Dota 2 is one of the most popular esports in the world and an esports with one of the largest prize pools, and as such, it’s covered well by most sportsbooks, meaning you can place esports bets on Dota 2 games on essentially any betting site – even on traditional sports betting sites. So as far as betting options are concerned, there are plenty.
Dota 2 is one of the most popular esports in the world and an esports with one of the largest prize pools, and as such, it’s covered well by most sportsbooks, meaning you can place esports bets on Dota 2 games on essentially any betting site – even on traditional sports betting sites. So as far as betting options are concerned, there are plenty.
But if you want to bet on Dota 2, you have to understand what betting odds are and what they mean. In very simple terms, betting odds show the chances a certain event will happen – in Dota 2, the chances of a team winning the next match or competition.
The higher the odds, the lower the team’s chances are of winning, which can also be displayed in percentages as an implied probability. To calculate the implied probability from Dota 2 betting odds, you have to follow a simple formula:
(1/ decimal odds) * 100 = implied probability
For example, if Team A is priced as 1.50 favorites to win against Team B (2.35), its implied probability of winning the match is 66.67%, indicating that Team A is the most likely winner.
Understanding what odds mean and what they represent relative to the teams’ chances of winning (destroying first barracks or any other outcome) is essential to your long-term success, whether you’re betting on Dota 2, League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, or any other esports or sports. There is more to betting odds than just showing how much money you can earn on a bet if you predict the correct winner – many bettors don’t know that, and the sooner you realize that the better off you’ll be.
Once you understand the basics, you’ve won the first step. Now it’s time to learn the three main formats in which sites provide Dota 2 esports betting odds, which is fairly easy.
When you bet on Dota 2, you will see the esports odds displayed in one of the three formats – American, Decimal, or Fractional – depending on which esports bookie you use for Dota 2 betting and where you live. All three show the same thing – how much money can you earn per bet – albeit differently.
Also known as Moneyline odds, American odds (or U.S. odds) are popular in the United States and are used mostly by U.S. bookmakers.
The odds for the favored teams are always accompanied by a negative sign (-) and indicate how much money you have to risk to earn $100.
Example: Team A is priced at -200 to win the next game, meaning you have to risk $200 to earn $100.
The odds for underdog teams are always accompanied by a positive sign (+), indicating the amount of money you can expect to earn for every $100 staked.
Example: Team B is priced at +135 to win the next game, meaning you can expect to earn $135 of profit for every $100 staked.
Fractional odds, also known as British odds (or U.K. odds), are not as popular across the world but are widely used by British and Irish bookmakers and are typically written with a slash (1/2) or a hyphen (1-2). The main thing to know about fractional odds is that they represent the ratio between the potential profit to the stake.
Example: Team A is priced at 1/2 to win the next match, meaning you have to risk $2 to earn $1. Meanwhile, Team B is priced at 11/8, meaning you have to risk $8 to earn $13.
Decimal odds (European odds, or digital odds) is the most popular odds format in Europe, New Zealand, Canada, and Australia and are also the easiest to understand, which explains why decimal odds are used worldwide. Although there is no clear advantage in using decimal odds over the others – you still earn the same amount if you correctly predict the winner of the games.
When placing bets with decimal odds, you can easily spot which teams are the favorites and underdogs simply by looking at the numbers – the favorites will always be priced with a lower number (Team A at 1.50, Team B at 2.35).
To calculate the amount of money you can expect to earn for your bets, you simply need to multiply your wager with the odds.
Total Payout = Stake * Decimal Odds Number
Example: A $100 bet on Team A at 1.50 would earn you ($100 * 1.50) $150 in total payout.
Although it’s advisable to understand all three formats, you really only need to know one because all sports and esports betting sites have the option for you to change how the odds are displayed on the site.
There is no clear answer to which esports sportsbook is the best for Dota 2 betting or for esports betting in general. But that’s not to say that there aren’t many great options, some of which include:
A good Dota 2 betting site will have competitive Dota 2 betting odds and enough betting markets (from match winner to first blood and more). Generous esports bonuses and promotions and the availability of a mobile betting app are good additions but not nearly as important as the odds quality and the betting markets – although it’s an advantage.
Once you find a Dota 2 sportsbook that checks those marks, you have a solid esports betting site to start your Dota 2 betting journey. But it’s highly advisable to register with multiple esports sportsbooks so you can price shop and always place bets with the best possible odds.
Moreover, you will be able to capitalize on all betting promotions and bonuses offered by different betting sites, gaining an additional advantage.
