Starter’s Guide to Dota 2 Betting

Launched in 2013, Dota 2 has quickly become a global phenomenon, attracting millions of gamers to compete in 30-minute-long matches. The online multiplayer game was the fourth most played game on Steam in 2024 due to its competitiveness, captivating gameplay mechanics, a sense of global community, and exciting tournaments like The International. It’s the latter that became a main attraction for thousands of bettors from across the globe, as the multiple Dota 2 tournaments present both gamers and bettors with a chance to earn good money. In this guide, we’ll cover the game basics, discuss the most prominent events, delve deeper into the main bet types, and provide tips and tricks on predicting the outcome, even if you're new to Dota 2 betting.

Dota 2: Basic Information and Rules

Dota 2 is a multiplayer online battle arena game produced by Valve Corporation. The game has a huge fan base, with several monthly active users regularly exceeding 7 million, and it is available for free on Steam so everyone can join in for fun. The core of Dota 2 is simple: two teams of five players each, representing the good and the evil — the Radiant and the Dire — compete to destroy the opposing team’s Ancient unit while defending their own. The enemy's base is protected by three separate towers located on three separate lanes referred to as the Top, Mid, and Bot lanes. The area between the lanes is known as the jungle.

Each team has five players who assume control of heroes. The heroes are divided into different classes depending on their unique abilities: intelligence, agility, strength, and universals. The strength heroes wreak havoc on the opposing team and creeps (monster NPC combatants), dealing increased damage and boasting robust health points; agility heroes move quickly through the map and attack the enemy with enhanced speed; the intelligent rely on mana or magic, while universals have unique mechanics that allow them to acquire enhanced attack damage and maximize their other perks. Strong heroes, in-group cohesion, and excellent strategy increase the chances of beating up the opponent.

Biggest Events in Dota 2

Dota 2 has been at the forefront of e-sports for over a decade, with hundreds of monthly competitive matches you can bet on, multiple tournaments, and top-tier annual events. Among the most prestigious events where you can bet on Dota 2, there are a couple that stand out, including:

• The International (TI). Valve-sponsored The International is the longest-standing tournament, boasting the largest prize pool for any single e-sports event, with $40,018,400.00 in 2021. The tournament is the pinnacle of Dota 2 and annually features the best teams competing for an impressive prize pool, which is often funded by the community. The date of the event changes annually but typically takes place in August-October.
• Dota Pro Circuit (DPC). To compete in The International, the top teams should first get through the DPC. The Dota Pro Circuit is a series of regional tournaments that determine the season's best teams.
• DreamLeague. Organized by DreamHack, the tournaments include major events and regular seasons. The prize pool is around $1 million for major DreamLeague tournaments.
• ESL One. Hosted by the Electronic Sports League, ESL One is another prominent tournament that attracts top talent. The tournaments are hosted worldwide in cities like New York, Hamburg, and Frankfurt. The prize pool is around $1-2 million.

Annually, these tournaments gather millions of players and bettors worldwide, making them a perfect opportunity for placing Dota 2 bets. The International remains the top-tier event with the largest single-tournament prize pool, enthralling audiences across the globe.

Main Types of Bets

Not all bets are alike: some are beginner-friendly, while others require in-depth knowledge of the game's mechanics. Here’s a look at some of the most popular bet types:

• Match Winner. Predict which team wins a particular match. Great choice for complete beginners.
• Map Winner. Matches often consist of multiple maps. Your job is to predict the winner of a particular map.
• Total Maps Over/Under. Guess the total number of maps played in a series.
• First Blood. Bet on which team scores the first kill.
• Specific Bets. Predict which team kills Roshan the Immortal, a powerful neutral creep boss, is first to destroy the tower, etc. Requires knowledge of in-game specifics.

How to Make a Prediction

If you’re new to Dota 2, it's likely that you don’t know one team from another. Predicting Dota 2 requires bettors to evaluate numerous factors and have a solid knowledge of the game beyond casual interest. If you have not been watching the game for years but want to make a bet, here is what to pay attention to when choosing a potential winner:

• Evaluate the Team. Look up the team’s world ranking and recent performance, take note of how often the players' lineup changes, and consider the team’s star players.
• Compare Head-to-Head Records. Check whether the teams performed against each other in the past. If one team has a history of dominating the other, it’s typically a good indicator of the likely outcome.
• Consider the Playstyle. Not all teams perform the same: some are known for aggressive early games, while others excel at the finals. Stress is another factor. While some teams perform well under pressure in major tournaments like The Internationals, others crumble under it.

Both Dota 2 betting odds and predictions require bettors to consider multiple factors. To simplify the work, check the pre-match analysis on Dota 2 stats sites, like DotaBuff, OpenDota, and e-sport prediction platforms.