Since its launch in 2013, Dota 2 has not only become the most popular Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) video game in the world, but has been universally acclaimed as one of the best video games, full stop! For a decade now, Dota 2 has been one of the most popular eSports titles and there has also been a steady increase in Dota 2 betting sites.
In this Dota 2 betting guide, we’ll be outlining our top ten Dota 2 betting sites and explaining exactly why they have made the cut. We’ll also be explaining how we judge the best sites, talking about Dota 2’s biggest betting events, providing some Dota 2 betting tips and outlining the range of markets you can pick from. So let’s get to it!
The competition was fierce but we have narrowed down a large list of Dota 2 betting sites to the top 10, which are outlined below:
UK punters are blessed with a huge amount of Dota 2 betting sites to pick from, each with an enticing array of features and special offers. So while it’s certainly a nice problem to have, it can be difficult to know which site to choose. So we’ve come up with a specific set of criteria that we use to judge Dota 2 betting sites, which you can use to select the very best Dota 2 betting site for you.
Dota is short for “Defense of the Ancients”, as it is a direct sequel to the game of the same name that appeared as a community-created mod (an altered version of an existing game) for Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos in 2003. Dota 2 was launched in 2013 but the game actually made its first public appearance in 2011. The game’s developer, Valve, initiated a tournament at Gamescom and invited 16 teams to compete.
This event would become what is now known as “The International”, which is one of the biggest and most lucrative Esports tournaments in the world. And after its launch, Dota 2 was swiftly embraced by the Esports community and received rave reviews for its gameplay and artistic design.
Dota 2 is played in matches between two teams of five players, each of whom controls a powerful character known as a “hero” who all have unique abilities and different playing styles. The “Map” is the playing field for Dota 2 matches and a team can win a map by being the first to destroy the other team’s “Ancient”, a large structure located within their base.
Matches are usually decided on a best-of-three basis, with the first team to win two maps being declared the winner. However, the biggest Dota 2 matchups, such as the final of The International, are decided on a best-of-five basis, with the first outfit to reach three maps prevailing.
Wagering on the outcome of Dota 2 matches is hugely popular and the format of the game and the fact that there are multiple maps every time means that there are a number of betting markets available, which we will outline later in this article.
Dota 2 skins are special cosmetic items that enable you to alter the look of your Dota 2 hero. However, unlike other games such as CS:GO, Dota 2 skins are purely visual modifications that do not enhance the abilities of a character. Dota 2 skins are divided into eight subcategories, depending on how rare they are. And of course, the rarest skins are the most sought-after!
Common skins are new character costumes or accessories and players can acquire them in a number of ways, such as buying them, trading them with other players, using a betting promo code or earning them in-game.
A new type of online gambling has also appeared, called Dota 2 skins betting, which is wagering using skins as opposed to real cash. Skins betting is very risky and has come in for criticism due to the fact that it might encourage young people to gamble when they wouldn’t normally. Also, many skins gambling sites are unregulated and have no safeguards in place, increasing the chances of being conned out of money.
So it’s no surprise that traditional betting companies such as the ones listed in this article do not offer skins betting, but there are sportsbooks that will accept these types of wagers. However, if you do want to try Dota 2 skins betting we would recommend proceeding with extreme caution and thinking really hard about whether you want to get involved when there are so many other ways to earn skins.
As we mentioned earlier, the format of a standard Dota 2 match has given Dota 2 betting sites ample opportunity to offer a number of markets for punters to bet on. And that’s because matches consist of at least two map battles. So here’s a rundown of the main Dota 2 betting markets.
New betting sites need to move with the times and many of them do this by embracing Esports in a way that many of their predecessors did not, with features such as live streaming and Esports betting blogs. And the three new Dota 2 betting sites below are good examples of this.
Betting on the go has never been bigger and that fact, added to the fact that many people do not own desktop or laptop computers, means that any betting site worth its salt needs to have an effective betting app. And the young age of your average Dota 2 punter means that an effective Dota 2 betting app for Android or iOS is even more important.
An example of a good Dota 2 betting app is one that replicates the experience of betting on a computer but in the smaller, portrait form of a mobile phone screen. All offers and deals also need to be present and correct on a Dota 2 betting app for Android or iOS. An effective app will also need to support live streaming without any lag.
