How To Bet On Darts - Betting Guide For Beginners

Outright (winner) bets

Outright Winner, popularly known as Tournament Winner or Match Winner, is one of the most common darts betting markets. It allows you to predict the player who will win the tournament or the match. For example, in a Ladbrokes UK Open game between Wade and Clayton, the Outright Winner will require you to decide which of the two will win the match. If you pick Clayton and he ends up beating Wade, you win.

Handicap Betting

Though common, handicap betting is a slightly complex market, especially if you are still trying to understand darts betting for beginners. Sportsbooks apply this betting option by disadvantaging the favourite or advantaging the underdog to even the field. For instance, in a PDC World Darts Championship, you can bet on your favourite, Cullen, to win even with a -2.5 handicap. With such a bet, you get to receive better odds on the betting market. In order for this to happen, however, Cullen has to win the match and overcome the handicap for you to win the bet.

Over/Under Markets

Over/Under is among the most popular betting markets that allow you to bet on the total number of legs in a darts match. A good example of an Over/Under bet is when betting on a game played best of five. This implies that the minimum number of darts legs that can be played is 3, whereas the maximum is five. Therefore, if you decide to bet Over 4.5, you only win if the total number of games played is 5. This is one of the most rewarding betting markets you should consider if you're looking for better odds. However, Over/Under markets require you to do extensive research before placing the bets.

In-Play Score - Sets/Legs

If you love making live bets, the in-play score is one of the most interactive betting markets you should consider. The betting option allows you to predict the score after multiple sets /or legs. Consider a World Matchplay event between Michael van Gerwen and Nathan Aspinall. You can predict the game to end with totals of Over 6 sets. Therefore, if the score is 4/3 sets, your bet wins. Note that this betting market is ideal if you know how to analyse current statistics and understand the game of darts.

Correct score

Correct score is yet another popular darts betting market that you should try out. The betting option requires you to predict the score at the end of the match. If you are betting on the Grand Slam of Darts match between Gerwyn Price and Peter Wright, you can decide to predict that Price will win the match 16-8. To win the bet, the match should end at that exact score. This darts betting market usually bears high odds because it is very difficult to predict the correct score of a darts match.

The PDC World Championship

PDC World Championship, which also goes by the name Cazoo World Darts Championship for sponsorship purposes, is a popular tournament that officially started operations in 1994. The tournament is held yearly in London after transferring from Purfleet in 2008. It is considered one of the most prestigious tournaments with a significant prize pool, reaching £2,500,000 in 2022. This explains why PDC World Championship darts matches are often competitive and attract large audiences.

Phil "The Power" Taylor has the most PDC World Darts Championship titles, which is 14, also to his name he has two BDO titles. Giving Phil Taylor a record of 16 World Championships.

World Matchplay

World Matchplay or Betfred World Matchplay is one of the legs of the darts' triple crown that was established in 1994. The competition is under the PDC organisation and takes place in England. World Matchplay is known to attract some of the top players in the world of darts, including Michael van Gerwen, ‎Gerwyn Price, and Peter Wright, among others.

PDC Premier League Darts

Despite being established in 2005, PDC Premier League Darts has grown to become one of the best darts competitions ever. The league is considered to have a compelling prize pool, making it one of the most prestigious PDC contests. For instance, in early 2022, PDC Premier League Darts took place with a prize fund of £1,000,000 and was won by Jonny Clayton.

World Grand Prix

The World Grand Prix is one of the most notable darts tournaments that attract a huge crowd worldwide. This event was established in 1998 and has been conducted since then. World Grand Prix takes the format of double in double out sets, with many notable dart players signing up for the competition. The tournament usually takes place in October.

UK Open

UK Open, popularly known as the Cazoo UK Open, is a famous PDC-organised darts competition established in 2003. The tournament, held in Minehead, happens once a year and attracts around 160 players worldwide. The UK Open also has 8 stages and is often regarded as the FA Cup of darts.

