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Tennis Betting Online Guide Laws & Best Tennis Betting Sites for 2024
By Matt Speakman,Betting Expert at online-gambling.com
Matt Speakman
Betting Expert at online-gambling.com
| Rules Diffuculty | Medium |
|---|---|
| Betting Types | 20+ |
| Payout | 92.12% – 93.20% |
| How to Win | Tips & Strategies |
| Where to Bet | Bet 365 |
How to Bet on Tennis: Full Betting Guide
Welcome to our guide to online tennis betting. Step by step, we’ll explain everything and point out all the benefits of this type of wagering. Make sure to read our tennis betting guide until the end to gain the necessary insight before you start wagering your own money.
Like with all types of sports betting, punters should first find a bookmaker that offers the sports markets they are looking for. It’s also advisable to pick an operator that works with low profit margins. This will give help you to make the most of your bets and get a better return when your bet wins.
Best Online Betting Site to Bet for Real Money:
Top Offer
Our recommended tennis sportsbook is a good choice for both starting and seasoned punters. All new customers are invited to take advantage of a welcome offer. We’ll now briefly explain how betting on tennis is done.
Rules for Betting on Tennis
Wagering on tennis matches is done by selecting the outcome you deem suitable placing a bet. It’s that simple. While there are no specifics to that, it’s always helpful if you utilize the rules of tennis to your advantage when placing bets on tennis matches. This is the key to finding advantage bets, thus – good value for your money.
Every bit of in-depth knowledge comes in handy, especially if you bet while the ball is in play (live betting). We gathered advice from our pundits in a single table that can be used as a betting guide. Implementing these simple rules in combination with what the top tennis betting sites have to offer is the approach we recommend.
| Rule | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Follow Recent Form | Tennis is very competitive nowadays and you never know when an up-and-coming young star can bring an upset. Tennis players get streaks of hot and cold form and some players match up better against others. Take note of these things before you bet. |
| Live Betting Over Pre-Match | Today’s bookies let you place a wager in real-time in the heat of the action. By doing so, you can gain better insight into the form and condition of the tennis players, which ultimately leads to better decision making. By betting live, you won’t be missing critical information when you need it the most. |
| Avoid Outrights | Predicting the outright winner is a tall order even for pundits of our calibre. It, again, has to do with how competitive the sport has become. It’s a long shot you don’t want to take if you value your money. If you bet on a player at long odds, don’t invest too much. |
| Compare Odds | Different sportsbooks, different odds. Do yourself a service by comparing the odds of at least a few sportsbooks that you follow closely. Then pick bookie and odds that give you the best value. Registering with different betting operators is not only allowed but it’s recommended. |
| Cash Out if Needed | The cash out feature is now commonplace. Tapping into the cash out functionality could save you a lot of money. It’s good for hedging your bets in case things go wrong. So before choosing a betting line, make sure that the cash out option is available. |
Following these guidelines will make it easier to get the most out of your online tennis betting experience. If things come off, you can adjust your strategy so as to take greater risks. In any case, there are other things you need to learn to factor in, like the bet types for example.
Betting Types
Tennis betting is not a one-trick pony. Bets are accepted on pretty much every metric and outcome related to the game. This can be a double-edged sword, but we like to think of it as an advantage.
