The Ultimate CS:GO Betting Strategy

If you’re clicking on this article, there’s a decent chance you are relatively new to CSGO betting. Before jumping into a hobby that could potentially lose you money, you must first have a good grasp of what you’re getting into. Here is a brief introduction to CSGO betting. 

How Did CSGO Betting Start

CSGO betting began when Valve introduced weapon skins into the game in 2013. CSGO weapon skins were tradable, meaning they could be bought and sold on the market, and also traded and sent to other players’ inventories in an instant. The mobility of these weapon skins have given them real-world value and prices. 

Though skins are purely for cosmetic purposes and offer no in-game advantage, players yearn to customize their loadouts and have the coolest skins. Weapon skins have attracted more players into playing CSGO, and the demand for them has been increasing throughout the years.

Third-party websites took this opportunity to essentially use these skins as “casino chips” and currency for players to bet on gambling games or the outcomes of professional CSGO matches. As a result, players would deposit and withdraw CSGO skins using these third-party websites. 

Why Did CSGO Betting Become So Popular?

There are numerous reasons that contribute to the popularity of skin betting in CSGO. Here are a few:

• Accessibility and Mobility: As mentioned earlier, it is extremely easy for players to send and receive weapon skins from each other and third-party websites. All players must do is send a Steam Trade Offer which takes less than a minute to complete, and their skins are immediately on the way. Additionally, third-party websites are very accessible, and most of them lack age verification systems that allow players to sign up for the website with ease. 
• High Engagement: CSGO betting is an incredibly fun activity that entertains millions of CSGO players worldwide. Most CSGO players enjoy the thrill of wagering real money and skins on professional matches. It makes professional competitions and tournaments more fun to watch, as having something on the line adds another layer of excitement. Betting is an engaging activity as fans can discuss matches and their next bets with each other.
• Skins Have Real-World Value: Since skins are tradable and have existing demand, it is only natural that these skins are worth real money. There are no restrictions that skins cannot be sold for cash, which is why players are trading skins for real money every day. In case a player gets bored of their skins, they can easily convert it to real money with ease. 

Can You Make Money From CSGO Betting?

Yes, it is completely possible to make money from CSGO betting. However, there is an equal chance that you will also lose money. Before jumping into betting, you must understand that there are risks of losing. 

In order to be profitable from CSGO betting, you are not only depending on luck. You must have avid knowledge of the game, as well as be diligent enough to conduct research of the teams and players you are betting on.

It is also crucial for you to have discipline. You must stick to your bet sizings, avoid rage betting, and bet responsibly. These principles will help you become profitable from CSGO betting in the long run. 

Now that we know what CSGO betting is, let’s go over everything you need to know about the basics. 

Types Of CSGO Bets

The phrase “CSGO betting” is relatively broad, so there are various types of CSGO bets. 

Skin Betting

The first type that comes to mind when the words “CSGO betting” are thrown out is skin betting. Skin betting involves players using in-game skins as their casino chips to place their bets. Skin betting can be done on many third-party CSGO gambling sites.

Players must deposit their CSGO skins by sending a Steam Trade Offer to the website in question. After the offer has been sent and accepted, they will see their skins on their website inventory. The skins can immediately be used to place bets, and if the bet is won, the player will have their skins returned, as well as additional skins as their winnings. 

Cash Betting

Though skin betting is the icon of CSGO betting, Valve has imposed a 7-day trade hold rule that has made it less popular. Nowadays, most CSGO bettors prefer cash betting instead. As the name suggests, cash betting involves players using real money to bet on CSGO match outcomes instead of skins.

Most CSGO bookmakers have followed esports bookmakers and provided players with real money payment methods. Players can use their banking cards or other means such as cryptocurrency to deposit cash to the website.

Players can then use cash amounts to place bets, and receive their winnings in the form of cash as well. There are withdrawal methods such as bank transfer or cryptocurrency that allows players to cash out their winnings in real money. 

Match Betting

When someone says “CSGO betting,” they are mostly referring to the act of match betting. Match betting occurs when a player places a bet on the outcome of a specific match, usually on professional matches.

CSGO has a thriving esports scene where there are professional players competing against other teams in million-dollar tournaments. Fans can place bets on teams to win matches, or other outcomes on the various CSGO betting markets. 

Wagering their money on real teams will allow bettors to conduct research beforehand to see a team’s recent form and past results. Real analytical skills are required to become successful in match betting. 

CSGO Gambling

The other type of CSGO betting refers to raw gambling in CSGO. In CSGO gambling, players are essentially playing casino games such as roulette, coin flip, jackpot, and other RNG-based games. 