No Dota 2 betting site could ever claim to offer the best Dota 2 betting odds across the board as there are so many matches and markets on offer and no way to check prices at every single sportsbook. Odds comparison sites can be useful up to a certain degree, but with Esports being a relatively new betting phenomenon there is far less information available compared to other sports such as football or horse racing.
However, in our experience, if Dota 2 betting odds are important to you then you won’t go far wrong if you focus on the more established bookies such as Betway or BoyleSports. And that’s because even if they aren’t best in class when it comes to a particular market, you can be relatively confident that they won’t be far off!
Dota 2 leagues and tournaments take place throughout the year and provide plenty of opportunities to bet on your favourite teams. And of course, there are marquee events that are highlighted in the calendars of every Dota 2 betting fan!
The International is Dota 2’s flagship tournament and also one of the biggest events in all of Esports. 20 teams competed in the October 2022 edition, with 12 qualifying through the DPC, six through regional playoffs in all corners of the globe and two from last-chance qualifiers.
After two weeks of epic battles in front of huge crowds in Singapore and watched by over 1.7 million people worldwide, Tundra Esports lifted the Aegis of Champions and earned over eight million dollars in prize money.
The DPC is made up of a series of “Major” tournaments and Regional Leagues from North America, South America, Southeast Asia, China, Eastern Europe, and Western Europe. Points are earned throughout the season with the top 12 teams at the end of the campaign earning invites to that year’s International.
The Dota 2 Champions League is a tournament series featuring 12 teams battling over two weeks in a Group Stage and playoffs to be crowned the winner. There are multiple Champions League events every year and the best Dota 2 betting sites will always feature every Champions League encounter.
The European Pro League is another tournament series similar to the Champions League, but is much newer, having been launched in 2022. Much like the Champions League, you will always be able to find European Pro League markets at Dota 2 betting sites. And for British Dota 2 betting fans, there’s the added bonus of an English-speaking commentator in the form of “Jeeves”.
Betting should always be viewed as something that can enhance your enjoyment of an Esports game such as Dota 2. However, that is not to say you shouldn’t be trying to win a bit of cash along the way! So we have put together our top tips to ensure you are betting sensibly and effectively.
If you have yet to bet on Dota 2, before you even place a wager you need to watch as many live or historic matches as possible on live Twitch streams or YouTube. This will allow you to familiarise yourself with the game format and what the average match looks like from beginning to end. Furthermore, if you watch an English language stream, you will almost certainly pick up more information from expert commentators. In addition, given that the game is free to play, we would also recommend that you download it and give it a whirl yourself! And even if you are an experienced campaigner it’s important to keep up to date with some of the new teams that may have entered the fray. Furthermore, checking out Dota 2 betting Reddit pages or other social media feeds is a great way to soak up some useful Dota 2 information!
Another key piece of research is to find out as much as you can about the teams involved in any Dota 2 matchup that you are thinking of wagering on. Your first port of call should be checking out their recent results to try and identify any trends, as well as looking at exact scores and specific statistics such as how often they win the first map. Then you should be watching as many of their recent games as possible to find out specific tactics they might employ that could influence your bets, such as whether they are quick starters who often secure first blood, or prefer to come on strong later in a map.
Our top tip is the same no matter what sport we are concentrating on, and that’s to bet responsibly! You should always wager with a set amount of money over a certain period of time, never bet on games you don’t know anything about and never gamble when you’re bored. Furthermore, no matter how upset or frustrated you are, you should never “chase” your losses by immediately betting on another event that you may know nothing about.
After reaching the end of our Dota 2 betting guide we can reveal that out of all the Dota 2 betting sites featured in this article, Betway is our pick for the number one spot! Back in 2015, they were the first bookmaker to introduce a dedicated Esports portal. Fast forward to 2024 and Betway offers an excellent range of Dota 2 betting markets to choose from, a superb live betting service including live streaming of some events, an Esports blog featuring a Dota 2 betting guide and some special offers too. And their Esports commitment also extends to some high-profile Dota 2 sponsorships too. So if you are thinking of placing some Dota 2 bets we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Betway and wish you the best of luck on your Dota 2 betting journey!
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