Hearthstone Betting: A Comprehensive Guide
Hearthstone is a popular online collectible card game developed by Blizzard Entertainment. It has gained immense popularity and has become one of the most played games in the esports industry. As with any popular sport, betting on Hearthstone has become a popular pastime for many fans of the game.
There are numerous online sportsbooks that offer Hearthstone betting options, providing players with the opportunity to place bets on their favourite players and teams. These sportsbooks offer a variety of betting options, including moneyline bets, outright match winners, and even in-play betting options. With the growing popularity of Hearthstone, betting on the game has become more accessible and easier than ever before.
However, it is important for players to do their research and choose a reputable sportsbook to place their bets with. With so many options available, it can be difficult to know which sportsbook to choose. By considering factors such as the sportsbook’s reputation, bonuses and promotions, and customer support, players can ensure that they are placing their bets with a trustworthy and reliable sportsbook.
Hearthstone Betting Platforms
There are several Hearthstone betting platforms available for players who want to bet on their favourite players and teams. These platforms offer different features and services to cater to the varying needs of bettors. Here are some of the most popular Hearthstone betting platforms:
- Best Odds Available
- Wide range of Betting Markets
- Super fast deposits & withdrawals
- Live streaming service
- Best Odds Available
- Wide range of Betting Markets
- Super fast deposits & withdrawals
- Live streaming service
- Attractive odds;
- thorough market coverage;
- several markets with live betting;
- Attractive odds;
- thorough market coverage;
- several markets with live betting;
- Excellent live betting platform
- Esports & virtual sports markets
- Variety of ongoing promotions
- Excellent live betting platform
- Esports & virtual sports markets
- Variety of ongoing promotions
- Live streaming available
- Competitive odds and price boosts
- Betting app on iOS and Android
- Live streaming available
- Competitive odds and price boosts
- Betting app on iOS and Android
- Odds above average
- Fair new customer bonus
- Outstanding football betting selection
- Odds above average
- Fair new customer bonus
- Outstanding football betting selection
- Odds above average
- Fair new customer bonus
- Outstanding football betting selection
- Odds above average
- Fair new customer bonus
- Outstanding football betting selection
- Excellent customer service package
- Good selection of sports and bets
- Top Winners section provides a fun element of competition
- Excellent customer service package
- Good selection of sports and bets
- Top Winners section provides a fun element of competition
- Two different Welcome offers
- New well-designed sportsbook
- Two different Welcome offers
- New well-designed sportsbook
- Odds are announced early
- Match predictions are reliable
- Neat and functional mobile app
- Odds are announced early
- Match predictions are reliable
- Neat and functional mobile app
- Odds are announced early
- Match predictions are reliable
- Neat and functional mobile app
- Odds are announced early
- Match predictions are reliable
- Neat and functional mobile app
Understanding Hearthstone
Hearthstone is a digital collectible card game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment. It is a turn-based strategy game where players use decks of cards representing characters, spells, and weapons to defeat their opponents. The game is set in the Warcraft universe, and players can choose from nine different classes, each with its own unique cards and abilities.
The objective of Hearthstone is to reduce the opponent’s health to zero. Each player starts with 30 health points, and players take turns playing cards from their hand to summon minions, cast spells, and use weapons to attack their opponent’s minions or directly attack their opponent. Players can also use their hero power, a unique ability that costs mana and can be used once per turn.
Hearthstone is a game of skill, strategy, and luck. Players must carefully manage their resources, make tactical decisions, and predict their opponent’s moves to gain an advantage. The game is constantly evolving, with new cards and expansions being added regularly to keep the game fresh and exciting.
To be successful at Hearthstone, players must have a deep understanding of the game mechanics, the different classes and their strengths and weaknesses, and the current meta-game. They must also be able to build and refine decks that suit their playstyle and adapt to the changing game environment.
Overall, Hearthstone is a challenging and rewarding game that requires skill, strategy, and a bit of luck to master. Whether you’re a casual player or a competitive gamer, there’s always something new to discover and enjoy in the world of Hearthstone.
The Basics of Betting
Betting on Hearthstone is becoming increasingly popular, and it’s easy to see why. The game is exciting, fast-paced, and requires a great deal of skill to play. If you’re new to the world of Hearthstone betting, there are a few basics you need to know before you get started.
Understanding the Odds
Before placing a bet, it’s important to understand how odds work. The odds represent the likelihood of a particular outcome occurring. For example, if a player has odds of 2/1 to win a match, it means that they are expected to win one out of every three matches. Understanding the odds is essential to making informed betting decisions.
Types of Bets
There are several types of bets that can be placed on Hearthstone matches. The most common type of bet is a straight bet, where you simply bet on which player you think will win the match. Other types of bets include prop bets, which are bets on specific events that may occur during the match, and futures bets, which are bets on the outcome of a tournament or league.
Bankroll Management
One of the most important aspects of successful betting is bankroll management. This involves setting aside a specific amount of money for betting and only using a portion of that money for each bet. It’s important to never bet more than you can afford to lose, as this can lead to financial difficulties.
