StarCraft II is one of the most well-known real-time strategy video games betting available. It is the primary competition mode for several of the most important and prestigious esports events in North America and South Korea. SCII was released in 2010 on the coattails of StarCraft: Brood War’s reputation as the definitive origin of esports as we know it today. Despite significant competition from MOBAs such as League of Legends and Dota 2, which have since captured the top spot in competitive gaming, SCII continues to enjoy a massive following and major investment.
If you are a fan of StarCraft II and want to learn more about how the game is played professionally, its structure and techniques, slang and terminology, and the top players and teams, then this comprehensive guide to SCII esports is for you. We also provide guides on how to place a bet on StarCraft II esports events and other top-rated titles. These guides include information on the different types of betting markets available on each match and the best-reviewed StarCraft II esports betting sites from around the world.
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE STARCRAFT II GAMEPLAY
Starcraft II is a real-time strategy video game with a rapid pace that requires its most expert players to have the ability to coordinate their actions and switch between many tasks at once. In contrast to many other electronic sports, which include large teams and many participants, competitive StarCraft II is a one-on-one event contested over three or five distinct maps. The first player to win two or three maps is awarded the title and the reward.
Both of the participants in a Starcraft II match must agree on which of the following three races (Protoss, Terran, or Zerg) they will play before the game can begin: Each faction has its distinctive appearance, set of skills and powers, collection of units, and location of benefits and drawbacks, and they all start the game by attempting to amass resources, construct their base, prepare their troops for battle, and engage the other side. The action takes place from an isometric viewpoint across a vast battlefield, and players may use various tactics and strategies to eliminate their opponents.
In a typical game of StarCraft II, each player begins with a base and 12 workers, and the primary objective is to destroy the opponent’s base by carefully managing resources, building the appropriate units, training them in the proper specializations, and using them in the appropriate combat scenarios to counter potential threats.
To achieve victory, it is vital to make a strategic decision on which group you will join and to play to the advantage of that faction. The Terrans have tremendous mobility and superb defense, but their damage output is modest, the Protoss units deal huge damage at high production costs, and the Zerg create many teams for low prices, but their damage output is lower. The fact that every single faction’s units have unique abilities (the Protoss Zealot, for example, can dash forward and quickly reach enemies) requires the player to know everything there is to know about those abilities to properly micromanage and successfully defeat the opposition, and the fact that everything is played in real-time, making quick movements and issuing commands is essential to high-level play.
HOW POPULAR IS STARCRAFT II IN THE WORLD OF E-SPORTS?
When StarCraft II was first released in 2010, it already had an established competitive gaming player base and fan-base thanks to its predecessor, StarCraft: Brood Wars. This gave it a huge edge over other games on the market then. Millions of people tuned in via live-streaming websites and television to watch professionally paid players compete against each other in South Korea, where the game and franchise are the most popular. Eventually, North America and the rest of the world followed suit when Blizzard, the game’s developer (WCS), established the StarCraft II World Championship Series. Although the transition period took longer than anticipated, and Brood Wars may still be just as popular, if not more so today (esports leagues for the 1998 title have recently begun to spring up again after a few years of absence), StarCraft II and its expansions – SC II: Heart of the Swarm and SC II: Legacy of the Void – continued to be played at high levels all over the world.
In recent years, the introduction and subsequent dominance of the Massive Online Battle Arena (MOBA) genre have been the primary reason for SC II’s declining visibility in mainstream esports. Other factors, such as the fights over broadcasting rights with South Korean esports associations, have also contributed to this phenomenon.
MOBAs debuted with games like League of Legends and Dota 2, now titans of the esports industry. These games are just as fast-paced and tactical as SC2. Still, substantially more players and teams are involved, and the financial commitment from sponsors and esports organizers is significantly bigger. They have also connected with younger fans, unlike StarCraft II, which continues to be most popular with older players acquainted with the original game from 1998. It is expanding the LAN community but may be less involved in it in the esports environment of the modern day.
