Esports Betting in New Jersey | How to Bet on Esports in 2020

What to Expect on This Page:

Are you looking for the best esports betting sites in 2020? Want to join the online betting revolution happening in the US? Fans of titles such as LoL, Dota or CS:GO, but want to improve your viewing experience? Then you've found the right place. On this page we'll bring you the very best online sportsbooks for esports betting sites in the USA.

Here's what we'll cover on our dedicated NJ esports page:

  • An general overview of esports betting
  • An introduction to CS:GO
  • Everything you need to know about League of Legends
  • A beginner's guide to Dota 2

So, there you have it! Enjoy the article. 

Esports Betting Games | Which Esport Titles are Popular for Betting?

If you're new to the world of esports (no worries, we all fall behind sometimes), then you're probably wondering which titles — if any — are popular for betting on esports. Have no fear, as it's not that complicated. Basically, there are three major games that most esports fans rave on about:

  • CS:GO (Counter Strike: Global Offensive) 
  • LOL (League of Legends)
  • DOTA 2 (Defence of the Ancients 2)
Of course, there are many other titles which are available to bet on — but if you ask any esports betting fanatic what their favourite esport is, they'll probably say one of the three above. And don't worry, we'll go into detail about these games (and others) further on up in the article. Basically, don't start CS:GO esports betting without consulting this guide first. 

Important Info | 3 Things to Know Before Esports Betting

Before you jump into the wild world of esports betting, it's well worth taking note of the advice before. Because while it might seem simple business betting on a video game — honestly, it's not. 

1. You have to play the game to have any chance of winning your bets

Esports is a lot different to betting on regular sports. Sure, not many of us actually play football, but there's a good chance you can work out who to bet on when it comes to the Superbowl. Likewise, most of us suck at golf, but if you watch the game enough you will have a pretty good idea of who would win the Open Championship.

To have a solid grasp on both the betting markets available for esports and the arenas that teams bet on, you need to know the games inside out. Plus, with all the terminology thrown around (ganking, mid-laning, jungling etc.) you need to have lived it to understand it. Naturally, most who are interested in esports will also have an interest in esports betting.

But, if you're coming into this as someone who sees esports betting as a money-making opportunity, then you really need to stop, install League of Legends, and play for a few hours beforehand. 

2. You need to watch live games to learn how to keep up

Live esports games are intense. Just try keeping up with a live stream of the League of Legends World Championship for the first time and you'll soon find it's impossible. Shoutcasters (a little like a caster, or commentator with other sports) do try and give hints and tips to newcomers, but they're also extremely excitable, so expect them to go on a tirade of what will seem like nonsense on a regular basis. 

One tip is to find recordings of old games and watch them a few times; we recommend to pause, or slow down, the action if you're a little lost. Once you've done this a few times and feel you can watch a game without feeling bamboozled, only then can you go ahead and start betting on esports. 

3. Esports betting has just kicked off in the USA

Right now, until further notice, esports betting is completely new to betting scenes in New Jersey. What does that mean for the regular punter? Nothing much, other than bookmakers don't really have much experience offering esports odds to a US facing audience. This means it may take a while for sportsbooks to offer anything worthwhile — although, we do expect ambitious operators such as FanDuel Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook and FoxBet to get there first (and pretty soon). So, sure, get excited and be on the hunt for the latest bookmakers, but don't expect anything overnight. 
 

What is CS:GO? | Learn About the Action-Packed FPS Shooter

Too many acronyms in the title? FPS, CS:GO, what? Don't worry — we'll have you CS:GO esports betting before you know it. Before you jump ahead and hit the CS:GO streams, let's take you through the basics of what CS:GO is all about. And again, don't worry, if you've played Call of Duty before (and most of us have, right?), the concept is pretty simple.

But before we go ahead, might we recommend that you download and play CS:GO before delving any deeper. It's free to play and can be downloaded via Steam — one of the most popular (if not, the most popular) PC gaming platforms. And a word of advice — don't be suckered into buying skins (cosmetic covers for guns) straight away. It's not worth it.

