The Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) genre is one of the most successful in the realm of competitive gaming. It makes sense, considering the entire genre is built on competition. MOBA games often revolve around teams of players going head-to-head, and attempting to take over each other’s home bases. But, who knows what the genre would have looked like, without DOTA.
The Defense of the Ancients mod for Warcraft III: Frozen Throne is one of the most iconic mods in the world. Indeed, it is so popular, that the mod itself, rather than the game it was attached to, spawned a sequel. There is an excellent article that talks about DOTA 2, its impact on gaming, and the betting market that it has inspired. But, betting on DOTA 2 is growing, and many people might want to know more. That is why, in this article, we are explaining everything you need to know about eSports betting.
DOTA 2 and Sportsbooks
The first thing you will have to do is discover bookies that offer odds for Defense of the Ancients 2. The good news is, that DOTA 2 is one of the most popular MOBAs in the world. So much so, that even with only the alleged leaks of images for it, fans of the Nintendo Switch 2 are already demanding that the game be ported over to the device. While that is likely not going to happen, it does give people an idea of how popular the game is.
But, what does the game’s popularity have to do with sportsbooks, you might be asking. Well, the more popular a game is, the more likely it is that bookies are going to want to cover it. eSports in general has grown a huge betting market. DOTA 2 is most people’s first choice of betting games to check out. The game has a vibrant community, that is constantly growing. This is largely owed to the dedication that Blizzard has put into making each returning champion feel unique, and each new champion bring something exciting to the table.
What we are saying here is that, you will have an easy time locating a bookie that covers DOTA 2. Our recommendation would be to check out multiple options. Then, you can make sure that they are all regulated and safe. Once you’ve done that, you can compare and contrast the odds, and make sure you are getting the best bang for your buck. Only then should you create an account, and start wagering on Defense of the Ancients 2.
Knowing the Champions
In every MOBA game, there are “the champions.” In DOTA 2, they are called Heroes, and they are the playable characters that competitive gamers can take control of, in order to wreak havoc on their enemies, or support their allies from the side. Regardless of what you prefer to do, knowing who the top-ranked heroes in competitive gameplay are is key. After all, when you see a team comprised of C-tier characters, you might get the idea that they are not likely to win the game.
But, who are the S-tiers in the current DOTA 2 meta? Well, that all depends on which role the hero is trying to play. There are plenty of in-depth guides on S-tier heroes divided by their roles. For those who don’t know, there are four general roles that DOTA characters fall into. Below, you will find an explanation on what they are, and what it means to play said roles.
- Safe Lane: the Safe Lane, in DOTA 2, is the lane where the defending tower is farthest from the Ancient, and closest to the creep line. The S-Tier heroes for this lane are Chaos Knight, Lifestealer, and Bloodseeker.
- Mid Lane: the two Mid Lanes are located to either side of the safe lane. The general rule is that midlaners will face off on these two lanes. However, not all players approach the game in a traditional sense. The Storm and Ember Spirits are two of the best Midlaners in the modern DOTA 2 meta.
- Off Lane: as you could probably guess, an Off Lane hero is one who roams the jungles, assisting the heroes where they can, and taking down straggling enemies. The Beastmaster has often been praised as DOTA 2’s best Off Laner.
- Support: any hero whose primary purpose is not to take down enemies, but boost allies can be considered support. Characters like Rubick, Weaver, and Jakiro make for excellent supporters in 2025 DOTA 2.
Knowing the Players
It isn’t enough to just know the champions, of course. Remember that, in video games, unlike in sports proper, you have to know the players as well as the characters they are playing. If a poor player takes control of an S-tier character, they likely will not manage to beat a pro who is in control of a B-tier hero. That is why we also would recommend getting familiar with the best DOTA 2 teams in the community.
Like Amaterasu for example. Named for the Japanese sun goddess (or perhaps the flame-based technique from the popular Naruto anime), Amaterasu is the current 1st rank in Europe. Nightfall and PARIVISION.DM are also players worth keeping an eye out on, as they accomplished quite a bit in the European DOTA 2 community.
As for the Americas, VcG.BlackPaperMoon is the top dog, holding on to the highest rankings. The player has been dominating the American DOTA 2 scene for a while now, and should be on the radar of any betting fan, who wants to give DOTA 2 a go.
Conclusion
DOTA 2 betting is a fun way to engage with one of the most popular games in the gaming industry. However, before you start betting, it is worth to do research into the professional setting. Of course, most players interested in DOTA 2 betting, have likely already done their research. In case you haven’t, we hope that this article can give you a place to start.
