The exponential growth of esports as a betting option has been substantial in recent times, with many different titles catching the eye with online gamblers.
Since its launch back in 2012, CS: GO has been on a steady incline in popularity and development, which has transcended the traditional online gaming market.
Pinpointing which exact element of the game carries the most appeal to players and fans alike is tricky but regardless of what it is that makes punters tick, betting on Counter-Strike has become huge business in recent times.
With most international bookmakers extending their esports offering to their customers, CS: GO has become a huge part of that, with a myriad of markets available to players, in both the pre-match and in-play realm.
Along with the likes of Rocket League, League of Legends and Dota 2, CS: GO markets are an absolute staple of most sportsbook and casino outputs currently and there is no sign of its popularity slowing within the global betting industry.
Here is a look at some of the key appeals CG: GO holds with bettors and how it could continue to grow:
A team game
Whether it be an esport or a more traditionalist offering, two aspects of sports betting always grip fans and bettors alike: competitiveness and tribalism.
Much like Rocket League, CG: GO is fought out by teams all over the globe, with aspiring young players all hoping to break through the ranks and play for a specific team.
Beyond those playing the game, there are millions of fans that support chosen CG: GO teams and back individual players who play matches for them.
As a consequence, a lot of the markets offered by sportsbooks delivering CG: GO options mirror that of a classic sportsbook, making it easy for punters to transcend between the two stools.
Whether it be a straight money line bet on which team is going to win a certain CG: GO match or a prop bet on the amount of kills a certain player makes, most sports bettors are very familiar with the inner workings of CG: GO betting.
Furthermore, team games also offer gamblers the chance to access outright winner tournament markets and build CG: GO accumulators. These markets create plenty of footfall amongst CG: GO specialists and casual punters, meaning sportsbooks are continuing to see growth in the CG: GO betting realm.
Significant investment
In any sportsbook, staples such as horse racing and football will dominate the offering, particularly in Europe, Asia and South America – where the betting options are available on almost every day of the year.
More niche offerings need to work hard within the midst of a sportsbook to generate traction amongst punters and bookmakers will only create markets for sports that are well tracked by players.
However, the fast paced nature of CS: GO betting and the myriad of associated markets, has seen more and more sportsbooks look to invest in CS: GO betting options for their customers.
Furthermore, the advent of in-play betting for CS: GO fans and a multitude of linked markets and statistical insight into players and game performance, has led to many tech and betting companies seeing the value in CS: GO as a viable option for players.
24/7 marketplace
As mentioned, there are plenty of reasons as to why esports has become a hit for both sportsbooks and players but none are perhaps as pertinent as the worldwide esports calendar.
With no need for player recovery time, physical adjustments or stadium safety considerations, esports fixtures have the capacity to take place at any time in the day, in seemingly any jurisdiction worldwide.
Consequently, less emphasis is placed on the variables mixed with traditional sports and the players involved can simply get down to the brass tacks of trying to win their CG: GO game.
As a result, the wealth of betting options and matches available within the CS: GO global community is huge, meaning those who are looking to bet on it have almost unlimited CS: GO betting and gaming options at their disposal.
Big money and significant tournaments still retain their place on the calendar but for punters looking to get involved in some CS: GO betting, there are options all around the world, taking place at any given time.
Sportsbooks have embraced the esports revolution far more than many other industries in the sporting realm, with CS: GO continuing to hold its own as one of the biggest esports betting markets on the planet.