So how does one choose the best option? Simply put, there’s no all-in-one solution to the problem. You’ll need to make an informed decision every time before placing a wager. It comes as no surprise that the best tennis betting websites have the most diverse markets. Here are the most popular lines that you could include in your betslip:
| Betting Type | Explanation |
|---|---|
| To Win Match | The most straightforward wager widely available across all online bookmakers is to stake money on who the winner will be. If you don’t want to get too fancy with it or simply don’t know much about the other bet types, Match Winner should do just fine for you. |
| First Game Winner | Instead of predicting the match winner, how about just the first game? The serving player usually has the edge, so their odds will be less. |
| First Set Winner | Maybe you have an idea of who the winner in the first set may be. In most top tennis betting sites, there’ll be First Set Winner markets. Depending on the tournament and players, predicting the first set winner may very well be easier than the match winner. |
| First Service Game – Game Score | Betting the score of the first service game is a wager you can make if you think you know how the match will begin. Both players will be fresh, but how will that be reflected in the score? |
| First Break of Serve | A set could either end in a tiebreak or go to the player who broke the serve of their opponent (if no re-break occurs). If you think a certain player has a good return game, then you can bet on them to get the first break of serve. |
| Game to Deuce | One of the riskier betting lines to take but also the most rewarding ones. Game to Deuce is a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ tennis bet that pays off when a 40:40 situation occurs. If you follow the flow of the match closely, you may be able to predict when this is going to happen. |
| Total Games in Match | Placing money on the total games in a tennis match is one of the best workarounds for the times when you’re not sure who the winner will be. You just need to guess how many games will be played. If the proposition is of the under/over variety that’s even better because you get close to an even-money payout. |
| First Set Total Games | Focusing on just the first set is often a good idea. First Set Total Games is a tennis bet type where punters speculate about the number of games in the first set. You can get good odds for that and consequently – good winnings. Don’t bother predicting exact numbers. Make a bet only if it’s of the under/over variety. |
| Total Sets | If you’ve been paying attention to enough head-to-head statistics, you should at least have an idea how many sets it’s going to take the better player to win the match. Keep in mind that unlike ATP tournaments, Men’s Grand Slams matches are best of five. |
| Double Result | One of the best tennis betting tips we could give you is to learn to make good use of double result. An example of this type of wagers is if the player who wins the first set will also win the match. Double Result is a good way to get slightly better odds and a bigger payout in the end. |
Those are the most common tennis betting lines. Knowing them inside out and utilizing them at the right time will sure stand you in a good stead. While that’s true, some of the best sports betting sites have even more diverse markets for tennis, these are the main ones that you will deal with.
Tennis Betting Terms
There aren’t many distinct tennis betting terms because the abundance of bet types applicable to tennis is already significant. For example, parlays, also known as ‘accumulators’ across the pond are a good way to get busy with tennis betting. Then you have the simple moneylines, which are, in essence, a simple win bet. Soccer fans know them as 1X2 – X being the possibility for a draw. Other useful phrases of the gamblers’ lingo:
- Accumulator – A term borrowed from soccer betting, accumulators are unique with that they employ more than one selection. Another word for accumulator bets is ‘parlay’. The selections in an accumulator are also known as ‘legs’ or ‘folds’. They all must be correct predictions for the bet to pay off.
- Handicap – Tennis handicaps are wagers that give an advantage to the underdog. It could be points or games – anything to balance out the two sides. That affects the odds in a big way too. You can then get much longer odds for a wager on the favorite.
- Spread Bet – Similarly to handicaps, a point/games spread gives a certain games advantage to the underdog. Punters then bet whether the favorite will ‘cover the spread’ or not.
All the above mentioned different scenarios, coupled with the rich selection of wagering lines, make betting on tennis a preferred gambling endeavor. Grand Slams have the richest betting markets of all tennis tournaments, and also bring the most value to the table for punters.
Tennis Odds & Payouts
You could net a nice profit wagering on tennis matches as long as you avoid the players who have recently established dominance. The tournament and the odds scraping technique of the bookie also play a big role in the formation of what you see as betting lines. All in all, the binary outcome nature of tennis matches makes it easier for the bettors to make up their minds.