Pretty simple to answer. It stands for Counter Strike: Global Offensive. 

CS:GO was released on the 21st August, 2012. 

CS:GO was developed by Valve.

There are five players in each of the two CS:GO teams. One team plays as the Terrorists and the other as Counter-Terrorists.

The two teams are called Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists. 

FPS stands for ‘first person shooter'. 

What type of game is CS:GO?

CS:GO is an FPS (first person shooter). This means the game has an over-the-gun view, as opposed to an over-the-shoulder or third person (where you can see the whole character) view. The FPS shooter genre is arguably one of the most popular in the gaming universe, but in terms of esports, it falls a close second to MOBAs such as LoL and Dota. 

CS:GO, though, is most definitely the most popular professional FPS esport. It has millions, upon millions, of players worldwide. And while it is the subject of various memes (jokes) about their player-based (angry teenagers who live on Mountain Dew and Doritos), most of the community is very welcoming.

What are the most popular CS:GO tournaments?

If you're interested in betting on CS:GO, then you're probably wanting to know which tournaments are the most popular. After all, the more popular a tournament is, the more odds offer. 

Well, here are the most popular CS:GO tournaments for esports betting:

  • DreamHack Open
  • BLAST Pro Series
  • Esports Championship Series
  • CS Summit

There are many others, but these we feel are the best of the best when it comes to betting on CS:GO. 

And who are the most popular CS:GO teams?

While new teams come and go in the CS:GO universe, there are a few mainstays which you can expect at every CS:GO tournament. They are:
 
  • Astralis
  • MiBR
  • GODSENT
  • Furia eSports
  • Team GamerLegion
  • Team Singularity
  • Vitality
There are many, many more CS:GO teams out there. These are just a handful of teams which have made waves in the past five years. 

League of Legends | What's League of Legends All About?

The esport title that's arguably the most popular game in the world, with regular tournaments and a vast array of live games, League of Legends is truly an esports bettors dream. But, why is it so popular with a betting audience and how did it become so mainstream? Don't worry, we'll answer all those questions and more in our League of Legends esports betting section.

What is League of Legends?

League of Legends is a MOBA, which stands for Multiplayer Online Battle Arena. It's much different to conventional game formats, and frankly, aside from a few unsuccessful titles, was made for the PC. Teams fight in an arena, which normally has three lanes running through it. These lanes are where the fighting takes place between players. The ultimate aim is to destroy your competitors ancient, which stands at the opposite end of the map. 

How do players take part in League of Legends?

Each player takes the form of a ‘champion'; each champion has specific attributes or powers which can be used against enemy champions. It is not uncommon then for a professional player to have one or two champions they specialize in. Some of the most popular champions in League of Legends are:

  • Vayne
  • Kai'sa
  • Thresh
  • Lee Sin
  • Jaravan IV
  • Ezreal

Each character falls under a specific type: Controller, Fighter, Mage, Marksman, Slayer, Tank, Specialist. As part of being a specific type, or class, the character will have different traits. Some will be fast and nimble (fighters), others will be beefy and have lots of health points (tanks). Each character type will have a specific role to play within a team, but this is complex stuff and requires a deeper knowledge of the game. 

What LoL tournaments are popular?

There are multiple popular tournaments in League of Legends, but here are the best:

  • The LoL World Championships
  • LEC Series
  • LPL Series
  • KeSPA Cup
  • All-Stars Championship

What LoL teams are popular?

Some of the most popular League of Legends teams are as follow:

  • J Team
  • Royal Never Give Up
  • Unicorns of Love
  • GAM Esports
  • DetonatioN FocusMe

 

The Basics of Dota 2 | Playing & Betting on the Popular MOBA

So, Dota 2 has taken your interest, but you need to learn a bit more before deciding to bet on Dota 2. Well, in this section we'll give you a basic overview of what this popular MOBA is all about. Also covered in this section are the character types, maps and even a bit of history about the game. In a way, Dota 2 is somewhat similar to League of Legends, but of course there are some astute differences. Read on for more information.

A brief history of Dota 2: How did it all begin?

