Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is the latest installment in a franchise that started back in 1999. This first-person shooter came about as a fortunate accident when two visionary developers created a Half-Life mod. That mod spawned an entire series and today CS:GO remains an esports phenomenon.
Understanding CS:GO Betting Odds. There are primarily two different types of odds that will be shown when looking into betting CS:GO. Those are American Odds and Decimal Odds. American odds consist of numbers in relation to -100 (aka EVEN). At -100 or EVEN, a winning wager will return the wagered amount and the same amount for the winnings. If you answered YES to all, take a look at the esports betting guide we recommend below. Betting websites take a variety of forms and all offer a slightly different service There is a huge variety of betting sites which allow you to use real money, Bitcoin or both, and the list continues to grow with more brands to choose from. CSGO Skin Gambling In eSports, skin gambling is when you use virtual goods (otherwise known as skins) as virtual currency when you bet on the outcome of a game. Skins were added to CSGO a few years back to incentivise more players to join the community. While player skins were considered, only weapon skins are. CSGO Betting Guide Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is the latest installment in a franchise that started back in 1999. This first-person shooter came about as a fortunate accident when two visionary developers created a Half-Life mod. That mod spawned an entire series and today CS:GO remains an esports phenomenon. First-person shooters in general are very popular.
First-person shooters in general are very popular with esports betting fans, but Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is head and shoulders above the competition. It has the highest number of betting markets among all FPS games and there are major tournaments running throughout the year.
For now you can find limited CSGO betting markets at US online sportsbooks in a few states, notably Colorado, West Virginia and New Jersey. Fantasy sports platforms such as DraftKings and FanDuel, which are available more widely in the US, have also picked up on CSGO’s popularity and added a full menu of CSGO fantasy contests.
Best CSGO betting sites
Is CSGO gambling legal in the US?
CS:GO is popular on both sides of the Atlantic, and some of the best teams are from the United States. Interest in the game is rising, and many players and people watching also enjoy betting on the prominent tournaments.
Unfortunately, sports betting is not legal nationwide, and residents of certain states enjoy better terms than others. Nevada was the first to legalize sports betting, and today residents and visitors of the following states can also wager on esports legally:
Current CSGO competitions that have been approved for gambling in West Virginia and Colorado:
- ESL Pro League Season 11
- ESL One: Rio 2020
- Blast Premier: Spring
- ESL One Cologne
- ESL Pro League Season 12
- Blast Premier Fall Regular Season
- Blast Premier: Fall
CS:GO events need to be approved individually in both New Jersey and Nevada.
Play Fantasy CS:GO
In most states, esports betting isn’t fully legalized yet but players do have a convenient alternative – Daily Fantasy Sports.
DraftKings and FanDuel are the major fantasy esports betting platforms where punters can put their skills to the test.
CSGO gambling fans of legal age can set up an account and play fantasy esports in over 40 states; only seven (Washington, Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Louisiana, Arizona and Hawaii) actually prohibit it.
As for CSGO fantasy contests, you can expect a similar lineup to what you’d find for traditional DFS centered around the biggest CSGO championships. Game formats include:
- Guaranteed prize pools
- Head-to-heads
- 50-50s
- Double or nothings
- Satellite qualifiers to bigger buy-in contests
The age requirements for both traditional betting and fantasy esports are the same in the states where these activities are legal. Players need to be 21 or older to set up an account and bet on CS:GO matches.
Best CSGO betting apps
CSGO betting and apps go hand-in-hand at most bookmakers. The most obvious way of placing a bet is straight in the browser, but punters also have the option of downloading the apps.
Handheld devices (iPhones, tablets) are ideal for esports betting live, and the specialized betting apps further enhance the gaming experience. You can also launch Twitch and YouTube streams alongside the app if the sportsbooks don’t broadcast the CS:GO tournaments themselves.
In many cases, esports betting platforms have integrated the streams from these two platforms on their websites. The apps can also make players eligible for exclusive bonuses that are only offered to those who have made the transition to the betting app.
The two top apps for CSGO betting and CSGO fantasy are provided by DraftKings and FanDuel. Download the apps and claim your startup bonuses below:
How does CSGO betting work?
