What You Need to Know About CS:GO Betting

Counter-Strike is a popular team-based shooter that has been known since the early 2000s. In 2012, the American developers Valve and Hidden Path Entertainment released the game Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, which almost instantly became the most in-demand esports discipline.

The launch of CS:GO and the organization of major tournaments coincided with the rapid development of online betting. It’s no surprise that online bookmakers quickly adapted and began offering CS:GO betting to their clients.

Today, when in many countries esports has been officially recognized as a sport, almost all bookmakers include it in their lines.

Let’s explore how and where to bet on CS:GO and why this esports discipline has become so popular.

Why did CS:GO quickly gain popularity?

Counter-Strike was already a popular multiplayer game long before the release of Global Offensive. The main reasons for the latter’s success include:

• engaging gameplay and a strong map pool;
• a good level of balance, ensuring competitive matchups;
• availability on multiple platforms – Windows, macOS, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3;
• free-to-play access since late 2018;
• effective marketing campaigns from the developers and tournament organizers.

As the fan base grew, so did the demand for betting services related to this esports discipline. Today, betting on CS:GO teams rivals many traditional sports in volume.

Main Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournaments

The top competitions in the world of CS:GO are the Majors — large-scale tournaments with million-dollar prize pools. Between one and three such events are held each year.

For example, in 2021 only one Major was held — PGL Stockholm. In 2022, there were two Majors: PGL Antwerp and IEM Rio de Janeiro. Under the current format, 24 teams compete in the final stage, having qualified through regional qualifiers or earned high global rankings.

Lower-tier qualifying tournaments are called Minors. In them, professional teams compete for ranking points, decent prize money, and a chance to qualify for a Major. Dozens of such events are held every year.

Finally, there are numerous sponsored and exhibition tournaments. Bookmakers also organize their own competitions to promote their brands.

Basic rules influencing betting markets

To bet consciously on CS:GO teams, it’s important to understand the game’s rules. Key points include:

• there are seven competitive maps — Dust2, Mirage, Inferno, Nuke, Overpass, Vertigo, and Ancient — each team bans one before the match;
• matches are played until one side wins a set number of maps — best-of-1, best-of-3, or best-of-5;
• maps consist of rounds, and 16 are required to win a map;
• if the score reaches 15:15, two overtime periods of three or five rounds are played;
• one team starts as Terrorists and the other as Counter-Terrorists, switching sides after 15 rounds.

These gameplay mechanics directly affect bookmaker markets.

What types of CS:GO bets do bookmakers offer?

The standard set of markets for a full match includes:

• 1X2 — win for either team;
• map totals, for example, O/U (2.5) in best-of-three matches;
• overall and individual round totals;
• handicaps by rounds or by maps;
• correct score — 1:2, 2:0, etc.

For individual maps, the markets can be even more detailed — for instance, total rounds in a half.

Bookmakers also offer several unique map-specific markets:

• Total rounds for Terrorists or Counter-Terrorists – interesting because both sides play each role;
• individual and overall frag totals – a market for true experts, with totals usually ranging between 150 and 200 kills for O/U bets;
• combo bets “Result + O/U”;
• which team will be first to reach a set number of rounds;
• odd/even total rounds;
• exact round score on a map;
• will there be overtime;
• winner of the pistol round, etc.

When placing map-specific bets, pay attention to whether they account for overtime.

As we can see, the diversity of betting markets in CS:GO today rivals many traditional sports, though it still lags slightly behind football, hockey, or basketball.

How to choose a bookmaker for CS:GO betting?

Almost every online bookmaker now offers an esports section. You can bet anywhere, but pay attention to key factors that differentiate betting platforms:

1. Margin size. If you find commission on standard 1X2 markets around 4.5–6%, consider yourself lucky. The average margin for CS:GO is 8–12% pre-match and 10–15% live. This parameter is especially important for long-term strategy play.
2. Market depth. Casual players may be fine with simple winner bets, but experienced bettors prefer bookmakers with highly detailed markets. This criterion depends on your betting style.
3. Tournament coverage. To play regularly without long breaks, choose a bookmaker that offers odds not only on Majors and Minors but also on regional, exhibition, and sponsored events.
4. Quality of live betting. Important factors include detailed markets, minimal latency in odds and video streams, and a well-populated match center with stats. You can assess live quality only through personal experience.

Choose where to bet on CS:GO by evaluating all these factors collectively and aligning them with your preferences.

What to consider in pre-match analysis?

To build a justified prediction, consider the following factors:

1. Teams’ global ranking positions. Not an absolute indicator, but rankings provide an initial power balance.
2. Recent performance statistics for the current lineup. Track how frequently rosters change.
3. Head-to-head history. Some matchups, especially at the top level, are fiercely contested — these can be good for Over bets.
4. Map pool. Before the match, review which maps will be played and which team performs better on them.
5. Tournament motivation. Favorites may play less focused in early stages but show peak form in the decisive playoff rounds.

Also consider playstyle in attack and defense, team tactics, and other nuances.

CS:GO betting strategies

There is no 100% winning strategy for CS:GO, but several proven schemes help bettors profit long-term. Here are a few examples.

Pre-match strategies

Beginners are often advised to bet on favorites with odds between 1.40 and 1.65.

Follow these basic rules:

• bet on later tournament stages when stronger teams are highly motivated;
• ensure the favorite is playing with its optimal lineup;
• review recent matches to confirm their good form.

Another pre-match approach is the “Confident Accumulator.” Here you can also select favorites, but with odds around 1.20–1.30. Other markets are suitable too if you understand their analysis.

Create an accumulator with three or four selections to reach combined odds around 2.00. The key is choosing high-probability outcomes — a skill that comes with experience.

Live strategies

There are many live betting strategies for CS:GO. Here are two examples:

1. On a losing favorite. The idea is to catch high odds on a strong team that lost the first map. This happens frequently — favorites often start slowly. If pre-match odds were 1.50, after losing one map they can jump to 3.00–3.50. Verify motivation and back the favorite live for the comeback.
2. After the pistol round. Similar to the previous method — sometimes a team loses the pistol round 0:3, and its map-winning odds soar. If you know the team performs well on that map, why not back them at 3.00?

These strategies suit players deeply familiar with the game who watch live streams. However, chase systems (Martingale-type) can also be applied in CS:GO.

Pros and Cons of CS:GO betting

Whichever method or strategy you choose, CS:GO betting has both pros and cons. Pros include:

• a wide selection of events and detailed markets from some bookmakers;
• the ability to find value odds if you know the game well;
• several proven strategies suitable for long-term profit.

But there are also drawbacks — the main one being the high bookmaker margin. Betting companies use it to hedge risk, as esports matches often bring surprises and “strange” results.