eduardogonsalez The original Starcraft release and the Brood War expansion are often credited as the main driving force behind the creation of the esports and esports betting scenes as we know them. Originating in the South Korea esports betting circles, the Starcraft franchise quickly became popular to the point that Starcraft betting became the first big thing in online bookmakers geared toward gamers. Although the titles aren't as popular as they used to be in the gaming and betting circles, Starcraft 2 betting still packs a punch and attracts a sizable portion of loyal fans.
In this article, we'll be taking a look at some of the best Starcraft 2 betting sites, as well as certain aspects of what makes Starcraft II still a good choice for punters of all levels, from beginners to experts.
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Top Starcraft II Betting Sites
While Starcraft 2 betting undeniably waned in popularity compared to its previous star status, we still have plenty of options online. Most reputable bookies feature Starcraft tournaments to bet on. Let's look at the best examples.
Thunderpick: Built By Gamers, For Gamers
We're placing a Thunderpick as the first choice, even though it differs from your average online bookmakers. Thunderpick is a cryptocurrency-focused online betting platform geared towards esports. The last part is important: Thunderpick features some of the biggest variety of esports betting markets and titles it provides, including Starcraft II esports betting. Thunderpick is hands down the best pick for SC2 cryptocurrency betting. It's often better than conventional bookies!
William Hill: When Class Is What You Need
This is the bookie you pick if you want class and reputation. William Hill is nearly the oldest still operational bookmaker. With nearly a century of a spotless image, this bookie is a perfect choice for punters who value reputation and safety in real money esports betting sites above all else. William Hill supports betting on Starcraft 2 and features the game's most crucial events.
Check out our guide on esports betting bonuses. What makes them so great and where to find them?
GG.BET: Well-Rounded All-Around
GG.BET is often hailed as one of the, if not the, most versatile and well-rounded esports bookmakers out there. It provides a secure platform for users, sprinkling in some of the best betting odds and valuable features like a solid esports betting app. GG.BET supports betting on many esports titles, from the big hitters like League of Legends and CS:GO, to niche titles like StarCraft 2: Legacy of the Void.
Additionally, GG.BET and Thunderpick both have support for live esports betting on Starcraft II. The game's high-paced nature makes it a good pick for this type of wagering, so try it out!
How We Pick The Best Starcraft 2 Online Bookmakers
As you can see, we consider many of the bookies' pros before casting a verdict. All of them shine in their own ways! Different users have different needs and betting preferences, so it's important to consider the following factors when picking a bookie:
- Reputation. When real money is on the line, the last thing you want is to risk it on a shady website. It's important to look at the Starcraft 2 betting sites' history, user reviews, and track record.
- Betting odds. Regardless if you bet for fun or profit, these are always important. It's crucial to pick a betting site with a margin that doesn't dig into your budget.
When a bookmaker sets odds for a particular event, they adjust the odds slightly lower than the fair probabilities, making it so the sum of both probabilities exceeds 100%. This excess is called the bookmaker's margin or vig if you want to sound cooler. The lower it is, the better.
- Available events and betting markets. This one is particularly tough for Starcraft 2 betting, as most bookies will only feature the most basic of bet markets and only the biggest of esports competitions.
Why Bet on Starcraft II In 2023
It needs to be said that quite some more popular esports disciplines are available for betting out there. Despite being the father (or mother, if that's what you prefer) of esports, Starcraft has mostly retired to a niche slot on most esports betting sites. Still, there are some benefits that come with this old-timer!
The Starcraft franchise dates back to its original release in 1998. Its expansion, Starcraft: Brood War, was a hit among the competitive community, which skyrocketed the game's popularity and created the massive esports industry as we know it today.
In 2010, Blizzard Entertainment released the game's sequel. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty has since then received two massive updates: Heart of The Swarm and Legacy of the Void. As both brought massive changes to the game's meta, it kept the game fresh despite being about to celebrate 13 years of age soon!
The game's fast-paced nature combined with its individual match system requires player skill to be incredibly high. A real-time strategy, Starcraft 2 is considered by many gamers one of the, if not the hardest, esports titles to be played professionally. Needless to say, all this makes Starcraft II so exciting to spectate and bet on!