It was already mentioned that the magnitude of the tennis tournament directly affects the odds of all betting markets. You need to know your way around the tennis calendar, in order to better plan your betting strategy. Below are the tournaments that all reputable online tennis betting sites lay odds on:
| Tournament | Nation | Continent | Payout % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hopman Cup | Open to All | Australia | 92.98% |
| Australian Open | Open to All | Australia | 93.12% |
| ATP Masters 1000 Madrid | Open to All | Europe | 92.50% |
| Roland Garros | Open to All | Europe | 93.34% |
| Wimbledon | Open to All | North America | 93.01% |
| BNP Paribas Indian Wells | Open to All | North America | 93.09% |
| US Open | Open to All | North America | 93.26% |
| ATP Finals | Open to All | N/A | 92.89% |
As we already established, the odds you get vary from tournament to tournament and, consequently, the payouts differ too. If we are to trust our experience and the data in the above table, the best tournaments to make your move are Grand Slams. The ATP 1000 series also provide good tennis betting markets, when the odds are concerned.
Popular Tennis Tournaments
The tennis calendar is rich in events that take place all around the world. Most bettors prefer bigger and more popular tournaments because of the extra betting markets and occasional promotions. However, there might be hidden value in wagering on little-known tennis tournaments, because obscurity could mean better odds.
The USA, Australia, England, France and Spain are the countries hosting the major tennis tournaments and are often described as ‘tennis nations’. England is also known for the quality football betting sites that operate there. In the following lines, we will shed more light on the events that take place in these countries.
Australian Open
Australian Open is the first of the four Grands Slams. It usually starts in January, two weeks before Australia Day. If no surprise injuries occur, the line-up should include all top 10 players, plus those who came through the qualification rounds and those with wild cards. The tennis betting odds are the best in the first few rounds, before detailed statistical information is available.
Roland Garros
Roland Garros is the punters’ favorite Grand Slam for tennis betting. This tournament has been the stamping ground of Spaniard Rafael Nadal for years on end, so outrights are out of the question. If you want, however, to get good tennis betting offers and prefer long, intense rallies, then Roland Garros is your best pick.
Wimbledon
Wimbledon is the third Grand Slam event of the year. It’s one of the hottest sports betting markets for British punters and bookies alike. During the two weeks of play you can make all sorts of tennis bets, like match winner, game to deuce, first to break serve, total sets etc.
US Open
Betting on tennis and US Open go hand in hand. The fourth and final Grand Slam of the year provides dynamic action that’s perfect for in-play (live betting). If that’s not your cup of tea, you could try your luck nailing an outright, since there usually isn’t a clear favorite for the championship title.
Best Tennis Betting Sites
You now know what to pay attention to when you go about comparing sportsbooks. For your convenience, we’ve done a fair bit of comparing already and have compiled a table of the best tennis betting sites.?We present to you the Top five tennis online bookmakers for 2024:
| Tennis Betting Site | Welcome Bonus | Pros and Cons | Test Score | Trusted Link | Terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bet365 | $200 | Reputable Operator , Regular Promotions , Geo Restrictions | 99% | www.bet365.com | Full T&Cs apply. 18+. New customers only. Registration Required. Min deposit $5. Bet Credits available to use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bets and payment methods exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and full Terms and Conditions apply. |
| 888sport | $200 | Many Deposit Methods , Horse Racing Markets , E-Wallets not Eligible for the Welcome Offer | 98% | www.888sport.com | Full T&Cs apply. 18+. New customers only. The bonus will be applied once the full deposit amount has been wagered at least once with cumulative odds of 1.5 or greater. Wagering must be cleared within 90 days. This offer may not be combined with any other offer. Withdrawal restrictions and full Terms and Conditions apply. |
| Bethard | €50 | Attractive Welcome Bonus , Diverse Sports Markets , 4x Wagering | 98% | www.bethard.com | Full T&Cs apply. 18+. New customers only. Select welcome bonus form deposit menu before first deposit of minimum ￡20. For every ￡100 wagered ￡5 will be credited. Max. bonus is 50. Wagering on sportsbook must have odds of minimum 1.80. Offer does not apply to wagering on certain games. Full Terms and Conditions apply. |
| 22Bet | ￡50 | Virtual Sports markets , 24.7 Customer Support , No Live Chat | 97% | www.22bet.com | Full T&Cs apply. 18+. New customers only. Enter bonus code 50SPORT when making first deposit and wager your deposit once on betting markets with odds of at least 1.65 within 30 days. Activated bonus carries wagering conditions of 10 times. Min odds 1.65. Full Terms and Conditions apply. |
The operators featured above offer much more than tennis markets. We can see their welcome bonuses are designed with punters in mind. What’s more, those sportsbooks have some of the best horse racing sites known in the industry.
