System bets are a mix of singles and combinations bets that allow players to bet on multiple outcomes and win even if not all the selections are correct. The system bet removes the “all or nothing” approach of the combination but it increases the total number of wagers you have to place by grouping selections into “systems”. System bets become available on the bet slip once a minimum selection of three wagers has been made.
To help you better understand a system bet and the strategies behind we came up with an example for a 2 / 3 system bet. This type of system bet is a favourite among bettors as it allows you to make three wagers but still win even if only two of your three predictions come true.
Let’s imagine an esport tournament where Astralis (odds 3.5), FaZe (odds 2.6) and Fnatic (odds 2.8) are all considered favourites so you place a €1 Winner Bet on each for a total bet of €3. In a 2/3 system the following combinations of doubles will come up:
Let’s say the matches unfold and Astralis loses their match but Fnatic and FaZe win. This means that out of the three pairs of doubles shown above only the last one is correct but we still win because 2 of our 3 chosen teams won.
To calculate your winnings simply multiply your wager with the odds of the winning teams. In our case this will be: 1 x 2.6 x 2.8 = €7.28. If we deduct our initial €3 wager we made a profit of €4.28.
How is this more advantageous for you? Well let’s take the exact same matches, teams and odds but this time, instead of placing a system bet you went and played it as singles. With the same outcome and the same initial wagers the situation would look like this:
Your payouts in this situation will be (1 x 2.6) + (1 x 2.8) = €5.4. That means a profit of only €2.4 above your initial €3 wager.
Why would anyone choose singles over system then, you might ask? Well, the answer is pretty straightforward and it has to do with math. System bets such as the one above work well in association with high or very high odds. Don’t believe us? Try to replicate the examples above with the following odds: Astralis (odds 1.5), FaZe (odds 1.6) and Fnatic (odds 1.8).
If you’re concerned about how complicated system bets appear you’ll be happy to know that today, all esports bookmakers have automated most of the processes and math behind your bets. The bet slip itself will calculate your potential returns for each type of bet be it Singles, Combination or System. All you have to do is select the systems and decide on a wager.
And because all this math made things boring, bookies decided at one point to come up with some fancy names for all these systems and variations. To make it simpler, we grouped them all together based on the amount of matches selected.
Now that you know what you’re dealing with let’s recap the pros and cons of system bets:
Pros:
When the odds are in your favour, a system bet can bring you higher winnings compared to a singles bet. More advantageous than a Combinations bet as it will allow you to win even if not all your predictions were accurate.
Cons:
Not easy to understand or master, especially if you’re new to esports betting. They also require a considerably higher wagers.
Not sure System bets are for you? Don’t worry, we don’t fancy them either. We’re more of a Singles-type of geeks.