Updated: 24.08.2025
Along with games like League of Legends and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Dota 2 occupies one of the top spots in the eSports scene. Fully launched in July 2013, Defense of the Ancients 2 maintains a huge player base and is one of the most popular games in the eSports realm. Similar to League of Legends, Dota 2 is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game. Here we will expand on that and explain what makes a game a MOBA. Basically, all MOBA games share these core elements: Each player on a team controls a single character. Teams must work together to achieve the game's objectives, which usually involve destroying key structures in the opposing team's base. Victory requires not only a well-thought-out team strategy, but also great individual skill and teamwork. When played at the highest levels of competition, it can be almost astonishing to watch, and can even mesmerize onlookers who may not fully understand what they are watching.
We have evaluated all of the excellent Dota 2 gambling websites, and below you will discover our suggested picks for the absolute elite five. We have also outlined the process of placing a bet - what sorts of things you can gamble on and what sort of actual English odds you might encounter - along with a few other relevant details.
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MIN. deposit : 5 Free daily odds boost Highly prestigious brand |
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| 18+ New UK+IRE customers. Paypal and certain deposit types and bet types excluded. Min £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4 x £5 free bets. Free bets valid for 7 days on sports, stake not returned, restrictions apply. T&Cs apply, | |||||
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MIN. deposit : 10 Wide range of offers Price boosts each day |
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| £10 min deposit using promo code 200BONUS • The bonus will be applied once the full deposit amount has been wagered at least twice with cumulative odds of 1.50 or greater • To withdraw any winnings from your bonus, you must wager the bonus amount at least 5 times • All deposit and bonus wagering requirements must be completed within 60 days • This offer may not be combined with any other offer • Wagering limit of £50 per bet Applies • Restrictions apply to withdrawals, payment methods and countries & full T&Cs apply. | |||||
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MIN. deposit : 5 Extra places and BOG Correct4 football game |
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| 18+ Eligible UK+IRE players. Paypal & some deposit & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4x £5 free bets. Free bets valid for 4 days, stake not returned. No cashout, restrictions + T&Cs apply. | |||||
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MIN. deposit : 10 Very well-regarded bookie Fantastic range of offers |
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| For new customers only - Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. | |||||
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MIN. deposit : 10 Innovative social features Free soccer betting tips |
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| New UK, IE & Malta users only. Min. £10/€10 first deposit only using Debit Card or Trustly. Free bets expire in 90 days. T&Cs apply. | |||||
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MIN. deposit : 10 Outstanding track record Fixed odds & spread betting |
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| Don’t miss our exclusive World Cup offers for new and existing customers. Terms apply. Full details available here. | |||||
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MIN. deposit : 10 Excellent track record New Bet Boost each day |
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| New customers using Promo code H30 only, Min £10/€10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 2 x £15/€15, free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply. See full terms below. | |||||
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MIN. deposit : 30 Specialise in horse racing Boost on football accas |
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| 21+, new UK + IRE members only. Min deposit £10. Singles, win part of e/w or multiples at odds of evens (2.0) or greater qualify. The Free Bet must be placed at odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater. Free bets expire in 7 days. The Free Bet stake is not included in the returns . Additional T&Cs apply. Bet responsibly. | |||||
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| 18+ New Customers opt in, bet £5 & get 2x £10 Free Bets for set events (odds 2.00+) + £10, Slots Bonus, selected games, 35x wagering to withdraw max £250. Bonuses expire in 7 days. Card Payments only. T&Cs Apply | BeGambleAware®: Gambling Help & Gambling Addiction | BeGambleAware | Please gamble responsibly | |||||
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| New customers only. Max one free £15 bet. Qualifying bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 (2.0) or greater. Paid as bonus token with min 4/5 (1.80) odds req. Skrill, Neteller & PayPal not eligible. T&Cs apply. 18+ | |||||
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MIN. deposit : 10 Deep in-play section Widespread racing streams |
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| *New members. £10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook, placed & settled at 1.5 min odds within 14 days of sign-up. Win part of E/W bets. 2 non-withdrawable £10 Free Bet Tokens: accept in 7 days, valid for 7 days from acceptance (ex. E/Ws & Multiples), stakes not returned. Click here for Rules & Exclusions. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org | |||||
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MIN. deposit : 10 Increasingly popular site Free bet refunds on racing |