Before you enter the world of Dota 2 betting and start placing your first bets, you must know that the offered odds on any given match won’t be the same across all sportsbooks. That isn’t an anomaly but rather a common occurrence, which you should look out for as someone who wants to bet on Dota 2 games.
The odds discrepancy occurs due to many reasons, but mainly because betting sites use different odds providers and because some are slow at adjusting the betting markets. So it’s not too uncommon to see one sportsbook price Team A at 2.00, while another bookie will price the same game at 2.10.
These small differences might not seem like a lot since you would earn only $10 more per $100 wager, but it can add up quickly over 10, 100, or even 10,000 bets. Suffice to say, betting with the best esports odds is essential to your success as a Dota 2 bettor.
Knowing that no sportsbooks offer the same odds and that no single esports betting site can guarantee to provide you with the best prices, how do you find the best Dota 2 betting odds? By price shopping.
Price shopping is essentially looking through several betting sites in search of the best odds for a specific game, and it’s only achievable if you have access to multiple bookies. This also explains why it’s beneficial if you have accounts with more than one betting site.
Understanding the difference between opening and closing odds will go a long way if you want to succeed in betting on Dota 2 or other esport/sports matches.
When a bookmaker releases odds onto the market, it’s called opening odds. These are based on careful analysis of past statistics, the team’s strengths and weaknesses, and other factors to show the accurate probability of a team winning the next Dota 2 game.
The opening odds are usually available well before the games start, albeit they rarely represent the actual likelihood of the outcome. That is mainly because betting sites often lack information that will show between when the odds are released and the match starts.
On the other side, the closing odds are betting odds offered by betting companies just before the Dota 2 game begins. In contrast to the opening odds, the closing odds are based on how the market has reacted to the information about the game and are significantly more researched than the opening odds and offer the most accurate representation of the actual likelihood of the match’s outcome.
A straightforward answer is YES; you can profit from betting on Dota 2 matches. And the best part is that anyone can do it, as long as you put in the time and are ready to learn more about betting on Dota 2. However, there are several obstacles you will have to overcome, and you’ll have to learn how to approach betting on this esport.
Here are five things you need to do and know before you start betting on Dota 2:
The most important part of your Dota 2 betting journey is registering with a solid esports betting site that can offer you competitive betting odds and enough betting markets for the upcoming matches. You must always bet with the best available prices, which is why it’s also recommended that you register at multiple bookmakers for price shopping.
It goes without saying that you need to understand Dota 2 before you can bet on it and expect to succeed. You shouldn’t risk your money betting on Dota 2 matches if you know nothing about the game, just like you wouldn’t bet on any sport you know nothing about.
The best and easiest way to learn about Dota 2 or any other esport is to play the game. Most esports titles are free-to-play, so there is no reason not to at least give them a chance. And it definitely helps if you follow the professional scene and watch tournaments and games.
Betting on Dota 2 or any other esports is very similar to betting on traditional sports, but there are some differences. These come mainly in the various bet types you will come across – which, for the most part, are the same, but not always.
Moneyline, handicaps, totals, outright bets for tournaments like The International, and live betting options work the exact same way in Dota 2 and sports. For example, if you’re predicting the final score in a Dota 2 match, it’s the exact same thing as if you were wagering on the result of a football match.
However, proposition bets (such as the first tower or first Roshan) will be much different. Therefore, it’s advisable to familiarize yourself with the various types of bets before betting on Dota 2.
Before you place a bet on any Dota 2 match or tournament, you must research the game or competition and gain all the information you can. Compare past results, form, player performances, and stats, and check the latest news to get a better idea of what will happen in the upcoming Dota 2 match.
Simply making a first deposit and betting on your favorite team to win the next game won’t net you any good results. First, you need to know what you’re betting on and why. And that applies to everything you bet on – who will win the next match, which team will score the first blood or take down the first tower.
If you want to secure long-term profits betting on Dota 2, you have to get good at bankroll management. Set aside money dedicated to betting on Dota 2, and set a plan on how you will bet and how much money you will risk with every wager.
Blindly wagering various amounts on Dota 2 games will get you nowhere – esports betting is an investment; treat it as such. You can bet for entertainment purposes, but it will require more if you’re serious about making a profit.
If you follow these five simple steps, you will get on the right path to not only bet on Dota 2 but set yourself up for success. Admittedly, there is no such thing as guaranteed profits, you won’t always win, and you’ll need some luck, but with the right approach, your chances are definitely higher.
