How does CS:GO Work – Design and Gameplay
Starting with the design of the game, a typical CS:GO match begins with two teams with 5 players each. The teams are divided into two categories – terrorists and counter-terrorists, who engage in a first-person shooter (FPS) themed action gameplay against each-other.
In the defusal map mode, the terrorist team plants bombs on one site out of the two available. The role of the counter-terrorist team is to defeat the enemies before the bomb planting takes place or to defuse the bomb after defeating the opponents.
On average, a CS:GO map consists of 30 rounds and can take up to 90 minutes to be completed by the winning team. In case of best of one, best of three, or best of five matchups, the match may last up to 5 hours.
In a 30-rounds match, the team roles switch, meaning the terrorists play the role of counter-terrorists and likewise for the opposite team. The first team that wins 16 rounds is declared the winner.
When it comes to betting on CS:GO matches, the markets, and betting types are offered based on the significance of the match, area coverage, player stats, and some other aspects. You can get an in-depth knowledge regarding the design and gameplay either by playing the game yourself or by researching live streaming, news updates, game reviews, etc. on various platforms.
How We Rate the Best CS:GO Betting Sites
Due to the massive recognition of CS:GO among the esports bettors, almost every sportsbook offer betting markets related to popular CS:GO events. Especially in recent years, the number of betting sites featuring this competitive action game has increased drastically, and that is the very reason why you may find it challenging to find a decent, safe, and licensed CS:GO betting site with a wide variety of betting options.
Keeping that on the mind, our esports experts have hand-picked the most lucrative CS:GO betting sites for you. We can proudly claim that we have the best sites recommended for your use as we consider a few essential factors during the rating process and highlight only the legit and worthy ones.
Here are some of the factors that help us determine which CS:GO betting sites can serve you the best offerings.
Markets – As per our rating criteria, a good CS:GO betting site should cover as many global championships and tournaments as possible, including some regional events so that the punters do not have to wait for a long time before they are offered a match. Also, we look for a wide range of CS:GO betting types that do not feature the popular ones only. Bookmakers with special betting types gain higher points in our rating procedure.
Odds – Odds are one of the most important factors to consider while rating a sportsbook, especially for the punters who are betting with real money. As odds indicate how much money the punter will be receiving if he wins the bet, we look for the sites with great odds and competitive odds. After the odds assessment, we recommend only the bookies with fair and value odds.
License and Safety Measurements – The safety and security of the punters are a major concern for us, which is highly prioritised during our ranking process. The top-rated bookmakers at our site are licensed and regulated by reputed gambling authorities like the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, Government of Curacao, Malta Gaming Authority, and other jurisdictions across the globe.
We also take into notice that our recommended sites have advanced SSL encryption technology enabled for a safe and fair betting environment.
Bonuses and Promotions – Almost every CS:GO betting site offers a generous welcome package for its new clients; however, not all of these bonuses are realistic and attainable. In fact, the majority of these bonuses are tied with high wagering requirements that are extremely difficult to achieve.
On the contrary, our list of CS:GO betting sites come with incredible bonuses, including promo codes, free bets, first deposit bonuses, etc. As we ensure that the wagering requirements are user-friendly before we recommend the site to you, you can choose it without any hesitation.
As for promotions, we prefer regular promo packages, loyalty club scheme, price boosts, free bets, refunds boosts, etc. and rate the sites accordingly during the ranking process.
User Interface – Desktop site, mobile site, or mobile app, no matter where you are betting on your long-awaited CS:GO match, the experience should be smooth and interrupted – this is another important factor that we base our ratings on. We also take into consideration the design and layout, ease of navigation, live chat feature, excellent customer support, multiple language accessibility, etc.
Banking Options – Any good CS:GO betting site should be able to offer its clients a good range of payment systems, including credit cards, eWallets, bank wire transfer, and cryptocurrencies. The withdrawal request processing time and the time of withdrawal should also be as minimal as possible. Upon considering all these aspects, we rank the sites for your comfortable betting experience.
