Esports betting: League of Legends, Dota 2, CS2, Valorant
How esports series are bet on, what each game brings to the market, and how our Elo model prices League of Legends.
Updated October 4, 2026
Esports betting is built around series: a match is usually a best of one, three or five games, and each game (a "map") is a self-contained contest. That makes the format at least as important as the teams. Our esports pricing currently covers League of Legends series markets, calculated in-house with Elo ratings and available at nocturnsport.com. Below we also explain how Dota 2, CS2 and Valorant are bet on, since the logic carries over.
Esports matches with open odds
Upcoming esports series currently priced:
| Time | Match | Competition | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| LYON – Team Liquid AlienwareLive | LCS | — | |
| GAM Esports – Team Vitality | DCGI | 2.511.49 | |
| Natus Vincere – FlyQuest | DCGI | 1.432.68 | |
| Shopify Rebellion – Beijing JDG Esports | DCGI | 6.851.08 | |
| KaBuM! Eports – 9z Globant | CBLOL Promotion | 1.752.01 | |
| Maryville University – Zeu5 Esports | LCS Promotion | 1.662.14 | |
| Cupid Esports – FUEGO | LCS Promotion | 1.382.88 | |
| FURIA – LOS | CBLOL | 2.241.60 |
All odds on nocturnsport.com →
Esports betting markets
Series winner
Who wins the match — the Bo1, Bo3 or Bo5. No draws in LoL series.
Map handicap ±1.5
In a Bo3, −1.5 maps means the favourite must win 2-0; +1.5 means the underdog wins the bet if they take at least one map. In a Bo5, ±1.5 means 3-0 or 3-1 versus anything else.
Total maps
Over 2.5 in a Bo3 is simply "the series goes the distance". In a Bo5, lines of 3.5 and 4.5 are typical.
Correct score
The exact series score: 2-0, 2-1, 1-2, 0-2 in a Bo3, or six possible outcomes in a Bo5.
How we price League of Legends
Each roster carries an Elo number; beating a strong side lifts it a lot, losing to a weak one drops it hard. Comparing two numbers tells us how often one team should take a single game off the other. If team A wins 62 % of single games against team B, we then compute the series: in a Bo3 that becomes about 67 % to win the match, with a 2-0 at roughly 38 %; in a Bo5 the series probability climbs to around 71 %. Every market — winner, ±1.5 maps, total maps, correct score — comes from the same calculation, so they're always consistent. More in how we price odds.
Leagues and the LoL calendar
The professional season is split into spring and summer stages in the main regional leagues — the LCK in Korea, the LPL in China and the LEC in Europe — leading to international events and the World Championship in autumn. Regular-season games are often Bo1 or Bo3, playoffs Bo5.
Dota 2, CS2 and Valorant in brief
- Dota 2 — five-versus-five, like LoL, with long and swingy games. Common markets: series winner, map winner, first blood, total kills, game duration. Meta shifts after big patches can upend form.
- CS2 — tactical shooter played on a map pool; each map is first to 13 rounds. Markets include map winner, round handicap (e.g. −4.5 rounds), total rounds and pistol-round winner. Map veto matters a lot.
- Valorant — also round-based to 13, with agents and abilities. Similar markets to CS2: map winner, round handicap, totals.
Esports betting tips
- Patches change everything. A new patch can reshuffle which champions — and so which teams — are strong.
- Roster news. A stand-in player can lower a team's level far more than a single absence in football.
- Bo1s are volatile. Upsets are common; a Bo5 is where the better side tends to come through.
- Side selection in LoL (blue or red) has a small but real effect.
Frequently asked questions
Which esports does Nocturn Sport price?
Our current esports pricing is League of Legends series markets. Other titles are explained here for reference.
What does −1.5 maps mean in a Bo3?
The team you back must win the series 2-0.
Why is the favourite shorter in a Bo5 than a Bo3?
The more games are played, the less a single upset counts, so the stronger team wins the series more often.