<p>If you're looking at <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/e-sports">esports odds</a> because you're thinking about betting on League of Legends for the first time, there are a few things you should know before you fill out your slip.</p> <p>The good news is it's actually not as complicated as it looks at first glance. The best way to approach this is to start with the basics (match winners, mostly) before you move onto anything more exotic like first blood or dragon props.</p> <p>The complexity comes from how unpredictable LoL can be. A single Baron steal changes everything and one bad team fight at 35 minutes can throw away a 10k gold lead.</p> <p>Sure, that's part of what makes it interesting to follow, but it also means you can't just back the team with the better record and call it a day.</p> <p>With tournaments running pretty much year-round (Worlds, MSI, regional leagues), there's always something to bet on. And because LoL matches can swing on a single moment, what works in traditional sports betting doesn't always translate to the Rift.</p> <p>In this guide on <strong>how to bet on League of Legends</strong>, we'll cover the main betting markets, explain what actually influences results, and help you make smarter decisions when backing teams on Sportsbet.</p> <h2>How Professional LoL Is Structured</h2> <p>Before getting into LoL betting markets, it helps to understand how the competitive scene works, because format matters when you're placing bets.</p> <p>The LoL ecosystem revolves around regional leagues. The big regions are the <strong>LCK</strong> (Korea), <strong>LPL</strong> (China), <strong>LEC</strong> (Europe), <strong>LCS </strong>(North America), plus a few others like the <strong>PCS </strong>(Pacific) and <strong>VCS</strong> (Vietnam). Each region runs seasonal leagues called splits (Spring and Summer), where teams compete for playoff spots and tickets to international events.</p> <p>The <strong>League of Legends World Championship</strong> (everyone just calls it Worlds) happens every October and November and here is where you find the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/e-sports/lol-world-championship">latest LoL Worlds odds</a>.</p> <p>When it comes to competitive LoL events, this is the big one, with prize pools in the millions, viewership that rivals proper sports finals, and the best teams from every region battling it out.</p> <p><strong>Mid-Season Invitational</strong> (MSI) is the other major international event in May. Shorter than Worlds but just as competitive. Regional champions only.</p> <p>Here's what matters for betting: different regions use different formats. LCK and LPL typically play best-of-three series during the regular season.</p> <p>LCS and LEC often use best-of-one in group stages. This matters because teams used to best-of-three adapt better to playoff formats than teams who've been playing single games all split.</p> <p>Top teams can play over 100 official matches each year between regional play, playoffs, and international tournaments. Loads of data to study, which is great. But patches change the game constantly, so performance from two months ago might be completely irrelevant now.</p> <h3>Regional Playstyles (Why They Matter)</h3> <p>Exactly as we’ve seen in our guide on <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/punter-iq/guide/how-to-bet-on-dota-2">how to bet on Dota 2</a>, different regions develop their own playstyles, and these differences become obvious when teams meet at international events. Understanding this helps you spot value in the odds.</p> <p><strong>Korean teams from the LCK</strong> are known for disciplined macro play and vision control. They win through objective trading and smart rotations rather than constant fighting. If you're betting on LCK teams, expect longer game times and lower kill counts. They're methodical, almost surgical.</p> <p><strong>Chinese LPL squads</strong> are the complete opposite. Aggressive early games with frequent skirmishes. They'll contest every jungle camp and force fights that other regions would avoid. LPL matches often have high kill totals, which matters if you're betting over/under on kills. They play fast and loose, basically.</p> <p><strong>European LEC teams</strong> tend to innovate with unusual picks and creative strategies. Less predictable than Korean teams but they can struggle when their off-meta stuff gets countered. Makes them riskier bets but sometimes more rewarding.</p> <p><strong>North American LCS teams</strong> historically play a more cautious style, focusing on safe scaling compositions. At international events, they've struggled against more aggressive regions. Keep this in mind when betting on NA teams facing LPL or LCK opposition.</p> <p>When these styles clash at Worlds or MSI, upsets happen. An aggressive LPL team might overwhelm methodical Korean macro. Or disciplined vision control might shut down European creativity. Understanding these matchups is where you find value.