How Betting on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Work
Betting on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is similar to betting on traditional sports markets where you place a wager on your favourite player/team or the game’s potential outcome. However, CS:GO betting is a bit different as you can place a stake in two different types: skins betting and cash betting.
Different CS:GO sites offer different betting forms. For your better understanding, we have briefly discussed both types. When you have gone through both, choose one as per your betting style.
Skins Betting on CS:GO
Any punter with a basic introduction to CS:GO has heard about the term “Skins Betting” at some point. The idea of placing a wager to win a new skin in the game or exchange extra ones in the shop has been a unique feature of this game that has initiated skins betting in the first place. However, with other platforms like Steam being used for almost the same purpose, skins betting is gradually losing its charm among the serious bettors.
This being said, in a CS:GO skins betting site, you will be required to deposit skins from your game’s inventory instead of cash. In most cases, you also have to use a different trading site where you can use your winning currency to buy another skin.
However, with no particular regulatory board monitoring the betting activities, punting on skins betting sites may not be safe and fair. If you prefer winning real money in a safe betting platform, you may consider going for the cash betting sites.
Cash Betting on CS:GO
As the term suggests, cash betting on CS:GO requires you to deposit real money and allow you to walk away with cash prizes given that you win the bet. Compared to the CS:GO skins betting sites, the number of CS:GO cash betting sites are ever-so increasing. However, the majority of the renowned cash betting sites are licensed and regulated by gambling commissions so that players can enjoy a safe and secure sports betting environment.
If you cannot decide on a specific CS:GO cash betting site from a myriad of options, you may consider starting your journey from any of our recommended CS:GO sites. All these are licensed by reputed gambling authorities like the UKGC (United Kingdom Gambling Commission, MGA (Malta Gaming Authority), Government of Curacao, etc.
How to Bet on CS:GO for Real Money?
Once you have selected one of our recommended CS:GO cash betting sites, now it is time to start punting on your favourite team or player. Here is a step by step guide on how you can bet on CS:GO events for real money.
- Visit the bookmaker’s desktop site or mobile app from your respective device.
- Click on the “Sign-up” or “Register” button. Fill out the required information regarding personal and banking details. Use authentic information only for identity verification later during the withdrawal process.
- Choose a payment method and complete the registration. After you receive a confirmation email, re-visit the site/app using your account details.
- Opt for any welcome bonus that suits your betting style. Add the promo code (if given) and make your first deposit.
- Look for any suitable CS:GO events to place bets on. The bookmaker will have updates regarding the upcoming match in the “Esports” section.
- Explore the betting markets. Do some research on the current stats, latest news, player performance, and place bets accordingly.
Popular CS:GO Betting Types
Being one of the biggest and globally successful esports games, the variety of betting types on CS:GO is constantly increasing with each bookmaker competing against the other in terms of a better catalogue. Nowadays, the options are not limited to match-winner, tournament winner only. In fact, many esports betting sites offer special bets like pistol round, knife round, individual player stats, and more!
If you are still new to CS:GO betting and want to start punting with the popular betting types, you can easily do so at a CS:GO cash betting site. Take a look at the most common betting type offered at our recommended betting sites here:
In an outright betting market in CS:GO, you can place a wager in favour of the winner of a single match or the winner of the entire tournament.
In international or hyped events, markets like the tournament winner are offered months in advance. With the correct predictions, bet winners are rewarded handsomely. On the other hand, odds offered in individual matches vary in different sportsbooks based on head to head rankings, recent performances, rosters, etc. Regardless of the betting type you choose, be sure to compare the odds in a few different betting sites before you place your stake.
As we have already mentioned in a previous section, CS:GO matches take place based on maps. Therefore, you can make a prediction on the team that will win the map and receive a reward if proven correct.
Generally, a CS:GO match comprises of 13 rounds. If no winning team is determined or the match proceeds in a draw like 15-15, overtime is added. Based on the competing teams’ gaming style, current stats, and other factors, many bookmakers offer punters to place a wager over or under a set match/round figure.