World Cup of Darts

The World Cup of Darts is among the Professional Darts Corporation competitions introduced in 2010. Being a new tournament in the darts sports scene, the World Cup of Darts offers a smaller prize pool of £350,000, but this has not stopped the event from attracting top-notch darts players worldwide.

Look out for the best available odds

Before you place any darts bets, the first thing you need to do is search for the best odds. To do so, compare darts odds from different bookies. Fortunately, you do not have to sign up for a sportsbook account to access this information. You can simply choose your desired tournament or match and search for it in Oddspedia. With high odds, you are guaranteed a better payout in different markets. All you need to do is make sure you place a winning bet.

Take advantage of matched betting and arbitrage betting

Arbitrage betting and matched betting are gambling systems known to minimise the chances of losing. These betting strategies require you to place a back bet at a bookie and lay the same bet at a betting exchange. But then, to be on the safe side, make sure you find a suitable darts match and market for matched and arbitrage betting.

Follow darts tipsters and their expert predictions

Another strategy you need to apply is following darts tipsters and taking notes of their expert predictions. First, do your research and come up with your findings. The next step is to compare the results. If you are an expert, you can use this tip for confirmation right before making your prediction. On the other hand, if you are an amateur gambler, following darts tipsters will help you sharpen your research skills.

Take the small wins and profits

You are recommended to always take the small wins and enjoy any amount of profit you make. With gambling being a game of luck, you can never be sure the next time you will place a correct bet. It is also hard to tell whether you will ever achieve a significant win. Therefore, any time your bet wins, celebrate the win.

Shorter Formats

Darts tournaments are available in different formats, including best-of-11-legs and double in, double out, among many others. You are advised to opt for short formats since the events attract better odds, especially if you opt for Outsiders. The only challenge is to do adequate research to avoid disappointing results.

Remember the Crowd

Always take note of the crowd when placing darts bets. In darts, the crowd plays a significant role in the match's outcome. This was evident in the 2019 World Championship when the fans saw Fallon Sherrock make a surprise win in the first round against Ted Evetts and then beat Mensur Suljovic in the second. Therefore, as you do your research, remember to analyse the crowd and gauge the impact they would have on the match.

Not familiar with the sport

Before you even think about betting on darts, you should understand the sport. Know what the game entails and what to expect during each leg and set. Also, familiarise yourself with darts players by learning more about the winners of different tournaments and formats. Remember, the darts formats determine the kind of markets you can access.

By gathering enough information about darts, you will have an easy time researching and placing bets. Also, it is advisable to learn common darts phrases, for instance, most 180s and nine-dart finishes. If possible, take your time to go through different darts guides to gather more knowledge on the sport.

Ignoring Player Form and their Off-Oche Antics and Distractions

Ignoring the form of a darts player is one of the most common mistakes you can make when betting on the sport. How well the player is prepared for the game is crucial for their on-oche performance. Therefore, gather adequate information about the players and use the details to make correct predictions. Another crucial mistake is not accounting for players' off-oche antics and distractions. This has been a big issue in top tournaments due to its ability to impact the opponents' performance, affecting the match results. When placing darts bets, take player form and off-oche antics into account.

Mismanaging your bankroll

It is common for bettors to mismanage their bankroll, especially during their first few betting sessions. This mistake has seen multiple gamblers run into their savings, a step that can lead to a financial crisis down the road. To avoid wagering more than you can afford, consider developing a betting plan: State your staking limits and determine the amount of money you can comfortably wager. After that, ensure you stick to your staking plan.

Betting on your favourite player

It is very common for gamblers to bet on their favourite darts player. However, this is one of the mistakes that can easily lead you into a losing streak. After all, this is a decision based on emotions with no research or statistics to back the likeliness of your player winning the event. Therefore, always take your time to go through the events, do your research, and compare your findings with darts tipsters before placing the bet.