Esports betting is a lot more than just a niche hobby for hardcore gamers. Some of the biggest competitive titles, like Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and League of Legends, host massive tournaments that attract millions from around the world. Aside from gaining new fans daily, the leading esports titles also affect the betting industry by giving fans new ways to engage with their favorite teams and players.
It’s no surprise that loads of online betting sites allow people to bet on sports, and they also offer different bonuses. Some of the offers you can find are great, but others are not worth trying, especially if you don’t have enough experience. Not all bonuses are qual and understanding which ones to get is key, so here are a few things you should take into account.
What are Esports Betting Bonuses?
In case you are not aware, esports bonuses are special offers offered by betting platforms that typically target new customers or existing users. You can usually find a lot of them, especially if you check things like a detailed breakdown of Stake’s latest promotions, one of the leading sites for esports betting. They typically come in the form of extra funds, free bets or special event-related promos that let people place bets without risking much of their money.
The bonuses have two main purposes – to encourage new players to try the platform and help users explore different esports markets. Most esports betting platforms offer several of these, whereas others focus on a particular group. Each one comes with distinct rules that you should be aware of, and it’s important to learn its specifics.
Welcome Bonuses
The first group of esports betting bonuses that you should consider is called welcome offers. They are available to new users who sign up and have not made their first transaction, but there are exceptions.
For example, an esports betting platform can often offer a 100% deposit match up to $100. This means that once a person deposits $100, the site will give another $100 to play with.
These offers are very generous, but there are exceptions because the wagering requirements will vary. This is the rule that shows you how many times you must use the bonus before it can be withdrawn. It’s always advisable to find welcome offers that do not require you to wager them too many times.
All in all, welcome offers a good starting point for people who want to explore different esports betting markets.
Free Bets
Esports bettors definitely love free bets and bookmakers know that. Instead of giving them extra deposit funds, some bookmakers will let esports punters place bets without risking their own balance.
There are many different kinds of free bets you can find, but most of them will become available after you register. There are also free bets that sites will grant after making a small deposit or placing the first qualifying wager.
Among the biggest perks of the free bets is that they let people try different betting strategies with minimal financial risk. This may not seem that important when gambling on video games at first, but it’s huge for many esports fans, especially if they start exploring different titles. Wagering on CS2 and Dota 2 differs significantly in terms of available markets and other factors.
Free bets are very popular during major esports competitions and bookies try to attract new clients.
Reload Bonuses
The next type of esports betting bonuses that you should look into are the reload offers. They are almost always aimed at existing clients and will reward people with a bonus after making a deposit.
There are many different reload offers, but the classic one doubles users’ transactions. With that said, you may find exclusive deals during big esports competitions like the League of Legends World Championship.
Before choosing a reload bonus, dive deep into the T&C to learn more about the deposit requirement because this is where you can get in trouble. Some bookies impose really high transaction requirements on purpose and it may not be the best bonus for your situation.
Tournament-Exclusive Offers
Many big esports betting platforms offer exclusive bonuses during major esports events. These offers can take various forms but will usually include boosted odds, cashback, or special free bets for matches in a particular competition.
It’s safe to say that tournament bonuses are attractive because they often come with better odds or lower rollover requirements. This is especially true when there are options for the biggest esports titles like Counter-Strike 2.
Steps to Choose the Right Esports Bonus
Now that you know some information about the most common esports offers, it’s time to see how to evaluate them carefully. The first thing we’d focus on is the promo’s usability. You need to be careful and decide whether you will actually use the offer before getting it.
Assuming the answer is yes, the next step is to review the wagering requirements. Having access to lower rollover rules will make it easier to convert bonus funds into withdrawable winnings.
Minimum odds are also worth checking, especially if you are picky about what you want to bet on. Some esports offers will only let you wager on markets whose odds start at 2.00 or even higher.
Lastly, don’t forget to check the different withdrawal limits. Certain offers cap the maximum winnings that you can withdraw from these kinds of offers.