How to Bet on Dota 2

People are still enjoying Dota 2 betting campaigns close to 10 years after its release. The first The International event was a big step in the right direction for Valve’s MOBA title. For those of you not in the know, Dota 2 is actually a sequel of the legendary Defense of the Ancients mode for Warcraft III. Yep, the Dota 2 origin story is somewhat similar to that of Counter-Strike.

Be that as it is, we’re not going to talk about Dota 2 the game as much as we are going to talk about the Dota 2 betting sites and the game’s betting aspect. It’s a massive online gambling community, one that can go toe to toe with the likes of CSGO and League of Legends in every department. That’s why it bears importance in the grand scheme of the esports betting industry.

We’re talking about a pretty healthy gambling scene here. The online Dota 2 betting sphere keeps on flourishing, defying all odds, and continuously exceeding people’s expectations. And it’s no surprise given how much Valve is investing in Dota 2’s competitive scene.

It’s one of the most sophisticated and most lucrative esports in the business. Dota 2 The Internationals break their own prize pool records every single year. The 2020 TI had more than $35 million in prize money, which will make it the new record-breaker in the most lucrative esports prize pool category.

Needless to say, such massive prize pools are one of the reasons why so many brands are invested in Dota 2. Heck, such massive prize pools are also the reason why TI events bring out the best in both players and teams. It’s the event that creates a highly competitive environment that’s just way too big of an incentive for Dota 2 betting enthusiasts.

If you’re not among them, though, and if you’re just interested in betting on Dota 2, then you’re in the right place! How come? Well, let’s just say this piece is one big Dota 2 betting guide. As every good betting guide out there, we have to start off with the best sites to use for Dota 2 betting!

Best Dota 2 Betting Sites

What are the best websites for betting real money on Dota 2 online? How and where to find them? Are Dota 2 betting sites legal? How to stay protected?

These are only some of the questions that beginners tend to ask when looking for where to bet on Dota 2 online. Unfortunately, most of them settle with half-baked answers that pop up as paid ads on their Google search results, answers that don’t really help them make the right choice.

It’s one thing to hand people a list of good esports betting sites; it’s another thing to teach them about the characteristics that make good betting sites. As far as our guide goes, the list of our favorite Dota 2 betting sites is available right below, followed by a quick bullet list featuring their key characteristics.

Rank	Gambling Site	Deposit Bonus	Get Started
#1	Bovada	50% Up To $250	Visit Site
#2	BetUS	125% Up To $2,500	Visit Site
#3	BetOnline	50% Up To $1,000	Visit Site
#4	SportsBetting.ag Esports	50% Up To $1,000	Visit Site
#5	MyBookie	100% Up To $1,000	Visit Site

What to Look for in Real Money Dota 2 Betting Sites

You can’t tell good bookies from mediocre ones if you don’t know what to expect from them. Believe it or not, even years after the birth of the esports betting scene, very few people know how to properly pick a bookie.

Do you know how to pick a site for betting on Dota 2? There’s no magical answer here. The key is finding a website that suits all (or most, if you’re a needy fella) of your needs. Enough with the chit chat—here’s a list of all key characteristics you should keep tabs on before you register for an account:

• Customer support efficiency
• Payout speed
• Available esports bonuses
• Intuitive user interface
• Easy-to-use esports betting platforms
• Plenty of Dota 2 odds and specials
• Low profit margins
• Mobile-friendly betting
• Plentiful payment options

You’ll have to dig around for a bit to find or understand some of these key characteristics but trust us, it’ll be worth it in the long run!

What Is Dota 2?

Dota 2 is a multiplayer online battle arena, MOBA in short. We’re talking about one of the most popular video game genres and one of the most popular video games in general. Dota 2 and League of Legends are the strongest MOBA specimens and pose as legendary-tier esports that helped shape the esports industry we all know and love.

Made by Valve, Dota 2 was a massive hit long before its official release. As stated earlier, it’s based on the Dota Warcraft III mod that brought MOBA gameplay mechanics to the mainstream. Dota 2 is still one of the most popular games, enjoying an average of 420,000+ players every day. That’s why a lot of people like to take part in Dota 2 betting online as well.

What Is a MOBA?

Two teams, five players each, three lanes, and two ancients, one on each side. Dota 2 is much more than just that, though, just like every other MOBA title out there. MOBAs are complex games, packing a ton of items, playable characters, neutral monsters, and unique skills/abilities. Dota 2 takes these things to a whole new level in terms of complexity, achieving a high skill ceiling that makes it so charming and appealing.

Dota 2 and League of Legends

The comparisons between Dota 2 and LoL are endless. They were and still are the biggest MOBA specimens out there, each enjoying its fair share of the esports cake, so it’s not surprising to see people comparing them all the time.

However, we’d like to skip the comparisons and simply state the obvious—both games are exceptional! They both offer a unique MOBA experience, well-balanced gameplay, and healthy competitive environments that are bound to stand a test of time. Let’s leave it at that.

How to Play Dota 2

We are in no means a website dedicated to gaming guides or tutorials. However, if you’re interested in betting on Dota 2 for real money, you’ll have to know the ins and outs of the game’s core gameplay mechanics. In essence, in order to learn how to bet on Dota 2, first, you have to become a good Dota 2 player!

Learn the Core Gameplay Elements

This goes without saying, but if you want to be a good player, you must know what each item does and what sort of stat boosts it brings forth. Additionally, you also have to know what every playable character does. Knowing what everyone does and knowing how to play a certain character are two different things. There’s a ton of additional stuff in the core gameplay elements category, but for the sake of keeping this guide as concise as possible, we’ll let you figure stuff out on your own.