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| 18+ begambleaware.org; New bettors get 50% of deposit up to £50; Once per household; Min deposit £15 (no Skrill/Neteller); Wager a total of 8 times deposit + bonus, with max qualifying bet stake equal to your initial bonus amount; Bonus expires after 60 days; Min odds of 4/5 on singles, or 2/5 per leg for acca; Some bet types excluded; See full terms; See full terms; Terms apply; 18+ | |||||
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MIN. deposit : 5 Famous Free Bet Club #BetYourWay for football |
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| New UK customers only. Min Deposit: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First bet on a Football or Horse Racing multiple with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00 (2/1) or higher. Free Bets available upon settlement of the qualifying bet. Debit card deposits only. This is offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. 18+ BeGambleAware.org Full terms apply. | |||||
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MIN. deposit : 10 Boosted specials on football Various free bet offers |
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| Get a Free Bet up to £35 based on 50% of your first days losses plus 10 Free Spins! UK 18+ T&C's apply. | |||||
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MIN. deposit : 10 Money-Back football deal Exceptional mobile apps |
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| Terms apply | |||||
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MIN. deposit : 10 Acca protection & boosts Wide range of deals |
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| 18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: £10, max £15 bonus, valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at a min. odds of 1/1 (2.00) or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible. Full T&Cs apply | |||||
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MIN. deposit : 10 New specials bets each day Multiple acca promotions |
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| New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Payment method restrictions. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+. T&Cs apply.**18+. Opt in. UK/IRE customers only. Max refund £/€20. Win or win part of e/w outright singles only. 5 or more runners. 1st bet on each race. Free bet expires after 7 days. Free/void/antepost bets don’t qualify. T&Cs apply | |||||
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| 18+ New Customers only. Deposit, opt in and place a £5 qualifying bet at odds of 2.00 or greater within 7 days of opening a new account; excludes cashed out bets. Receive 2x £10 Free Sports Bets, valid on set events only at odds 2.00 or greater, expires in 7 days. Plus a £10 Game Show Bonus, selected games, wager 40x to withdraw a max of £250. PayPal and Card Payments only. Geographical Restrictions and T&Cs Apply, See Below. Please Gamble Responsibly. | |||||
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| New UK customers only. Register using the promo code BETFRED60, deposit and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. First bet must be on Sports. £20 in Free Bets to be used on Sports, £10 in Free Bets to be used on Lotto and 50 Free Spins (20p per spin) credited within 48 hours of bet settlement. Further £20 in Free Bets credited 5 days after settlement. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required. Full T&Cs apply. Terms & Conditions Apply | |||||
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| 18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only. Valid on 1st deposit only. Min Deposit £10. Max Free Bet £40. Min turnover of £20 must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater, and settled within 14 days of placement. System bets not eligible. PayPal, Skrill and Neteller deposits not eligible for promotion. Click to see full T&Cs | |||||
Many people consider Dota 2 to be a MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena). If you have experience with similar titles in the past, you will have no qualms about making a smooth transition to Dota 2. If not, this is an easy and quick introduction to the game that should get you up to speed and, more importantly, make you able to understand and better predict what will happen in Dota 2.
Every leading betting site today has an eSports section, and almost all of them have Dota 2 as an option. We've taken the time to research and test all of your leading options here. We've examined them up close and personal, and we've come up with five sites that are best for betting on Dota 2. Let's take a closer look at them now.
A sportsbook as comprehensive as Bet365 is hard to find at the moment, and they are certainly at the forefront when it comes to eSports betting. Dota 2 is one of the main events you can bet on with them, alongside other heavyweights in the genre such as FIFA, CS:GO, LoL and CoD.
Bet365 has excellent coverage of Dota 2, allowing punters to bet on virtually every tournament that takes place. One area where they really stand out is in-play betting, and this is likely to be the case for any operator that has good coverage of top Dota 2 tournaments. The number of markets available to bet on while a Dota 2 match is in progress is truly remarkable, and the odds you get on these bets are very competitive.
The only downside is that, unsurprisingly, there is currently no streaming available for live Dota 2 matches. However, there are a decent amount of live stats that will allow you to keep up with what's going on. ⭐Go to Bet365 >>
Your best option for betting on Dota 2 through an exchange as opposed to a regular sportsbook is Betfair. Not only is it the most popular exchange by a wide margin, but it also offers in-play and pre-match betting on Dota 2 through the exchange.
