Bringing together a lot of talent from across China and the Ukraine, the StarSeries i-League is a large scale showcase for the best that eSports has to offer, and the first-person shooter Counter Strike: Global Offensive has become a major part of this. What financial opportunities are there for you though, and how can you potentially profit from the event when placing a bet?
Operating as a joint venture between ImbaTV and StarLadder Series, it’s been running since 2016, with it usually taking place in Kiev. Previously known as the ‘StarLadder and i-League StarSeries’, the StarLadder company itself is a Ukranian business, as it centers itself around eSports production. With a host of live-streams available across Twitch and PandaTV, the i-League really is one of the largest of its kind.
With so much competition available, you should able to find plenty of financial opportunities going of your own. This is what we’ll look at here, giving you an insight into how you can place far more profitable wagers.
Where to Bet on CS:GO StarSeries i-League
America: Whilst it’ll all depend on when you login to use the site, Bovadais always the best when it comes to eSports gambling in North America. Giving the most options out there for an online sportsbook, you should be able to find what you need in regards to CS:GO. Easy to use and simple to manage, it really does the job quickly and efficiently.
Everywhere Else: Outside of North America you really can’t go wrong with Bet365 Sportsbook when it comes to betting, especially in relation to CS:GO. Extremely simple to navigate, everything is within quick easy reach when using the site. It also varies its options extensively, consistently keeping them updated, along with all the European leagues, on a regular basis.
What is the CS:GO StarSeries i-League?
Taking place towards the end of May and on into June, the StarSeries i-League usually takes place in the ‘National Palace of Arts ‘Ukrainia”, or Palace Ukraine, within the city of Kiev. Currently boasting a prize-pool of $300,000, it also brings in a variety of sponsors, such as DreamTeam and HellCase. The games themselves are run by StarLadder, with many of the Chinese live-streams being played through ImbaTV, along with Twitch, who are also official sponsors.
Using the ‘Swiss System Format’, which involves two groups battling it out over set rounds, it’s an extremely tightly-knit event. Here’s a brief overview of the event itself:
- Sixteen teams come together under the Swiss System Format, as the matches all use best-of-three style games.
- The top eight teams are then sent through to the playoffs, as the bottom eight are eliminated.
- With the playoffs, best-of-three games are used once again, all in a single elimination defined bracket.
Taking all of this into account then, it comes as no surprise that the CS:GO competition is so high. What we’ll now look at is how you can financially benefit from this in regards to betting.
Common CS:GO StarSeries i-League Betting Questions:
What is on offer here betting wise?
Depending on when you’re logging in and where in the season it currently is, you should find a varied selection available. Being able to bet on the overall outcome of the matches will make up the main wagers offered, whilst there should also be a few specialities too. Don’t be afraid to experiment with them a little, as you can really raise the stakes by combining and mixing them up.
How can I make the most out of this financially?
The main component of any game of CS:GO is its players and it’s imperative that you spot any strengths and weaknesses in their gameplay. This will mean taking into consideration how they fare on certain game modes, such as ‘Deathmatch’ and ‘Arms Race’, along with the ability to navigate specific terrains. Make sure to carefully examine this prior to placing down any money, using online services such as Twitch, as you should then be able to paint a larger picture of how they’ll interact together as a team.
How To Bet On The CS:GO StarSeries i-League
Bovada: Heading over to the ‘Sports’ option on the main page, you should next find all the sports available down the left-hand side, along with ‘Esports’ some way down. You should then have a drop-down menu, ‘All E-Sports’, (being at the top) which will then provide you with ‘Counter-Strike: Global Offensive’. The CS:GO options themselves will now all come up, giving you the bets you need.
Bet365 Sportsbook: At the main page select the ‘English’ language tab, along with the ‘Esports’ tab on the left side of the next page. With all the eSports now coming up in the middle of the page, you should be able to find CS:GO listed there. Providing all the bets underneath each league, you should be able to select the ones that you want.
CS:GO StarSeries i-League Betting Strategy
As mentioned before, learning all the skills of each player individually will really help you to gain the advantage. The stats at the end of each game is a great place to start, especially when coupled with the general odds given. Also, due to the versatile nature of Counter Strike itself, you should find a number of different props you can benefit from, again considering specific players. Some players are generally more dominant when it comes to playing and these are the ones that you need to keep any eye out for.
Usually you can find the players who excel through their following, which is the case with any sport and star athletes. Their popularity can be a great measure of how well they will fare, and this is easy to gauge given that you can, more often than not, find many of them streaming on Twitch. Just make sure to check out CS:GO and see which professional players are currently streaming, whilst also not forgetting many of the lesser known players, as they can sometimes bring up some very rewarding last minute surprises. All of this should then see you well on your way towards making far more successful StarSeries i-League wagers.