Best CS:GO betting strategy & staking method
At the heart of every betting strategy is a solid staking method. A staking method is a set decision on how much you should bet at any given time. Bettors can have different staking methods for different types of bets. You can, for example, choose to set a maximum allowed amount for Special Bets much lower than match-winner bets, or an alternative wager amount when practising live betting.
Each staking method comes with its own risks and rewards. For the best CS:GO betting strategy for those on a strict gambling budget, we don’t recommend using the age-old Martingale system. Instead, the best CS:GO betting strategy employs a percentage-based staking method. This allows bettors to stretch their budget, without the need to make constant deposits.
The percentage-based staking method explained
The percentage-based staking method is also called “proportional staking”. In essence, bettors decide on a percentage of their CS:GO gambling budget to place per bet. For example, if you have a gambling budget of 100 and decide on a 5% bet, your first bet will be 5.
If you lose your first bet, your second bet will be 5% of the remaining budget. The more you lose, the smaller your bets become. If you win, however, your bets increase. For example, if you go up to 200, your next 5% bet will be 10 in your currency. The percentage-based staking method allows bettors to continue playing with their original budget for quite some time, even if they lose.
The percentage-based staking method is one of the best CS:GO betting strategy options to use. Bettors should, however, always use what works best for them. An alternative is the fixed staking method, where bettors limit the amount of currency they bet on a CS:GO match. Basically, you allow yourself to only bet, for example, 10 of your currency at a time. Mixing and matching staking methods for different types of bets have shown great promise and should be considered when figuring out the best CS:GO betting strategy for you.
Don’t forget to check out our guide on Promo Codes to further bolster your budget.
Best CS:GO betting strategy tips on a budget

Armed with the knowledge of which CS:GO betting strategy and staking method is best for those on a budget, it is time for some tips. Let’s kick things off with the most important tip we can ever give you, something which all bettors should employ.
Do CS:GO esports research
Simply “rushing B”, which means just going for a bet without any consideration, isn’t ideal. Most successful bettors will tell you that research, above anything else, is the key to potentially making a profit. It doesn’t matter if you use the best CS:GO betting strategy and staking method…if you don’t know which bets to place.
At HLTV, we’ve got you covered in terms of research, with dedicated pages for tournaments, team rankings, stats, match histories, results and more. With these resources, in combination with our detailed betting analytics as well as the odds comparison section, the sky’s the limit.
Steer clear of emotional decisions
One of the biggest traps bettors fall into is getting emotional, and consequently, making poor decisions. As one of our top tips for any CS:GO betting strategy, it is important to stay calm, and walk away when you feel an emotional decision coming on. Winners know when to stop, after all!
Making rash decisions or trying to win back all your losses with one huge bet is the downfall of many bettors. Some odds can look amazing, tempting bettors into an all-or-nothing decision. Keep in mind, however, that odds represent a bookmaker‘s confidence in an outcome occurring, so there are multiple good reasons for odds being high on a specific bet.
Stay up-to-date with CS:GO esports
As the home of competitive Counter-Strike, HLTV is undoubtedly the place to be for the latest CS:GO esports news. To make the most out of your budget and effectively employ the best CS:GO betting strategy, we suggest bettors stay up-to-date with the latest esports news.
Always check our front page for the current affairs in the world of CS:GO esports which could give you an edge. For example, if a team recently swapped out a player, or brought in a new coach. This could affect their chances of winning their next match, even if the betting site odds look great. Bettors can also go the extra mile by following individual players, casters and more on social media, thereby acquiring knowledge of the teams they plan to bet on.
Get familiar with odds

Not understanding how odds provided by bookmakers work can be the downfall of many newbie bettors. You simply can’t employ any effective staking method or best CS:GO betting strategy without understanding how odds work. Check out a quick rundown of how the Decimal Odds system works.
Team A has 1.5 odds, while Team B has 2.5 odds. If you bet 10 on team A, you will get back 15 if they win, effectively earning 5 profit. However, if you bet on team B, you will get back 25, effectively earning 15 in the process. The simple mathematical equation for decimal odds is: Bet x Odds = Payout.
For more in-depth explanations about CS:GO betting odds, as well as complicated topics such as implied probability, visit our Odds Comparison section.
Best CS:GO betting strategy not working?
While the percentage-based CS:GO betting strategy might be the best for many bettors, not everyone will agree. If a specific strategy isn’t working for you, try mixing things up. There are no hard and fast rules on how to use your gambling budget. With that in mind, check out our guide to multiple CS:GO betting strategies and staking methods to find the one best suited to your needs.
Please note that the information below is general. We will never tell you exactly how to bet, or which teams you should place wagers on. We do not guarantee success with these tips. HLTV is not responsible for any losses incurred. Odds examples are fictional. It is up to the bettor to check the odds provided by their bookmaker of choice.
Best sites to use CS:GO betting strategies

Now that our readers know which CS:GO betting strategy and staking method is best to stretch out their gambling budget, and have some must-know tips under their belt, the next step is taking action. This is where the best bookmakers (betting sites) come into play. The bookmakers in the table below allow you the freedom to place bets with any staking method you choose to employ in your overall CS:GO betting strategy.
In our expert reviews, we take all important details on what makes a bookmaker great into consideration. Check out the best bookmakers to place your CS:GO bets below.
For more information on the top bookmakers to use for all your CS:GO esports betting needs, check out our dedicated bookmaker section. This section includes in-depth, expert reviews, must-known details, and everything else you might need.
More about CS:GO Betting
At HLTV we have a massive, ever-growing betting section filled to the brim with guides and important information. You can head on over to the bookmakers’ page to get detailed information on all the best bookmakers. There’s also our Odds Comparison to take advantage of, offering multiple opportunities for bettors. If you are looking to get an advantage, then head on over to our Promo Codes guide to potentially bolster your gambling budget.
Furthermore, our full guides section will answer every question both beginners and advanced bettors might have. Our Analytics Section is also filled to the brim with CS:GO betting information for you to digest. This important section could give bettors the edge when using the best CS:GO betting strategy.
Please remember full T&Cs apply – you must be 18+ to play.
Practice Responsible Gambling
Learn more about practising responsible CS:GO gambling and take the Gamalyze is a self-assessment test. Further, you can check out our articles focusing on how gambling addiction can develop, time management and money management.
- Time management and responsible gambling – This guide focuses on time management essentials while practising responsible CS:GO esports gambling.
- Money management tips for gambling – In this article, various methods that can be applied to prevent problem gambling will be presented. The methods presented in this article are related to “money management”.
- HLTV supports responsible gambling – Learn about responsible gambling, how gambling addiction could occur, the causes and stages of development.
Always practice responsible gambling. You must be 18+ to play.