Choosing a Betting Site
When choosing a betting site, it’s important to do your research and choose a site that is reputable and trustworthy. Look for a site that offers a wide range of betting options, competitive odds, and a user-friendly interface. It’s also important to choose a site that offers secure payment options and has a good track record of paying out winnings on time.
Overall, betting on Hearthstone can be a fun and exciting way to enjoy the game and potentially win some money. By understanding the basics of betting, choosing a reputable betting site, and practicing good bankroll management, you can increase your chances of success.
Hearthstone Gameplay
Competitive Hearthstone matches are played in a 1v1 format, with each player taking turns making a play. Matches generally only last between 5-15 minutes, with games involving high levels of strategy. Players begin by picking their starting hands, with either three or four cards selected at random from the deck. Each deck contains 30 cards, with cards available depending on the hero in which has been chosen, with every class having a different selection of cards.
From the cards given, players are able to decide as to whether they would like to play or have any replaced. The first round will kick off once both players are happy, beginning with drawing a new card, which will be either a minion, spell or weapon card. Let’s take a detailed look at the type of cards available within Hearthstone:
- Minion Cards – As the most common type of card, featuring creatures that are permanent on the battlefield. They help players to attack enemy minions or other enemy heroes, whilst some possess “taunt abilities”, which can defend heroes from enemy attacks. Each minion holds a different attack and defence value.
- Spell Cards – The second most common cards in Hearthstone, spell cards have certain effects that can be triggered during matches. Certain spell cards have the potential to permanently destroy minions, as well as causing large amounts of damage. A spell card is automatically discarded once it has been used.
- Weapon Cards – The rarest type of cards, weapon cards provide a variety of different weapons, which enable players to attack and defend. Each weapon cards hold a damage and durability value.
Once a card has been drawn, players will then be given the opportunity to play one or more, with each card having a mana crystal value in the top left corner. This value is based on the amount of mana crystals in which it would cost you to play the card, however you can only start matches with one mana crystal. Should games last until the 10th turn, each player will receive 10 mana crystals to use.
Each hero is blessed with a certain “hero power”, with nine different heroes from the following classes: Druid, Hunter Paladin, Priest, Rogue, Shaman, Warlock and Warrior. While a mage can throw a fireball in order to cause significant damage, a priest can heal itself from damage. With each hero starting with 30 health, the aim of the game is to kill your opponent’s hero.
Hearthstone Betting Platforms
For those new to the world of Hearthstone, there are a whole host of bookmakers now offering betting markets on this increasingly popular eSports game. Along with traditional sportsbooks including William Hill, Ladbrokes and Betway, there are a whole host of dedicated eSports betting platforms to select from, with the likes of eBettle and EGB among the most successful to date. Picking a bookmaker in fact be one of the hardest decisions to make, with a whole host of factors likely to effect your decision. With Hearthstone markets, odds, bonuses and promotions and customer service services and features likely to effect your decision, check out our operator reviews for an in-depth breakdown of all options. Do not forget that you do not have to limit yourself to just one platform.
Type of Hearthstone Bets
Despite being relatively new to the world of eSports betting, Hearthstone markets now feature heavily on a wide range of websites. Although not as diverse as the likes of League of Legends and Dota 2, there are a variety of popular bets involved within Hearthstone, the most common of which comes in the form of outright match and tournament bets. In short, this concerns backing a particular player to come out on top in a particular match or tournament. Due to the competitive nature of Hearthstone, odds for such bets are usually fairly generous, especially when it comes to backing a player to win an entire competition. Obviously, players such as Pavel and Orange, who currently sit at the top of the world rankings, will be generally be among the favourites for events, with bookmakers offering them at shorter odds as a result. On top of this, and while the number of bets will differ between bookmakers, the following are among the most common markets when it comes to Hearthstone betting:
- To reach the final – During the larger Hearthstone tournaments, certain bookmakers will offer the chance to back players to reach certain stages of competitions. While this generally only involves players with the biggest reputations, backing them to make it to the knockout stages or final can often prove to be an efficient method of wagering.
- First to cause damage
- First to play a legendary card
- Highest damage from a single card
Hearthstone Tournaments
The Hearthstone competitive scene has exploded over recent years, with a range of tournaments and events, from local to worldwide, helping to make up the schedule. The following tournaments are among the competitions that usually feature heavily in the betting markets among bookmakers, however coverage will of course depend on the platform:
- Last Call – Any player that has acquired the Legend card pack is eligible for their respective region’s Last Call tournament, an event using best-of-three matches, in a single elimination format. The top 16 from this tournament will then advance to the regional qualifiers.
- Hearthstone World Championship Qualifiers – The top four players from each region (America, Europe, China and Asia-Pacific) will compete during the group stages, helping to determine who will move on to the BlizzCon.
- Hearthstone World Championship – With the Hearthstone World Championship now offering a total prize pool of over $250,000, competition for places is increasing by the year. Taking place at Blizzard’s yearly BlizzCon event, the first-round features four groups, each of which contain four players. The top two players from each group will advance to the second round.
