Everything to Know About eSports Betting: Terminology

With the esports jargon library being vast, it pays to spend time learning the lingo before placing your first bet. Understanding esports terminology is easier than it looks — and it can give you a serious betting edge. This comprehensive guide unpacks the most common esports terms, from MOBA and FPS gaming jargon to key betting vocabulary, helping both new and seasoned bettors grasp the language of competitive gaming.

Esports & competitive gaming jargon

• Esports: Competitive video gaming played at a professional level. Some of the most popular titles include CS: GO (Counter-Strike: Global Offensive), League of Legends (LoL), and Dota 2 (Defense of the Ancients 2).
• Zoning: Forcing opponents to leave an area through aggression, gaining a tactical advantage by controlling safer zones.
• Assist: Damaging an opponent before a teammate finishes them off — earning partial credit for the kill.
• Backdoor: Sneaking behind enemies to surprise them while their focus is elsewhere.
• Bots: Computer-controlled players that allow humans to practice before real matches.
• Random Number Generator (RNG): A system that introduces randomness in outcomes, influencing results in games like Hearthstone.
• Camp: Staying in a strategic area to collect kills or resources while limiting the opponent’s movement.
• Combo: A chained attack sequence that prevents the opponent from reacting or escaping.
• Circuit: The annual series of esports events — for instance, Dota 2’s competitive circuit includes Minors, Majors, and The International.
• Carry: A player who performs exceptionally well, leading their team to victory despite overall poor team performance.
• Buff: Any effect or ability that increases a character’s strength or stats.
• Deny: Blocking an opponent’s attempt to gain an advantage — such as stealing a powerup before they can.
• Betting Edge: The strategic advantage a bettor gains through studying games, player stats, or exploiting bookmaker margins.
• Bait: Acting weak to lure an opponent into a trap.
• KDA Ratio: A player’s Kills, Deaths, and Assists — a key performance metric.
• Noob: A newcomer or inexperienced player learning the ropes of a game.
• Gank: Coordinated attack by multiple players against a single opponent — often seen in MOBAs.
• Glass Cannon: A character with high damage output but low defense, effective yet vulnerable.
• Developer: The company behind a game — for example, Valve for CS: GO or Riot Games for League of Legends.
• Objective: Strategic in-game targets such as towers, buffs, or bosses that provide an advantage.
• Kiting: Attacking while retreating to maintain safe distance from the opponent.
• Babysit: Helping a weaker teammate grow stronger by frequent support or protection.
• Jungling: Gaining gold and experience from neutral monsters instead of direct player combat — essential in MOBA games.
• Build: The collection of items and upgrades chosen for a character to optimize performance.
• Clan: A group of players who regularly team up in multiplayer games.
• Coach: A strategist responsible for improving a team’s tactics, analyzing opponents, and guiding players.
• Poke: Inflicting small, consistent damage from a safe range until the opponent weakens.

MOBA games terminology

While many MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) games are available today (as of 2022), Dota 2 and League of Legends are undoubtedly the most popular and most played in this genre. Thus, it pays to look at these two.

• MOBA games like League of Legends, Dota 2, and Heroes of the Storm dominate the esports landscape and betting markets. Understanding their jargon is essential for successful wagering.
• Tanky: Characters with strong armor and health, capable of absorbing heavy damage.
• Squishy: Fragile yet high-damage characters (e.g., assassins or marksmen) who must avoid direct combat.
• Feeder: A player who repeatedly dies, inadvertently helping the opposing team gain an advantage.
• AoE (Area of Effect): Skills that affect multiple opponents within a specific area — crucial in crowd control.
• Pushing: Advancing minions or creeps toward the enemy base to destroy objectives like towers or inhibitors.
• DoT (Damage Over Time): Effects that continuously damage an opponent, such as poison or burn.
• Ultimate: The most powerful ability of a character, often a game-changing move.
• Farming: Killing minions or monsters to earn gold and experience.
• First Blood: The first kill of a match, usually granting bonus gold or advantage.
• FF (Forfeit): When a team surrenders mid-match.
• AA (Auto Attack): The character’s basic attack, executed automatically without abilities.

The jargon of FPS games

TGames like CS: GO, Call of Duty (CoD), and Overwatch are central to esports and betting markets. Their terms are essential for bettors analyzing match statistics and prop bets.

• Eco Round: A round where a team saves money after several losses, buying minimal equipment.
• Lit: A player who has taken damage in the current round.
• Molly: A Molotov cocktail or incendiary grenade used to block areas or control movement.
• Kobe: Eliminating an opponent with a long-distance grenade throw.
• Anti-Eco Round: When a well-equipped team faces a low-economy opponent to maximize profit per kill.
• Boosting: Two or more players cooperate to gain higher ground or a tactical map advantage.
• Rotations: Moving between map zones to attack or defend strategically.
• Top Fragger: The player with the most kills or highest points in a match.
• Shot Caller: The in-game leader responsible for tactics, positioning, and communication.
• Nemesis: A recurring opponent who repeatedly defeats the same player.

Key Esports Genres Explained

Understanding different esports types to bet on, which helps bettors identify game mechanics and betting opportunities:

• MMORPG: Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (e.g., World of Warcraft)
• RPG: Role-Playing Game — where players evolve characters through stats and abilities
• TBS: Turn-Based Strategy — tactical, turn-by-turn gameplay like Chess or Civilization
• RTS: Real-Time Strategy — fast-paced strategy titles like StarCraft and Age of Empires
• FPS: First-Person Shooter — action viewed through the player’s perspective (CS: GO, CoD)
• TPS: Third-Person Shooter — camera follows the player externally (Tomb Raider, Resident Evil)
• MOBA: Multiplayer Online Battle Arena — team-based objective play (LoL, Dota 2)
• TCG/CCG: Trading or Collectible Card Games like Hearthstone or Magic: The Gathering

Final Words: Mastering Esports Terminology for Smarter Betting

Mastering esports lingo isn’t just about sounding like a gamer — it’s a way to make more informed betting decisions. Whether you're betting on League of Legends, Valorant, or CS: GO, understanding in-game mechanics and common esports terms will sharpen your analytical edge.

Esports language evolves constantly, and staying updated helps you interpret stats, strategies, and outcomes more accurately. Revisit this esports betting glossary regularly to stay fluent in the ever-changing world of competitive gaming.