</p> <h2>Core League of Legends Betting Markets</h2> <p>LoL betting offers a mix of straightforward options and game-specific markets that definitely require deeper knowledge of the game and team mechanics. That’s why starting with the basics is by far the smartest move.</p> <h3>Match Winner (Head-to-Head)</h3> <p>The simplest way to bet on League of Legends is to pick which team wins the match. This is called a head-to-head or match winner bet. When you choose this option, you're just backing one team to come out on top.</p> <p>Most matches are played in series formats (best-of-three or best-of-five), and your bet applies to who wins the overall series, not individual games within it.</p> <p>For example, if you bet on T1 to beat Gen.G in a best-of-three, T1 needs to win two games before Gen.G does. Series goes 2-1 to T1? Your bet wins.</p> <p>When you look at the odds, keep in mind that they reflect recent form, head-to-head records, and roster strength.</p> <p>Match winner bets are the best starting point for beginners since you don't need to understand draft mechanics or champion matchups. You're just picking which team is stronger overall.</p> <h3>Map Handicap (Game Handicap)</h3> <p>Map handicap betting is LoL's version of spread betting som=, Instead of just picking a winner, you're betting on the margin of victory in terms of games won.</p> <p>The handicap is usually set at +1.5 or -1.5 games.</p> <p>Although I am sure most Sportsbet readers will be familiar with this already, let me break it down properly.</p> <p><strong>Backing the favourite at -1.5</strong> means they need to win 2-0 in a best-of-three for your bet to win. If they win 2-1, you lose the bet even though they won the match. The odds here might be around 2.10 or so.</p> <p><strong>Taking the underdog at +1.5</strong> means they can lose the series 2-1 and you still win your bet. They just need to win at least one game in the series. Odds might show as 1.70.</p> <p>This market works well when you think a team will win but you're not confident they'll dominate completely. Some teams are notorious for dropping the first game before adapting and winning the series.</p> <p>In this case, it’s always worth checking each team's recent form in series. Do they often win 2-0, or do they usually drop at least one game? Teams that start slowly might be good value on the +1.5 line even if they're favourites.</p> <h3>First Blood</h3> <p>First blood bets focus on which team gets the first kill of the game. Simple proposition: Team A or Team B to draw first blood.</p> <p>Aggressive teams with strong early-game junglers tend to secure first blood more often, but the correlation between first blood and winning the match sits around 55-60%, depending on the patch and region.</p> <p>LPL teams, known for their aggressive style, secure first blood more frequently than LCK teams and this makes first blood props interesting for specific regional matchups.</p> <p>The odds are usually close to even money (around 1.90 for both teams) unless there's a clear early-game advantage for one side based on draft or recent form.</p> <p>Keep in mind that first blood bets settle quickly, usually within the first 5-10 minutes of the game, which is why they're popular for live betting during the early laning phase.</p> <h3>Total Kills (Over/Under)</h3> <p>Over/under betting on total kills looks at the combined kills for both teams in a single game, so this sees you picking whether the game will be high or low scoring.</p> <p>The line typically ranges from 20.5 to 30.5 total kills, depending on the teams involved and the current meta. If the line is set at 25.5 and you bet over, you need at least 26 combined kills for your bet to win.</p> <p>Game pace and team composition heavily influence kill total: if both teams draft late-game scaling compositions, expect fewer early fights and potentially lower kill counts.</p> <p>The opposite is true as well, so, when teams draft for early aggression with champions like Lee Sin or Nidalee in the jungle, kill totals tend to spike.</p> <h3>First Tower and First Dragon</h3> <p>Objective-focused props like the first tower and first dragon add another dimension to LoL betting.</p> <p><strong>First tower </strong>bets focus on which team destroys the first turret. Teams with strong early-game pressure and good rotations tend to secure the first tower more consistently.</p> <p>First tower creates economic advantages and map control that often translates to wins. The correlation between first tower and match victory is stronger than first blood, sitting around 65-70%. Not a guarantee, but it's meaningful.</p> <p><strong>First dragon</strong> bets center on which team secures the first drake. The type of dragon spawning can influence this. Some teams prioritize certain dragons more than others.</p> <p>Ocean and Infernal drakes typically draw more contest than Cloud dragons, which teams sometimes trade for other objectives. Hextech and Chemtech dragons (when they're in the game) also create different levels of priority.</p> <h3>Match Duration (Over/Under)</h3> <p>Game length betting focuses on how long a match will last, with the line typically set between 30 and 35 minutes.