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is a fast-paced game that lends itself well to both pre-match betting and live betting. It’s also possible to bet on tournament winners well in advance as sportsbooks publish futures odds several weeks ahead.
The most exciting bets are the ones placed on the special markets; these are the ones we’ll explain below.
Match and series CSGO gambling
Unlike other popular video games such as League of Legends, where the winners of each championship round are often decided after one game, CS:GO is a best-of-three affair.
The number of matches can increase for the later stages of prominent tournaments, but players can routinely bet on the first team to win two games. This is the most straightforward type of bet and the obvious choice for beginners as you only need to predict the winner of the series.
Individual match betting is also possible, and it usually benefits from slightly better odds when backing the favorites. A variety of series betting is on the total number of matches played in a series.
If you have a hard time picking winners, you can simply bet on whether the series will end after two or three matches. For the sake of bigger odds, punters can predict the winner and the exact score of the series.
Bet on total CSGO frags
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive matches consist of 30 rounds, and the winner is the team that wins 16 of them. There are plenty of kills scored on both sides, and sportsbooks offer markets to bet on the total number of frags recorded.
You can even bet on the total number of kills scored by individual players, which makes each round more exciting. Those who appreciate betting on totals can take advantage of this opportunity and also bet on the total number of rounds played during the series.
CSGO handicap betting
Most CSGO matches featured by sportsbooks are rather balanced, as they involve top teams performing in major tournaments. There are, however, instances where one team is significantly better than the other and the 2-0 score line looks very likely.
If the odds are not high enough to justify the risks, you can bet on the margin of victory in each round. Handicap betting comes in handy as it allows you to either back the favorites to cover the spread or the underdog not to lose by a crushing margin.
Real money vs. CSGO skins betting
Most Counter-Strike gamblers prefer traditional sportsbooks where they can deposit and bet real money. The connection between risk and reward is more obvious and players know precisely how much they win if they make the right decision. They also enjoy the advantage of having deposits matched and receive additional bonuses from recurring or ongoing promotions.
In some countries where real money CSGO gambling isn’t legalized, skins betting has become a phenomenon. Instead of operating with real currency, players compete for “skins,” which are stylized versions of the in-game weapons. These can be traded for real money, so at the end of the day, there is financial compensation.
Skin betting might be tempting, but the problem is that the operators offering this alternative are usually unregulated offshore companies. This poses obvious potential troubles, and whenever players have the option to go for legal CS:GO betting, they should do it.
Major CSGO contests and top teams
There are dozens of CSGO tournaments scheduled throughout the year, so the betting opportunities are numerous. Among them there are two or three major competitions every 12 months that bring together the best teams in the world.
Qualifiers take weeks and, except for a handful of invited teams, most of the future participants have to go through the qualification rounds. This provides you with a chance to get a better sense of how good they are and see the balance of power between teams and players.
FACEIT Major: London
This is a tournament sponsored by Valve, with a guaranteed prize pool of $1 million. The 2018 edition was a major hit, with 24 teams competing for a share of the guaranteed prize pool. As the first installment in the FACEIT series, it brought the best teams to London and it was eventually won by Astralis.
ESL One: Rio Major 2020
The most anticipated tournament of 2020, ESL One: Rio Major had to be delayed due to COVID-19. Because of the unforeseen circumstances, the guaranteed prize pool was doubled so it will be the first tournament with a $2 million prize pool.
StarLadder Berlin Major
In 2019, the StarLadder Berlin Major marked an important premiere for StarLadder, as it was the first CS:GO tournament hosted by the organization. With its guaranteed prize pool of $1 million, it was a major stop on the CS:GO calendar. Astralis prevailed, confirming the team’s favorite status.
Intel Extreme Masters Season XIII
Katowice, Poland, is a city famous for its esports competitions, and in 2019 it hosted the Intel Extreme Masters Season XIII. Intel has been one of the main sponsors of CS:GO tournaments, and this event also had a $1 million prize pool. The event marked the beginning of the season, and it was, predictably, won by Astralis.
