Esports has really taken off in the last few years across the globe and evolved into a multibillion-dollar industry. As it has developed, betting on esports matches and tournaments has also become popular. This now sees the biggest online and offline competitions attracting lots of attention from bettors all over the world.

Any keen follower of esports knows that certain games are enduringly popular for pro teams to compete in. Counter Strike 2: Global Offensive (CSGO) is one such title and has been a staple in esports betting for a while now. Released in 2012, this first-person shooter is the fourth in the Counter Strike 2 series and was developed by Valve Corporation. 

It typically involves two teams of five players, with one team playing as the terrorists and the other as the counter-terrorists. Each team has their own objectives to complete and must also try to eliminate the other team. In the competitive esports scene, games usually take place over a set number of maps using a best-of-three or best-of-five format. 

Why is CS2 betting so popular?

This game is known as the premier first-person shooter for esports and it is easy to see why when you consider what it delivers. Players love the fast-paced nature of the gameplay, the strategic element it includes and the ability to work as a team to defeat the enemy. But what is it about CSGO betting which makes it a real hit? 

For many bettors, CSGO betting is broadly popular for the same reasons that people love to play the game. The high-octane gameplay makes it exciting to watch, while the strategic play also makes seeing how any bet you have placed pans out fascinating. 

In terms of CS2 betting specifically, the range of markets to get involved with is a major plus, as are the competitive odds this esports classic usually offers. Counter Strike 2: Global Offensive is also a game which involves the biggest events in the calendar each year. This makes it a game which is easy to find on sports betting platforms which cover esports.

Below are some of the competitions to look out for when it comes to betting on CS2: 

CS2 Majors 

The biggest competitions in esports for CSGO betting for many are known as the Majors. These events are sponsored by Valve Corporation in partnership with third-party organisers. These tournaments are held in various global locations, with the first taking place in Jonkoping, Sweden during 2013 and the last to date in Paris during May 2023.  

Other global destinations to have hosted CS:GO Majors include London, Boston, Rio and Berlin. These tournaments are seen by many as the most prestigious CS2 esports events to bet on and have the best teams competing in them. Team Vitality won the most recent event in May 2023, but Team Astralis has the most titles to date with four.

IEM Katowice

Although the Majors attract a lot of attention when it comes to CSGO betting, IEM Katowice is another competition which generates plenty of headlines. With all the best teams competing in it to bet on and some interesting markets to check out, this is easy to understand. It is also an event which gets lots of coverage in the media, so it is easy to research bets for. 

This tournament is a standalone event which takes place in the Polish city of Katowice. It was first held in 2014 and usually happens during the earlier part of each year. Sponsored by Intel in partnership with Valve, it always delivers a feast of exhilarating CS:GO action to bet on.

IEM Cologne

In the same way that IEM Katowice is a very popular event for CS2 betting, Intel also sponsors a similar tournament in the German city of Cologne. This event normally takes place each summer and is a real staple for people who like to get involved with the world of pro gaming. 

It is also popular with people who like to attend the event in person or watch online, as there were a reported 1.2 million peak viewers tuning in during IEM Cologne 2022! Over the years, this CS2 betting event has grown to become a key date in the esports calendar and has helped the sector to grow. 

DreamHack Winter 

Although the DreamHack series of events are not focused on Counter Strike 2: Global Offensive, the winter one does have a strong connection with the game. This makes it a competition that CS2 fans should know about and one that presents some great opportunities for backing your favourite team.

DreamHack Winter is held in Jonkoping, Sweden each year and was the venue for the first ever CS2 Major tournament in 2013. DreamHack has an even deeper connection with the game and hosted some of the first ever CS2 tournaments way back in 2002! For anyone who likes to get involved with esports, DreamHack Winter is a great way to end the year.

ESL Pro League

Although the above may be specific events which are perfect for CSGO betting, the game also has its own leagues to dive into. The ESL Pro League is a good example and is known as one of the oldest leagues dedicated to this first-person shooter. 

