Hearthstone is a free-to-play online digital trading card game (TCG) developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment, the same studio behind iconic titles like Overwatch, StarCraft II, and World of Warcraft. Built upon the rich lore of the Warcraft universe, Hearthstone draws its cards, characters, spells, and class mechanics directly from that world—bringing its legendary factions, heroes, and creatures into a strategic and accessible card format.
Players face off in a variety of game modes, with the most popular being PvP (Player vs Player) battles where deck-building skill, game knowledge, and tactical decision-making are key. With its recent 2025 competitive revamp, Hearthstone has entered a new era of playability and competition, offering streamlined tournament access and renewed focus on global participation. Whether you’re battling for fun or fighting for your spot in the World Championship, Hearthstone continues to evolve as a cornerstone of the strategy card game genre.
Our top Hearthstone betting sites are:
Terms & Conditions Apply. Visit BetOnline for more information.
Betting on Hearthstone
As of 2025, BetOnline remains one of the few major sportsbooks currently offering betting markets on Hearthstone esports tournaments. Available markets include standard Match Winner options—such as Head-to-Head, Moneyline, and Straight bets—as well as outright futures like predicting which competitor will reach the final or take home the championship title.
With Hearthstone’s competitive scene revitalized and its global fanbase once again growing, the expectation is that more bookmakers will begin including it in their regular esports offerings. As prize pools expand and viewership increases, we may also begin to see new and more creative betting markets introduced. These could include propositions like which player loses health first, who goes first in the match, or who summons the first legendary card—offering fans a deeper and more strategic wagering experience.
For now, BetOnline leads the way, but the resurgence of Hearthstone esports suggests that other operators may soon follow.
Our top Hearthstone betting sites are:
Terms & Conditions Apply. Visit BetOnline for more information.
About Hearthstone
Hearthstone has successfully transitioned from a popular online game into a globally recognized esport, perfectly embodying the phrase: “easy to learn, difficult to master.” Its blend of intuitive mechanics and deep strategic layers makes it accessible for beginners while offering immense depth for seasoned pros.
The primary goal in Hearthstone is simple: reduce your opponent’s 30 health points to zero before they do the same to you. Unlike other major trading card games like Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic: The Gathering, or the Pokémon TCG, Hearthstone is entirely digital-only—there are no physical cards to collect. This purely online format allows Blizzard to focus entirely on game balance, accessibility, and innovation without needing to serve both physical and digital markets.
Another major differentiator is its Hero system. Players choose from a roster of iconic Warcraft-inspired Heroes, each representing a unique class with exclusive cards and one-of-a-kind abilities. This system enhances player identity and strategy, offering varied playstyles and deck-building opportunities.
The gameplay itself is defined by simplicity at its core: each player gains one additional mana crystal per turn, which determines what cards they can play. Cards include minions—units with attack and health values—that can either target the opposing Hero directly or engage enemy minions. The turn-by-turn decisions of whether to maintain board control or push for direct damage form the heart of Hearthstone’s tactical appeal.
This fundamental choice—go face or control the board—is what elevates high-level play. Esports professionals distinguish themselves through their mastery of timing, resource management, bluffing, and anticipating opponent strategy. In the hands of elite players, these deceptively simple mechanics become the foundation for brilliant, game-defining decisions.
Hearthstone esports
Hearthstone wasted no time establishing itself as a serious contender in the competitive gaming space. Just months after its closed beta in 2013, Blizzard Entertainment hosted the game’s first official tournament at the annual BlizzCon convention. Eight handpicked players competed for the title, and it was professional StarCraft commentator Artosis who claimed victory and earned the title of Grandmaster of Hearth after an impressive 9–3 record.
Momentum built rapidly. In 2014 alone, Blizzard distributed over US$1 million in prize money across 52 tournaments, signaling a long-term commitment to building Hearthstone as a premiere digital esport. These events attracted top-tier players and massive online audiences, helping the game carve out a unique place within the growing esports ecosystem.
By 2018, Hearthstone was at full throttle. The year began with the 4th Annual Hearthstone Championship Tour (HCT) World Championship, held live in Amsterdam from January 18–21. Sixteen players who had qualified throughout the 2017 season competed for a $1 million prize pool, with the champion taking home $250,000 and even the last-place finisher earning $25,000. It was a defining moment that solidified Hearthstone’s reputation for delivering high-stakes, professionally produced events.
In 2019, Blizzard introduced a new elite competition format: Hearthstone Grandmasters. This league-style system featured two eight-week regular seasons each year, with top performers advancing to the World Championship. However, while the Grandmasters program offered consistent exposure for top players, feedback from the community highlighted its lack of accessibility for up-and-coming talent.
In response to this feedback—and amid a shifting esports landscape—Blizzard sunset the Grandmasters format after the 2022 season. With 2023 acting as a transitional year and no major circuit confirmed for 2024, fans were left waiting to see what would come next.
That answer arrived in 2025, as Blizzard unveiled a fully restructured and revitalized Hearthstone Esports ecosystem. Focused on accessibility, regional participation, and ladder-based merit, the new system replaces league exclusivity with open competition—inviting a new generation of players into the spotlight and breathing fresh life into the game’s competitive future.
Recommended!
Where to watch Hearthstone esports
Hearthstone has a close partnership with Twitch.tv, often rewarding Twitch Prime customers free in game bonuses, so it is no surprise you can watch all live broadcast games at: https://www.twitch.tv/PlayHearthstone
Hearthstone jargon & terminology
Like all competitive multiplayer games that got into the esports big leagues, there is a significant amount of game jargon and terminology employed by professional players and popularised by the passionate fanbase. If you need to brush up on the lingo, we have a summary of the terms you need to familiarise yourself with before watching and betting on the typical Hearthstone esports match.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Adapt | Choose one of three bonuses. |
| Battlecry | Does something when you play it from your hand. |
| Charge | Can attack immediately. |
| Choose One | Oddly doesn’t have an official in-game definition, but you are offered two options to choose from. This is currently limited to the Druid class. |
| Combo | A bonus if you already played a card this turn. Currently limited to the Rogue class. |
| Counter | A card that is Countered has no effect. Currently the only card that has this keyword is Counterspell. |
| Deathrattle | Does something when it dies. |
| Discover | Choose one of three cards to add to your hand. |
| Divine Shield | The first time a shielded minion takes damage, ignore it. |
| Enrage | While damaged, this minion has a new power. |
| Freeze | Frozen characters lose their next attack. |
| Immune | Immune characters can’t be damaged. |
| Inspire | Does something after you use your Hero Power. |
| Jade Golem | Your first Jade Golem is 1/1. Each future one has +1/+1. |
| Mega-Windfury | Can attack four times a turn. |
| Overload | You have X less mana next turn. |
| Poisonous | Destroy any minion damaged by this. |
| Quest | Starts in your hand. Complete for a reward. |
| Secret | Hidden until a specific action occurs on your opponent’s turn. |
| Spell Damage | Your spell cards deal 1 extra damage. |
| Stealth | Can’t be attacked or targeted until it deals damage. |
| Taunt | Enemies must attack minions that have Taunt. |
| Windfury | Can attack twice each turn. |
