Dota 2 is a multiplayer online battle arena eSport, which comes with huge fanfare. Read on to learn about the eSport, the most popular Dota 2 betting variants, Dota 2 betting tips and predictions, sought-after Dota 2 tournaments, and much more!

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Established in 1997
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Gamer esports

Defense of the Ancients (Dota) 2, is a sequel to Defense of the Ancients (Dota). Dota 2 is a multiplayer online battle arena-based game – The game has been developed and published by Valve. Dota 2 is one of the most popular eSports out there – The eSport attracts millions of players, and viewers from all over the world, boasting of over one Million concurrent players at its peak.

The International, which is a Dota 2-based tournament, comes with the largest prize pool for an eSports-based tournament- The International 2019 had a prize pool of $34,330,069!

Valve manages the Dota Pro Circuit, which in essence consists of a series of tournaments, which award competing players with qualification points, towards receiving a direct invitation to The International.

Of course, these tournaments come with varying prize pools as well. These tournaments are covered by a group of selected on-site staff, who provide for live commentary, and analysis. Dota 2-based tournaments are held in stadiums and arenas with live audiences, and are live streamed on betting sites, and streaming platforms like Twitch, and YouTube Gaming as well.

That being said, how is Dota 2 played?

Dota 2 Gameplay

While Dota 2 is a complex game, its gameplay is rewarding and engaging.

Dota 2 involves two teams of 5 players each, facing off, in the quest to destroy the opposing team’s “Ancient” – A large structure which is located within the base of each team.

Of the 119 available characters, called “Heroes”, each competing player must choose 1 Hero, in the pre-game drafting phase of a match. As soon as a competing player chooses a Hero, another player cannot choose the same Hero, and that particular character will be removed from the available choice of options.

Team members must plot strategies, and analyse the other team, before, or during the pre-game drafting phase of a match. A game of Dota 2 is contested on a single map, which comes in a three-dimensional isometric perspective. Each Hero has its own purpose, unique abilities, and differing styles of play. Heroes are divided into two distinct categories – “Cores”, and “Supports”.

As the name suggests, Cores are the key characters in a match, and must carry their team to victory. A Core starts a match weak, and vulnerable, but gains power in due course of a match, by collecting items. Supports on the other hand, are responsible for assisting cores – Supports lack the abilities necessary to handle heavy damage. Players collect experience points in due course of a match.

In due course of this article, we will explore all you need to know Dota 2.

playing game on laptop
(Image: unsplash.com | © Fredrick Tendong)

Before placing a bet on a Dota 2-based betting variant, you must perform due research at all times.

You must gauge the quality of the odds on offer at several esports bookmakers. A betting site may be offering better odds on a Dota 2-based betting variant that you want to bet on, in comparison to another betting site, and you are better off placing a bet on the former, rather than the latter.

You must keep a portfolio of Dota 2 betting sites to punt on, and choose the best betting site, for a bet that you want to place. Gauging the odds on offer at several betting sites gives you an idea of the quality of two competing teams as well. Lower odds on a team indicates that the team in question is well-equipped, and is favourite to win the match.

Higher odds on a team, may present good value, for some betting variants. A “Maps Handicap” bet could present great value, when punting on a match which is to be contested between a relatively strong team, and a weak team, or an extremely strong team, and a relatively strong team.

You must study the gameplay of two competing teams. Some teams may sit back and defend their Ancient, while other teams may look to attack, and eliminate opposing Heroes, and destroy an opposing Ancient accordingly. Each Hero has a unique set of abilities, and you must know how a Hero can influence a game.

Similarly, you must have a working idea of how a team bases its strategy. Some teams may play differently, in due accordance to a match situation. Dota 2 is a best-of-three Map based game, or a best-of-five Map based game.

A team may lose 2 Maps, and go on to win a match 3-2 – Gauge past match results, and determine whether a team has a history of completing comebacks. When it comes to placing a “Map First Blood” bet, you must determine whether any player on a team specializes in eliminating the weakest link of an opposing team.

“Supports” play a huge role in due course of a Dota 2 match, and a team with a stronger network of Supports is likely to win. Before punting on a team, you must watch a few of their games on Twitch – Do not rely on reputation alone.

It is often easier to place an in-play bet when you are live streaming a Dota 2 match, as you get a feel of an ongoing game. You must live stream matches on platforms like Bet365, Luckbox, and Twitch, among others, at all times.

Outright Winner

An “Outright Winner” bet requires you to predict the winner of a Dota 2-based tournament.

Match Winner

Match Winner

A “Match Winner” bet requires you to predict the winner of a Dota 2 match. As can be seen from the below-mentioned image, for a Dota 2 match being contested in the ESL One Los Angeles 2020, the odds in favour of Royal Never Give Up winning the match is 6/5, while the odds in favour of EHOME is 11/20.

Map Winner

A “Map Winner” bet requires you to predict the winner of a Map – Dota 2 matches are played on the basis of a best-of-three Map, or best-of-five Map basis. As can be seen from the below-mentioned image, for a Dota 2 match to be contested in the ESL One Los Angeles 2020, the odds in favour of Evil Geniuses winning Map 1 is 9/20, while the odds in favour of CR4ZY is 31/20.

