Darts Betting Guide
Darts betting, an ever growing market in the UK. It's a game that began in the pubs and grew into a huge international sport. Not only is it fun to play in a bar or watch live, it’s also an excellent sport to bet on. There are a lot of options when it comes to darts that are televised globally. It has large viewing figures, partly due to the loud personalities of some of the players. Another reason is due to the lively crowds in the audience who like to interct with the players and party. Darts betting has become a popular sport to bet on due to the influx of people that are interested in the sport. If you are new to darts or betting on darts, then hopefully our guide can help you.
Understanding Darts Betting
Before looking at different betting strategies, it’s important to understand the basics of darts and also the basics of betting. If you want to read more about betting first, you can click here.
The aim is to reach zero from a starting number of 501 (this amount can sometimes vary). Usually, a match involves two players competing against each other to reach zero first.
Darts is played in “legs”. As an example, a match might consist of 9 legs. This means that whoever wins the most legs out of 9 would win the match. The number of legs varies by tournament, and also what stage of the tournament.
Darts Betting Markets
Match Betting
The most popular market, you back who you think is going to win the match. It is as straight forward as that. Sometimes it is not the most favourable market to bet on if you are looking for good darts odds in the early rounds of a competition. This is because there is usually a very strong player up against a weaker one.
A common example of this can be found when looking at the prices for Michael Van Gerwen. It is often his odds will be extremely short as he is likely to progress to the later stages of a tournament. In addition to this, he is a really popular player to bet on so the bookies have to take this into consideration when pricing up the market.
Handicap Betting
Handicap betting levels the playing field when there is a strong favourite. For example, if Michael Van Gerwen is a heavy favourite, a handicap bet can get you a more valuable price. Here you would normally have two options:
Match Betting Price:
Michael Van Gerwen - 4/9 Danny Noppert - 5/1
Handicap Price:
Michael Van Gerwen (-2) - 10/11
Danny Noppert (+2) - 2/1
In this example, if you decided to back MVG on a -2 handicap, he would need to win the match by at least 2 legs. With him having a short price initially in the match betting, this suggests it is a likely outcome.
If you back Danny Noppert at +2, this means you get a shorter price. But it also means you increase your chances of winning. Danny would need to lose by no more than 2 legs for this bet to come in.
Over/Under Betting
This market involves betting on whether a specific event (like total legs in a match or total 180s) will be over or under a set number. Over/under bets go well with studying the form of two players to find the best darts odds.
Example:
Under/Over Legs
Let’s say we were going to look at this market for Michael Van Gerwen and Danny Noppert again. In this scenario lets assume they are playing best of 15 legs. This is an example of what we could find from looking at player form:
Michael Van Gerwen has been winning his matches quickly.
Danny Noppert has had a strong start but the games have been going down to the wire.
What does this mean?
If MVG is currently winning legs consistently and Noppert isn’t, then the match is unlikely to have many legs. In a best of 15 legs situation you would need a minimum of 7 legs to be played for there to be a winner.
With these scenarios in place, the bookies could price the darts odds in the following way:
Over | Under | |
7.5 Legs | 4/9 | 3/1 |
10.5 Legs | EVS | EVS |
14.5 Legs | 3/1 | 4/9 |
The ‘.5’ is an indicator of ‘more or less than X’. In this instance, the selections on the first row would mean you are betting on either ‘more than 7 legs’ or ‘less than 8 legs’
Correct Score
This market is not always the most popular. It is exactly what it says. You can do as much research as you like however at the end of the day nothing is promised in betting. And nothing can be more unpredictable than a score, especially in a sport like darts. However, predicting a score means you can find higher darts odds. You just need to remember that the higher the price, the less likely you are to win.
Placing a correct score bet also offers an entertainment boost when it comes to watching a match live. Doing this can make you be on the edge of your seat throughout the entire game, you can get a thrill regardless of the end result. It is a lottery. And if you do actually win, the returns you see could have you doing cartwheels around the room!
Outright Winner
Another simple market, you back whoever you think will win a specific competition. With these markets you can also find some good value darts odds. The good thing is, the bet will stay live until your player either wins or gets knocked out. This can help add an extra layer of excitement to watching a tournament play out.
Often with outright winner markets, you can also back Each Way. This means for double your stake you can still see a return even if your darts player finishes as a runner up. Usually the payouts are ¼ or ⅕ of the odds you backed if your player places. Places depend per tournament and per bookie, normally some pay out up to three places. This would mean that you can get a return even if your player comes third in the tournament. It’s often for big competitions that you will see bookies offer four, five or six places. In this instance, each way betting can give you some security. However, depending on the place terms, it is never usually worth backing anything priced less than 5/1 each way.
Darts Betting Tips
Research Player Form and Statistics
If you want to place an informed bet, it is important to review player form and also their stats. One of the best sources would be the PDC website depending on the competition. For example you may wish to place a bet on a BDO tournament instead. These websites provide the latest stats on player performances. This includes averages, checkout percentages, and head-to-head records.
Understand the Players
Different players have different strengths. It’s wise to take into account the tournament format and even the location where the event will be played. Some players are better suited to different formats. In addition to this, some competitions and venues are higher pressured than others.
Take Gerwyn Price as an example. He is one of the best players in the world, yet certain crowds hate him. Gerwyn excels when he is playing in front of a hostile crowd as he loves to wind them up.
Another example could be Phil Taylor in the World Grand Prix, as he was an incredibly strong doubles player.
Stay Updated
Sometimes players may miss a tournament due to illness or personal issues. Follow darts channels on social media to keep up to date with the latest news.
Advanced Betting Strategies
Value Betting
Value betting is identifying prices that are higher than the actual probability of the event occurring. Sometimes bookies will try and get a quick win by boosting a price for a likely event because they want to attract customers. However, these usually come with limitations and if you want to find a bet with true value it often means putting in some work.
Again, it is mastering the basics such as studying form and playing patterns. Sometimes it mean having a keen eye. For example there are times where bookmakers will price up one market, and offer a similar outcome under a different proposition, for a higher price.
You can read more in our guide about how to find a good bet. Hopefully this will help you in your search for the best darts odds.
In-Play Betting
Darts matches can change quickly, making in-play betting an exciting and fast paced strategy. By watching matches live and analysing player performance, you can make informed bets as the markets move, very much like a trader. A great platform for this is Betfair Exchange. On the exchange not only can you place bets, but you can lay them as well. Many trading teams at the UK bookies will use Betfair Exchange to identify risks and ensure that their prices are aligned with their strategies.
Responsible Gambling
While darts betting can be fun, it’s important to remember to bet responsibly. Set a budget, never chasing losses, and make sure you only bet what you can afford to lose. Betting is a recreational activity and not a way to make money. If you think you have an issue, you can set deposit limits or even self-exclude. Responsible gambling ensures that you can still enjoy gambling without it causing harm.
Summary of our Darts Betting Guide
Darts betting offers many markets. By understanding the sport, researching players and tournaments, and following set betting strategies, you can enhance your chances of success. Remember, the key to successful betting is not just luck but informed decisions and responsible gambling practices. Betting on darts is great fun and should always be just for fun, nothing more.