CS2 Markets

If you’re registered with a bookmaker and ready to bet, you’ll need to familiarise yourself with the various CS2 markets. Whether you’re interested in live or prematch betting, we’ve got you covered with all the Counter-Strike 2 market options. In this index of content, we explain the different markets so you know precisely which aspect of the game you’re placing your bets on.

We’ll be explaining all the markets you’re likely to encounter when placing your CS2 bets. Additionally, we’ll provide extra context to ensure you’re getting the most value.

CS2 Prematch Betting

Firstly, it’s crucial to define what prematch betting is. If you want to place prematch CS2 bets, it means that you want to bet on the action before the match has started or before a certain map has begun. This often results in markets being open for longer periods and slightly more stable odds.

Numerous bookmakers offer prematch CS2 betting markets. However, to find the most options, you should look for an esports betting site that has a deep understanding of the games they offer. Bookmakers with a strong focus on esports will provide many different prematch CS2 markets. Below is a list of various market types that you can find depending on the platform you’re using. Keep in mind that it’s unlikely you’ll find all of these markets on the same betting operator, but knowing what you want to bet on can help you in your search.

What prematch CS2 markets can I bet on?

The list below showcases a vast variety of Counter-Strike 2 prematch betting markets. It’s essential to note that ‘Map X’ refers to any map within a competitive match. As a result, you’ll often see the same CS2 markets repeated across multiple maps.

Main Markets

• Match Winner/Moneyline – Which team will be the overall match winner
• Map Handicap – This is a virtual advantage or disadvantage given to a team by the bookmaker. You are betting on who’s map score will be higher once that advantage or disadvantage has been applied.
• Total Maps Over/Under – How many maps will be played in the series over or under what is stated.
• Correct Map Score – The exact series score between 2 teams determined by maps.
• Odd/Even Maps – The total amount of maps played to be an odd or even number.

Map Markets

• Map X – Winner – Who will win the specific map you are betting on.
• Map X – Pistol Round Winner – Which team will win pistol round(s) on a given map.
• Map X – First Half Winner – Which team has the highest round score in the first half of a map.
• Map X – Round Handicap – As per the ‘Map Handicap’ explanation, accounts for a virtual round advantage or disadvantage provided by the bookmaker.
• Map X – Total Rounds Over/Under – How many total rounds will be in a certain map and betting on whether it is over or under that number. Often the markets are described in .5’s.
• Map X – Total Rounds Over/Under and Win – Same as above but also betting on the team that will win the map.
• Team A/B – Total Rounds (Incl. Overtimes) – The amount of rounds a team will win including potential overtimes.
• Map X – Correct Score – What will be the exact round score between the teams for a map.
• Map X – Correct Pistol Rounds Score – Total of 2 pistol rounds per map, what will the over all score be between the teams.

Specialised Markets

• Way To Win – A series of options that describe the manner in which a team can win the match.
• Map X – 1X2 (Overtimes Not Included) – 1X2 indicates that you are betting on whether a team will win the map or whether the map will tie 15-15 (1 = Team A, X = Draw, 2 = Team B).
• Map X – Win First Pistol Round and Map – Will a team win the first map as well as the first pistol round.
• Map X – Win First Pistol Round and First Half – Will a team win the first half of a map as well as the first pistol round.
• Map X – Race To Rounds – Which team will get to a certain amount of rounds first (the number being ‘raced’ to is described in the market options).
• Map X – Will There Be Overtime – As described, whether there is an overtime on the map.
• Map X – Will There Be A Knife Kill – As described, betting on if there will be a knife kill.
• Map X – CT Total Rounds – How many total CT rounds will there be in a map.
• Map X – T Total Rounds – How many total T rounds will there be in a map.
• Map X – Will There Be A Zeus X27 Kill? – Will there be a kill with a Zeus.
• Map X – Winning Margin – What will the round difference for a map be between the teams.

At EsportsCompare.net, we highly recommend watching the matches even if you’re only placing prematch CS2 bets. While it’s straightforward to place prematch bets, it’s also easy to overlook staying updated with the match’s progress. If you want to enhance your knowledge and skills in CS2 betting, it’s worth watching the teams perform and gaining a deeper understanding of each team’s strengths and weaknesses.

Pros and Cons of CS2 Prematch Betting

Pros:

• Prematch betting markets are open for much longer than live betting markets. This means you don’t have to be as vigilant to find the market you’re looking for.
• If you’re a casual bettor, it’s easier to make time for prematch betting since you don’t have to commit to watching a match live at the scheduled time. You can place your bet early and await your results after the match is over!
• While the odds can shift over time, they aren’t as abrupt and difficult to understand as live betting. This means you can more easily determine if you’re getting good value from your prediction.
• There are many more prematch markets available for Counter-Strike 2! Live betting models are still being refined by bookmakers, so if you have a specific prediction, it’s more likely you’ll find it in the prematch markets.

Cons:

• If you’re a casual bettor who places bets and is unable to watch the game, that can create a significant information gap and prevent you from improving your knowledge for the next bet you place.
• You might feel uneasy about the bets you’re placing if you do watch the live action. Small changes in the game might make you reconsider your previous decision; if you were to live bet instead, you might feel more confident.
• It’s harder to capitalise on unique opportunities that arise when the action is unfolding.

What CS2 Live Betting Markets Can I Bet On?

Also known as in-play betting, live esports betting is becoming increasingly popular. In recent years, it has surpassed the popularity of prematch betting. Although the number of markets available won’t be as extensive as prematch betting, you’ll still have several options. It’s worth noting that the list will be shorter and have similar markets, but for the larger events, you’ll be able to place bets on these markets while the matches and maps are in play.

You can find the full definitions of these markets in the prematch betting section above.

• Match Winner/Moneyline
• Handicap Match
• Map Winner/Moneyline
• Odd/Even maps
• Map X – Winner
• Map X – Win Map + Total Kills Odd/Even
• Map X – Total Rounds Over/Under
• Map X – Winner/Moneyline 1st Half
• Map X – Round Handicap 1st Half
• Map X – Team Total 1st Half
• Map X – Winner/Moneyline Round Y
• Map X – Team A/B To Win In Rounds Over/Under
• Map X – Total Rounds Odd/Even
• Map X – Winning Margin
• Match Correct Score

For many bookmakers live betting accounts for over 75% of the bets that they take on CS2 esports. In particular, as CS2 is a legacy game for the betting operators, they have well defined betting models. This means that the house has become quite sophisticated in creating accurate probabilities. It’s definitely worth doing your research on the game to give yourself as much of an edge as possible.

Pros and Cons of CS2 Live Betting

Pros

• Live betting is a lot more exciting than prematch betting; you can engage in the action in a fresh way compared to prematch.
• You can react quickly to actions in-game and adjust the bets you want to make. It provides more opportunity to capitalise on what’s happening.
• If you’re an experienced bettor and you know the game and teams well, you’ll have a better chance to capitalise and build a return on your investment.

Cons

• For online events, there can be several minutes of delay between the streams you’re watching and the markets and odds available on the bookmaker platform you’re using. Some operators might offer live data widgets that can help counter this!
• While very exciting, it can be easy to get caught up in the action. Make sure to set strict limits on what you’re willing to risk in a live match.
• It’s harder to get strong returns on live betting if you’re more of a recreational punter. Ensure you know as much about the game as possible before diving too deep.

CS2 Markets FAQ