Betfair also has a well-organized sportsbook. The coverage for Dota 2 is even better here, with a few more bet types - including Correct Score - complementing those available on the exchange. You can also take advantage of some nice promotions here, including a £5 free bet for every £20 you wager on multiples. ⭐Go to Betfair >>
Dota 2 has an extremely good coverage on 888sport, which has shown a lot of progress in the last 10 years. It has been one of the platforms that has taken the most leaps and bounds and deserves recognition for that. Overall, eSports betting at 888sport has come a long way and they are doing a great job with the titles they have chosen to showcase.
888sport, like Bet365, offers a wide range of markets on big and small competitions, with bets on everything from The International to the Apu League. Three common types of football bets - Match Result, Handicap and Over/Under - are offered pre-match, with odds that are hard to beat. Live prices are equally solid, and the in-play and cash-out tools for real-money Dota 2 betting are very responsive, although like 888sport's sister site, there's no live streaming. ⭐Go to 888>>
Betway is still an all-round sportsbook. However, it is very clear that the company has prioritized eSports in recent years, to the point where they may be your number one choice for video game-related betting markets today.
Every box is checked here, quite simply. You can bet on every major Dota 2 competition at Betway, with markets available for outright, pre-match and in-play betting. Crucially, live streaming is included, meaning that all Betway users can watch games in progress for free.
However, Betway's best eSports promotions can all be used for Dota 2. The Esports Club gives you a £10 free bet every week, while the Saturday Special gives you another £10 free bet every weekend. ⭐Go to Betway>>
10Bet is the least recognized name on this list, but they really compete with the bigger brands when it comes to eSports. Their coverage is exceptional for League of Legends, though it drops off a bit for CS:GO and Dota 2. Still, all the major competitions are covered. And hey, you have to give them credit for recognizing eSports with a dedicated section on their site.
You can place Dota 2 bets on a map-by-map basis, rather than just picking the overall winner. Betting options also include handicaps, over/under scenarios, and generally great odds.
Dota 2 bettors at 10Bet can also take advantage of some great promotions. The sign up offer gives you a whopping 50% match up to £50 and if you're an accumulator bettor you can get a 50%+ boost on accas with three or more selections.
Before choosing a bookmaker for Dota 2 betting, it is important to compare their main features. Below is an overview of the five most popular platforms mentioned above.
| Bookmaker | License | Live Streaming | Average Margin on Dota 2 | Welcome Bonus |
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| Bet365 | UKGC, MGA | No | ~6% | Bet £10, Get £30 |
| Betfair | UKGC | No | ~5.5% | £5 Free Bet for Every £20 Multiple |
| 888sport | UKGC, Gibraltar | No | ~7% | Bet £10, Get £30 |
| Betway | UKGC, MGA | Yes | ~5% | £10 Free Bet Weekly (Esports Club) |
| 10Bet | UKGC | No | ~7.5% | 50% up to £50 |
To increase your chances of success in Dota 2 betting, you should not rely on luck alone. Here are three strategies that experienced bettors use regularly.
The outcome of many Dota 2 matches depends on the current meta - the heroes and strategies that are most effective in the latest patch. By following the patch notes and professional analysts, you can see which heroes are likely to dominate and which teams are adapting the fastest.
Some teams are known for aggressive early game tactics, while others prefer to scale back late in the game. This allows bettors to make more specific bets based on playstyle, such as "first to 10 kills" or "map winner" bets.
Not all tournaments are created equal. Teams often prioritize the International, while smaller events may see underdog wins due to lineup experimentation or lack of preparation. Adjust your risk level accordingly when betting outside of Tier 1 events.
Understanding the odds is the key to making profitable bets. In eSports betting, the bookmaker's edge (also known as the "house edge") plays a crucial role.
Betting on eSports is basically the same as betting on regular sports, so there is nothing particularly unique about it. However, there are many aspects that make the eSports experience different from regular sports - you just don't have to worry about any of them if you just bet on eSports the same way you would bet on other sports. Here's a step-by-step guide to placing your first Dota 2 bets, using Betway as an example sportsbook.
So far we've only discussed betting sites where you can bet real money on Dota 2 matches. On these sites, of course, you deposit and wager cash for your bets. However, there is an alternative: betting on Dota 2 item sites. These sportsbooks allow you to use digital goods as your bets instead of cash, leaving your (real) money free to spend on other things.
