🎯 Understanding Esports Betting Odds: A Beginner’s Guide

New to esports betting? You’re not alone. Whether you’re placing your first bet on Dota 2, CS2, Valorant, or Mobile Legends, understanding how betting odds work is key to making smart, confident wagers.

In this guide, we’ll break down:

  • ✅ What betting odds really mean
  • ✅ How to calculate potential winnings
  • ✅ The different odds formats
  • ✅ How to spot value in esports markets

Let’s make odds your new secret weapon.


🧠 What Are Esports Betting Odds?

Betting odds represent two things:

  1. How likely an outcome is to happen (the probability).
  2. How much money you’ll win if that outcome happens.

Example: If Team A has odds of 2.00, that means:

  • You’ll win $2 for every $1 you bet (including your stake).
  • The implied chance of them winning is 50%.

So, odds = risk + reward.


🔢 Odds Formats Explained

On 1xBet, you can switch between different odds styles depending on what you’re comfortable with:

🇪🇺 Decimal Odds (default on 1xBet)

  • Format: 2.50
  • This means: For every $1 you bet, you get $2.50 back (profit = $1.50)
  • Easiest for beginners

🇬🇧 Fractional Odds

  • Format: 3/2
  • Means: Win $3 for every $2 you stake
  • Common in the UK

🇺🇸 American Odds

  • Format: +150 or –200
  • +150 = Bet $100 to win $150
  • –200 = Bet $200 to win $100
  • More advanced but useful for US-based bettors

💡 1xBet allows you to change the odds format anytime in the settings.


💸 How to Read Odds in Real Esports Matches

Let’s say you’re betting on a CS2 match:

MatchDecimal Odds
Team Liquid1.60
FaZe Clan2.20
  • Bet $100 on Team Liquid: You win $160 total ($60 profit)
  • Bet $100 on FaZe Clan: You win $220 total ($120 profit)

The underdog (higher odds) brings higher returns, but more risk.


📊 How to Calculate Implied Probability from Odds

Want to know how likely the bookmaker thinks something is?

Use this formula:

Decimal Odds → Implied Probability

Implied % = 1 / Odds

Example:

  • Odds = 2.00 → 1 / 2.00 = 50% chance
  • Odds = 1.33 → 1 / 1.33 = 75% chance
  • Odds = 3.00 → 1 / 3.00 = 33% chance

🎯 Compare this with your own analysis. If your gut says a team has a 50% chance but the odds suggest 30%, that’s value.


🎮 Common Esports Odds Markets

Here’s where you’ll see odds in action on 1xBet:

MarketExample
Match WinnerTeam A vs Team B – who wins the match
Map WinnerBet on who wins specific maps (e.g. Map 1 in CS2 or Dota 2)
First Blood / First KillWho gets the first kill
Total Maps Over/UnderWill the match go to 3 maps or end in 2?
Handicap BettingTeam A -1.5 = needs to win by 2 maps or more
Correct ScorePredict the exact result (2-0, 2-1, etc.)

🧠 How to Spot Value in Odds

Value betting is when:

  • Your personal prediction = more likely than the odds suggest

Example:

  • You think OG has a 60% chance of winning
  • Their odds are 2.20 → implied chance is 45%
  • Your edge = bet it!

✅ Combine this with patch analysis, draft phase, recent form, and map pool advantage.


🛡️ Final Tips for Beginners

  • Start small — don’t go all-in on your first bet
  • Stick to games you understand
  • Use promotions and bonuses (1xBet gives you extra funds to test strategies)
  • Track your bets and learn from them
  • Bet for fun, not stress — never chase losses

🎁 Bonus: New Player Offer on 1xBet

If you’re new to 1xBet, don’t miss the 100% welcome bonus:

  • Deposit as little as $1
  • Get up to $130 in bonus funds
  • Use promo code: ESPORTWIN (or your custom code)

👉 Register and Start Betting with a Bonus Now


🧾 Final Word – Understand the Odds, Own the Game

Odds aren’t just numbers — they’re clues. Once you learn to read them properly, you can spot value, manage risk, and bet like a pro. With 1xBet’s full support for esports, including:

  • Live betting
  • Mobile betting
  • Crypto-friendly deposits
  • Bonus rewards

…you’ve got everything you need to bet smart in 2025.

🎯 Join 1xBet Now and Start Betting Smarter