What is CS2?
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Valve Corporation |
| Release Date | 21 August 2023 (global release, succeeding CS:GO) |
| Genre | Tactical first-person shooter (FPS) |
| Steam Rating | Very Positive, based on aggregated user reviews on Steam |
| Awards & Nominations | CS2 tournaments such as the PGL Major and IEM Katowice have received recognition at the Esports Awards; Counter-Strike has featured as a nominee for Esports Game of the Year across multiple ceremonies |
Top Counter-Strike 2 Teams
Stake lists fixtures featuring the leading professional CS2 organisations across every major tournament. Here are some of the top squads you can follow and back through the CS2 betting markets on Stake.
Team Vitality
French organisation built around star AWPer ZywOo. Vitality won the BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023, defeating NAVI in the final.
Natus Vincere (NAVI)
Ukrainian organisation with a long Majors record. NAVI reached the final of the PGL Antwerp 2022 Major and remains a regular playoff contender.
G2 Esports
Organisation based in Germany, led by rifler NiKo. G2 has reached multiple Major playoff stages across recent CS2 seasons.
FaZe Clan
Organisation based in the United States. FaZe won the IEM Rio 2022 Major, becoming the first North American org to lift a Major trophy.
MOUZ
Organisation based in Germany that rebuilt its CS2 roster around players such as torzsi and Jimpphat, pushing into top tournament brackets.
Team Spirit
Organisation representing Russia and Kazakhstan. Spirit won the PGL Antwerp 2022 Major, known for an aggressive T side approach.
Astralis
Danish organisation and four-time CS:GO Major champion between 2017 and 2019, among the most decorated rosters in Counter-Strike history.
FURIA Esports
Brazilian organisation led by KSCERATO, a regular Major participant and the leading South American representative on the circuit.
Steps to Start Betting on CS2 at Stake
An active, verified Stake account is required before you can place a CS2 bet. Follow these steps to get started.
1 Create a Personal Profile
2 Go to the eSports Section
3 Pick a Match and Map
4 Select a Market
5 Confirm the Bet
CS2 Betting via the Application
The Stake gambling app gives you access to every CS2 listed fixture, market, and odds update available on the desktop site. You can check map scores, follow pistol round results, and adjust your bet slip from your phone as a series progresses. Series scores and pre-match odds refresh alongside the desktop platform, keeping the app aligned with each round.
Stake CS2 Odds
Stake CS2 odds reflect the likelihood of a specific outcome, whether that is a match winner, map winner, or round handicap. Odds shift with team form, roster changes, map pool strength, and the tournament stage, from group stage fixtures through to a Grand Final. Live odds also move during a map, reacting to pistol round results, economy management, and side performance on the T side or CT side. Checking recent head-to-head results and map veto patterns before a wager gives you a clearer read on how a line has been set.
Popular CS2 Betting Markets
Stake lists a range of CS2 betting markets covering full series, individual maps, and specific rounds.
| Betting Market | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Match Winner | Bet on which side wins the overall series | NAVI to win vs G2 Esports in a Bo3 |
| Map Winner | Bet on which side wins a specific map within the series | Vitality to win Map 1 on Mirage |
| Map Handicap | Bet on a side winning or losing a map by a set round margin | FaZe -3.5 map handicap |
| Round Handicap | Bet on the round margin within a single map | MOUZ +4.5 rounds on Inferno |
| Total Maps | Bet on whether a Bo3 or Bo5 series goes over or under a set map count | Over 2.5 maps in a Bo3 |
| Total Rounds | Bet on the combined round count on a specific map | Over 24.5 rounds on Ancient |
| Correct Score | Bet on the exact series score | 2-1 in favour of Astralis |
| Series Winner | Bet on the outright winner of a multi-map fixture | Team Spirit to win the series |
| Pistol Round Winner | Bet on which side wins the opening pistol round of a map | CT side to win Pistol Round 1 |
| First Map Winner | Bet on which side wins the opening map of the series | G2 Esports to win Map 1 |
| Outright Tournament Winner | Bet on which organisation lifts the trophy at a tournament | Vitality to win the Major |
| Live Betting | Bet on round and map outcomes while a map is in progress | NAVI to win the next round live |
FAQ
What formats do CS2 matches use?
CS2 series are played as best of 1 (Bo1), best of 3 (Bo3), or best of 5 (Bo5), depending on the tournament stage.
What happens during a map veto?
Each side takes turns banning and picking maps from the map pool before a series starts, which sets the map order you can bet on.
Why does the pistol round matter for a bet?
Winning the pistol round gives a side an early economy advantage, which can shift round handicap and live betting markets on Stake.
Is registration required to bet on CS2 at Stake?
Yes. A verified Stake account is required to access CS2 markets, place bets, and withdraw winnings.
Can I bet on CS2 while a match is live?
Yes. Stake lists live betting markets that update through a map, based on round results and side performance.
Which payment methods can I use to fund my Stake account in India?
Stake supports cryptocurrency deposits, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether, for users in India.
What is the difference between the T side and CT side in CS2?
The Terrorist (T) side plays to plant the bomb or eliminate the Counter-Terrorist (CT) side, while the CT side defends bombsites or defuses the bomb.
Does Stake list odds for CS2 Majors?
Yes. Stake lists match winner, map winner, and outright markets for Majors sponsored by Valve, along with events such as IEM and BLAST.