Are you an esports veteran, but new to betting? Don’t panic. Our helpful guides on what the odds mean, how to place a bet and how to deposit money into your Pinnacle account will cover everything you need to know before getting started.

At Pinnacle, we treat Dota 2, LoL and Starcraft 2 competitions in the same manner as every other sport – with a professionalism that has earned us one of the best reputations in sports betting.

As with other sports, we offer many different esports betting markets - but the fundamental risks and rewards behind every bet are the same. Customers select an event - in this case an esports match or tournament - from our betting menu, decide the amount they want to stake at the available odds and place a bet. If the bet is successful - the selection wins - they win money proportional to their bet.

Many people see betting as a way to add excitement to a competition, with the hope of gaining money enhancing the excitement. Others, however, use mathematics, statistical analysis, or their unique knowledge to determine ways of earning a living from betting on events – these people are known as professional bettors.

esports is no different, offering those with the right knowledge of games, events and betting know-how the potential to make significant returns on an investment.

Where can I see the latest esports odds?

You can view all the latest odds for upcoming events in the designated esports odds page within the esports Hub. You can view odds for matches with the closest start time or select a specific game to find the odds you are after. 

Odds can be presented in three different formats and you can choose which you prefer. Decimal and American odds are the traditional formats used at Pinnacle but esports bettors can also view odds in the form of percentages. Percentage odds show a team’s chances of winning out of 100 - this doesn’t include Pinnacle’s margin (find out how to calculate betting margins).

esports betting explained

The best-known form of betting is known as the Money Line. Players choose which team in a match they think is going to win and bet money on that happening. 

For example, imagine Team Liquid and Newbee were playing each other. You might think that Team Liquid is going to win the match and that the odds offered represent fair value, and so you bet on them.

If Team Liquid wins, you gain money from betting. If they were to lose, however, you would have lost your money. You can learn more about how much money you would win, what betting odds represent, and how to bet on esports on our Esports Hub.

Depositing money and ways to fund

Before you place any bets, you’ll need to put money in your account. You can do this – after you’ve signed up – by visiting the deposit/withdrawal page.

Placing an esports bet

Every bookmaker has a different system for placing a bet. To learn how to place an esports bet at Pinnacle, read our guide on placing your first esports bet.