A major DOTA 2 betting event, The International 2021, is coming up. Learn everything about the eSport and make sure your pay per head software is offering DOTA 2 odds.
Whether you want to debate about it being a sport or a competition, eSports (Electronic Sports) is here to stay as a betting option. With millions of fans around the world, it’s no wonder odds on the competition are a viable option for pay per head bookies.
Therefore, if you want to learn how to be a bookie, the best place to start with eSports betting is Dota 2. Arguably the top eSport in terms of viewership, pro players, and tournament prizes, every pay per head bookie should be offering Dota 2 betting.
We’ll outline everything you must know when offering Dota 2 to your players, including how the game works, Dota 2 odds, contenders, and tournaments that garner the most action.
What is Dota 2?
Dota 2 is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game. Two teams compete against each other on a digital battlefield.
Players control various “heroes” with different abilities. The objective is to destroy the other team’s “Ancient” , a large structure on the opposing side’s base.
Dota 2 is like chess, where teams use pieces that can move in different ways to take out the King. However, in the case of Dota 2, you’re on a team of five with each player using an individual hero. It’s team chess on steroids!
The original DotA (Defense of the Ancients) was born from a modified version of the real-time strategy video game Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos. From there, DotA and DOTA 2 became such a popular competitive game that tournament event planners have handed well over $100 million in prize money, which is more than than any other eSport.
What keeps the game competitive enough for oddsmakers to assign spread lines? The game is almost always played on a single battlefield – removing any structural advantages.
Also, there’s enough variety and balance in characters to require a team effort to drive victories.
The biggest tournament for pay per head bookies to watch out for is The International which, after taking 2020 off, occurs between August 5-15 this year.
Dota 2 Bets
Moneylines
Most betting on Dota 2 wagers are moneyline options. Odds are comparable to those you’ll see for boxing and MMA matches with the underdog a bigger risk versus reward.
Considering most bookies generally won’t be as experienced as bettors when offering DOTA 2 odds, be sure to watch for heavy underdog action.
Spread
Most DOTA 2 matches are a best of three competition. Spreads are almost always at -1.5 with an attached moneyline. Like with baseball run lines, expect some teams that are -1.5 favorites to offer underdog money since winning two straight matches often isn’t easy.
Totals
Since most matches are best of three, totals are over/under 2.5 with an attached moneyline.
Props
With The International a month away, you may see a few DOTA 2 props available in your PPH sportsbook. The following three are possible prop options.
- “First Team To” bets: Odds such as first to destroy a tower, destroy a barracks, or Slay Roshan.
- “Kills” bets: Spreads on who will garner more kills. Or the total kills from both teams.
- “First Blood” bets: Props on the team to earn the first kill in the game.
The International Returns – August 5-15, 2021
After growing into the biggest eSports tournament in the world, The International had to postpone its 2020 tournament due to the pandemic.
By far, The International is the biggest eSports tournament in the world. In 2019, the tournament played in front of nearly 18,000 fans. Over 1.1 million watched the 2019 International on Twitch.tv.
Expect bettor fervor when the tournament returns on August 5. Odds on qualifiers for the International are already up.
Qualifying matches start on June 30. Like World Cup soccer, qualifying teams play in a group stage. After the group stage, the knockout phase begins with best-of-three matches. The International Final is best-of-five.
The prize pool for the 2021 tourney is a crowdfunded $40,018,195.
The International 2021 Contenders
Team OG is the first to win The International back-to-back. Expect OG to offer Dota favorite odds. OG should attract the most attention no matter the esports betting player level.
Other contenders include Team Liquid, who won it all in 2017, placed fourth in 2018, and were the runner-up in 2019. Team PSG.LGD placed second in 2018 and third in 2019 and is also a contender to win the top prize at the 2021 International.
Sign-up with PayPerHead and pay $3 for each of your players until Super Bowl 56
Now is the perfect time to sign-up with PayPerHead. We just released our most amazing promotion yet. For a limited time, bookie software agents that switch to us pay 77% off our standard per head rate.
The NFL Blitz $3 per head until Super Bowl 2022 rate includes all premium platforms, the APS, which allows you to make online payments and collections, which means you mustn’t use a third-party payer, and reseller tools.
You can also take part in a referral program that pays you 15% of your referred friends deposits for up to a year. Sign-up soon, or call 1-800-605-4767 because the deal won’t last forever.
