Darts Review

Introduction to Darts Betting

Darts is suited to betting because of the format and nature of the scoring. The objective is to score points by throwing three darts at a board. The sport plays in legs, and it’s the first to 501 points. The player who throws the darts first has a major advantage, and it reflects in the betting. Darts is mainly played as a knockout sport whereby the winner of a match progresses to the next round. There was a split in the sport in the 1990s which led to the creation of two professional bodies: BDO and PDC. The backing of Sky Sports has made the PDC events the most lucrative. Very few players have competed in both organisations.

Betting Events

The PDC and BDO both stage world championships in December and January. The events do not overlap, and there is media and TV coverage of both championships. However, the PDC event has more prestige and prize money. The PDC also organises the Premier League. This tournament brings together 10 of the leading players who compete at venues around the UK. The biggest events are those shown live on television. The calendar features events mainly around Europe in match play and legs and sets formats. There are ranking and invitational tournaments.

Betting Types

Most darts bets are in pre-match markets. Bookmakers issue odds a few days before an event. There are rarely price movements because the form is exposed and injuries rarely affect the sport. The increase in TV coverage has led to more in-play betting. It takes few minutes to complete legs, so there are many betting opportunities. The two world championships are popular for ante-post betting on the outright winner.

Darts Markets

The most popular darts betting market is the match winner. Most tournaments have a knockout format, so one player progresses to the next round while the opponent is eliminated. Customers can also bet on the winner of a leg and set. The number of maximum scores from three darts is also popular. The most bet on in-play markets are the finishing colour and number. A nine-dart finish is another novelty bet that attracts plenty of betting interest.