Betting on Dota 2 in 2024Hero Image

Betting on Dota 2 in 2024

Dota 2 is the record-breaking multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) created by Valve. It's viewed by millions around the world and continues to thrive. If you're keen to get a slice of the action and get into Dota 2 betting, take a look at our list of websites that we believe offer the best opportunities for Canadians to bet on eSports.

Choosing one of our recommended sportsbooks will get you:

  • Fast, safe and secure payouts
  • Regular bonuses and promotions
  • Good variety of betting options

Top 5 Dota 2 Betting Sites
October 2024

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What is Dota 2?

Dota 2 is the next evolution of DotA, which stood for Defence of the Ancients, a custom map for a Blizzard game, WarCraft 3. The custom map became so popular that it and its developer, IceFrog, got picked up by Valve, and Dota 2 was born.

Valve was not shy about announcing the game however, as it put up $1.5 million in what became the first premier annual event for Dota 2, The International, and saw it literally burst into the world in the biggest eSports event in history.

Since then the community has grown to over 10 million players, and The International continues to break records to this day, with the 2017 prizepool standing at over $24million!

The premise of the game itself is a simple one - two teams of five heroes each have to try and destroy the other enemy's base. The map consists of three lanes, with a jungle between each of them, and a variety of towers that must be taken first in order to get to the opponents base.

The complexity comes in the hero choices however, as there are 115 heroes to choose from, each with their own abilities and talents. The heroes are divided into three major categories, strength, agility, and intelligence, and come with their own advantages and disadvantages.

Types of Bets

Due to eSports being a fairly new phenomenon, not many people know what types of bets are available, or how to put their competitive Dota 2 knowledge to good use. Luckily eSports has taken on a familiar betting format to regular sports betting, so it shouldn't be too difficult to get to grips with. Here are some of the usual bets you will find on an eSports betting site:

  • Money line bet: This is simply a bet on who will win a match.

  • Outrights/Futures: This is a bet on the winner of an overall competition before the event has begun.

  • Handicap Wagers: Handicaps have the bookmaker make hypothetical adjustments to the bets. You then predict who will win after this adjustment has been made.

  • Total Wagers: A totals generally means the total number of games played in a match.

  • Correct Score: This is a bet on the score of a match.

  • Specials/Prop Bets: Props bets are bets on things that do not affect the match outcome itself, but rather the dealings within a match, such as who got the most kills, who killed the dragon first, etc.

Knowing your bets can be half the battle, so make sure you're familiar with the bet you're making and the odds that come with it if you want to take home the big jackpots.

How to Find a Dota 2 Betting Site

There are a few things you need to look at before choosing your gambling establishment of choice. First and foremost, always look to see if the sportsbook is quick to pay out your winnings. Often a slow payout means that the betting site may be holding onto your money.

Free-bet promotions and risk-free bets are also a good sign, and can go a long way to boost your bankroll, so make sure to take advantage of these offers as often as possible. Another sign of a good website is the fixture list itself. Make sure that the fixture list and matches of the website are being kept up to date, as this shows signs of a well-maintained site.

Top 3 Biggest Earners in Dota 2

Kuro "KuroKy" Salehi Takhasomi:: In terms of experience in the Dota 2 world, it doesn't get much better than KuroKy. Having recently won The International 2017 as captain of Team Liquid, this master has managed to rake in more than $3.4 million in prize earnings.

Amer "Miracle-" Al-Barqawi: Having risen to fame as a streamer and one of the highest MMR's in the game, it's only in recent years that Miracle took to the professional scene. Since then, he has managed to haul just over $3million in earnings.

Saahil "UNiVeRsE" Arora:: One of the long-term members of Evil Geniuses, UNiVeRsE is known for being one of the most solid players in the Dota 2 world. His seeming inability to have a bad game has caused him to earn just under $3 million during his illustrious career.

The International - Dota 2's Biggest Event

The International was the first time Dota 2 was ever shown to the world, and continues to be a record breaking tournament every year. It has held the Guinness World Record for the largest prize-pool in eSports for multiple years, with the 2017 jackpot standing at over $24million.

These prize pools have turned multiple professional Dota 2 players into millionaires, and have done an incredible amount to bring Dota 2 and eSports as a whole into the limelight, showing on places like ESPN and other sporting networks.

Held around the beginning of August every year, the tournament takes place near Valve's headquarters in Seattle, and is usually held at the Key Arena. 16 of the world's best teams then fight it out over the course of a week, and provide scintillating viewing for any eSports lover.

Past International Winners

The International is actually a bit of an enigma in the eSports world, as no team has managed to be able to win the tournament twice. There have been a few players that made the final more than once, but not one has ever managed to walk away with the Aegis of Immortal twice.

Past winners include both western and eastern teams, with Natus Vincere, The Alliance, Evil Geniuses and Team Liquid representing the west, and Invictus Gaming, NewBee and Wings Gaming getting wins for the east.

Place Your Dota 2 Bet Today!

Thanks to the implementation of Valve's new Major and Minor system, there are more competitive tournaments than ever that are paying out some serious cash. Of course, this means that there's potential to win money as a bettor, too!

Choose from one of our recommended casinos to get the best experience possible in Canada, and start your Dota 2 betting career today!

Dota 2 FAQs

The season cumulates at The International in August ever year, and kicks off in about September after a short break. Thanks to the Major and Minor system, teams now have to fight for points to get to The International, meaning there are almost constant tournaments.

Money line, futures, totals, handicaps and prop bets can all be made.

Yes! Many websites enable live betting as an event is happening.

As long as you have some form of internet connection, you can make a bet from your mobile device.

Choose from one of our recommended casinos to get the best experiences for Canadian gamblers.

There is an entire Wikipedia dedicated to the game, but in general, more information can always be found on Dota 2's main website.