What “crypto” changes—and what it doesn’t
Using BTC/ETH/USDT changes how you fund the account, not how bets are settled. Crypto-first books publish formal betting rules just like fiat books, and settlements follow those house rules and the tournament’s official result. See, for example, Stake’s Sportsbook Rules and Sportsbet.io’s eSports rules pages.
Regulated operators and many crypto books also reference integrity bodies and regulators. ESIC coordinates integrity across events, while the Malta Gaming Authority operates a suspicious betting reporting regime for licensees.
Match pauses and remakes: when do bets stand or void?
Tactical or technical pauses are part of normal match flow and do not void bets by themselves. Where a round or game is restarted (remake/chronobreak), policy differs by book:
- Some books settle based on the final official score and let bets stand through round restarts.
- Others void unsettled markets for the affected map/round and treat the replay as a new entity—common for live “current round” wagers.
- Web3/crypto rule hubs may state: already-settled markets remain valid; unsettled ones are void unless replayed in full.
Practical takeaway: if a round is replayed, pre-match markets usually survive; in-play “current round” bets are often voided and reoffered. Always check your book’s exact language.
Technical losses, admin decisions and walkovers
“Technical loss,” “win by admin decision,” “walkover,” or disqualification rulings are common edge cases. Books handle them with time-based or status-based cutoffs:
- If a win by admin/forfeit is awarded early, books often void all undecided markets for that map/match. If it happens after a time/round threshold, they may settle according to the official result. Crypto examples: Sportsbet.io and Thunderpick.
- Some books void everything if the fixture is completed without play (pure walkover). Crypto example: Cloudbet; fiat example: Pinnacle’s general rule.
If only some maps were completed before a forfeit, many rules say settled markets on those completed maps stand; the rest void.
Postponements and “completion windows”
Books specify a window to finish a postponed or interrupted eSports match. Two common models:
- 24-hour completion window (PokerStars Sports).
- 30-hour completion window (Pinnacle).
If the event does not conclude within the stated window, unsettled markets are typically void—except those already unconditionally determined.
Map winner, handicaps and totals: does overtime count?
This is the single biggest source of confusion, especially in CS2 and Valorant:
- If a market is labeled 3-way (has a Draw option), settlement is regular time only; overtime makes the outcome “Draw.” Crypto example: Stake’s “Map Winner 3-way.”
- If a market is labeled including OT or the book’s rules say OT is included by default for that game, overtime counts for winner/handicap/total. Examples: Bet365 and Bovada/Bodog note OT is included unless the market specifically offers a Draw option.
- PokerStars clarifies: if Map Winner is offered without a draw selection, extra time/overtime is included.
Always read the market name and your book’s global eSports rules before placing sides, spreads or totals.
Game-specific notes you’ll see in crypto books
CS2
Books commonly define halves and disconnection thresholds explicitly (e.g., what happens if a team continues 4v5). Some crypto books void affected markets if a player cannot return and a minimum number of rounds has been played shorthanded.
Many books confirm OT is included for winner/handicap/total unless a Draw option is present.
Some operators publish extra CS2 map markets—overtime yes/no, “Will there be an Ace,” etc.—so read each market’s settlement definition.
Valorant
Rules often specify that Rounds 1–12 are the first half; some books define special void conditions if a team cannot field five players for a minimum number of rounds. Crypto examples: Stake and Thunderpick.
As with CS2, 3-way map markets exclude OT; otherwise, OT is usually included per house rules.
LoL / Dota 2
If a map starts with fewer than the required competitors (e.g., fewer than 10 in Dota 2), the map’s markets are generally void. Some books say completed maps stand even if later maps are forfeited.
Player replacements and roster changes
Some books allow bets to stand if a single starter is replaced but void if two or more change; others only require the team to start the match. Check your operator’s roster policy; Sky Bet documents the “one replacement stands, two voids” pattern for eSports.
Crypto sportsbooks: where to find the rules
Here are live rule pages worth bookmarking:
- Stake Sportsbook Rules (eSports sections for CS2/Valorant, 3-way map winners).
- Sportsbet.io eSports Rules (OT by default unless stated, replay handling, admin/forfeit timing).
- Thunderpick Betting Rules (replays, forfeits, fewer than 10 competitors).
- Cloudbet Rules (walkovers/forfeits void).
For comparison, fiat-first books like Bet365, Betfair, Bovada/Bodog and Pinnacle publish detailed eSports rules that often mirror the crypto books’ approach on OT, map count changes and voids.
Integrity and dispute basics
If you suspect a compromised match, ESIC offers an anonymous reporting channel; several regulators and law-enforcement bodies receive ESIC alerts. The MGA also runs a Suspicious Betting Reporting framework for licensees.
Operator house rules typically allow voiding when there is a material integrity issue or a technical error in market creation or data feeds; see general provisions from major books.
Quick checklist before you bet a crypto eSports market
- Confirm whether the market includes overtime or is a 3-way (regular-time only) market.
- Check replay/remake handling for rounds and maps—especially for in-play “current round” bets.
- Note forfeit/admin-decision timing rules (early = often void; later = settle to official result).
- Verify completion windows for postponements (e.g., 24h or 30h).
- For multi-map series, remember that changes to the statutory number of maps can void certain markets even if Match Winner stands, depending on the book.
FAQs
Do pauses ever void my bets?
No—pauses themselves are part of normal play. What matters is whether a round/map is restarted or a match is awarded by admin decision. Different books either let bets stand to the official score or void unsettled markets and reoffer the replay.
Are map totals/handicaps settled with overtime?
Usually yes, unless your market is explicitly 3-way or labeled “regular time.” Bet365, Bovada/Bodog and PokerStars clarify how OT applies; Stake’s 3-way map winners exclude OT by design.
What happens if the match format changes (e.g., Bo3 → Bo1)?
Books typically void markets tied to the original format while letting already-determined markets stand. Some crypto rule hubs and provincial sportsbooks document this explicitly.
Do crypto sportsbooks settle differently from fiat ones?
No. Settlement follows the book’s posted rules and the event’s official result. The “crypto” part is the cashier, not the settlement logic. See Stake, Sportsbet.io and Thunderpick rule pages.
