Betting for beginners: key knowledge, terms and tips

Bookmakers and betting have long become an integral part of the lives of fans of sports and esports events. Mass advertising, a large number of companies promising big winnings and intense emotions, often sparks interest even in the most pragmatic people. Unfortunately, there is another reality in which players not only lose money, but also risk losing the most important things in their lives.

For this reason, our team, which has extensive experience in gambling, decided to tell you about key rules of betting, particularly for Dota 2 matches. We hope that not only beginners will find out which bookmakers, tournaments, and strategies are the most reliable for betting, but experienced players will also find something new and useful in this article.

Know everything about the game you are betting on

If not the main one, then a very important key to success in betting is your knowledge of the sport or esports discipline you are betting on. Football, basketball, volleyball, Counter-Strike, or Dota 2 – you should know the game rules, balance of power, and other details before risking your money.

Let’s take Dota 2 as an example to understand this better:

1. Basic game rules. A match in this esports is played between two teams of five players, each choosing one of more than 100 heroes. The team that destroys the enemy’s Ancient first wins.

2. Match format. The number of maps can affect the predictability of results (the fewer maps, the greater the uncertainty) as well as the types of bets available. For example, in best-of-1 (BO1), BO3, and BO5 series, there’s always a winner, while a BO2 match can end in a draw.

3. Current meta. Keep an eye on hero and item changes after patches are released. Analyze updates yourself or watch how the gameplay of the world’s best esports players evolves during professional tournaments.

4. Balance of power on the professional scene. Prestigious Dota 2 tournaments take place almost every month, so before placing a bet, it’s important to analyze the teams’ and players’ form, roster changes, and the latest news.

Types of bets which can be made

The next step in our guide is to explore the types of bets. The main ones are: 

In addition to the number of events in your bet, you should also pay attention to an additional classification that indicates when you place your wager:

1. Pre-match bets. This is when you make your prediction before the game starts. The availability of pre-match odds usually indicates a high-level tournament. The more prestigious the event, the more betting options are available on the bookmaker's website.

2. Live bets. You can also place bets on matches that have already started. This allows you to access more betting options and react to the course of the game depending on circumstances. In Dota 2, this is particularly relevant in the context of drafts, as hero picks can heavily influence the match outcome.

Now let's look at the events available for betting specifically in Dota 2. Bookmakers allow players to place bets on the following markets:

1. Match or map winner. Your prediction on the team that will win the entire series or a single map within the match.

2. Map duration. A prediction of how many minutes it will take for one team to win. For example, the bookmaker estimates the map will last around 45 minutes. If you think the teams will play longer, bet on the total being over 45 minutes.

3. Total kills. This market shows the total number of kills that will occur during the map.

4. Handicap (kills/maps). If there is a clear favorite and a straight win bet is less relevant, you can bet on the margin by which one team will outperform the other. For example, a -15.5 kills handicap on the first map of Xtreme Gaming vs Team Tea means you expect Xtreme to get 16 or more kills than their opponents.

5. Combined bets. Mainly offered at prestigious tournaments, these allow you to increase the odds by combining two events (like an accumulator bet). For example, Team Falcons wins the map + map duration under 40 minutes – your bet wins if both events happen.

6. Special bets. Examples include: race to a certain number of kills (which team reaches 10, 15, 20 kills first), game ends during day/night, first kill, first tower, first Roshan killed. Beginners should focus on simpler events before trying special bets.

Odds and margin

On one hand, the odds represent the bookmaker's assessment of the likelihood of a particular event occurring; on the other hand, it is the number by which your stake is multiplied, determining your potential winnings. The lower the odds, the higher the probability of the event, and vice versa.

How to estimate the probability if you know the odds? Use the formula:
Probability (%) = 1 / odds × 100.
For example, if the odds are 1.5, the probability in percentage terms is: 1 / 1.5 × 100 = 66.7%.

It is also important to understand that bookmakers always include a margin in their odds. This is a commission that the bookmaker adds to the odds, reducing potential winnings. How it works: in a perfectly balanced BO3 Dota 2 match, the bookmaker offers odds of 1.9 for each team to win (instead of 2). The probability of the event at odds of 1.9 is 52.6%. Adding the chances of both teams (52.6% + 52.6%) gives 105.2%, meaning the bookmaker takes a guaranteed 5.2% profit.

Typically, the margin ranges from 3-10% – from the minimal commission on prestigious tournaments to quite high for niche events and hard-to-predict outcomes.

Smart budget management for betting

Another key point in betting is the ability to manage your finances wisely and cautiously so that a few unsuccessful bets don’t force you to take out a bank loan or borrow from friends. It’s important to remember that betting should not be viewed as a source of regular income. The main focus should be on avoiding unnecessary risks and not losing money you can’t afford.

There are several main approaches to bankroll management in gambling:

1. Flat betting. An approach for beginners where you always bet a fixed percentage of your bankroll (each bet is 2–5% of the total balance). The main advantage of this method is stability – you won’t lose a large amount at once.

2. Kelly criterion. This approach is based on more complex mathematical calculations and is mainly suited for experienced players. It relies on the fact that your probability assessment differs from the bookmaker’s, allowing you to exploit your advantage. The larger the difference between your probability and the bookmaker’s odds, the larger your bet should be. The advantage of this method is the potential for rapid bankroll growth, but there is a high risk of losing a significant sum if your probability estimate is incorrect.

Tips for beginners from the CyberScore team

Besides the importance of managing your finances wisely, we would like to share a list of tips that will help you in the risky and responsible activity of betting:

1. Treat gambling as a source of adrenaline and enjoyment, but never rely on betting as a source of steady income.

2. If emotions overwhelm you, take a break from betting. Strong feelings can prevent you from making rational decisions, which often leads to losses.

3. If you have no experience, start with small amounts or play with virtual money. This allows you to test your skills without additional risk.

4. Keep track of your bets and analyze them. This approach helps evaluate your statistics, draw conclusions, and avoid mistakes in the future.

5. Avoid betting on events whose outcomes depend purely on chance. This is like flipping a coin – a 50/50 probability, with the rest down to luck. For example, predicting whether the number of kills in a match will be even or odd.

Remember that betting is an activity that requires a responsible and serious approach, as your personal money is at stake. If you encounter any gambling-related problems, contact organizations that help people cope with them (for example, Gamble Aware, Gamblers Anonymous). You can also reach out to the customer support of the betting company you use. Some bookmakers allow account restrictions at the client’s request. Play responsibly!