Starcraft Betting Pros |
Starcraft Betting Cons |
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Unique Genre. Starcraft II is a unique example of a no less unique Real Time Strategy. To play Starcraft, you have to be both clever and quick, unlike some of the more popular titles where you need to have just one of these qualities (we're exaggerating here a little, but you get the gist). Every match of Starcraft is akin to chess - very high-paced chess - so Starcraft tournaments are a blast to watch and bet on. |
Few Betting Markets. Let's face it - even though many esports betting sites support Starcraft 2 betting, they offer very limited betting markets. Usually, it's just the basics: match winner, map winner if you're lucky, and outright winner for the entire tournament. |
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More Personal Experience. Unlike many other esports that use the trust team-based formula with 5v5 matches, StarCraft is primarily a 1v1 venture. Sure, big organizations field rosters and swap players, but when it comes to betting on Starcraft 2 matches, it's just two legends facing one another. Not only does it make for a more personal experience for the fans and pros, but it also makes match winner bets more streamlined. |
Not That Many Events. Similarly to the betting markets shortage, most esports betting sites only feature the biggest StarCraft 2 tournaments. You're out of luck if you want to bet amateur. |
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Most Popular Niche Esport. Although it seems like an oxymoron, it's true: our use of the word niche is more relative than absolute regarding Starcraft 2 betting. The biggest SCII events are still watched by tens of thousands, and many popular bookmakers eagerly feature StarCraft 2 esports events on their platforms. Both factors combined make betting on the game much more accessible. |
Best Starcraft II Esports Series To Bet On
The Starcraft 2 esports scene has changed a ton over the years. Big events come and go, but some stayed and became a staple of professional SC2. These are always perfect if you're looking for Starcraft II esports betting!
Oliviera is the first ever Chinese player to become the world champion in SC2. /img credit: Liquipedia
Don't be surprised! IEM Katowice isn't just the CS:GO staple - it's also a massive event for Starcraft II esports fans. Taking place annually as the culmination of the ESL Pro tour, the Masters Championship is the highest stage of professional Starcraft.
This premier-tier event is played all over the world to deliver a constant stream of high-quality competitive Starcraft II. Competitors from Europe, China, and Korea all clash on the fields of SC2 Masters leagues. Perfect for a non-stop Starcraft betting.
Organized by the most popular streaming platform in South Korea, Afreeca TV Super Tournament is a part of the Global StarCraft II League. Despite its name, the main league is only open to players who reside in South Korea due to organization issues. Still, it's a prestigious event with a sizable prize pool.
Best Starcraft 2 Players To Bet On
Pro tip: to win a Starcraft 2 match winner bet, you simply need to always bet on the stronger player. Of course, it's easier said than done, but with our short overview of the best players in 2023, it will be a tad easier. Make sure to do some research on your own afterward - this is but a humble hint!
Cho "Maru" Seong-Ju is one of the, if not the greatest Korean players of all time. He plays Terran and currently represents Onsyde Gaming. With over $1,150,000 in total winnings, he's among the most successful and skilled Korean players. Whenever you see the name Maru, consider betting on his matches!
Sasha "Scarlett" Hostyn is a Canadian professional Starcraft II player who mains Zerg. One of the few Western players to challenge the absolute dominance of Korean competitive Starcraft II school, Sasha is one of the most prominent Starcraft players who even made it to the Guinness Book of Records!
Joona "Serral" Sotala is a Finnish professional player who plays Zerg. He is the top-ranked European Starcraft 2 player who has been playing the title for over a decade - 12 years, to be exact! After splitting from ENCE after over 7 years of representing the tag, Serral joined team BASILISK.
Li "Oliveira" Peinan was the first Chinese player to become a World Champion after his stunning performance at IEM Katowice 2023. He plays Terran and represents the tag of DKZ Gaming. Some call him the king of upsets, so consider that when betting on esports events where he's present!
Best Ways To Bet on Starcraft 2
It's not just about the available bookies and best events - financing your Starcraft II betting hobby is exceedingly important. Thankfully, online betting platforms give us a lot of options here. Make sure to check what these different payment operators have to offer for the smoothest SC2 wagering experience.
| Starcraft 2 Cryptocurrency Betting | Starcraft E-Wallet Betting |
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| Although it might seem like an odd choice to place Starcraft 2 crypto betting so high on this list, it actually makes sense. You see, the popular crypto-oriented platforms such as Thunderpick and Bitsler are mostly esports oriented. This fact makes them more likely to feature additional StarCraft events and betting markets. | StarCraft betting was the reason many punters picked up e-wallets back in the day. The reasons for using e-wallets still remain true in . Starcraft betting with Skrill and Neteller is a great option to make your online transactions safer without any hurdles. |
Esports betting with PayPal is another coveted option. However, not many esports sites support it - click here to know why!
Summing Up: Starcraft 2 Betting in 2023
Starcraft 2 is indeed an old title that has seen better days. However, this title's story is far from over, and its competitive scene is still flourishing. Betting on Starcraft 2 major events is easily accessible to most bookmakers, and the game's competitive scene is still exciting to watch. It should be noted, however, that Starcraft 2 will no longer receive any new content - just bug fixes and competitive scene support.
It would be best to bet on Starcraft 2 if you're a fan of the RTS genre. If you're not, make sure to check our general esports betting guide to find the title that would fit you most.