Like anything else, gambling has evolved due to the advent of technology. It has taken new forms like virtual poker and online bingo. However, due to the emergence of online games, individuals had a new avenue to gamble.
Gambling with online games, or most popularly known as eSports gambling, has been around for years. It has gained traction due to the growing number of gamers worldwide. Although new games are popping every year, most gamblers are sticking to some eSports games, mostly CS:GO.
But why is this online game highly preferred by gamblers worldwide? Read on to know the read behind CS:GO’s success in eSports betting.
Built Upon the Counter-Strike Franchise
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, commonly known as CS:GO, is a first-person shooter online game. The game is one of many multiplayer games currently available on various platforms. It was developed by Valve and Hidden Path Entertainment and was released in August 2012. According to Statista, the game reached 24 million monthly active users (MUA) in February 2020.
The game was based upon the Counter-Strike franchise, which started in 1999, and is the fourth installment in the series. CS:GO has the same premise as the other games in the series. Two teams are trying to outwit one another within a specific timeframe.
Counter-Strike has been a massive hit for over two decades, and as the saying goes, “it’s oldies but goodies.” Likewise, CS:GO is still hugely popular, and therefore betting is a practical option for gamblers.
Moreover, familiarity is one of the significant drivers of why this game is popular with gamblers. They know the game – the gamblers are comfortable with it and understand it. Plus, the game has a huge nostalgia factor, and many in their 20’s and 30’s have all played the game.
Similar To Real Sports: Team Vs. Team Model
Some say that eSports is not like real sports like football or basketball, but that’s not true. CS:GO’s gameplay is pretty straightforward. Two teams compete with each other, which sounds like the familiar sports people bet on, like NHL or NBA. And you have many websites offering tips and predictions, too!
After a year of its release, the first Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major Championship was held in Sweden. Famously called the Majors, it is one of the most celebrated tournaments in the world.
CS:GO Majors have the same structure as most of the sports tournaments. Like FIBA, prospect CS:GO teams need to join a qualifier. Counter-Strike has two decades of competitive play under its belt, starting with the original Counter-Strike. The first major tournament was in 2001 and was prevalent since 2007.
Like in football, CS:GO players need teamwork to win any match. The game is also won using a strategy that needs to be changed depending on the enemy’s responses. A player’s reaction time is vital and playing in unison with attentional focus is the pièce de résistance. Moreover, like in a typical team sport, there is still an attachment to specific individual players or teams.
Item Betting Shows an Exponential Growth
Item betting or skin betting is a kind of eSports gambling that relies on skins or items in the game as its currency. Some use this betting to gamble on the result of a professional eSport match. Some punters try their luck on other games of chance through betting sites.
Item betting in CS:GO grows and grows and grows with more platforms appearing to facilitate this kind of betting. In actuality, item betting originated with the Arms Deal Update in 2013. The update lets players buy, collect, sell, and trade all-new decorated weapons they can equip in-game.
Although there were some issues with the legality of item betting, it has still flourished to date. Item betting is an industry as it is the sole source of income for many.
CS:GO Is a Proven Game
After almost a decade, CS:GO still maintains its position as one of the world’s most prolific games. Many online games explode in popularity but quickly die down after a few months or even a couple of years. The deterioration is mostly associated with the lack of support from its community, its complexity, or its hardware requirements.
CS:GO has been excelling for years and is not showing signs of decline. It has been nominated for the “Best eSports Game” in 2017, 2019, and 2020. The game will still live on for many years to come.
Esports have become a staple in most bookmarkers and punters worldwide, and CS:GO has definitely taken center stage. They love the game as it is entertaining, and they can profit from it. Still, gambling with CS:GO requires extreme precaution and a lot of luck.
Caroline is doing her graduation in IT from the University of South California but keens to work as a freelance blogger. She loves to write on the latest information about IoT, technology, and business. She has innovative ideas and shares her experience with her readers.
