Valve Announces Match Gambling for Dota Plus Members

Every couple of months, we see a new studio and/or publisher announcing a shift away from loot boxes and gambling. But Valve doesn't play by society's rules. Instead, they're introducing a new gambling mechanic to the Dota Plus service.

Announced last week in a Steam Blog, Valve will be introducing a new app service that allows Dota Plus members to wager their in-app currency on the outcome of professional Dota 2 matches.

The app in question is the Dota Pro Circuit companion app for iOS and Android. It includes a currency known as Shards, which can be earned through various gameplay efforts. This update allows the user to wager their personal stash of shards on the winner of Pro Circuit matches. The maximum wager per match is set at 100 shards. the winning odds will vary by match and will be provided by Valve.

While Dota Plus costs real-world money ($4 a month), it's important to note that the Shards cannot actually be used to purchase anything. So while this is a clear and present example of gambling, its incentives to participate are purely for the sport of it.