You can’t really conduct any research or analysis on CSGO gambling games, as the outcomes purely come down to luck. Though there are several strategies required such as bet sizing, we will not be discussing CSGO gambling throughout this article. 

Key Terminologies And Important Concepts

When looking to pursue CSGO betting, there are a few terminologies and concepts you must be familiar with so that you don’t look like a fish out of water. 

Odds and Payouts

In CSGO and sports betting, “odds” will determine how much your payout will be. There are various formats of odds, such as American Odds or Decimal Odds. Most of the time, you will see Decimal Odds such as 1.47 or 2.97. 

High odds refer to bets that have large potential payouts. This means you can expect a return of 2 or 3 times your initial bet. However, the chances of this outcome happening is lower, which is why the payout is higher. Betting on the underdogs will give you high odds.

Low odds refer to bets that pay out small percentages of your initial bet. Betting on low odds won’t give you too much money if the outcome is correct, but they are generally considered safe bets. Betting on the favorites will give you low odds. 

Understanding The House Edge

Just like real casinos, the house always wins. Betting sites will always have an advantage over players, which is why only skilled bettors can make consistent profit in the long run. 

The house edge on CSGO betting comes from the odds provided to players. You might have seen a 50-50 matchup, and the odds offered for it are 1.87 to 1.87. Though this is as even as it gets, where is the remaining 0.13 at? 

The missing odds are the house’s edge. You might bet on ten matches with 50-50 outcomes, come out with 5 wins and 5 losses, and still see yourself at a decent loss. 

You are pretty much expecting to lose around 10-15% of your potential winnings from every bet. This is why you must have a 60% win rate or higher to make money from CSGO betting. 

Bankrolling

Bankrolling, or bankroll, refers to how much money you are investing into your CSGO betting balance at a given time. For example, you have set aside $1,500 for CSGO betting for one month. 

It is important to consider your current financial situation when determining how much money you would like to have on your bankroll. You should be ready to lose all of this money in case a losing streak happens.

Never bet beyond your means. One of the most important strategies to CSGO betting is to have proper discipline, and you can show that discipline by choosing the right amount of money to deposit at a time. If you have burnt through your set bankroll, do not re-deposit and wait for the next cycle!

Bet Sizing

Once your bankroll has been settled, you should also determine your bet sizing. Most bettors use a “unit system” to decide how much money they should put on a certain match.

Let’s use the example that you have $1,500 in your bankroll. You can divide this money into units; let’s say you decide on 50 units. With these numbers, you would have $30 for every unit. 

• In the case of a small bet, you could decide to use 1 to 3 units.
• In the case of a medium bet, you can decide to use 3 to 7 units.
• In the case of a large bet, you can decide to use 8 to 12 units. 

Betting using the unit system will allow you to bet consistently and stick to the principles of your bet sizing. It will also ensure that you will not go all in and lose your entire balance in your first few bets. 

You are always free to increase the amount for each unit, and bet more or less units at a time. Just ensure you are consistent with your bet sizing, and remember to stay disciplined. Managing your sizing is one of the CSGO betting secrets most bettors do not utilize. 

The best CSGO betting strategy you can possibly use is researching and analyzing teams before you place bets. If you are playing roulette, there is no research to be done, as you are just betting on the color that your gut tells you to. 

However, it is a completely different case for CSGO betting, as there is actual data you can check before placing your bet. By conducting research and analysis beforehand, you can check out common trends and make an educated bet instead of a blind bet. 

Researching About Teams And Players

The greatest CSGO betting hacks to win money is the skill of learning about teams in a specific matchup. You can use various resources to check the form of the team in recent weeks. 

Analyze Recent Performance

When conducting research and analysis on a particular team, it is very important to only consider recent performance and results. Just like traditional sports, some teams could be on a winning streak, carrying lots of momentum, or they could also be going through a rough patch and be on a losing streak. 

Overall, it is crucial to only look at recent results and ignore past glories. For example, the prime Astralis roster won four Major tournaments, making them the best team in CSGO history. However, the roster is completely different and not as good as they once were. Remember that you are only betting on a single match. 

You should also check for a team’s recent victories or losses. Consider whether the losses were due to playing against strong opponents, or if the team dropped the ball against an inferior team because of internal issues. 

It is vital to consider the teams they played against recently. For example, you are checking the results of a Top 10 team. They are on a 4-match losing streak, but the teams they played against are all teams in the Top 5. You could conclude that they were playing against tough opponents instead of having bad form. 

Look Out For Roster Changes

Just like football or any other sport, CSGO teams often change up their rosters. There are three main types of roster changes you should look out for.

Player Transfers

Player transfers are very common. When a lineup isn’t meeting its expected results, the organization might decide to swap one of their players for a new one. 