One difference needs to be made right away. The Dota 2 wagering items are not the same as in-game gold items. The wagering items exist outside of the game in your Steam account, and you can only get them by either earning them or trading them in the Steam community. The wagering items, like the other items in Dota 2, are purely aesthetic; they do not affect gameplay in any way.
Even though it is an adequate substitute for normal betting, Dota 2 item betting is an unregulated Wild West alternative that seems tailor-made for fraud. Those offering the service are rarely licensed by the UK Gambling Commission or, typically, any other regulatory body. Without such licenses, those providing the service are free to make up any old rules they like; and, let's face it, a fair set of rules that results in the operator making a profit is unlikely. As with any scam, we recommend that you play it safe and stick with the sites mentioned above.
Although you won't find as many betting options as you would in football, for example, you still have a lot of flexibility in how you can bet on Dota 2. Let's go through some of the most popular Dota 2 betting markets one by one.
Match Winner
This is by far the most common type of bet. It consists of selecting the team that you think will win the overall match. There are only two options to choose from at any given time, making this a very simple and low-risk bet, perfect for Dota 2 players who are inexperienced with betting.
Map Winner
A Dota 2 match played at a competitive level consists of several rounds, or "maps", with the number of maps required to win varying from event to event. Essentially, this is a shorter-term alternative to match-winner betting, where you would bet on a team to win a particular round.
First to X
The top Dota 2 betting sites offer a handful of props to choose from, with 'First to X' being the most common type. Among prop bets, First to 10/20 Kills reigns supreme. This is where you predict which team will kill the other side's heroes first, 10 or 20 times.
Specific Game Events
In addition to basic props, you will have more customized props available for the big matches. These might include having a character go "godlike" (record nine consecutive kills), being the one to take down Roshan (the fierce neutral creep), or having the animal courier (the key vehicle for delivering items) meet an untimely end.
Totals
These are among the most favored Dota 2 odds for more knowledgeable bettors, with Total Kills being an extremely popular facet. They are usually over/under bets, which are bets based on whether the final score will be above or below a certain number. Such bets can be made on the number of kills in a Dota 2 game. For example, in an Over/Under of 52.5 kills, the bettor must decide whether the actual number of kills at the end of the game will be more or less than 52.5.
Tournament Winner
Outright betting is the most common and popular form of betting in Dota 2. As the name suggests, you simply pick which team you think will win a given tournament. With as many as 18 different teams competing in something like The International, for example, this is easier said than done.
As shown above, betting on Dota 2 offers a lot of variety. You can group all the types of bets you can place into three main forms, each of which will be explained below.
The easiest way to bet in Dota 2 is to bet on the outrights. An outright bet is a long-term bet. You place it when you want to predict the outcome of an entire tournament, not just a single match, and you predict which team will win the tournament.
Betting on the outright winner of a competition is basically what you get in Dota 2. If you have a good feeling about a team's chances of winning, cheering them on and collecting winnings can be quite enjoyable.
Here you'll find the widest range of bet types and the most flexibility compared to straight bets. You can also find plenty of time to do your research and focus on the specific markets you want to bet on.
The two most common types of pre-match bets are Match Winner and Map Winner. The best Dota 2 betting sites also offer handicaps, where you bet not only on the team you think will win, but also on the margin by which they'll win.
Live Dota 2 betting gives you fewer options than pre-match betting. However, the advantage here is that you can take advantage of what is happening right now and momentum swings in an ongoing match.
The best sites for in-play betting allow you to not only place bets on the live action, but also cash out live. The odds are at least a fair reflection of what is happening, and the tools themselves are very responsive.
One of the most outstanding aspects of Dota 2 is its year-round eSports scene, with competitive matches happening all the time. However, there are some Dota 2 tournaments that definitely stand out from the rest, and these four stand out as the biggest for punters here in the UK.
The International
This isn't just the biggest tournament in Dota 2, it's the biggest in all of eSports. The prize money far exceeds that of any other competition, and it grows every year, swelling to a whopping $34 million in the most recent edition. And for the people behind the International, that's just the beginning.
Every year, the world's best Dota 2 teams go to great lengths to be a part of The International. This event is worth so much money that competing teams get serious about trying to beat Valve's Pro Circuit. To reach The International, a team must first qualify for the Pro Circuit and then try to win several key matches on their way to the July event, where the new champion will be crowned.
