StarCraft 2 is, of course, the sequel to Blizzard Entertainment’s legendary real-time strategy video game of the ’90s, dedicated to the futuristic battles between several interplanetary species. In the sequel that came out in 2010, as well as in its two following expansion packs, you can pick either the humans called Terrans, an insectoid species called Zerg, or an advanced Protoss species. All three have their strengths and weaknesses, which adds to the difficulty and skill when playing against opponents relying on different strategies. This, in turn, makes watching the battles extremely exciting.
So no wonder this game was at the birthplace of esports betting with tournaments being watched by crowds of people in South Korea where StarCraft has been extremely popular, and later spreading to other countries. And even though there are StarCraft 2 tournaments with six-figure prizes at stake, it can’t compete with the popularity of League of Legends or Dota 2 that find more support from the younger audiences. Nevertheless, there is money to be won by placing wagers, especially if you are a fan of the game or simply prefer this genre to the others.
At a glance:
TOP-3 Sites to Bet on StarCraft 2
Features:
- A 300% match bonus up to $300
- Umode for betting on yourself
- Multiple cryptocurrencies
EDITOR RATING
4.75 /5
Features:
- Extensive list of streamed matches
- Great variety of betting markets
- A eposit bonus of 100% up to 100 USD
EDITOR RATING
4.5 /5
Features:
- Easy-to-grasp interface
- Live streams and in-play betting
- Variety of bets
EDITOR RATING
3.75 /5
How to Choose the Best StarCraft 2 Esports Betting Site
Like with any other game you plan to bet on, there are things worth paying close attention to before choosing a site. We have gathered some of the top StarCraft 2 betting sites with different strengths and attractions and will guide you to narrow those to the ones best fitting for you.
The Odds
Every bookmaker will boast of having the best odds, and it’s impossible to pin the one that is right about it. There is no single site that always has the highest payouts, so you will just have to check such esports juggernauts as ArcaneBet and BetWay and compare the figures for every single match. Sometimes the difference will be insignificant, but when you translate it to money, it matters.
Tournaments & Leagues
Such tournaments as StarCraft II World Championship Series, Global StarCraft 2 League, or DreamHack Masters are sure to be covered by basically all of the sites that accept bets on this game. You will, however, have an advantage by being offered a wider range of leagues, and such sites as LootBet and LuckBox cover smaller matches. And since the game is played one on one, that’s a lot of StarCraft betting opportunities with individual professional players.
Live Betting Service
It’s no fun watching the game and realizing it’s not coinciding with your predictions halfway through the match. Therefore, top bookmakers allow placing bets as the battle rages on to make it more engaging for viewers who will be tempted to place more money based on what they are seeing. Luckily, all of our hand-picked spots offer such a service, but if you’re interested in live betting using an app, consider Unikrn and LuckBox.
StarCraft 2 Free Bets and Betting Bonuses
Most sites offer welcoming bonuses of different kinds, like free SC2 bets or matching deposits at a certain ratio. Although it’s clear they will not just give money to every new customer and freshly-created account, it’s possible to benefit from these offers if you consider the requirements for clearing the bonus realistic enough. At the moment, Unikrn has the most desirable bonus potentially worth up to 300 USD, while BUFF.bet and Midnite have several individual offers granting different advantages.
Depth of market
Even though StarCraft II can’t compete with other esports in the variety of outcomes called betting markets, it’s still possible to find great places where you can try and guess more than the match or tournament winner. Sites like LuckBox and BUFFbet offer such additional betting positions as the certain map winner, correct score in maps, total maps played (as well as whether the number will be odd or even), and a map handicap. Therefore, you get more SC 2 betting choices with one game, saving you time and potentially winning some money.
Payment systems and customer support
The offered banking options will vary for different sites and based on your location. All companies will, however, try to offer the largest possible number of ways to put money into the account and cash out your winnings so as not to rob themselves of potential customers. Not even all top bookmakers, however, support cryptocurrency or offer more than Bitcoin. Unikrn, LuckBox, and BuffBet offer the widest selection, including various digital coins.