This is one of the most exciting and entertaining betting types where you can enjoy the game’s progress even more! Here you will get an opportunity to predict the highest number of kills in that particular match, regardless of which player performs it.
Once you have mastered this betting type, you can also try your luck on similar offerings like the pistol killings, most assists, the highest rating, etc.
The term “Top Fragger” is referred to the highest scorer of a single map or an individual match. This is a rather challenging betting type to predict right, and therefore, comes with great odds.
Each CS:GO match is played in two halves, with each team switching given roles after the first half. Both halves start with a pistol round, and the winning team of the first round gains more advanced equipment to compete against its opponent. However, it is possible for the losing team in the first round to defeat the previously winning team in the second half.
In a “To Win Both Pistol Rounds”, you can bet on the favour or against the possibility of a single team winning both pistol rounds. This is a popular betting type and is usually tied with great odds.
CS:GO Events Calendar – Which CS:GO Tournaments can be Bet On
As much enthusiastic you may be regarding an upcoming CS:GO championship event, keep on mind that not all of these events are truly franchised or hold a high betting potential. Before you lose hope, check out the major CS:GO events to mark on your calendar.
CS:GO Major Championships
If you are opting for real money CS:GO betting, this is the event that you need to keep your eyes on. It is a series of CS:GO events that take place biannually, consisting of different rounds of matches, and offering a massive prize pool for the winners of the final three stages.
ESL Pro League
ESL Pro League consists of the top 24 professional players teams in the CS:GO leader board. Some of the ESL Pro League events are also organised by ESL One and Intel Extreme Masters. The finals of the ESL Pro take place twice a year where the best 4 teams from the selected regions engage in head to head competitive action. The prize pool in these events is very high as well.
BLAST Premier
Relatively new in the scene, BLAST Premier is another major CS:GO event that is scheduled to take place at the beginning of 2020. The prize pool stands over a whopping 1.5 million, so you can already assume the high popularity and betting potential of this event.
CS:GO Betting Sites – FAQ
Is CS:GO betting legal and safe? Generally speaking, yes. If you are betting on CS:GO event from a licensed and regulated esports betting site, your betting experience will remain safe and fair. All of our recommended betting sites in the list are safe, licensed, and regulated by renowned gambling authorities, including the UKGC, MGA, and the Government of Curacao.
As for the legality issue, it depends mostly on the area you reside in. Before you join an online sportsbook, be sure to check out whether the site accepts players from your country.
What are the best tips on CS:GO betting online? The best tips on CS:GO betting is performing proper research before placing a wager, comparing odds values in different sportsbooks, planning budget in advance, tracking bet records, and most importantly, not chasing losses.
What are the best CS:GO maps to place bets on? Inferno, Dust II, Mirage, Overpass, Cache, Train, Cobblestone, Nuke, etc. are the best CS:GO maps to place bets on for a competitive session.
Should I go for CS:GO skins betting sites? Initially decreasing in number since 2016 due to scamming and fraudulent related issues, there are only a few skins betting sites offering CS:GO available now. However, we do not recommend using CS:GO skins betting sites as these are not regulated by any gambling commission and may put you at risk of illegal betting.
How do I compare odds among CS:GO betting sites? You can easily compare odds between different bookmakers using an odds comparison platform. However, all our online CS:GO betting sites offer great odds, and you can choose one for a lucrative punting session.
Bottom Line on CS:GO Betting Sites
CS:GO is a trending esports market that offers great odds, a wide variety of betting types, and a large area converging on a global basis. If you already have a first-hand experience of taking part in CS:GO matches, or simply want to check what the hype is about, our recommended CS:GO betting sites are all in favour of you. Even if you are an expert esports bettor, the live stats, news updates, last-minute hot tips at these sites may help you gain an upper hand on making a profitable prediction.
Love what you see? Then, check out one of our top-rated CS:GO betting sites and start punting!