Map First Blood

A “Map First Blood” bet requires you to predict a team, which will kill an opposing Hero first, in due course of a Map in question. As can be seen from the above-mentioned image, for a Dota 2 match to be contested in the ESL One Los Angeles 2020, the odds in favour of Evil Geniuses drawing first blood (Map 1) is 7/10, while the odds in favour of CR4ZY is 21/20.

Maps Handicap

Maps Handicap

A “Maps Handicap” bet involves handing a stronger team a Map-based disadvantage, while handing a weaker team, a Map-based advantage.

As can be seen from the below-mentioned image, for a Dota 2 match to be contested in the ESL One Los Angeles 2020, Newbee has been handed a +1.5 Handicap, while ViCi has been handed a -1.5 Handicap. This means that ViCi must win by a score line of 2-0 (best-of-three Map game), for you to win a placed “Maps Handicap” bet.

Maps Total

A “Maps Total” bet requires you to predict whether the total number of Maps which will be contested by both teams, will be Over, or Under a number specified by a betting site.As can be seen from the above-mentioned image, for a Dota 2 match to be contested in the ESL One Los Angeles 2020, the odds in favour of 3 Maps (More than 2.5) being contested is 9/10, while the odds in favour of 2 Maps (Less than 2.5) being contested is 7/10 (best-of-three Map game).

dota betting
(Image: unsplash.com | © Jay Zhang)

The International

The International is the most popular Dota 2-based tournament, hands down. Several Dota 2-based tournaments are organized by Valve, in due course of a year (Dota Pro Circuit), with gamers earning qualification points towards receiving a direct invitation to The International.

The International comes with the highest eSports tournament prize pool, with The International 2019, having a prize pool of $34,330,069!

The International is crowdfunded via in-game Battle Pass sales.

ESL One Los Angeles

The ESL Los Angeles is one of the Premier Dota 2 tournaments (Dota Pro Circuit). The 2020 edition of the tournament is set to take place across 5 regions – China, North America, South America, South-East Asia, and Europe. While the tournament does not come with the largest prize pool – $1,000,000 for the ESL Los Angeles 2020 – The winning team pockets a cool $300,000.

A total of 34 teams are competing across 5 regions, for the ESL Los Angeles 2020.

DreamLeague

The DreamLeague is a part of the Dota Pro Circuit. The DreamLeague Season 13, came with a prize pool of $1,000,000, with sixteen teams taking part in the tournament.

ONE Esports Singapore Major

The ONE Esports Singapore Major is the last Dota Pro Circuit tournament of a calendar year. The ONE Esports Singapore Major 2020, is set to come with a prize pool of $1,000,000. Further tournament details are yet to be announced, at the time of writing.

TournamentDatesLocation
DreamLeague Season 1318th- 26th January, 2020Leipzig
ESL Los Angeles28th March – 20th April, 2020China, North America, South America, South-East Asia, and Europe
ONE Esports Singapore Major20th-28th June, 2020Singapore
The International17th-22nd August, 2020Stockholm
ONE Esports Dota 2 World Pro Invitational 23rd – 29th November, 2020Jakarta
RankPlayerSignature HeroesCareer Prize Money (At the time of writing)
1Johan “N0tail” SundsteinIo, Chen, Meepo, Naga, and TB$3,743,903.98
2Kuro “KuroKy” Salehi TakhasomiRubick$4,164,203.61
3Clement “Puppey” IvanovChen, Enchantress, Enigma, Maiden, and Axe$2,143,175.77
4Amer “Miracle-” Al-BarkawiInvoker, Shadow Fiend, and Anti-Mage$3,730,337.28
5Peter “ppd” DagerCrystal Maiden, Bane, Treant, and Dazzle$2,892,054.62
6Gustav “s4” MagnussonMagnus, Batrider, Puck, and Night Stalker$2,225,284.94
7Clinton “Fear” LoomisHard Carry, 2nd Position Carry, Semi-Support, and Captain$2,507,104.99
8Alexei “Solo” BerezinDisruptor, Shadow Demon, Ancient Apparition, and Doom$1,536,281.21
9Artour “Arteezy” BabaevShadow Fiend, Lycan, Razor, and Naga$1,893,442.81
10Danil “Dendi” IshutinPudge, Magnus, Invoker, and Rubick$794,357.60

Bet365, Luckbox, and Forest Bet

Match Winner, Map Winner, Map First Blood, Maps Handicap, and Maps Total

The International, ESL One Los Angeles, ONE Esports Singapore Major, and DreamLeague

Johan “N0tail” Sundstein

Dota 2 is one of the most followed eSports in the world. Before punting on a Dota 2-based betting market, you must perform your due diligence at all times. You must keep in mind all the Dota 2 betting tips and strategies mentioned in due course of this article.

Bet365, Luckbox, and Forest Bet are among the best Dota 2 betting sites for customers residing in the United Kingdom. While The International is by far, the most popular Dota 2-based tournament in the world, there are several other wonderful tournaments that you can follow, watch, and bet on.

Remember – Practise a safe brand of Dota 2 betting at all times.

WRITTEN BY James Cormack View all posts by James Cormack

Big sports fan specialising in football. Experienced the lows of Vlad Chiriches and Tim Sherwood as a Spurs fan along with the more recent ‘success’ under Pochettino. My following of the New England Patriots since 2012 somewhat makes up for the lack of silverware produced by Spurs in my lifetime.

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