For those looking to bet on Dota 2 in New Jersey, it's a good idea to get a grasp of the history first. Dota 2 is a direct sequel to the original DotA (Defence of the Ancients) and was released in 2013, 10 years after the original. DotA itself was created as a mod of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, until being picked up by Blizzard. Development of Dota 2 started in 2009, with IceFrog as the lead designer. After four solid years of work the game was officially released on the 9th July, 2013. It was a smash hit and propelled the MOBA format into the forefront of the esports scene, offering some of the largest main prizes and essentially thrusting esports to a completely new level of popularity. And while today League of Legends is top dog, it is worth noting just how much Dota 2 changed things up for the better.

The International: A revolutionary tournament

The International changed the esports landscape for the better, offering some of the largest prizes in the scene's history. The $1.6 million prize pool for the debut International shook the world, demonstrating the gaming could, and in 2011 did, pay off. For a while every teenager in the country had one sole ambition — to be an esports star. And if you think that was crazy, it was only the start. In 2013, the International had a prize pool just shy of $11 million. At this point parents were literally encouraging their children to play video games — a childhood many could only dream of. But in retrospect this all seems like spare change, especially when compared to 2019's prize pool — a mouthwatering $34.3 million. Insane. Dota 2 truly made esports what it is.    

Overview of Dota 2's gameplay

Dota 2 is a very strategic game, that must be made clear. It isn't the kind of game where you can just go rushing in without any plan. Do, and you will get crushed. 

First of all, you need to think about your hero. Don't become dependant on one, as during the pregame, teams take turns on removing heroes one by one. If the opposition knows you're good with a specific hero, they'll probably remove it. Secondly, you need to think about what kind of player you will be — a carry, support, off-laner, mid, roamer or a jungler. These all sound very complicated, but let me give you a basic description of each:

    • Carry: Normally the best player, who carries the team to victory. Other players will rush to protect the ‘carry' during endgame. 
    • Support: Support players will aim to heal and protect the rest of the team during combat. They very rarely get involved in fighting.
    • Off-laner: These guys stay in the off-lane (explained in a bit).
    • Mid: These guys specialise in the mid-lane, which is the central lane that runs through the map. 
    • Roamer: These guys roam around all three main lanes, the jungle and anywhere else they're needed.
    • Jungler: These guys hide in the jungle and sneakily pick out their prey. Rarely seen in the lanes. 

Again, this all sounds very complicated, but once you've played Dota 2 a few times, it all comes together rather well.

How about the Dota 2 map?

Much like League of Legends, each map has two bases (one for each team) and three lanes. Each lane leads to the enemy base and are guarded by towers, which will kill a hero pretty quickly. Creeps from opposing teams run down each lane, which the heroes can kill for experience and gold. Experience and gold are then used to purchase upgrades to hero's skills and armour. Once heroes are at a suitable strength they can attempt to destroy towers, each other, and eventually their enemy's base. 

There is a river running through the map, which contains a super creep. If killed, the team responsible will get a huge boost. Thus, the super creep is often the centre of many battles. Furthermore, there are various creeps in the jungle which give good boosts to experience and gold. It is a jungler's job to take advantage of this. And that pretty much sums up the Dota 2 map, on a basic level.

What about the Dota 2 heroes?

It would take far too long to discuss the Dota 2 heroes here. In the future we will post a dedicated guide to Dota 2 for NJ. But for now, here are the most popular Dota 2 heroes:

  • Pudge
  • Lion
  • Invoker
  • Ogre Mgi
  • Faceless Void
  • Windranger

We aim to create a dedicate guide for each hero, so bear with us.

 

Farming is the process of killing creeps in the jungle and friendly zone, with the intention of collecting gold and experience to level up.

DPS means ‘damage per second' and is a metric to describe how much health a hero takes from an enemy per second. AoA means ‘area of attack' and is a specialised attack which deals damage to enemies in a surrounding area, not just one enemy in particular.

Shrines appear in lanes across the map and will heal heroes, replenishing their hit points and allowing them to re-enter battle. 

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