Total Maps Handicap in Esports sports betting refers to a handicap (advantage or disadvantage) applied to one team based on the total number of maps played in a match. It is used to make betting more competitive when one team is heavily favored.
How It Works:
Matches in esports like CS:GO, Dota 2, Valorant, League of Legends often follow a Best of 3 (Bo3) or Best of 5 (Bo5)format. The handicap adjusts the map scores.
Example – Best of 3 Match:
- Team A (-1.5 Handicap) vs Team B (+1.5)
- Final Result: Team A wins 2–0
➤ Bet Outcomes:
- Team A -1.5 wins ✔ (Because 2 – 0 = 2; 2 > 1.5)
- Team B +1.5 loses ✘ (Because they lost 0–2; 0 + 1.5 = 1.5, which is not enough)
Example – Best of 5 Match:
- Team A (+2.5 Handicap) vs Team B (-2.5)
- Final Result: Team B wins 3–1
➤ Bet Outcomes:
- Team B -2.5 loses ✘ (Because 3 – 2.5 = 0.5; not enough)
- Team A +2.5 wins ✔ (They lost 1–3, but with +2.5, it’s like 3.5–3)
Key Points:
- A “-” handicap means the team must win by more maps than shown.
- A “+” handicap means the team can lose, but stay within the map margin.
- You’re not betting on match winner, but adjusted map score after applying the handicap.