Ultimate MOBA Betting Guide

What are Multiplayer Online Battle Arena Games? - MOBA Betting Guide, Tips & Strategies

Multiplayer Online Battle Arena games, better known as MOBAs, offer a unique blend of action and strategy that makes them perfect for professional Esports. Players must work together with their teammates and usually operate in specific roles in order to defeat their opponents. Some of the most popular Esports at Stake Sportsbook, including Dota 2 and League of Legends, are MOBAs. Find out more about these games and Esports betting in our detailed guides on Stake.

Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) General Rules & Gameplay

Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas (MOBAs) are video games where players work as part of a team to advance across the battlefield and destroy the main structure of the enemy team’s base. Each match typically lasts between 30 minutes to an hour where players battle for power and control of the map to win. There are lots of different MOBA games that have distinct characters, rules, and modes. However, the core gameplay is the same for each.

MOBA Map

MOBAs are played on a battlefield, known as a map, which is split into two halves. At the opposite ends of the map are the 2 bases, which are linked by paths, known as lanes. Each lane is guarded by turrets and both team bases generate mobs, which are computer-controlled units that advance towards the opposition base. Turrets fire upon enemy mobs and player characters when they’re in range.

The middle area of the map is known as the jungle, which is home to neutral monsters that can be defeated to gain gold, experience, and temporary buffs for the whole team. Players have to defeat mobs and destroy enemy turrets to advance toward the enemy base, all while the opposing players are trying to do the same.

MOBA Characters

Each player controls a character, known as a hero or champion, which has unique abilities and attacks. As they defeat opponents, players can level up their character and earn gold to unlock stronger abilities and improve their effectiveness.

These characters can be moved around the map, including into enemy territory. However, different characters will have abilities and skills that make them more effective in certain areas. For example, tanks help protect teammates by absorbing damage, damage dealer characters are effective at destroying turrets and opposition characters, while support characters heal teammates and provide buffs to increase the effectiveness of their abilities. Successful MOBA teams have players who have specific roles, and strategy is key.

If a player character runs out of health points, they are removed from active play while a respawn timer counts down. Once the timer gets to zero, the hero will respawn at their base, where they can also purchase equipment using any gold. As the game progresses, the time it takes to respawn increases.

What Are The Most Popular MOBA Games?

Dota 2

Game modes in Dota 2 include Captain’s Mode, which is used for professional play and allows one player to pick the heroes for their entire team. Special game modes such as Duels, 10v10, Colosseum, and battle royale provide unique ways to play. To learn more in-depth details about Dota 2 gameplay and betting options, be sure to read our guide to learn how to bet on Dota 2!

League of Legends

Professional LoL matches are played on Summoner's Rift, which is 5v5 on a full map. However, League of Legends also offers other game modes, including All Random All Mid, which uses a small map with 1 lane. A major MOBA title in the Esport scene, LoL is a game that players and viewers alike spend hours learning and perfecting their game sense and knowledge to stay ahead of the competition. Explore our League of Legends betting guide for expert insights and strategies in this crowd favourite MOBA game.

Honor of Kings

Honor of Kings is a mobile MOBA that offers a variety of player-versus-player game modes, including 1v1, 3v3, and 5v5, as well as adventure modes and matches against computer-controlled players. Rift of Kings or Hero’s Gorge is the main game mode for competitive gaming. Arena of Valor is the version of the game released for Western markets.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB)

MLBB is another mobile MOBA that offers multiple heroes that are each classed in 1 of 6 roles. The standard game mode is similar to other MOBAs, but it also offers other modes such as Brawl, which features just 1 lane and 2 heroes.

Common MOBA Terminology

Map - The playing area of the game, with a team base placed at either end.
Top/Mid/Bot - The three main lanes on the map: top, middle and bottom
Jungle - The area between lanes, typically filled with neutral monsters.
First Blood - An award given to the team that achieves the first kill of an enemy player.
First Turret - An award given to the team that destroys an enemy turret first.
ADC (Attack Damage Carry) - High damage ranged attacking character, usually in bottom lane.
APC - (Ability Power Carry) - Magic damage-focused carry.
Support - Assists and protects the ADC and teammates.
Tank - Absorbs damage and initiates fights with opposing players.
Jungler - Farms jungle areas and ganks lanes.
Gank - Ambushing an enemy in a lane
CC (Crowd Control) - Abilities that stun or slow an enemy player.
Farm - Killing mobs or jungle monsters for gold and XP.
Push - Advancing a lane by killing enemy mobs and turrets.
Teamfight - A battle involving most or all players on the map.
Feeding - When a player dies repeatedly to give the enemy team an advantage.
Carry - A player dealing the most damage to lead the team to a win.
Buff - A temporary boost to power and abilities
Debuff - A temporary negative effect
Cooldown - The time before an ability can be used again

What Are the Major MOBA Tournaments & Events?

Esports World Cup - This is the world’s biggest Esports event, with more than 20 different tournaments across multiple Esports titles, including League of Legends, Dota 2, Honor of Kings, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. Massive prize pools are offered, and you can check our Esports predictions blog for expert analysis.
World Championship - The League of Legends World Championships are held annually by Riot Games, featuring the best teams and players from all over the world. The 2025 tournament offers a $5 million prize pool.
Mid-Season Invitational - This LoL event is the second most prestigious tournament after the World Championship, featuring top teams from regional leagues.
The International - The Dota 2 International is the world’s largest single Esports competition. Organized by Valve, it offers a prize pool of more than $40 million. For the best tips and betting strategies, be sure to check out our expert picks for The International 2025!
M-Series - The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang M-Series is the game’s World Championship tournament. The 2024 M-Series offered a prize pool of $1 million.
Honor of Kings Championship (KC) - This tournament is organised by Level Infinite and TiMi Studios, featuring the best teams from the Midseason Invitational. However, top Chinese teams compete in the King Pro League.