ELEAGUE Major: Boston
One of the most important tournaments hosted on American soil, the ELEAGUE Major: Boston was won by the local favorites Cloud9. This is another tournament with a million-dollar prize pool and 24 participating teams, hosted by Valve under its rebranded format.
Recent CSGO results
The last couple of years were dominated by Astralis, the team that has won the most CSGO majors. The Danish superstars have won millions of dollars in these events and were almost always considered the favorites at sportsbooks. The team has struggled in the first months of 2020, but it is still one of the top teams.
Natus Vincere is one of Astralis’ archrivals and a strong contender in major tournaments. The Russian outfit is both experienced and talented, well capable of upsetting the favorites in any event. Other strong teams with good results over the last couple of years are Cloud9, FaZe, Fnatic and mousesports.
Here’s how the most recent major tournaments played out:
- Astralis wins the StarLadder Berlin Major 2019.
- Astralis defeats ENCE in the IEM Intel Extreme Masters XIII final.
- Astralis prevails at the FACEIT Major: London 2018.
- C9 outshines FaZe in the ELEAGUE Major: Atlanta 2017 final.
- FaZe wins the PGL Major Kraków 2017.
- Astralis wins the ELEAGUE Major: Atlanta 2017 over VP.
CSGO gambling tips
CSGO gambling isn’t rocket science, but it’s not the most predictable affair, either. To boost your chances in the early stages of CSGO betting, when you’re still learning the ropes, consider these three key pieces of betting advice.
Csgo Gambling Guide Build
- Many series go the distance: It might look on paper as if there is a significant discrepancy in skill and experience between the teams involved. The truth is that few series are decided in just two games, and even the weaker teams have a strong map. We advise you to bet on more than 2.5 maps to be played, or consider the underdog to win at least one map whenever the odds are worthwhile.
- Place small bets on overtime: Betting on the better team to cover the spread is not a good idea because the odds are usually too low on decent spreads. Asian handicaps are also risky the other way around, as a team that gets ahead can run away with the match. Whenever evenly matched teams meet, you should consider a small bet on the game to go over time, as the odds are good.
- Steer clear of exotic markets: Sportsbooks gain the biggest edge from exotic markets, such as correct match score or the team to win pistol rounds. The odds seem high, but they are usually not high enough to cover the risks, especially when you are tasked with predicting the exact score. The “team to win pistol round” is perhaps one of the safest CSGO betting props.
Is CSGO gambling safe and fair?
It is entirely safe and fair if you only bet with a licensed and regulated sportsbook. Those who apply for a license need to pass the scrutiny of regulators, and their business is always monitored for fairness.
As for the game itself, the major tournaments enjoy the same attention from organizers as traditional sports competitions. The threat of match fixing is taken seriously and, so far, with great success.
For a CSGO league or event to be permitted for real money betting or fantasy games, it has to meet the strict expectations of the state’s gaming control agency.
How to make a deposit for CSGO gambling
Sportsbooks offering Counter-Strike: Global Offensive betting feature many payment methods. Players need to sign up for an account, pass the verification process and they can deposit by credit and debit card, e-wallets and wire transfers.
DraftKings and FanDuel focus on fantasy esports, but they offer the same payment methods for US bettors including PayPal. All transactions are encrypted, and the platforms work with respectable financial institutions, so money transfers are secure.
Deposits are usually performed instantly, and the waiting time on withdrawals rarely takes more than five banking days.
A brief history of CSGO
The first Counter-Strike game was produced in 1999 and gained instant popularity with players from all over the world. The simplicity of the game and its competitive nature prompted Valve to hire its creators, thereby acquiring the intellectual rights and creating an entire franchise.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has become a fixture in esports competitions as the most popular first-person shooter. Bettors can bet on major tournaments as well as minor competitions depending on legislation in each state. The number of betting markets differs accordingly, but overall it is significantly lower than that of traditional sports.
Players can bet on the winners of the tournament, the game and the series, but also the team that prevails at the end of each round. It is possible to wager on the total number of kills, place handicaps bets and indicate the correct score of a series.
The competitive CS:GO arena is ever-changing, with top teams alternating at the top of the standings. Astralis is the uncontested leader and the team that has dominated the game over the last couple of years. It recorded some of the best results in major tournaments and it is currently the squad to beat.
