DOTA Betting Strategies Guide: How to Bet on DOTA in 2025

What is Dota? The difference between Dota 1 & 2

Dota, short for Defense of the Ancients, is a famous multiplayer online battle arena or MOBA game, initially developed as a mod for the popular real-time strategy game Warcraft III. Dota 2 is the sequel to the original Dota game, and it was developed and published by Valve Corporation.

The main gameplay mechanics of Dota 1 and Dota 2 are unsurprisingly similar. Both games involve two teams of players battling against each other on a map with the ultimate goal of destroying the enemy team's "Ancient," a large structure located at their base. Players control individual heroes, each with unique abilities, and work together to push lanes, capture objectives, and defeat enemy heroes to achieve victory.

Despite Dota 1 and Dota 2 sharing many similarities, they are also different in numerous ways. Dota 2 features updated graphics, improved gameplay mechanics, a more extensive roster of heroes, and more expansive in-game items. Additionally, Dota 2 has a more organised competitive scene and a larger player base than Dota 1. It's safe to say that Dota 1 has largely been superseded by its successor.

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How to bet on Dota: a step-by-step guide

There are few things more helpful than a step-by-step guide whether you're a beginner or a pro who wants to revise their betting strategies. Take a look at our steps:

1. Find a betting platform: several Dota betting sites allow you to wager on leagues and matches. Some of these platforms may be specialised in esports betting, while others may offer a broader range of sports and events to bet on. Research different platforms and choose one that suits your needs and preferences.
2. Register an account: most betting platforms require you to create an account before placing a bet. This typically involves providing some personal information and verifying your identity.
3. Deposit funds: once you have an account, you will need to deposit funds to place a bet. Most platforms offer a variety of deposit methods, such as credit or debit cards, e-wallets, and bank transfers.
4. Choose a Dota match: browse the available Dota matches and select the one you want to bet on. You will typically be presented with a variety of betting options, such as the winner of the game, the total number of rounds, and the margin of victory.
5. Place your bet: once you have chosen your betting option and the amount you want to wager, you can place your bet. Make sure to double-check the details of your bet before submitting it.
6. Watch the match: after placing your bet, you can sit back and enjoy the match. Keep an eye on the score and the odds to see how your bet is progressing.
7. Collect your winnings: if your bet is successful, you will be able to collect your winnings according to the terms and conditions of the betting platform.

Popular options for Dota betting strategies

Your potential strategy will largely rely on the betting options available. While options may differ at esports operators, these are the most common betting options.

• Match winner: This is the most straightforward betting option, where you simply bet on which team you think will win the match.

• Outright winner: This option allows you to bet on which team you think will win an entire tournament or event.

• Total rounds: In this option, you can bet on the total number of rounds played in the match. For example, you might bet on whether the total number of rounds will be over or under a specific number.

• First blood: This option allows you to bet on which team will be the first to score a kill in the match.

• Correct score: Here, you need to predict the exact score of the match. This can be a challenging but potentially rewarding option for those confident in their ability to forecast the outcome of a match, but the results can still go both ways, even if you're quite sure you've placed a solid bet.
• Handicap betting: As mentioned earlier, handicap betting allows you to give one team a virtual advantage to level the playing field and make the matchup more evenly matched. Handicaps are typically expressed as a number of points or rounds, which are applied to the score of the favoured team.

Dota handicap betting explained

Dota handicap betting is a form of betting in which one team is given a virtual advantage over the other in order to level the playing field and make the matchup more evenly matched. This allows bettors to wager on a team that may otherwise be considered the underdog and still has a good chance of winning.

In Dota handicap betting, the team given the advantage is said to be "handicapped," while the team at a disadvantage is referred to as the "favoured" team - basically the opposite of a normal situation. The handicap is typically shown as a number of points or rounds, which is applied to the score of the favoured team. For example, if Team A is given a handicap of -2 and they win a match by a score of 20-18, the actual score for the purposes of the bet would be 18-18 (20 - 2 = 18). Thus, the bet on Team A would be considered a win in this case.

Handicap betting can add some excitement to Dota betting strategies; however, it’s important to do some research and be prepared for less stability in terms of betting outcomes.

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Six expert Dota betting strategy tips

Here are some of the top tips that can help you improve your Dota betting strategy and help you understand the elements behind betting decision-making.

What makes bookies top esports betting sites for Dota? Consider these telltale signs

There are certain standards all bookmakers should meet, whether it’s an esports betting operator or an online sports betting platform. These components may appear to have little to do with your Dota betting strategies, but they play a role in ensuring you bet at a safe and reliable bookie.