The broadcasting rights dramas in South Korea in 2012 have had an impact that is still being felt today. The Korean e-Sports Players Association (KeSPA), which had broadcast and pushed StarCraft-related esports events for over a decade, was unwilling to cooperate with Blizzard Entertainment (the game’s creator) in sharing the profits from airing competitive StarCraft-related competitive games. This resulted in KeSPA’s inability to legally broadcast any of Blizzard’s intellectual property without paying royalties. Blizzard would later develop cooperation with rival South Korean television stations and esports organizations GomTV, MBC Television, Ongamenet, and Starleague. However, KeSPA’s defeat decreased viewership and professional play in the area.
The StarCraft II World Championship Series (WCS) is the primary esports tournament for Blizzard’s game, and it regularly offers prize pools of more than US $150,000. This is significantly lower than the prize pools of one million dollars provided at other comparable world-stage esports competitions, such as The International for Dota 2. While the competitive environment is not quite as absurdly profitable for professional players, it is still entertaining to watch. The leading esports betting sites still give markets on all major SC II tournaments in 2023.
WHERE TO PLAY AND BET ON STARCRAFT II WITH THE BEST SITES
You may place bets on StarCraft II at a few of the legal sports betting sites in the world, many of which have their esports wagering sections devoted only to video games. Since SC2 and StarCraft: Brood War is still very popular in the competitive gaming circuits of North America and South Korea, you can place bets on your favorite professional players throughout the year at the best esports betting sites that have been reviewed. These sites also offer excellent odds. Check out our evaluations to see whether sportsbooks are authorized to serve customers who are residents of your country and are interested in placing bets on eSports. Several of the betting sites we suggest welcome customers from around the globe.
Since real-time tactical action in StarCraft II moves at a breakneck speed before making a wager with real money, it is highly recommended that you brush up on your understanding of the game’s numerous techniques and regulations. This will give you peace of mind and the greatest possible opportunity to select the correct winner. You’ll be happy to know that StarCraft II esports betting instructions are ready and waiting for you right here whenever you need them.
Nevertheless, before you place a wager on StarCraft II, you should first go through our advice for newcomers to betting on esports. We know that many esports fans need to place bets regularly on sporting events. As a result, you may need to become more familiar with the fundamental processes and terminology associated with betting. Because of this, we have taken the time to thoroughly cover these topics in this guide so that you are well-informed and well-prepared before placing your hard-earned money on the line.
WHAT TYPES OF BETS ARE AVAILABLE TO PLAY IN STARCRAFT II ESPORTS?
The overwhelming majority of the esports betting sites we have evaluated and tested offer betting markets on major StarCraft II tournaments such as the StarCraft II World Championship Series (WCS), the StarCraft II Corsair Cup, the StarCraft Star League, and the SC2 World Championship Global Finals. It is unnecessary to have an in-depth understanding of every possible result of the typical high-level StarCraft II matchup to comprehend the majority of the bet kinds offered by online sportsbooks and place a wager on one of the games.
In the following, we will discuss the many sorts of wagers available to be placed on SC2 esports, taking into account the various markets made accessible by the esports betting sites that have received the highest ratings from our experts.
Winner of the Match: You are placing a wager on the Winner of the match, which will determine which team can effectively demolish the opposing team’s base and win the game. The name of the base changes depending on which faction the player chooses to side with; it might be a Command Center (Terrans), a Nexus (Protoss), or a Hatchery (Zerg). While the term “Match Winner” is the one most often used to refer to this sort of wager, other names for it include “Money Line,” “Straight,” and “Head to Head.” The terminology used to describe this form of wager varies depending on which sportsbook you patronize. The odds provided on Match Winner bets represent each player’s perceived ability level. They are often based on their most recent win/loss records, performance, and other possible personal dramas.
You are making a wager on the person you believe will emerge victorious in each map played throughout the SC2 match.
Correct Map Score: You are putting a wager on the final scoreline of the SC2 matchup, and the correct map score is the focus of your wager. You may, for instance, bet on whether your preferred player will win by a score of 3-0 in an easy triumph or win by a score of 3-2 after a hard-earned struggle with the opponent, with odds that reflect how the sportsbook thinks the match will go in favor of one player or the other.
Outright Winner: When you place a wager on the Outright Winner of a StarCraft II event, you are not betting on who will win a single match inside the tournament but on who will come out on top of the competition as a whole.