Created in 2015, it features partner teams which are then joined by qualifying teams for a season that lasts about one month. The ESL Pro League Finals are the culmination of the season and have taken place in Malta most recently. This can be a popular league too for esports fans. Season 14 generated a peak audience figure of 760,000. 

BLAST Premier

Launched in 2020, BLAST Premier is also a pro CS2 league which lots of esports fans like to keep tabs on. Their season culminates in a World Final each year, with 2023’s version being held in Abu Dhabi from 13th to 17th December. With a big money prize on offer for the eventual champions, this league always attracts the best teams to compete in it and is one to keep an eye on for CSGO betting. 

CSGO betting: What bets can you place?

The real beauty of CS2 betting is that there are so many different markets you can wager on and a variety of different bets to place. Below, we discuss some of the main markets available to explore. 

CS2 betting: Markets

The variety of different markets for CSGO betting at Bitsler is something bettors love for a number of reasons. To begin with, it means that there is something for everyone to bet on and this helps add real depth to your CS2 betting. The number of markets available also means you are not limited to betting on just one market which might not have odds you like. 

Having a good choice of markets to wager on in CS2 also makes betting on it more enjoyable and keeps things interesting. Here are some of the most important betting markets to know about:

Winner

As with betting on sports, the winner market is all about predicting which team will win the game overall. This market is a good one for new esports bettors to dip their toes into because it is easy to understand and can be found on all the top betting platforms.

Match handicap

The basic aim of handicap odds in CSGO betting is to even up the contest and make it a more level playing field. This normally sees the favourite team placed at a disadvantage to overcome pre-match and the underdog given a slight advantage to help them along. 

If Team A in a CS2 game was showing handicap odds of +1.5 for example, this would mean that this figure would be added onto the total number of maps they won in the game overall. If they had lost 1:2 in a best of three for example, this bet on Team A would actually payout when you add their +1.5 advantage on, as the score would be considered 2.5:2.

Number of maps 

For CS2 betting, this market can also be a popular one to check out. This sees you betting on whether one team in the contest will win under or over a pre-set number of maps. It is also possible to bet on one team to win at least one map in a CS2 game when betting on it. 

Correct match score

This is an easy-to-understand CSGO betting market which you will find at Bitsler. All you need to do is correctly predict the final match score and your bet pays out. 

CSGO betting: Bet types

As well as plenty of exciting markets for CS2 betting at Bitsler, we also have some of the most popular types of bets to make, including: 

• Single – A pre-game bet you place on one single CSGO betting market
• In-play – A bet which you can place once the action has started and you can see how things might pan out
• Parlay – This type of bet involves combining multiple single wagers into one large bet. Although you will need all the individual bets to win in a parlay, this type of bet can lead to a larger payout.

CS2 betting on Bitsler

There is no doubt that Bitsler is the place for crypto-based CSGO betting! You will always find the biggest CS2 events to wager on here and the most competitive odds across many exciting markets to enjoy.

Bitsler is also a secure platform to bet with and one that uses the latest online security measures to protect users. We also offer a wide selection of ultra-safe cryptocurrencies to wager on esports, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple and Tether. When you also factor in outstanding customer service and a user-friendly design, you can see why people who like to bet on CS2 with crypto choose us. 

How to place your crypto esports bet on Bitsler

It is very simple to place crypto esports bets on CSGO and other games via Bitsler if you follow the below steps: 

• Visit the Bitsler homepage and click ‘Register’ to create an account.
• Fill in the relevant details on-screen. 
• Deposit funds into your new account in any of the cryptocurrencies we accept.
• Click ‘esports’ on the left-hand menu of the homepage.
• Find the event/game you wish to bet on.
• Find the market you wish to bet on.
• Select the correct bet type on the betslip, enter your stake amount and click to confirm the bet.
• Any winnings will be paid into your Bitsler account once the wager is settled.