A new player can bring in good results in the long term, but probably not in the short term. A new addition can disrupt the team chemistry. Every team has a structure and a preferred game plan, and new players need time to adjust to it. 

If a team had just undergone a roster change a week ago, there is a decent chance they won’t be performing at their full potential, as you could say they are still going through a rebuilding stage. The team chemistry gets even more mixed up if a team changes several players, such as 2 or 3. 

It becomes more apparent if a team had just recruited a new in-game leader. In-game leaders are the captains of a team, and are responsible for strategizing and calling map movements. A brand new in-game leader will take a longer time to adjust to the team, as the current players must potentially adapt to a new style of play. 

Player Absences

CSGO players must travel around the world to compete in tournaments. Unfortunately, some players might have travel difficulties or delays due. There are numerous cases of players missing an event because of visa issues.

Otherwise, some players might have personal reasons that prevent them from joining their team at a tournament. Some players could be facing medical or health issues, while others might have a family matter to attend to, such as a family member’s wedding. 

Either way, player absences can significantly impact a team’s performance. Though player absences are pretty rare, you should always be aware of any situations before placing your bet. Normally, a team’s social media account will announce if one of their players is going to miss an event. 

There are also cases where a player will miss the first few days of the tournament due to flight delays, and will rejoin the team when they get there. However, you can also predict that the delayed player might underperform on their first day back due to jet lag.

Stand-in Situations

There are two reasons why a team would require a stand-in, in other words, a temporary substitute. The first reason is that one of the team’s players will be absent for a tournament. The second reason is that a team has just removed one player, but has not found a permanent replacement. 

As a result, stand-ins might be required as a fifth player to help a team compete at a tournament. Normally, teams would sign free agents as a temporary stand-in. These free agents are still professional players who are good at the game. However, the stand-ins might not perform as well as the other team members since they were called upon in short notice, and must quickly adjust and adapt to a team’s playstyle. 

Teams with stand-ins usually come into tournaments with low expectations, as they cannot rely on their stand-in to play as well as a regular team member, which is completely understandable judging by the situation. 

However, a stand-in situation can get even trickier if a team’s coach is filling in. Sometimes, the announcement for a player’s absence is so sudden that a team does not have time to find a capable player to step in. As a result, the team’s coach might be forced to play. 

Coaches are usually retired professional players who have not played competitively in years. They could be very rusty, or have their skills deteriorated due to old age. You really can’t expect coach stand-ins to perform well. 

Understanding Map Pools

In CSGO, map pools are extremely important for match betting. Understanding a team’s map pool is one of the best CSGO betting hacks that will help you get money. 

How The Veto System Works

First, it is important to understand how the veto system works. The “veto” refers to the first phase of every professional match, which involves teams banning and picking maps. Most CSGO matches are played in a Best of 3 format, meaning there is a maximum of 3 maps being played out of the 7 available maps.

Teams usually ban maps that they are weak on, or if a map favors their opponents. Most teams have “perma-bans,” where they would always ban that map and never play on it.

Here is how the veto order works:

• Team A bans a map
• Team B bans a map
• Team A picks the first map
• Team B picks the second map
• Team A bans a map
• Team B bans a map
• The remaining map will act as the decider

Importance Of Map Picks

Generally speaking, a team is favored on their map pick, even if they might be an underdog team. Teams would only pick maps where they are comfortable and have strong strategies and adaptability. A map pick might also be a product of a counter-pick, where a team picks a map that their opponents are incredibly weak on. Make sure to check which team picked the map before you place a bet!

The best teams in the world have amazing map pool depth, where they are comfortable on almost every map, or can adapt better to various match scenarios. Teams with a strong map pool have higher chances of winning an overall series. 

Most bettors will not place their bets until they see how the veto plays out. It is a crucial CSGO betting strategy that every player must consider. 

Identify The Tournament Stakes 

Researching and analyzing matches is by far the best CSGO gambling strategy you can use. However, there are additional CSGO betting strategies you can use to reduce risk or maximize returns. 

Value Betting

Value betting involves looking for matches where the odds are in your favor. Most of the time, value bets are found on underdog teams since they pay out the most value. 

If you have a really good feeling that an upset is coming, you could consider placing a small bet on the underdogs that have massive payouts. If you win the bet, you will receive piles of returns. If you lose, you won’t be down that much since it was just a small bet. 

Value betting also works on the favorites. If you think there is no chance that Team A will lose to Team B, and the odds are at 1.50 for Team A, it could be an amazing value bet as getting 50% of your bet returned is a very decent profit. 