</p> <p>Draft phase largely determines game duration: teams that draft for late-game scaling (champions like Jinx, Azir, or Kassadin) will play for longer games, while early-game compositions aim to close out quickly.</p> <p>The current meta also influences average game times since some patches favor fast-paced, objective-focused play that shortens games, while others promote scaling compositions that extend match duration.</p> <h2>What (Actually) Influences LoL Results</h2> <p>Understanding what shapes match outcomes helps you make better betting decisions, especially since LoL has many unique factors that can completely change how a match unfolds. Betting without being aware of them could significantly lower your chances of making the right picks.</p> <h3>Draft Phase and Champion Pool</h3> <p>The draft phase (or pick/ban phase) happens before each game and can determine the winner before minions even spawn.</p> <p>Teams ban five champions each, then alternate picking their five champions - and this creates strategic depth where teams can target specific players by banning their signature champions or deny strong meta picks.</p> <p><strong>Champion pool</strong> refers to how many champions each player can perform at a high level. Teams with deeper champion pools are harder to draft against because you can't simply ban out their best options.</p> <p>Watch for one-trick players or teams that rely heavily on specific strategies: if a team's star player gets their best champions banned, the odds might not reflect how much weaker they become.&nbsp; So yes, this is where value appears.</p> <p>Some teams are known for innovative drafts that catch opponents off guard, like the G2 Esports from Europe, as they&nbsp; have historically surprised opponents with unusual picks. This unpredictability can create value betting opportunities, or massive headaches if you bet against them.</p> <h3>Patch Timing and Meta Shifts</h3> <p>Riot Games releases patches regularly, and these updates can completely reshape which champions and strategies are strongest. I have mentioned this quite a few times already, because I think this is massive for betting on Lol.</p> <p>Major tournaments sometimes use patches that are different from what teams have been practicing on in regional leagues - and this is an element that can spice things up nicely, especially in the first week of international events when teams are still figuring out the new meta.</p> <p>Teams that adapt quickly to patches tend to outperform expectations early in tournaments, so do keep an eye out for teams with flexible players and good coaching staffs. They'll adjust faster than teams that rely on one specific style.</p> <h3>Player Form and Role Impact</h3> <p>Individual player performance matters enormously in LoL, but not all roles impact matches equally.</p> <p><strong>Mid laners and junglers</strong> typically have the most influence on early and mid-game outcomes. Strong mid-jungle synergy creates map pressure that snowballs into victories. Watch these roles especially.</p> <p>Understandably, keep an eye on players who are on hot streaks or struggling with form: a mid laner who's been solo-killed multiple times recently might struggle against top opponents, regardless of their team's overall strength.</p> <p><strong>ADC players</strong> become more important in late-game scenarios. Teams with elite ADCs like Gumayusi or Viper have better chances of winning if matches reach 30+ minutes. They're the insurance policy for late game.</p> <p><strong>Support players</strong> create vision control and engage opportunities. Elite supports like Keria or Meiko elevate their teams' macro play significantly. Underrated role for betting purposes.</p> <h2>Building Your LoL Betting Approach</h2> <p>Instead of trying to bet on every match, focus on regions or teams you understand well. This is a great way to start with League of Legend betting, since specializing helps you spot value that casual bettors might miss.</p> <p>Start with straightforward match winner bets before exploring props and, if you want to start learning things more effectively try to track your own predictions without staking money first to identify blind spots and improve your judgment. Nobody gets it right immediately and this way of practicing with virtual free bets will help.</p> <p>Pay attention to roster changes and substitutions. LoL teams often use substitute players, and a team missing their star mid laner performs completely differently than at full strength.&nbsp;</p> <p>Like you would do in any other sports, always check starting lineups before placing bets.</p> <p>The goal isn't perfect predictions (which are impossible in esports), but informed decisions based on solid research and understanding of how the game actually works.</p> <p>Look, LoL is unpredictable. One Baron steal, a single team fight, or a misplay at 40 minutes can flip a result. Even analysts and former pros get plenty of calls wrong. But understanding the basics puts you ahead of casual punters who just back the team with the cooler logo.</p>