Volleyball Review

Introduction to Volleyball Betting

Volleyball is a popular betting sport in mainland Europe but not much so in the UK. Several European countries have strong domestic leagues but the main league in England is somewhat below that level. There are also competitive leagues in South America and Asia. Volleyball lends itself to betting due to the match dynamics and scoring system. Matches take place over five sets. A team wins a set by reaching 25 points with an advantage of at least two points over their opponents. The objective is to volley the ball over a net and prevent the other team of six players from returning the ball. Matches are shown live on television in Europe and the coverage increases betting.

Betting Events

There are World Championships, European Championships and Olympic Games at international level. The current men’s champions for each tournament are Brazil, three-time winners, Serbia, two-time winners, and Brazil respectively. The current holders of the three titles in the women’s game are China, Serbia and China. The best domestic teams in Europe contest the Champions League, which is the equivalent of the men’s competition of that name in football. The best domestic leagues and Cup competitions take place in Spain, Serbia, Germany and France in Europe, Brazil and Argentina in South America, and China and Korea in Asia.

Betting Types

Volleyball is a head-to-head team game in which there is always a definite outcome. The team that wins three sets, wins the match. If scores are tied at 24-all, one team must gain an advantage of two points to win the set. The pre-match winner is a two-way market because there cannot be a tie in a volleyball match. Bookmakers issue match odds a few days in advance of the event. The odds can fluctuate as a result of key injuries and team news. Volleyball is suited to in-play betting because of the nature of the scoring. The advantage for the receiver means the lead can change often. At different stages of a set and match, both teams can be the underdogs and favourites. Bookmakers issue ante-post odds on the outright winners of the main domestic leagues and international tournaments.

Volleyball Markets

The most popular volleyball betting market is the match winner without the draw (Team 1 or Team 2). The other most bet on markets are the match correct score in sets, team and match total points, set and match handicaps and set winners. Bookmakers offer more exotic markets such as the set correct score in points and winning margins. These markets are popular with bettors because they provide the potential for a decent win from a small stake.