Counter-Strike 2 has captured a fan base in the millions and boasts large tournaments in iconic cities such as Copenhagen, Paris and Shanghai. So why is it so popular – and why has it done so well in betting?
The combination of engaging, straightforward gameplay and a large skill gap between novices and pros makes Counter-Strike the epitome of “easy to learn, difficult to master.” The iconic first-person shooter has millions of daily players spending hundreds of hours grinding the game. Many also watch its professional scene, where the best teams can earn millions of dollars each year.
But why has it done so well in betting? Part of the reason is the large viewer base, a prominent ecosystem of players and teams, and an engaged community that has been around for years.
The average CS bettor is 31 years old. We believe they have played the game for years but don’t have as much time as before due to life changes. As such, they might follow esports, watch their favourite teams or players, and throw in a bet to make matches more entertaining.
Nonetheless, this isn’t necessarily the whole story. After all, titles like Dota 2 and League of Legends have shared a similar journey but don’t necessarily see the same betting volumes. As such, we believe the popularity of CS2 in betting stems not only from the passion of its fans but also from the history of the game, its simplicity, and sponsorships.
The history of in-game item value and skin betting
One of the big reasons for CS’s continued dominance in the esports betting space is likely the history of the game’s ecosystem and community. As discussed in our article with Esports Insider, grey area skin betting and in-game loot boxes have been prevalent in the CS2 community since its inception.
With betting-related activities reaching mainstream acceptance, becoming as ingrained into the community as watching esports matches or playing the game, the acceptance of real-money betting has likely followed suit.
Learn how Elgiganten, Sweden’s largest consumer electronics retailer, allows fans to buy electronics with Counter-Strike 2 in-game items as currency.
An esports calendar filled with high-tier tournaments
Another reason is the lack of seasonality in the Counter-Strike 2 competitive calendar. For the ingrained esports fan, CS2 is the perfect game to follow. The esports scene sees a host of big and small tournaments sprinkled in a relatively even distribution throughout the year. Two majors are played each year, interspersed with IEM tournaments of the same calibre commonly hosted in iconic esports locations such as Cologne and Katowice, along with tournament circuits organised by BLAST, PGL and ESL.
Meanwhile, LoL and Dota 2 have regional leagues during winter, spring, and summer, culminating in the World Championships each fall. While the regional leagues see enough viewership, they’re nowhere near the popularity of international tournaments such as the World Championships.
In League of Legends, there’s a notable disparity in skill levels between the regions. While professional players in LCS and LEC are great, their Chinese and Korean counterparts play on an entirely different level. They have consistently won the World Championships for the last couple of years and dominate globally. Hence, fans of League of Legends can only watch the highest tiers of play in some regional leagues and during the World Championships.
In contrast, the best Counter-Strike 2 teams worldwide compete year-round in several high-tier tournaments, which increases the suspense of every match and gives fans more chances to root for the best teams and teams from their home region.
The simplicity of following CS2
Abios’ Sales Director and former professional Counter-Strike player, Niclas Sundell, tells a different story: “The largest differentiator between [CS2] and MOBAs such as Dota 2 and League of Legends is simplicity. Dota 2 and League of Legends can be daunting for newcomers given all the items, champions and spells they need to grasp. On the contrary, even new viewers of [CS2] can decipher that the game is based on two teams killing the opposing one in the shortest amount of time.
The simplicity of CS is probably one of the largest reasons for the title’s prowess in betting. CS has been around for a long time, which has created a mature audience. Even if a lot of younger people play the game, I believe there’s a large group of people around 30-40 that watch esports. When there’s an older demographic watching the games, chances are higher they will also place a bet.” (quote taken from article with Esports Insider “Abios’ Niclas Sundell: Betting on CS:GO is ‘s1mple’ “, 9/12/2022)
Betting advertising and sponsorships in CS2
The final reason is that Valve Corporation and other tournament organisers in CS2 allow gambling sponsorships to a larger extent than for Dota 2 and/or LoL. Riot Games, the game publisher behind League of Legends, has imposed a blanket ban on betting-related advertisements, making it more difficult for sportsbooks to reach LoL fans. In Counter-Strike, sportsbooks have more opportunities to advertise, which makes it easier to build brand recognition among fans.
With the esports betting market to reach the value of $ 3,3 billion in 2028, we believe CS2 will hold an important position in any sportsbook.
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