Teamwork, Teamwork, Teamwork!!!

The second thing is teamwork! But how is teamwork connected to Dota 2 betting? Well, perhaps it’s not connected directly. But working with your team will help you understand which heroes work well together. It will help you connect things on a more advanced level, and allow you to figure out how certain team compositions fare against others. All of this is of crucial importance when betting on Dota 2 online, as it will give you a better perspective on hero pools and potential team compositions going forward.

Watch the Pros

One last thing—you should watch the pros. Watching pros do their thing will not only teach you stuff gameplay-wise, but it will also give you more insight into how certain players are performing. The best way to maximize your gains here is to watch Dota 2 event coverage. Whether we’re talking about Majors, Minors, or Tis, it doesn’t matter. Watching any kind of top-tier Dota 2 esports is bound to help you out!

Biggest Dota 2 Events to Bet on

What are the biggest, most popular Dota 2 events, and are they the events you should bet on? Let’s take a closer look.

Dota 2 The International

Needless to say, The Internationals are the end all be all of Dota 2’s competitive calendar. We’re talking about annual events that regularly break (usually their own) prize pool records. Upwards of $35 million in prize money is what players and teams are rewarded on these events. If that’s not a good incentive to become an esports pro, then we don’t know what is.

As for the betting on The International events, it’s the perfect opportunity to cash in on your vast Dota 2 knowledge. It’s the grandest of all stages that packs the best teams and plenty of surprises along the way. It really is the most lucrative esports spectacle in every sense of the phrase!

Dota Pro Circuit

Dota Pro Circuit, commonly referred to as the DPC, is the main qualifying method for The Internationals. It’s basically the regular season of competitive Dota 2, assuming The International represents the playoffs/finals.

The DPC consists of Minors and Majors. The latter are the second most important Dota 2 events, right below TIs. They feature the best teams in the game and often yield exceptional performances. Needless to say, real money Dota 2 betting sites work extra hard during Majors, meaning you’ll have more betting opportunities available.

Types of Dota 2 Bets

If you’re a newcomer, you’ll be stomped with a plethora of betting options available for esports. It’s a slippery slope, though. Investing too much money into specials can be entertaining, but it’s a quick way to splurge your entire bankroll.

Match-Winners

Match-winners are the simplest Dota 2 bets you can think of. As the name suggests, you’re supposed to pick the team you believe will win the match. You guess correctly, you win the wager. If you guess wrong, well, better luck next time!

First Blood

First blood bets are fast, chaotic, and aren’t very good if you’re in it for the long run. They can be a good source of quick profit. But if you’re going to base an entire Dota 2 betting campaign on first blood wagers, you’re going to have a bad time. As for the actual bets, they revolve around first blood or the first kill in a Dota 2 match. All you have to do is guess which team will draw first blood.

Player vs. Player Kills

This special revolves around two players, both chosen by the bookie. You, as the bettor, are supposed to figure out which of them will have more kills at the end of the match. If you guess correctly, you’ve won the bet! It doesn’t get much simpler than that.

Match Duration Over/Under

The last of the Dota 2 special bets we’re focusing on here is match duration over/under option. It’s one of those typical totals bets, where bookies give a rough estimate number, and bettors are supposed to guess if the end count is going to be lower or higher. On average, Dota 2 matches last for about 40 minutes but can stretch anywhere from 25 all the way to the 50-minute mark.

How to Bet on Dota 2 Online

Since you’re here, chances are high that you’re interested in betting on Dota 2. You’re probably just starting out and haven’t yet placed a single online wager. If that’s the case, you must have a ton of questions on your mind; heck, you probably don’t even know where to start.
Luckily, our Dota 2 betting guide is made for people like you, people with no prior experience. Sure, experienced Dota 2 betting enthusiasts will find valuable info, too, but we’re primarily focused on beginners.

With that said, here’s a short step-by-step guide for betting on Dota 2 online that’ll teach you how to place your first-ever online wager.

• Before placing your first Dota 2 bet, you’ll have to find a bookie that supports real money Dota 2 betting. Finding one isn’t that difficult; finding a good one, though, that’s a different pair of shoes. The quickest way to land on good esports betting sites is to scroll to the top of this page, and check out the list of our favorites.
• Don’t just join the first bookie you see. Take your time, and do some research before registering for an account. Also, don’t be alarmed when your chosen online Dota 2 betting site asks for a government-issued ID or a similar document. That’s just the standard procedure.
• Now that you have an account, the next step is to find Dota 2 betting options. Navigate to the main betting hub, select esports, and you shouldn’t have any trouble finding it among other betting markets.
• Once you’ve found Dota 2 betting options, navigate to the match you’d like to bet on and do extensive research on both teams. We’re not just talking about stats here but also roster alterations, team-related news, form, etc. Research is the most time-consuming part of betting on any esports title, but it’s darn well worth it.
• Last but not least, you have to make the final decision and place the wager. We advise you to start off with a simple match-winner wager. Simply select the team you think will win, enter your desired stake amount and place your bet.

Is Betting on Dota More Complex Than Betting on Regular Sports?

Well, there’s no clear-cut way to answer this one. Complexity of a betting discipline is not something that can be easily measured. It all depends on a person’s knowledge regarding the discipline (Dota 2 betting in this example). If you know the ins and outs of the game’s mechanics and you’ve been an avid fan of its esports scene for years, transitioning your knowledge to the betting sphere shouldn’t be all that difficult.

You see, it’s not about complexity, it’s about knowledge! As long as you’re passionate about the discipline or sport you’re betting on, and as long as you’re doing proper pre-match research and all that good stuff, there won’t be anything too complex for you!

Dota 2 Betting FAQ