Pro Tip: Take Advantage Of Live Odds

You can also find value bets in live odds, when a match is currently being played out. You might sense a comeback coming in the middle of a game, and you can place a low bet with high odds.

Or, a team might have lost the first map, but you believe they will still win the series. You can place another low bet on the team to win outright. 

Arbitrage Betting

Arbitrage betting is a very common sports betting strategy that can be applied to CSGO betting as well. It is one of the CSGO betting secrets that will guarantee you a profit with no risk of losing.

With arbitrage betting, you are pretty much checking multiple bookmakers to see the odds they offer on a specific match. On some occasions, the odds on two bookmakers might be very different.

For example, the odds on Bookmaker A is 1.70 to 2.15, while the odds on Bookmaker B is 1.87 to 1.87. In this case, you can place bets on both teams on different bookmakers, so you are guaranteed a profit since you have both outcomes covered. You will need an arbitrage betting calculator which you can find online with ease. 

Pro Tip: Have Accounts On Multiple Bookmakers

Arbitrage betting can only be done if you have accounts on multiple bookmakers. We suggest having access to around 3 to 5 bookmakers to help you maximize the opportunities of finding arbitrage opportunities. 

Hedge Betting

Hedge betting is another CSGO betting strategy that allows players to have guaranteed wins, only if an opportunity arises. 

The idea of hedge betting involves players betting on an outcome, and then betting on the opposite outcome to reduce the risk on a primary bet.

For example, you bet on Team A to win Map 1 against Team B at 1.87 odds. The map is playing out, and Team A is up 7-2 on the scoreboard. Your bet is at a really good spot, but you are unsure of whether Team A can close it out. 

Then, you would place another bet on Team B to win. Since they are down 5 rounds, their odds should be 4.00 or more. Once you place a hedge bet on Team B, you essentially have both sides covered, and will guarantee a profit as long as your sizings are correct.

Pro Tip: Reducing Risks

Hedge betting allows you to reduce your risks of losing by strategically betting to cover potential losses. Sure, you are reducing the potential winnings from your initial bet, but it is a safety measure that guarantees a profit. 

Choosing The Correct Bookmakers

There are two primary types of bookmaker categories we’ll discuss. There are two types of bookmakers: small bookmakers and large bookmakers.

Generally, most large bookmakers will offer more generous odds. Since they have such a large audience base, they can reduce the house edge. For example, these large bookies could offer 1.89 to 1.89 on a 50-50 match instead of the common 1.87 to 1.87.

Small bookmakers, usually local bookmakers, require a larger house edge to cover their costs and make a profit. So, you might see 1.85 to 1.85 on a 50-50 match instead of the common 1.87 to 1.87. However, some players prefer using local bookies for its convenient payment methods. 

Pro Tip: Maximize Promotions And Bonuses

Additionally, most large bookmakers will provide players with promotions or bonuses. Some websites offer players with welcome bonuses, such as a deposit bonus or a risk-free bet. Try making use of as many promotions and bonuses as possible, as they are pretty much free money. 

Finally, let’s go over the most useful resources and websites for CSGO betting. Since research is such an important aspect for CSGO betting, utilizing the following websites can be considered as one of the best CSGO gambling tricks to make a profit. 

HLTV.org

HLTV.org is called the “home of professional Counter-Strike.” This website has everything you need to know about professional teams and players. They have a world ranking system that updates weekly, so you can have a good idea of how good teams are compared to others.

The website also has match pages for every series. In these match pages, you can see complete information of a team’s complete roster, as well as their map pool and recent results. The win rates of both teams on each map will be displayed, so you can decide which team performs better on specific maps. 

Users can also comment on match pages, so you can read what other bettors are thinking about this particular matchup. You can use these comments as a second opinion. 

Liquipedia.net

Liquipedia.net is an esports wiki database that has an entire section for Counter-Strike. You can check the data of every player and team in the CSGO scene. On each player or team page, you can see all sorts of information such as tournament wins and previous teams.

Though we have advised you to only look at recent results, seeing a player’s history can be very useful to assess the experience level of that player. For example, if the player has won several S-Tier tournaments previously, they should perform well under pressure in a LAN environment.

If a player has only participated in online tournaments, they might be making their Tier 1 debut in an S-Tier event. Most inexperienced players cannot replicate their performance online on the big stages, so be wary of that. 

Cross.bet

All CSGO matches played online are streamed with a delay of around 2 minutes. This delay is required to prevent teams from stream sniping, where they would watch the official live stream and get information on where their opponents are.

As a result, the gameplay you are watching live is actually delayed from real time. You can use the cross.bet website to see the real-time score. Remember that betting sites change their odds based on the real-time scores as well.