Dota 2 Bookmakers

How Does Dota 2 Work?

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.

• Teams
• You can play Dota 2 online, where two teams of five players compete against each other. You can either join a game with your friends or use the matchmaking system to play with strangers
• Heroes
• In the eSports title Dota 2, you play as a hero. There are over 100 to choose from, and you pick your favorite before the game starts. Each has their own strengths, weaknesses, and abilities that make them suitable for different roles in the game
• Map
• There is only one map in Dota 2. This sets it apart from games like CS:GO, where different maps suit different play styles and the map pool itself is an integral part of the game's strategy. Once you've played a few games of Dota 2, you know the setting by heart. Every match of Dota 2 is played on the same map, which is split symmetrically down the middle. In addition;

Dota 2 Betting Sites Reviews

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.

Bet365

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 >>

Betfair

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 >>

888sport

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

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

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.

Comparison of the Best Dota 2 Betting Sites

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.

Advanced Dota 2 Betting Strategies

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.

1. Meta Analysis

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.

2. Early vs. Late Game Performance

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.

3. Tournament-Specific Betting

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.

Dota 2 Odds and Bookmaker Margins Explained

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.

• Low Margin (4-5%) – More competitive odds, often found on Betfair Exchange and Betway. Better for long-term betting.
• Medium Margin (6-7%) – Industry standard for most sportsbooks, such as Bet365 and 888sport.
• High Margin (7.5%+) – Usually found on less established sites like 10Bet. While promotions may seem attractive, the long-term value is lower.

How to Bet on Dota 2

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.

1. Register
2. Currently, the easiest sites to register on for Dota 2 betting are also among the best to use. To register, simply click on a button that says 'Sign Up'. After that, you're just a few clicks away from hearing that sweet, sweet cash register sound. I make it sound easy because it is. The most I've ever had to do to sign up for a betting site was to provide a username and password
3. the least was when I didn't even have to provide the latter. Counting all of this up, I only had to provide five pieces of information to three different sites.
4. Deposit

Dota 2 Item Betting

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.

Dota 2 Betting Markets

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.

Dota 2 Betting Odds

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.

Outright

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.

Pre-Match

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 Betting

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.

Dota 2 Tournaments

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.

Most Popular Dota 2 Teams

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.

Dota 2 Betting Tips

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.

• Do Your Research - There are plenty of sites that will help you research the stats for both Dota 2 teams and individual players. You'll also find free betting tips and analysis for the bigger tournaments
• Watch Live - You can watch Dota 2 matches for free, either through bookmakers like Betway or via Twitch. This allows you to place opportunistic in-play bets and identify the best times to cash out
• Mix Your Bet Types - Don't limit yourself to simple match-winner bets. Instead, find a healthy mix of risk and reward across outright, pre-match and in-play markets
• Take advantage of these offers - The bonuses for most welcome offers can be used for eSports betting, including Dota 2. This is also true for some ongoing promotions, such as odds boosts
• Open Multiple Accounts - This will allow you to take advantage of multiple welcome offers, which, as mentioned, offer the highest rewards. It also allows you to shop around for the best Dota 2 betting odds in any given market;

Final Thoughts

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.

FAQ

What is the most popular Dota 2 tournament?

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.

Is Dota 2 betting popular in the UK?

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.

Where can I watch live streams of Dota 2?

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.

Can I bet on Dota 2 on my mobile?

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.