ESL DreamLeague Betting Guide | Live Odds, Favorite Teams

A fresh year means a new start as ESL DreamLeague S23 kicks off on May 20, 2024 for six-days action-packed DOTA 2 gameplay and high-stakes. It's a tournament not to be slept on!

It'll be a pure clash of the titans as the twelve of the best teams from across the globe gather in Europe to compete online for a slice of the $1,000,000 prize pool distributed amongst the participants. As if that's not enough, 26.1K EPT Points are on the line, which can be the difference between a team qualifying for The International, or not making the cut. 

The best way to add to ESL DreamLeague's excitement is to sprinkle that signature Rivalry betting hot sauce into your matches to spice things up! Here's everything you need to know before betting on ESL DreamLeague events.

ESL DreamLeague History

Dota 2 ESL DreamLeague are a series of esports tournaments from the popular online MOBA game, Dota 2. DreamLeague tournaments are organized by DreamHack in collaboration with ESL (Electronic Sports League). It has undergone many different iterations, with a history of over 10 years of successful tournaments.

DreamLeague debuted in the esports scene in 2013 with its first season, held at DreamHack Winter in Jönköping, Sweden. Alliance emerged victorious, triumphing over Evil Geniuses in the Grand Final.

DreamLeague ran several seasons a year until 2020 when it was halted after Season 13 due to complications involving the COVID-19 pandemic. Team Secret won this season, with Evil Geniuses as the runners-up. While the Dota Pro Circuit tour continued through LAN events in Europe, DreamLeague came to an end.

After a long three-year hiatus, ESL FACEIT Group announced the return of DreamLeague in 2023, transitioning the tournaments into completely online events with no live audiences. Season 19 was won by Gaimin Gladiators clutching the win over Team Liquid in the Grand Final. ESL DreamLeague Season 20 saw Gaimin Gladiators rising to the challenge and claiming their second DreamLeague victory of the year.

We're excited to see all the bonus action of DreamLeague as its tenure continues in 2024.

ESL DreamLeague Season 23: Format

DreamLeague S23 is the second major DOTA 2 event of the year. It'll follow a format most esports fans are familiar, unlike DreamLeague S22 which fielded two Group Stages.

For S23, there will be a Group Stage and Playoffs to keep things interesting, as all this professional DOTA 2 action is crammed into a tight-knit six-day event. 

Group Stage

• There will be two single round-robin groups, consisting of six teams in each
• All series will be two games
• The top two teams from each group, four teams in total, advance to the Playoffs' Upper Bracket
• The third and forth place teams from each group advance to the Playoffs' Lower Bracket
• All remaining teams are eliminated

Playoffs

• Double-elimination bracket format
• All matches, except the Grand Final, are best-of-three (Bo3)
• The Grand Final is best-of-five (Bo5)

ESL DreamLeague Season 23: Teams

For DreamLeague Season 23, four teams were directly invited based on their EPT Points from last year, while the remaining teams fought through Closed and Open Qualifiers in their respective regions. If you want the full list of players competing for each team, head to our dedicated ESL DreamLeague Season 23 overview.

• BetBoom Team
• Xtreme Gaming
• Gaimin Gladiators
• Team Falcons
• Team Liquid
• Tundra Esports
• Natus Vincere
• PSG Quest
• Azure Ray
• Aurora
• Shopify Rebellion
• HEROIC

ESL DreamLeague Season 23: Favorite Teams To Win

Twelve teams are competing in the ESL DreamLeague Season 23 tournament, giving potential bettors plenty of options. Here is Rivalry's top two teams to keep an eye on. Which team is going to get the lion's share of the $1 mil prize money? Read on to find out. 

Gaimin Gladiators

Gaimin Gladiators are climbing the professional ladder and are on their way to becoming the most successful Dota 2 team in 2023.

With their competitive roster, they easily won all three Majors (Lima Major, Berlin Major, and Bali Major) held in 2023, DreamLeague Season 19 and 20. They also rank first in the EPT ranking system.

Team Falcons

Like Gaimin Gladiators, Team Falcons are becoming a fabled name in the DOTA 2 esports circuit. They have head a steady stream of wins in 2024, having won DreamLeague S22, Elite League, and ESL One Birmingham in a consecutive steak.