1. The bookmaker is properly licensed

One of the most important deciding factors of a bookmaker’s legitimacy is its licensing and adherence to regulatory requirements. UK esports betting sites need to be approved and regulated by the UK Gaming Commission to ensure these operators follow rules, offer safe and fair betting opportunities, and follow ethical business practices.

In our Strafe.com bookmaker review section, we look closely at operators in this regard and whether they are approved and regulated by the UKGC.

Don’t put your money and safety at risk by signing up to an unregulated site; instead, look at our expert betting operator reviews to make an informed decision.

2. It offers decent payment options

So, you want to use PayPal for deposits and withdrawals, but the esports betting site you’re eyeing doesn’t offer you his option. Or, you can make deposits with PayPal but you’d have to use another payment method for withdrawal. This can play a definitive role in whether you decide to sign up at an esports betting site. After all, making deposits and withdrawing winnings are integral components to the betting experience as a whole, and while an operator offering a wide variety of payment methods is an indication of quality, safety and security shouldn’t be factored out when deciding on a bookie.

3. Lots of betting options

If you’re specifically interested in betting on DOTA, an operator offering a variety of betting options and DOTA live betting gives you more freedom to develop specific DOTA betting strategies and find out which ones work for you.

For example, If you can only go outright and total rounds, you won’t be able to explore other interesting betting options unique to DOTA, like first blood. Ultimately, it depends on how you want to bet, but the more options you have, the more you’ll enjoy the journey of developing a betting strategy that works for you.

4. Solid customer support

No matter how well-designed a bookie’s platform and processes are, there’s always a chance you may need a bit of help to fix a technical issue, enquire about your funds, or other things that affect a smooth esports betting experience. That’s where top-tier customer support comes in, and as bookmaker platforms become more and more sophisticated, we like to see a variety of options that will help you solve your issues using tools like live chat and regularly-updated FAQ sections. Also, factor in response time, as live chat is no good if you don’t get a timely response.

5. Payout reliability

An esports bookie’s payout history shouldn’t be ok - it should be spotless. To clarify, we’re referring to fair payouts based on the operator’s terms and conditions, as it’s important to understand how and when the bookmaker will pay out your winnings. If you’re looking for a PayPal esports betting sites for DOTA but don’t agree with the terms and conditions or if it’s obvious that they’re skewed, the reliability component becomes irrelevant. Thus, a spotless payout record based on fair terms and conditions gives an operator the status of payout reliability.

Develop your Dota betting strategies at these top sites

While you may find several betting sites offering Dota betting opportunities, some are just better than others in terms of betting options and overall experience. Two top options to consider for Dota betting are Bet365 and Ladbrokes.

Bet365

Bet365 is one of the industry leaders in online betting and is especially popular in the UK for both sports betting and esports betting. The brand is known worldwide as it offers online betting opportunities to residents in many African and European countries.

The operator offers extensive esports betting options, including not only match winner and outright winner but also correct map score, total map over/under, and more.

There is also a range of leagues to bet on, like ESL Dota 2 and Dota 2 Pro Circuit, and you can place bets on multiple tournaments while keeping tabs on all of them.

Bet365 is famous for its user-friendly interface, and with a wide variety of payment methods, you’ll be able to deposit using your most trusted choice, whether it’s a debit card, PayPal, bank transfer or Apple Pay. Make sure to use the stats feature in the esports section to make informed betting decisions and evolve your Dota betting strategies effectively at Bet365.

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Ladbrokes

Ladbrokes is a favourite in the UK online betting scene, and while it offers some great sports betting options, the Dota betting opportunities in its esports section also stands out. The bookie offers over 50 tournament options, with a respectable payout percentage and various betting options.

Ladbrokes offers some of the best Dota betting odds for Dota Summit 13 Online, BTS Pro Series Season 3, the Epic Prime League, and the DPL-CDA Professional League.

Navigating the Ladbrokes user-friendly interface is a breeze, and you can make deposits and withdrawals with options like Maestro, Visa, Mastercard, Google Pay, Apple Pay, bank transfer, Trustly, and Paysafecard.

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Conclusion: find your feet with our Dota betting strategy guide

Esports is not only one of the most entertaining ways to bet, but it also offers a plethora of ways to strategise. Dota is no exception, and with proper Dota betting strategies, you can up your game and appreciate new ways to approach Dota betting promo codes by planning your betting strategy accordingly.

It all comes down to knowing the inner workings of the game, having relevant information at hand, and knowing your betting options.

Dota betting strategies FAQ