What “prop” and in-play esports bets actually mean
Proposition (“prop”) bets price specific in-game events that aren’t only the final match result—think First Blood, first tower, total rounds on a map, or which team wins the next pistol. They sit alongside traditional markets like moneyline or map winner.
In-play betting lets you place these props as a match unfolds. Operators can suspend or void markets if data feeds or timing conditions fail, so always read house rules before you rely on cash-out or late entries.
The core formats behind today’s most popular markets
CS2: MR12 made live markets faster
Counter-Strike 2 switched to 12 rounds per half (MR12), first to 13 in regulation, with a six-round overtime if tied—shortening matches and changing pricing for totals and handicaps.
Live CS2 books commonly offer total rounds by map, first-half team totals, winning margin on a map, odd/even rounds, and even “next round winner”—all strongly tied to economy and map veto.
VALORANT: First to 13 and win-by-two OT
Standard VALORANT play is first to 13 rounds; when ranked matches reach 12-12, overtime proceeds in alternating attack/defense sets and must be won by two, with a sudden-death cap in Premier. These rules heavily affect totals, round handicaps, and pistol props.
League of Legends: Objective props drive a lot of action
Objective markets like First Blood, next dragon, next Baron, or next tower are settled via the official broadcast or API where available, not chat or community stats. That settlement standard matters when kills or structures are ambiguous. For Baron context, Riot’s site explains what the objective does for the team that secures it.
Dota 2: Roshan and the Aegis anchor objective markets
Books routinely price “team to slay next Roshan” or “first Aegis picked up.” Official rules pages specify how those are settled, while community encyclopedias explain why the Aegis is so pivotal during pushes.
How the popular prop markets work (by title)
Counter-Strike 2 (CS2)
- Total rounds (map): Over/Under lines like 19.5 or 21.5. MR12 concentrates outcomes, so small momentum swings and save decisions can flip totals late.
- First-half team total: Over/Under on a side before the swap; combine with T/CT tendencies on the current map.
- Winning margin (map) and round handicaps: Pricing a team “by 4” or a −3.5 style cap depends on pace and economy health.
- Next round / pistol props: Micro-markets where economy, utility saved, and spawn-side matter most; variance is high.
Practical read: watch vetoes and side splits before committing to live lines—books call this out explicitly for CS2.
VALORANT
- Total rounds and round handicaps: First to 13 with two-round OT sets shifts pricing around 12-10/12-11 states.
- Pistol rounds: Affect economy snowball; pairs well with next-round markets.
- OT “win by two”: If a book offers “overtime yes/no,” remember ranked OT can extend substantially; in some formats a sudden-death cap exists.
League of Legends (LoL)
- First Blood: Team to secure the first champion kill; settlement follows broadcast/API definitions.
- Next dragon / next Baron / next tower: Tempo props that track objective control rather than pure kills. Baron’s teamwide buff makes comeback and push timing key.
Dota 2
- First Roshan / First Aegis: Who slays Roshan or secures the first Aegis; many books settle based on the team with last hit or the team that picks the Aegis, per market wording. The Aegis grants a second life, explaining why these prices move on draft reveals.
- Time and tower totals: Often appear at majors and in best-of-threes; read each rule’s settlement source.
Converting odds and spotting the margin (vig)
When you convert American, decimal, or fractional odds into implied probabilities, you can compare prices across books and judge the edge after removing the overround (bookmaker margin). Use a reputable calculator to check conversions and margin.
Quick example: If a map Over 21.5 is +115 and the Under is −135, convert both to implied probability, then normalize by the summed total to estimate the vig before deciding whether to bet or pass.
Settlement rules and live-betting mechanics you should know
- Official data source wins disputes. For kills, towers, Baron, or Roshan markets, operators commonly use the publisher’s broadcast or game API for settlement.
- Markets can be suspended or voided. In-play rules allow books to suspend markets at key moments or void if an error occurs; don’t assume you can always cash out mid-round.
Title-by-title micro-strategy in live markets
- CS2: Track buy/saves and utility; round-by-round bets are swingy, but map-level totals and winning-margin props can be mispriced after pistol streaks or side swaps. Veto knowledge is a real edge.
- VALORANT: Expect pricing inflection around 11-11 or 12-10. Because sets must be won by two in OT, some totals lines that look “done” can still be live.
- LoL: First Blood is noisy; objective props like next dragon or Baron can be more predictive when you factor comp scaling and vision control—rules clarify what counts.
- Dota 2: Drafts with Rosh-secure kits (e.g., minus armor, sustain) move First Roshan odds; remember why Aegis swings pushes and high-ground attempts.
Responsible and compliant betting
Only bet with licensed operators in your jurisdiction and confirm licence status on a public register (for example, the UK Gambling Commission’s searchable register). Set deposit/time limits, and avoid chasing losses—especially in fast in-play markets.
FAQs
What does MR12 mean in CS2 and why do totals feel lower than before?
It’s 12 rounds per half and first to 13 in regulation, with a six-round OT. Fewer possible regulation rounds compress totals and shift key numbers.
How does VALORANT overtime affect my totals or “overtime yes/no” bet?
Ranked OT is win-by-two with alternating sides; some formats also include a sudden-death cap. That structure can extend matches and push totals higher than regulation.
For LoL First Blood, which kill actually counts?
Books generally settle using the official broadcast or game API; environmental deaths without an enemy’s contribution may not count as a kill for settlement.
For Dota 2 Roshan props, is it last hit or Aegis pickup?
Read the market text—some settle by the team that last-hits Roshan, others by which team picks up the first Aegis. Operators document this in their esports rules.