Elsewhere, the likes of the StarLadder i-League, ChallengeStone, Hearthstone Global Games and Team Brawl help to make up a jam-packed year of action, with markets available at bookmakers on virtually a weekly basis.
Hearthstone Players
Unlike other eSports titles, competitive Hearthstone matches are played individually. While Hearthstone is one of the more unpredictable games around, the top players are likely to be offered the shortest odds for both matches and tournaments. Let’s take a look at the current Hearthstone world rankings, as well as some history surrounding the individuals concerned:
- Pavel – Pavel Beltukov currently sits top of the world rankings, despite having had a troublesome history within Hearthstone. Having missed major tournaments due to visa issues, the Russian won the 2016 Hearthstone World Championship.
- StanCifka – StanCifka, from the Czech Republic, represents Team Misfits, whose major achievements to date include winning the 2015 StarLadder i-League.
- Orange – From Sweden, Orange won the SeatStory Cup VI in 2016, adding to victories at the Abios Grand Tournament and ASU ROG 10th Anniversary Tournament in the past.
- Rdu – Rdu is from Romania and represents G2 Esports. Having won over $50,000 from Hearthstone events, major victories include the DreamHack Summer 2016 and TrueSilver Championship.
- Xixo – From Germany, Xixo represents team Planet Odd, winning the WePlay Hearthstone League and eSports Arena Invitational in the past.
- Neirea – Team Liquid’s Neirea has yet to win a major Hearthstone tournament to date, however a runner up finish at the HWC – Europe Championship demonstrates his potential.
- Dog – American and Team Liquid player, Dog, finished second at the DreamHack Summer 2015, going on to win the ONOG 2016 Circuit Feature Tournament #2 in 2016.
- Hoej – Denmark’s Hoej has already won the GamersOrigin Hearthstone Challenge in 2017, adding to a previous victory at the Gfinity 2015 – Summer Masters II.
- Shoop2 – Shoop was the victor at the recent DreamHack Austin 2017, with the American having been well backed to rise up the rankings over the coming months.
- OmegaZero – Despite not winning any major Hearthstone events to date, strong showings at the BlizzCon 2016 event demonstrate his ability.
5 Hearthstone Betting Tips
Whether you are new to Hearthstone or have been there since the very start, it is important to follow a few simple rules when it comes to betting in this market. Carrying out and following these steps will certainly enhance your chances of success, although, of course, no bet is ever guaranteed to come in.
- Bonuses – You will often find that the most attractive odds and promotions can be found during major Hearthstone tournaments. While betting on smaller meetings can undoubtedly be an effective method of betting, many bookmakers will offer enhanced odds during events such as the Hearthstone Global Games and World Championships, enhancing your chances of significantly adding to your bank balance.
- Stick to the basics – Remember that statistics and knowledge of the game is undoubtedly the bread and butter when it comes to betting on Hearthstone. Due to Hearthstone being a 1v1 competition, there are a number of factors that can come together to determine the results of matches. Taking a look at the form of players, along with the world rankings, will also enhance your chances of placing successful bets. Knowing what type of playing style certain players prefer, as well as their in-game decision making, is also a welcome addition.
- Patches – Be sure to keep up-to-date with the latest Hearthstone patches, with changes to the game potentially effecting the success rates of certain players. While patches are not regularly released, players will undoubtedly take different timeframes to get used to such changes.
- Watch matches – For those new to the world of Hearthstone betting, it is vital to start out by watching matches as they take place, taking into account different strategies, cards, game variables and the best players. This will also help to provide a much better understanding of the game, allowing you to feel more confident when placing bets.
- Keep a lid on spending – A good rule of thumb when it comes to betting on any eSports market, including Hearthstone, is to bet a maximum of 10% of your bankroll. Due to outright match bets having just a 50% success rate, there are fewer safe bets within Hearthstone, when compared to other games. Also be sure not to bet in anger at having lost a bet, with this process a sure-fire way to lose vast amounts of money.
Hearthstone Betting FAQ
Here we will provide answers to some of the most commonly asked questions when it comes to Hearthstone betting, ensuring that you are 100% ready to begin wagering.
Is betting on Hearthstone legal?
Despite coming under much scrutiny in the past, betting on Hearthstone, as well as any other eSports game, is subject to the laws and regulations within your country or region. If betting on other sports is not legal where you are based, then this most likely goes for eSports betting also.
Where can I bet on Hearthstone?
A whole host of bookmakers and websites now offer real money wagering on Hearthstone, each of which range in terms of markets offered, live streaming and odds. You can select from a wide range of traditional sportsbooks, along with more modern, dedicated eSports sites. Check out our operator reviews for more information.
Where can I watch live Hearthstone matches?
Live Hearthstone action is becoming more and more common on a whole host of streaming platforms, with the likes of Twitch, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter now showing high quality action, including LoL matches from major tournaments.
Which Hearthstone events can I bet on?
The number of Hearthstone events in which you can bet on will vary from bookmaker to bookmaker, with traditional platforms tending to focus mainly upon major events. While some of the less recognised competitions are regularly available, they do not receive as much attention, meaning that markets tend to be limited.