How to Bet on MOBA Games on Stake

Getting started with betting on MOBA games at Stake is simple. Once you’ve created an account, we recommend reading the sports betting guide and the Esports betting guide. You can also follow these steps to place your first bet:

Log in to your account and check your wallet balance.
Open the menu to select the All Esports option and choose any of the available MOBA games.
Browse the live and upcoming matches, and select any of the match winners options to place a quick bet.
You can also select any match to see the full range of betting markets.
Once you have a bet selected, you can enter your stake in the bet slip and confirm to place it.
If the live stream icon is shown, watch the match as it happens.

Most Popular MOBA Betting Markets & Bet Types

Match winner - Threeway - Bet on which team you think will win the match, or bet on the draw. This is like the 1x2 betting market, where you have 3 options to choose from.
Double Chance - Bet on 2 possible outcomes of the match. If either outcome happens, your bet wins.
Map Handicap - Bet on which team you think will win the match with a map handicap or advantage applied. If choosing a handicap, the team will need to win by more than that number of maps for your bet to payout. If you choose a map advantage, the team will have to avoid losing by that number. Read our handicap markets guide for more information.
Correct Score - Predict the final score of the match, using the sliders to choose how many maps you think each team will win.
Wins at Least One Map - Bet on either team to win at least one map during the match.
Map Winner - Twoway - A moneyline bet on which team you think will win a specific map.
Map betting - You can also find lots of betting markets for specific maps, including map 1 kills handicap and map 2 duration.
Totals - Bet on the total kills during the game or the total number of towers destroyed. Choose the under or over line.
Prop bets - Bet on specific outcomes in the match that aren’t tied to the final result, such as which team will get 1st blood, whether a player will get an ultra kill or other objective captures such as destroying inhibitors.
Parlays - Combine multiple bets to create larger odds and bigger potential payouts.
Outright - Bet on the eventual winner of major Esports tournaments such as the Esports World Cup.

How to Watch Esport Live Streams & Place Live Bets

All MOBA games covered at Stake offer pre-match and live betting markets. Live betting means you can place bets while the match is happening, with live odds that update in real-time as the action happens. It’s a great way to get better value on your bets and discover more betting opportunities, especially if you watch the match. At Stake, you can catch the excitement of live Esports with no need to use any external streaming services. Simply log in to your account and select the live stream icon to watch the free live stream.

MOBA Betting Strategies & Tips

Understand the game mechanics - While all MOBA games follow the same core gameplay, they all offer unique characters, abilities, and mechanics. It’s important to learn the specific rules and game balance before betting on it. Don’t assume you know how to bet on Dota 2 just because you’ve had success with LoL betting. Learn the meta, study playing strategies, and watch the events to see team dynamics.
Make the most of all betting markets - There’s a wide range of different betting markets offered on all major MOBA events at Stake. The more markets, the more opportunities you have to find value. Consider LoL markets such as totals, handicaps, and prop bets when you have 2 teams with a significant skill difference.
Pay attention to the draft - The draft is where heroes are chosen for the game, and it can have a major impact on match results. Some teams are more adept with certain heroes than others, and a strong draft gives a team a much better chance of winning. Pay attention to counter-picks and power picks, and be wary of teams that are reliant on a good draft.

MOBA Betting Odds & Payouts Explained

Before betting on Esports and MOBA events, you should have a good understanding of Esports odds and what they mean. Higher odds provide bigger returns on winning bets, but they also mean the implied probability is lower, so the risk is great. Make sure you read our guide to understanding odds and balance risk and reward when choosing your bets. Remember you can switch between different odds formats, including decimal, fractional, and American, to make calculating your payouts easier.

Deposit & Withdrawal Methods for Betting on Esports

Placing bets and making payments at Stake is as simple as possible. Multiple payment methods are supported, including crypto. Here’s how to make deposits and cash out your winnings:

Deposits

Log in to your Stake account and open your wallet to select the deposit option.
Use any of the supported local currencies and payment methods.
You can also deposit and bet using crypto, including BTC, ETH, USDT, EOS, DOGE, LTC, TRX, and SOL.
Copy the provided deposit address and use it as the “send to” location from your crypto wallet or exchange.
You can also deposit using Mesh, MoonPay , or Swapped.com .
Once your funds arrive, store them safely in the Stake vault.

Withdrawals

Sign in to your account and open the Stake wallet.
Select the withdrawal option and choose a payment method.
Enter the amount you want to withdraw and double-check all your details.
Make sure the right cryptocurrency network is selected if you’re using crypto.
Confirm the withdrawal and wait for your funds to arrive.

Read our guides on how to purchase crypto and the safety of crypto gambling for more information. If you have questions, you can also find answers in the help center , and our customer support team is always available to provide assistance too.

Sports Betting Promotions, VIP Club & Responsible Gambling

While enjoying the Esports betting markets at Stake, be sure to take advantage of our excellent sports betting promotions. When you join the site, you’ll also become a Stake VIP, which lets you earn special rewards for placing bets and leveling up your account. Unlock regular rakeback, reload bonuses and your own dedicated VIP host. Find out how it works on the VIP FAQ page and remember to bet responsibly. Follow our Stake Smart guidelines to stay in control while having fun with Esport betting.

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