Making winning esports bets takes skill and smarts. But before you start firing away at CS:GO, LoL, and Dota 2 matches, avoid these 10 common betting mistakes that could derail your bankroll. We want to see you succeed, so let’s avoid common pitfalls and unforced errors new esports bettors often make.
Contents
- 1 Betting without understanding gameplay dynamics
- 2 Skipping essential research
- 3 Neglecting bankroll management
- 4 Letting your emotions rule your betting
- 5 Ignoring value
- 6 Ignoring market movement and line timing
- 7 Misunderstanding variance and sample size
- 8 Making too many bets
- 9 Recency bias
- 10 Betting without edge-specific insight
Betting without understanding gameplay dynamics
Do your homework. Whether it’s LoL, CS:GO, or Dota 2, you need more than basic knowledge of how each game works or what abilities individual heroes and characters have. Be aware of what the current meta favors, and how individual teams execute their win conditions. Understanding tempo, comp strength, and synergy is key to making high-EV bets.
Skipping essential research
Betting blind is a fast track to losses. Follow roster changes, meta changes, patch impacts, recent results, and player form. Stay plugged into the scene via analyst commentary, team stats, and social signals. VODs and streams help, but prioritize actionable intel over passive viewing.
Neglecting bankroll management
One of the biggest esports betting killers is going in without a plan for your money. Every bettor needs a bankroll — a dedicated pool of funds used only for betting — and a strategy for how to use it. Start by defining your unit size — usually 1–2% of your bankroll per bet. This helps you ride out losing streaks without going bust. Stick to flat betting or controlled bet sizing based on confidence and edge.
Letting your emotions rule your betting
Don’t let a losing bet on an Overwatch match lead to reckless wagering trying to make up for it. By the same token, don’t allow a few wins to lead you to ego-driven wagers. Stick to your betting bankroll and strategy. Keep emotions out of it. Stay disciplined with bet sizing even on a hot streak, or if the urge to chase losses surfaces.
Ignoring value
Always look for odds that represent good value. Identify betting lines in markets like LEC or LCS where you think the percentage chance of an outcome is higher than what the odds imply. Don’t bet heavy favorites at bad value just because you think they’ll win. Look for advantageous odds.
Ignoring market movement and line timing
The esports betting market moves fast — and for good reason. Odds don’t just shift randomly; they respond to sharp action, team news, meta changes, and betting volume. If you’re betting without tracking where a line opened and where it’s headed, you’re flying blind.
Let’s say a Dota 2 underdog opens at 2.80 and shortens to 2.30 overnight — that movement likely reflects sharp bettors spotting value early. Jumping in late means you’re betting at a worse price and losing edge. The sharpest bettors don’t just pick winners — they beat the closing line.
Timing matters. The best price is often available right after lines open or right before games start, depending on news flow. Learn how to read the market, and you’ll stop leaving value on the table.
Misunderstanding variance and sample size
Variance is the natural up-and-down swing in betting results — even sharp bets can lose in the short term. Many new bettors misread variance, thinking a few losses mean their strategy is broken or a few wins prove they’ve “figured it out.”
But esports is volatile. A strong CS:GO team might drop three maps in a row and still be a smart bet based on ADR, form, and matchup data. That doesn’t mean the read was wrong — just that short-term randomness played out. Don’t judge your bets in batches of five. Track your performance over 50 or more wagers. Real edges show up over time — not overnight.
Making too many bets
A common mistake is trying to bet on too many matches across multiple esports. This leads to making lots of wagers you haven’t put enough thought into. Be selective and only bet on matches you have a strong read on. It’s better to bet bigger on your most confident CS:GO or Dota picks.
Recency bias
Don’t overreact to recent results. A CS:GO team like Furia may have lost their last match but still have a strong 10-5 record over their last 15 maps played. Avoid recency bias and look at broader trends.
Betting without edge-specific insight
Winning bettors don’t just track who won — they study why. Meta changes and stat shifts often reveal betting angles before markets adjust. In Dota 2, a hero’s win rate spike post-patch might not reflect in odds for a few matches. In CS:GO, map pool trends and ADR can be gold. Know where to find the edge.
Avoid these errors and do your esports homework. Cloudbet offers the highest limits on esports leagues and titles. Register today to bet on Dota 2, League of Legends, Counter-Strike, and more with cashback on your esports wagers through our loyalty program. Bet smart and win big!
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