Geo and Reputation
When you decide to get into StarCraft 2 esports betting, you want to be sure the selected operator can be trusted and that you can have access to all of the promised features. The industry is, of course, heavily regulated, but there are sites that operate without proper licenses and permissions. We made sure that those didn’t get on our list, so you can feel safe picking either of the presented options. It is, however, up to you to check whether the site allows gamblers from your area and whether any restrictions apply.
StarCraft 2 Betting Tips & Tricks
Understanding how the match goes and what to expect takes time and experience. Here, we are offering some basic tips that may be a starting point in your StarCraft 2 esports career.
Take Your Time
Don’t rush into betting until you realize what types of predictions you are best at. Follow at least a few matches without placing any money at stake.
Pick Your Players
It won’t do good to try and guess the outcome every time with people you haven’t seen before. Follow several players, study their strategies, notice when they are having a winning streak.
Play the Game
You may not be good enough to get into any StarCraft 2 leagues yourself, but simply refreshing your knowledge of the game from time to time can give you an edge. And you may feel confident to try and win money and prizes by playing Unikrn’s unique modes.
Listen to Commentators
Watching the replays without knowledgeable analysis is useless. Many professional players comment on others playing or stream their own games with providing important insights into the flow of the battle.
Don’t Necessarily Go After the Largest Leagues
You may notice that there are better odds at a few sites that cover minor leagues than at those events that are closely followed by the whole world.
StarCraft 2 eSports Betting Sites
Features:
- Well-implemented in-play betting
- Round-the-clock customer support
- Use of in-game skins for payment
This site is a solid choice for indulging into StarCraft 2 match betting simply because you get the advantages of this site that it offers to all customers. There are numerous payment operators available, customer service is 24/7, and the site is easy to adapt to in no time, making for a pleasant stay. Besides, the variety of leagues and markets for this particular game is good enough.
PROS
- Created and run by former cyberathletes
- Good leagues and markets coverage
- Well-functioning customer support
- Various payment operators, BTC is supported
CONS
- No app for gadgets
- Only works with one cryptocoin
Features:
- A well-established betting platform
- Good choice of tournaments and leagues
- Live betting with several betting markets
EDITOR RATING
BetWay features not only StarCraft 2, but also StarCraft: Broodwar tournaments, although you won’t be able to bet on anything else other than the winner in 2nd events. Nevertheless, it’s nice to have them, because, coupled with live streaming, some favorable odds, and a well-functioning website, it all makes for an awesome experience. The welcome bonus isn’t the most impressive you can find, but it’s still free bets money.
PROS
- A free bets bonus worth up to 30 USD
- A decent number of matches with live streaming
- A smoothly-running website
CONS
- No variety of betting markets for 2nd tier tournaments
Features:
- A 300% match bonus up to $300
- Umode for betting on yourself
- Multiple cryptocurrencies
EDITOR RATING
Besides regular StarCraft 2 betting, this site has a few unique offers avid fans of the game will love. One of those is Umode that lets you place wagers on your own performance and success in reaching certain goals in the game. Another service, called Unikrn Connekt, is for playing the game using your existing account and earning points that can later be swapped for rewards. But even without considering those great modes, this site is sensational for esports fans.
PROS
- A superb welcome offer granting up to 300 USD
- Unique modes that offer extra opportunities to win money and prizes
- A good array of leagues and matches with several markets to bet on
- A multitude of payment methods, including a dozen cryptocurrencies
CONS
- Customer support only during limited hours
Features:
- Individual bonus offers
- A decent choice of matches to bet on
- Pleasant and modern design
This newly-launched site does not currently have any surprises other than being a solid StarCraft 2 esports venue with odds that hold up well, friendly support agents, and a slick design. The welcome bonus of 5 EUR in credits for a deposit of 25 EUR won’t be a deal-breaker either, yet with a good deal of markets and a decently organized live betting show, the site can become a truly great one given some more time.
