FIFA esports betting: How it differs from football betting

The FIFA game is the perfect bridge between real-world football and gaming. The game has been a classic for many years, drawing in a wide range of players from casuals to professionals. In this guide, we’ll look at the how different FIFA esports betting is from real-world football betting; and it’s crucial that you understand how to adapt your strategy for both!

FIFA esports betting is when you wager on matches played in the FIFA video game series. FIFA is the official football video game, featuring official teams, leagues, and countries from around the world. Professional esports players control the teams and have complete control over each player, the team lineups, and the strategy.

Some of the most popular FIFA tournaments and competitions are EA Sports FC (formerly FIFA Global Series), eChampions League, ePremier League, and the FIFAe Nations Cup. Each of these takes on a different league and format. For example, the ePremier League (and similarly the VBL, eLigue1, eMLS, etc.) follow the official leagues in terms of the clubs and player rosters.

The seasons typically run from October until August. The season usually starts shortly after the new game is launched, so the season kick-off can vary depending on the game’s release date. Players will earn points throughout the season to qualify for events such as the FC Pro Playoffs from January until March. Regional playoffs usually kick off around April, which is also when FIFA betting becomes more and more active. The season ends with the World Championships between June and August, featuring larger events and tournaments.

As for the types of bets you can place in FIFA esports,  you can choose from a range of options offered by esports betting sites such as match winner, total goals, first to score, both players to score, tournament winners, and group-stage progression

Traditional football betting involves wagering on live, physical matches featuring real teams and athletes. Bookies offer hundreds of different markets, including the ones we explored above in esports betting. But you can even go further with traditional betting and bet on individual players, such as which player will get the first yellow card, if a player will score a header, or if a team will score in injury time.

The football season normally kicks off in August, with leagues such as the Premier League, La Liga, and Bundesliga concluding until May. In between, clubs will also qualify for local and international tournaments such as the Carabao Cup in the UK, the Copa del Rey in Spain, and the coveted Champions League, which covers all European clubs.

There are some key differences between sports football vs real football betting to keep in mind.These factors will impact your strategy and influence the level of risk you’re willing to take on.

In traditional football, club tactics and squad strength matter. There are 11 individuals on the pitch with one manager leading the charge. In FIFA, though, there’s one player who controls everything; their skill and preferred tactics dominate. The squad lineups, the strategy, and the flow of the game are in the hands of the professional behind the controller. 

Pro FIFA players’ in-game decision-making makes the difference, and that’s something to consider. As a better, you need to analyze each player’s strengths and weaknesses, plus their style of play to understand how they’ll match up against their competition. You need to focus less on which team is being used and more on who is controlling them. Team stats are less important than the player’s ability.

Each new version of the game (for example, from FIFA 23 to EA FC 24) brings new mechanics into play. Whether it’s new ball physics, a difference in dribbling mechanics, or an entirely overhauled free kick system, these updates can make or break a player. 

A player who may have been dominant in FIFA 23 might struggle on EA FC 24 because of seemingly small changes. But it can go beyond that. Even small patches within the same edition of the game can nerf dominant tactics or overused formations, and players are then forced to adapt their game.

When you bet on FIFA matches, you need to make sure to keep up with the latest updates and game patches and analyze how they’re affecting players. Maybe an underdog suddenly becomes a favorite, or someone who never scores free kicks becomes unstoppable. As a bettor, you need to adapt to the professionals to make informed bets.

FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT) mode is one of the most commonly used game modes for esports tournaments. In FUT, players can build custom squads using cards they unlock, earn, or buy with in-game currency. 

The team’s overall rating is based on the rating of the players, their rarity, and their chemistry (having the same nationality, playing in the same team, or the same league all count for positive chemistry). Limited edition cards are also released (such as the Team of the Year player cards). These rules result in a vast variety of squads that can change from one week to the next.

A well-built squad can give even an average player a huge advantage over the competition. As a bettor, you need to stay on top of the latest team news, the current in-game card pool, and squad-building rules to get the edge in your strategy.

FIFA matches are quick. The time is sped up, which makes the matches incredibly fast-paced and action-packed. This makes FIFA perfect for live betting, but you need to be on top of your game because the momentum can swing fast.

Before you start betting, watch a couple of live streams to get a feel for the matches. The goal here is to first understand the game and how to pinpoint different strategies, plays, and key factors in a match. When you’re doing live betting, make sure to focus on the game and keep an eye on the odds as they update in real time.

FIFA esports is a fast-paced and highly volatile game for esports betting. While it can be very rewarding, it can also be disastrous if you make impulsive bets! Therefore, observe responsible gambling practices and always be disciplined with your esports betting.