How to Bet on Video Game Awards

Video game awards shows like The Game Awards and the BAFTAs are becoming increasingly popular, giving gamers a chance to celebrate their favorite titles and developers from the past year. For those who want to add an extra layer of excitement, betting on the upcoming winners can make these events even more engaging.

At last year’s Game Awards, Larian Studio’s RPG epic Baldur’s Gate 3 took home the coveted Game of the Year award, beating out tough competition from Remedy’s Alan Wake 2 and Insomniac’s Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Over at the BAFTAs, Baldur’s Gate 3 also claimed Best Game against nominees like Nintendo’s tear-jerking The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

As awards season kicks off again this year, new contenders will be looking to follow in the footsteps of these big winners. Here’s a guide on how to bet on some of the major video game awards and make your predictions on which new games will take home gold in 2024.

The Basics of Betting on Video Game Awards

Most sportsbooks and betting sites now offer odds on the major video game awards like Game of the Year and best esports game. The basics of betting on these awards is similar to betting on other major entertainment events like the Oscars:

• Study the Nominees:The first step is to look at that year’s list of nominees in each category. These are usually announced weeks or months prior to the award show. Familiarize yourself with the games, taking into account reviews, popularity, and other factors.
• Examine Odds and Lines:Legal sportsbooks will provide betting odds for each category, with one game installed as the favorite to win and others as underdogs. The odds will reflect the sportsbook’s prediction of each game’s chances.
• Choose Bets:With the odds and nominees in mind, you can choose how much to wager on the favorites or take a chance on underdogs. Bets can be placed on individual categories or for Game of the Year.
• Watch the Show:Tune into the award show to watch the presentations and see if your bets pay off! These events are star-studded spectacles even without wagers.
• Collect Winnings:If your bets win, collect your payouts from the sportsbook. Enjoy the rewards of your gaming knowledge and predictions!

Key Factors to Consider

When deciding which games to bet on for each award, there are a few key factors to keep in mind:

Reviews and Reception

One of the best predictors of awards success is critical reviews and ratings. Games with a MetaCritic score over 90 or a huge amount of perfect 10/10 reviews tend to fare very well at awards shows. You’ll almost always see these contenders with short betting odds.

Hype and Popularity

Major fan-favorite franchises or long-awaited titles also get a boost, even if reviews are slightly less glowing. The Game Awards has a public fan vote that counts for 10%, so games with big hype often outperform.

Genre and Style

Certain genres tend to do better in mainstream awards than others. Big budget action, adventure, or RPG games are favorites. Competitive esports and niche genres rarely take top prizes.

Previous Years’ Trends

Looking at past winners can reveal voter tendencies. Indie darlings rarely beat big studios for Game of the Year. Established franchises like Zelda and God of War are awards magnets.

Where to Bet on Video Game Awards

In most places where sports betting is legal, you can now find odds on events like The Game Awards at major online sportsbooks and betting sites. Top options include:

• Leading sportsbooks with competitive odds on gaming awards and lots of profitable bonus offers for new users.
• Sports betting sites with a wide selection of video game award lines for each show and futures odds.
• Popular sportsbooks with strong betting apps and lots of live odds during the events.
• Unique sports betting platforms where styles like points wagering work well for awards shows.

You can also find odds at regulated in-person sportsbooks in cities where gaming is legal. Always bet with trusted regulated sites for security and legal operations.

Types of Video Game Award Bets

Beyond just picking winners in major categories, there are a variety of bet types to choose from:

• Individual Category Bets– Wager on Game of the Year, Esports Game of the Year, Best Narrative, etc.
• Parlays– Combine bets from multiple categories into one ticket for bigger payouts.
• Over/Unders– Bet on things like “over 3.5 awards for (Game)” based on totals.
• Prop Bets– Fun novelty bets like “Which game will be announced first?”
• Futures– Place bets long in advance on winners before nominees are even known.

Betting Tips and Strategies

Use these tips to make the smartest bets on video game awards:

• Fade public hype in favor of reviews. Gamers get attached to games but critics are more objective.
• Look for recent precedent. Awards love to reward the same developers and franchises repeatedly.
• Don’t bet against Nintendo for family game awards. It’s free money.
• Carefully predict announcers and presenters for prop bets based on connections to nominees.
• Hedge your bets across multiple likely winners in big categories to limit risk.

Key Events to Bet On

The two biggest video game awards shows to bet on annually are:

The Game Awards

Held each December, The Game Awards is like the Oscars of gaming. Betting categories include:

• Game of the Year
• Best Narrative
• Best Performance
• Best Esports Game

With around 30 total award categories, there are lots of betting opportunities.

BAFTA Game Awards

The British Academy Games Awards occur each April with fewer categories than The Game Awards but equally prestigious nominees. Key betting categories are:

• Best Game
• Best Game Design
• Performer in a Leading Role
• Family Game of the Year

Though smaller than The Game Awards, BAFTAs offer great betting value on elite games.

Have Fun and Bet Responsibly

Video game awards give gamers and bettors alike a fun way to celebrate their passion. But remember to always gamble responsibly. Never bet more than you can afford to lose, and read all terms and conditions from sportsbooks. By balancing knowledge of the industry with smart betting practices, video game award shows can become even more interesting and rewarding events.