Natus Vincere is its archrival and currently the most in-form Counter-Strike: Global Offensive team. G2, Fnatic, mousesports, Team Liquid, Evil Geniuses and 100 Thieves are some of the strong challengers.
This entire website is going to be giving you an insight into the global phenomenon that is CS GO. With that in mind we would suggest you read through this guide as you are going to get a much greater understanding into exactly what CS GO is and the many betting and wagering opportunities that will become available to you at various different CS GO betting sites.
In the last decade or so you may have noticed a very sharp increase in regards to the number of eSports that sports bettors are able to place bets and wagers on, and that is exactly what CS GO is, one of many electronic sports that are played by millions of people the world over every single day of the week.
If you are of an age when you can recall the 1970’s and 1980’s then you will remember a range of the very first video games to become available and you may have had one of the small number of different games consoles required to play those games on at home.
In fact many teenagers growing up in the 1980’s will have played games such as Space Invaders and Pacman, probably in a local amusement arcade, and one of the main aims of playing those video games was to achieve a high enough score so they could get their names on the Leaderboard of the highest scoring players!
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
As technology has got more and more advanced and with gaming consoles now becoming much more affordable as well as being connected to the internet, that has led to a huge number of gamers to take their video game playing online and participate in online head to head games with players based all over the world.
https://youtu.be/OBHvRe6-VkM
One game that became something of an overnight hit with such players was Counter-Strike: Global Offensive or CS GO as it is known. That game was designed and developed by Hidden Path Entertainment in association with another company, that being Valve and is now firmly established as one of the most played video games online.
Betting on CS GO
Each day a huge number of CS GO players log on to the internet and play Counter-Strike: Global Offensive with other players and there are many competitions held whereby players can play in a tournament fashion over any number of hours or days.
It is on those competitions that anyone has the ability of placing bets and wagers on which players they think are going to be the highest scorer, and there are in fact a huge number of different bets and wagers you can place on all major CS GO events.
If you are interested in joining the millions of eSports bettors the world over who place bets and wagers on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive matches and competitions then we would advise you to have a good look around our website as we list all of the best CS GO betting sites, have lots of exclusive betting bonuses to showcase to you and have a wealth of addition articles, guides and news stories for you to make use of.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below you will find some of the most commonly asked questions relating to CS GO, and as such if you are interested in learning more about Counter-Strike: Global Offensive then please do read on, but also do make use of our additional guides and articles located throughout our website.
Can I bet on CS GO for small stakes?
One of the main attractions for many sports bettors is that you are going to find plenty of CS GO betting sites with low minimum deposit options and will also find you can place some very low valued bets and wagers too. As such you will always be in control over what you can bet on and how much you wager when you make the wise decision of signing up to our featured eSports sites.
Are betting bonuses available to eSports bettors?
As a new customer and member of any of our featured Cs GO betting site you are going to be welcome on board once you register as a new player with a quite diverse range of CS GO betting bonuses. So please do spend some time looking over the website of our approved eSports betting sites for information and an insight into those betting bonuses and special promotional offers too.
Is there are CS GO betting strategies?
There are quite a number of very well thought out and structured SC GO betting strategies, and if you are consider placing nay number of bets and wagers yourself you will be best advised to make use of our betting strategy articles and guides as they will enlighten you on the best ways to place your wagers to increase your winning chances!
Csgo Gambling Free Codes
When do CS GO matches take place?
You are going to be amazed at just how many CS GO matches do take place throughout the week, whilst the ones that attract the most bets and wagers are of course the major competitions and tournaments there are lots of smaller head to head matches taking place throughout the day and night and as such you are always going to be able to place a bet on your own personal favourite gamers and players!
Can I bet on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive in my own currency?
Csgo Gambling Guide Crossword
One thing that you are going to appreciate if you do fancy placing bets and wagers on a wide and varied range of different eSports including of course Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is that when you initially sign up to any eSports betting sites you will be given the option of choosing which currency you want in place on your betting account. You should select the currency you use at home to escape having to pay any currency exchange rate fees and charges!