How To Watch ESL DreamLeague

All DreamLeague events are now online, with no plans to be held in front of a live audience yet.

Dota 2 fans can catch the online events on various Twitch streams throughout the tournaments capturing all live events. Four channels (ESLDota2, Dota2Ember and Dota2Storm will capture every match as they happen simultaneously!

Bet On ESL DreamLeague With Rivalry!

Unlike other betting sites, Rivalry is an online sportsbook made especially for esports fans because we are avid fans ourselves! We pride ourselves on offering many esports betting options, from Valorant to Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, there's something to tickle everyone's fancy!

We've combined the exciting atmosphere of esports - the fast action, competitive DreamLeague odds, breaking news, many betting markets - with everything customers would expect from a top-tier sportsbook; full licensing, regulations, and absolute financial transparency.

With Rivalry, you'll never have to compromise on quality or safety. We're dedicated to bringing you the best in esports betting - so why wait? Sign up today and see why we're the top choice for esports fans everywhere, featuring the best DreamLeague betting odds and other popular esports and traditional sports.

Here's why Rivalry is the best choice for your online sportsbook:

100% Legal and Safe.

At Rivalry, your safety and online security are paramount. We are proud to say we are a fully-licensed online sportsbook compliant with all relevant laws and regulations. We are overseen by the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission, so you can have complete peace of mind when betting with us.

Free Bets and Welcome Bonuses.

As a token of our appreciation, we would like to offer you your first bet completely free, so you can dip your toes in the world of esports betting.

Same Game Combos

Rivalry are always one step ahead of the game! We're proud to offer Same Game Combos for certain esports titles, including DOTA 2. Put that big brain to use and bag huge jackpots, all in the same betting slip. Convenient!

24/7 Customer Support.

If you get yourself in a pickle, or have any account queries, you can get in touch with our 24/7 customer support online chat line. We are always here to help!

ESL DreamLeague Season 21: Betting Tips & Tricks

Betting on esports can be an exciting yet nerve-racking experience, especially when real money is involved. Even experienced bettors can benefit from simple tips to maximize their chances of winning big. Here are some tips to get you started:

Get your head in the game! One way to improve your betting game is to learn and understand the game you are betting on. If you're betting on Dota 2, learning the game can give you a better understanding of the current meta, gameplay mechanics, and strategies. This knowledge can help you make more informed bets and increase your chances of winning big..

Research each team and player. This sounds like extra homework, but something that can give you a competitive edge over other bettors is knowledge. Research each team's recent success rates, roster moves, match histories, and more!

Set a budget. Manage your bankroll effectively, set a budget for your wagering and stick to it. Always bet responsibly. Do not bet more than you can afford to lose. Our learning resource Rivalry Academy can help with basic betting 101 tips.

FAQs about ESL DreamLeague and esports betting

Is betting on ESL DreamLeague legal?

Betting on all esports with Rivalry, including any DreamLeague tournament, is 100% legal and compliant with the law, as we are regulated under the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission.

Can I place bets using my smartphone?

Yes! Betting with Rivalry has never been easier. Our website is entirely mobile-friendly, so you can place your bets while on the go, whether using your phone or tablet. Ontario users can download the official Rivalry app from the iOS App Store, while users in the Philippines can download our official Android app.

How can I deposit?

Rivalry offers a wide range of depositing options to accommodate our users, some of which are instant: MasterCard, Visa, Skrill, Alipay, and more. Remember, your first bet with us is free as part of our welcome bonus. We also offer cryptocurrency options like Bitcoin!

Where can I watch ESL DreamLeague matches?

DreamLeague events are action-packed over just seven days, so many matches will happen simultaneously. Luckily, there are three Twitch channels to live-stream all the events - ESLDota2, Dota2Ember, Dota2Storm.

Who are the favorites to win ESL DreamLeague S23?

Gaimin Gladiators have won all three Dota 2 Majors in 2023 as well as two DreamLeague tournaments. They are the most successful DOTA 2 team in recent years, so they are definitely our favorites to win. Team Falcons are also working their way up the ladder, and are a worthy contender to snatch the win.