PROS
- Individual bonus offers
- A decent choice of matches to bet on
- Pleasant and modern design
- A live betting feature is realized well
CONS
- Cryptocurrency is unavailable
Features:
- Easy-to-grasp interface
- Live streams and in-play betting
- Variety of bets
EDITOR RATING
ArcaneBet is a newer site, and it has one of the clearest interfaces, compared to many other bookmakers that just clutter the page with everything. It also only features five games in the esports section, which may be viewed as a plus considering the focus on those available titles. With numerous betting markets, lucrative odds, and a generous bonus incentive for beginners, there’s no reason to complain.
PROS
- A deposit bonus for newcomers worth up to 100 EUR
- A wide array of banking operators, covering Bitcoin as well
- A nice selection of StarCraft 2 matches open for live betting
CONS
- Live help isn’t available 24/7
Features:
- Stylish design and comfortable interface
- Live betting and a variety of bets
- A welcome bonus of up to 100 USD
EDITOR RATING
Loot.bet truly deserves the place among the top Dota 2 gambling sites, although it offers two dozen titles in total. With no lack of tournament leagues, there’s a constant onslaught of matches you can participate in betting on. Loot.bet also has some of the largest numbers of markets for those matches, and this all comes within the slick and functional esports gambling site.
And should you want to get away from LoL for a bit, there are esports themed slots, as well as betting on two dozen other games, not frequently met on these sites, like FIFA, Tennis, NHL, Smite, AoV, Rocket League, Quake, Dota Underlords, Valorant, PUBG, and more.
PROS
- 100% first deposit bonus up to 100 EUR plus 10 free spins
- Jackpots and weekly rewards
- The widest variety of betting markets
- Combo bets offering greater rewards
- 24/7 customer support
- Cryptocurrency and skin depositing among other options
CONS
- A monthly withdrawal limit is 10000 EUR
- Customers from certain countries are not allowed
Features:
- Stylish design and comfortable interface
- Live betting and a variety of bets
- A welcome bonus of up to 100 USD
EDITOR RATING
Loot.bet is the definition of an esports gambling site that welcomes you with an awesome and functional design. This StarCraft esports bookmaker will provide you with all the biggest tournaments and some smaller ones that may not have as many betting markets.
PROS
- A welcoming offering potentially worth 100 EUR
- A complete range of StarCraft 2 betting choices
- Top-notch live betting with a variety of markets
- Bitcoin is among the supported currencies
CONS
- Restricted access to gamblers from some parts of the world
Features:
- Extensive list of streamed matches
- Great variety of betting markets
- A eposit bonus of 100% up to 100 USD
EDITOR RATING
This new esports bookmaker was launched in 2018 and is rapidly conquering the scene with more than a dozen games. The matches and markets you can place wagers on are some of the most numerous in the world, and in-play betting with some very promising winning odds completes the picture. The prospect of checking analytics on your mobile phone and placing a bet while on the go is a neat addition to an already well-built website.
PROS
- The deposit matched at 100% allows getting as much as 100 USD
- A great array of matches with plentiful markets
- Slick design on both desktop and mobile devices
- Several cryptocoins along with the traditional currencies and payment options
CONS
- Help can mostly be received via Discord
Features:
- 28 gaming titles
- Up to 30 markets per game
- Skins deposits are available via Skinpay
The last thing one would complain about is BUFF.bet not offering enough of something. It’s got 27 gaming titles and will probably offer more soon, it has three different bonus codes you can use when joining for different advantages, and StarCraft 2 betting choices are pretty rich, both in terms of upcoming matches and the number of markets they come with.
PROS
- No lack of games and wagering opportunities
- 3 welcome offers to choose from
- An array of banking options with several cryptocurrencies
CONS
- The interface may feel excessive
Conclusion
Those tips and brief reviews should help you find your best SC2 esports providers, and we advise you to pick at least a couple not to miss it when the other one has the better odds for your match. Which will those be? If you have access and are fine by the available payment options, it’s a sure choice to go with Unikrn and enjoy its unique features, LuckBox for the best coverage and mobile live betting, or ArcaneBet for a wholesome esports experience.