Dota 2 Companion App Adds In-Game Currency Betting
By Wyatt Fossett ·
Fans will always want more opportunities to participate in the Esports they love, as well as interesting ways to earn in-game currencies. Now, they can do both thanks to Valve's new pro league betting system.
Valve, always being a presence on the frontlines of innovation, just released what we consider the future of Esports fandom. Starting with this week's mobile companion app update, players with Dota 2 shards are able to bet their digital currency on the outcome of matches.
This comes on the eve of the DreamLeague Season 11 Playoffs happening this weekend in Stockholm, Sweden, where the league's best teams will fight it out for their share of the $1 million prize pool. This weekend's major comes a few months before a rumored Dota 2 major at Disneyland Paris, and more Dota 2 pro league tournaments this year.
The Birth of Betting
Though it isn’t the only way players can wager their in-game Dota 2 currencies on the pro leagues -- Valve has had Dota 2 Fantasy Leagues for a while now -- it does change the landscape moving into the future. The new wagering could easily be adopted by any or all other major Esports brands.
Players who are part of Valve’s Dota Plus service -- an AI-powered statistics system -- have been able to earn shards through various methods up until this point, and there are many different cosmetics and exclusives to the subscription service that one can spend their shards on.
Now, with internally supplied betting odds, Dota Plus members can use the new companion app to put a wager of up to 100 shards on any pro league match. Players then earn or lose shards based on their wager and the odds. This mirrors the experience a lot of sports fans know and love when it comes to betting on matches played in leagues like the NHL, NFL, and more. Winner picks is not new to Esports, but schedule and match applications like Strafe only offer leaderboard ranks and bragging rights for your efforts. Imagine being able to purchase a skin or emote with simply just the winnings you've earned on match bets. How cool would that be?
Testing the Waters
Many of the reports about the new betting system out so far have made mention that 100 shards feels like a small number, but it’s clear that Valve is simply testing the waters with this one. Never a team to put something into the world willy-nilly *longingly stares at Orange Box, awaiting a sequel*, Valve is most likely seeing how players will react. If no one uses the service, they will most definitely ditch it because services like this require hands-on teams and regular updates on the back-end and with the odds.
Realistically, there is little chance it won’t catch on. If not for Dota 2, for someone else. Even though there are many ways to earn in-game currencies in games like League of Legends, Rainbow Six Siege, and Overwatch, there is always desire for more fan involvement and rewards for said involvement to be developed. Beyond that, it's always great to see popular developers working on more ways to let players earn in-game currencies, something that feels very back-burner in the modern era of micro-transactions.
The betting system is currently live on the Dota 2 companion app for mobile devices, and we’re extremely excited to see what form this kind of Esports betting evolves into. Until then, there are many more exciting Dota 2 pro league moments ahead of us this year and beyond.
Which game would you like to see implemented a pro league betting system for fans and players?