Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty was released in 2010, and is the sequel to the hugely popular science fiction Real Time Strategy game Starcraft. SCII has been a popular esport since its release and has made millions for some of its young stars and esports teams.
So how and when can you start online betting on Starcraft II? Well, just browse our top list of online bookies that offer esports and SC2 betting to find yourself a great betting site with:
Competitive Starcraft II is played as a 1v1 game, as two players compete to destroy each other's bases by building structures & armies and competing over resources. The complex interplay between different unit and structure types of the three races (Protoss, Zerg and Terran) creates the strategic depth, as well as the positioning of their bases and units on the map.
Out of all esports, as a 1 versus 1 game, it is legendarily difficult to play at the top level. Players live and die by their ability to micro manage their individual units and production while macro managing their whole army's positioning on the map. Actions Per Minute (or APM) is a key benchmark for Starcraft II players, and some can get up to 300+. It is not clear that there is a linear correlation between higher APM and better play, but,in general, if you can't keep up with your opponent's actions, you will lose.
Online betting on Starcraft II is a staple at most of the major UK online bookies that offer esports betting. This means the bets are varied, the odds are usually a fair reflection of a given player's chances of winning and the user experience is nicely tailored to SC2 punters. So how do you differentiate a supreme choice from the rest of the pack?
Online bookies in the UK have put a lot of effort into ensuring their mobile esports betting facilities are top notch. Whether you're using an Android device or an iPhone, online betting on Starcraft II is a cinch. Since it's mostly comprised of text, Starcraft II betting sites run on just about any smartphone, tablet or other internet enabled mobile device that exists.
As most SCII events are now held in the US or South Korea, different time zones might prevent you from being at a computer in time to place that last minute bet on Neeb to beat Stats in the WCS finals. Well - as long as you have enough data (or a Wi-Fi connection) you can pretty much access your Starcraft II online betting account from anywhere in the UK. StarCraft 2 punters, rejoice!
Esports, in the UK at least, is a relatively new betting phenomenon for online bookies. To that end, they are relentlessly trying to entice new players into this growing market. Although Blizzard's legendary RTS is no longer as popular as it once was, there are still new fans willing to lay down their hard-earned cash on StarCraft 2 online betting - and British online bookmakers are ready to offer great free bets and other promotional offers to attract your custom.
There are few kinds of bonus offers SC2 bettors can get at the top sites, these include:
Free bets are the easiest to understand - a bookmaker will give you your next bet (usually between £10 - £30) for free, after making your first real money bet. Often, these will be on any sports, but they do sometimes offer esports exclusives promotions.
Odds boosts can give you enhanced odds during major tournaments and events, such as the Global Starcraft II League Finals, which can help new bettors make more money on their bets. However, there is often a max bet limit on these boosted odds.
Editors Pick
100%
100% deposit bonus of up to £30
T&Cs Apply
New UK & Ireland customers only. £10. First deposit matched up to £30. 1x wagering at odds of 1.75 to unlock Free Bet. Credit Card, Debit Card & PayPal deposits only. Full Terms apply.
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£30
Bet £10 get £30 when you place your first bet
T&Cs Apply
New customers only – Minimum deposit of £10 using deposit code 30F - A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 placed on any sports market - Minimum odds of 1/2 (1.5) - Free bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days - Free bet stakes not included in returns - Deposit balance is available for withdrawal at any time. General deposit method & withdrawal restrictions apply & Full Terms apply.
Ranking SC2 players objectively is notoriously difficult, and you only have to do a quick web search to see a myriad of heated debates on this topic. To that end, we're going to skirt around this thorny issue entirely and just present the top 3 earners from this long running esport. No surprise - they were all Korean. So, in the interests of parity, we put the highest earning non Korean player in there too.