 in Global Offensive. This means there are fewer rounds required for a team to win. This change has made rounds more valuable since they are more scarce.

The MR12 format has made “swing” rounds more impactful in the outcome of a game, which has increased the likelihood of a team pulling off a comeback. When teams are down more than five rounds, their odds of winning the map become incredibly high, giving bettors high payouts.

If you are watching a match live and sense that a comeback is about to happen, it never hurts to put in a small bet and hope for a massive payout. Even if you lose, you won’t be losing that much. However, you must have a decent understanding of the game to pull this off.

Hedge Betting

Hedge betting is a common betting technique that reduces risk. This strategy is when you place a second bet against your initial bet to create a “guaranteed win” situation. You should only do this if your initial bet is winning and you are unsure of whether they can close the game out.

For example, you are betting on a 50-50 match between Team A and Team B. You placed $50 on Team A at 2.00 odds, expecting a return of $100. Team A is off to a great start, and is up 6-1, however, you are not sure if they can finish the job. So, you place a smaller bet on Team B.

Since Team B is down, their odds should look something like 3.00 to 4.50. So, you would place around $20 to $25 on Team B. Regardless of who wins, you will be receiving guaranteed profit. However, you are not maximizing the full amount.

Arbitrage Betting

Arbitrage betting is another prevalent strategy in the world of betting. With arbitrage betting, you must have multiple accounts on different websites, as you will need to check each one to pull it off.

Arbitrage betting involves taking advantage of differing odds between multiple bookmakers. These cases are rare, but once you find an opportunity, you will be guaranteed to receive a profit.

Let’s say on Bookmaker Z, the odds for Team A against Team B are 1.90 to 1.90. However, on Bookmaker Y, the odds for the same match are 1.50 to 2.40. So, you could place a bet on Team A on Bookmaker Z, and a bet on Team B on Bookmaker Y. Make sure to use arbitrage betting calculators to find out the correct amount to wager.

Arbitrage opportunities do not come up too often in Counter-Strike, but you will always make money if you find one.

Betting can be frustrating and mentally taxing at times, so it is important to stick to a few principles to prevent you from losing it all on a bad day. Here are some things you must avoid if you are looking to make money from betting.

Not Conducting Any Research

Failing to conduct any research before placing a bet is a massive mistake. In gambling games, there is no research to be done as everything is based on luck. However, betting is an entirely different case.

You are betting money on real players, and you have all the free information about teams and players on the internet which you can access for free. Just a quick two-minute search will suffice. Just make sure not to go into a bet blindly without any thinking.

Rage Betting and Chasing Losses

Losing bets continuously can be very exhausting and draining. Many bettors fall into “rage betting,” where they are trying to chase their losses as quickly as possible. Their frustration leads them to make impulsive decisions and bet without thinking.

Take a break after tough losses and get back into the right state of mind. Most bettors who rage bet end up losing their entire bankroll in a few hours because they are making uneducated bets. Chasing losses will often lead you to more losses instead.

Overestimating the Favorites

Many bettors fall under the misconception of thinking that betting on favorites will essentially print out free money. Favorites are expected to win, it is true that they become a safe betting option. However, the odds on these teams are often very low, so you will expect a low payout.

Still, it is a fact that underdogs can easily snatch victories against favorites from time-to-time. Just because the odds are low doesn’t mean you are guaranteed a victory. Be careful when betting on favorites and make sure not to overestimate them. Check their recent performances before proceeding.

Betting More Than You Can Afford to Lose

Finally, please take your bankroll very seriously. You must decide on your bankroll depending on your financial status and how much money you can afford to lose. Many bettors forget this and continue to re-deposit funds after burning their balance.

After losing piles of money, they wake up the next day and realize they’ve just gambled away their rent money. These poor decisions have ruined the lives of many bettors, forcing them to take out loans or borrow money from their friends and family. Make sure this won’t be you!