ESL One
ESL One tournaments take place in different places, at different times, all over the world. But ESL One tournaments are always a big deal. They may not have quite as much money to hand out as The International, but with a prize pool that can go as high as $1,000,000, they can and do attract the very best teams in Dota 2 to put on a show.
WESG
The World Electronic Sports Games is currently on hiatus due to the Covid pandemic. We hope to see them back, though, as this was - at its peak - a heart-pounding, high-stakes competition. Over $5.5 million in total prize money was up for grabs, and even making it to the finals of this tournament was an amazing accomplishment given the brutal qualifying process.
ESL Premiership
The ESL Premiership doesn't enjoy widespread recognition, which means that only the elite Dota 2 betting sites seem to cover it. Still, it's hard to argue that any other UK Dota 2 competition holds a candle to it, with an easily accessible stage and an ever-improving standard of play since the tournament's inception in 2015.
Like other sports, Dota 2 has fans who support their favorite teams in every competition. But for the best Dota 2 betting sites, the performances of these teams are of more interest. So here are six of the best Dota 2 teams to keep an eye on.
Team Secret
Founded in 2014, Team Secret is currently ranked the 13th best team in the world. Unlike many of their competitors, they are not beholden to corporate bosses, but are created and run by gamers.
Vici Gaming
Founded in 2012, Vici Gaming is a team based entirely in China. They have been on an upward trend in recent years and are currently ranked number two in the world.
Team Nigma
Nigma has an extraordinary pedigree. Four of its five original members won the 2017 International, then split from Team Liquid in 2019 to form their own team. Since then, they have competed exclusively in Tier 1 and 2 events-never lower-and have already earned three top-3 finishes.
Evil Geniuses
Evil Geniuses, one of the most well-known eSports brands in the USA, dates back to 1999. They run a number of different teams, but Dota 2 is one of their main focuses. Evil Geniuses has won six Tier 1 events, including the 2015 International and third place at the 2018 edition.
Alliance
Alliance is a Swedish eSports organization that, since its inception in 2013, has distinguished itself as a top European - sometimes even world-class - DOTA team. Alliance consists entirely of player-owners, having split off from its parent company in 2016. A few months after its formation, Alliance's DOTA team won the 2013 International, a victory that came with a first-place prize of $1,000,000. Since then, Alliance has taken first place in six other events that qualify as "Tier 1" competitions: events that can be or have been designated as majors by Valve, the studio that created DOTA, or that can be classified as significant competitions within the DOTA e-sports ecosystem.
OG
OG started in 2015 and quickly achieved great success. They won their first major title, The International, in 2018 and then won it a second time in 2019. This helped them surpass $33 million in winnings as a team. They are also backed by Red Bull, and combined with their prize pool, they have become quite wealthy. By no means should OG be counted out when looking for last minute Dota 2 odds to influence.
However, there are definitely steps you can take to increase the likelihood of a favorable outcome. With that in mind, here are our top five Dota 2 betting tips.
Whether you've been a Dota 2 fan for a long time or you're just an experienced eSports bettor looking for your next market to conquer, betting on Dota 2 offers an experience like no other. And if you've never bet on eSports before, Dota 2 is not a bad place to start.
Anyway, there are many excellent sites where you can bet real money on Dota 2. Above, we've suggested five of the very best, all of which offer smooth, up-to-date platforms that work well whether you're using a computer or a mobile device. Whichever site you choose, be sure to follow the betting tips we've provided. And, of course, bet responsibly.
The International. The biggest event in not only Dota 2, but in all of eSports. Each iteration offers over $30 million in prize money and draws hundreds of millions of viewers. ESL One and the World Electronic Sports Games (WESG) are fun alternatives.
Very popular indeed. Betting on eSports is one of the fastest growing opportunities you can find, and with CS: GO and LoL, Dota 2 is a prime title to put money on. Even though the Dota 2 scene in the UK is nothing to write home about, you can bet on Dota 2 tournaments from all over the world at online sportsbooks that operate legally in the UK.
Some of the best Dota 2 betting sites offer this service, with Betway being one of them. If you prefer to watch the matches in a different way, you can use Twitch or the official page of the tournament you're interested in. Whichever option you choose, the live streams are free.
Absolutely. These days, every leading sportsbook has a mobile app for their users on either iOS or Android. They also have a mobile-friendly website for any user who doesn't want to download a dedicated app. In both cases, the same betting lines and features that are available on the non-mobile versions of the sportsbooks are also available on the mobile versions.