Bookmaker Offers & Bonuses
The best bonus to use for tennis betting is the free bet. Similar perks to this are the risk-free bet and cashback. Special tennis market promotions are also quite common throughout the duration of Grand Slam tournaments. They often come in the form of reload (re-deposit) bonuses.
All tennis betting promotions are contingent on something, meaning that you first need to meet certain requirements to be eligible. Most of the time, you must make an initial deposit to receive the offer, be it a free bet or a deposit match. Even then, the bonus money will be subject to wagering requirements.
| Tennis Betting Site | Bonus* | Wagering Requirement | Min Odds | Min Deposit | Top Payment Method | T&C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bet365 | Up?to?$200 | 1x | 1.20 | $1 | MasterCard | Full T&Cs apply. 18+. New customers only. Registration Required. Min deposit $5. Bet Credits available to use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bets and payment methods exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and full Terms and Conditions apply. |
| 888sport | Up?to?$200 | 1x | 1.50 | ￡10 | Visa | Full T&Cs apply. 18+. New customers only. The bonus will be applied once the full deposit amount has been wagered at least once with cumulative odds of 1.5 or greater. Wagering must be cleared within 90 days. This offer may not be combined with any other offer. Withdrawal restrictions and full Terms and Conditions apply. |
| Bethard | Up to €50 | 4x | 1.8 | ￡20 | Neteller | Full T&Cs apply. 18+. New customers only. Select welcome bonus form deposit menu before first deposit of minimum ￡20. For every ￡100 wagered ￡5 will be credited. Max. bonus is 50. Wagering on sportsbook must have odds of minimum 1.80. Offer does not apply to wagering on certain games. Full Terms and Conditions apply. |
| 22bet | Up to €50 | 10x | 1.65 | ￡10 | Skrill | Full T&Cs apply. 18+. New customers only. Enter bonus code 50SPORT when making first deposit and wager your deposit once on betting markets with odds of at least 1.65 within 30 days. Activated bonus carries wagering conditions of 10 times. Min odds 1.65. Full Terms and Conditions apply. |
The best thing about online tennis wagering bonuses is that they cover pretty much all angles you could place wagers from. That is live, pre-match, on mobile or anywhere in between. If you are a new player just registered at a tennis betting app, again, there’s a welcome bonus you can claim on your mobile device.
Live Tennis Betting
Live betting is the cornerstone not only of tennis but eSports betting too. With tennis, wagering in real time is a significant advantage that every punter wants. All online sportsbooks lay emphasis on their live tennis betting platforms. Our top recommendation:
Top for Live Betting
Most bonus offers, just like the one detailed above, are applicable to the majority of the live sports betting markets. When it comes to the top online tennis betting sites, you can expect that each will have plenty of markets other than tennis, so don’t limit yourself to just one sport.
The Top Tennis Betting App
Modern day tennis betting apps are equipped with all the latest features for wagering on sports. Live betting and cashing out are fully integrated into today’s mobile apps for tennis betting. On top of that, they are accessible on iOS and Android devices, just like any mobile website.
Best Tennis App
The best app, which is also our recommendation, distinguishes itself through the diverse tennis markets and promotions. The app is compatible with a number of mobile platforms and sports tastes. That means, the same application allows you to indulge in basketball betting any time you want to.
You can see that sports betting on mobile-only adds to the experience. By the same token, all bookies make their welcome offers available to the bettors using their handheld devices. This really pays a compliment to how far the bookies have gone out of their way to accommodate the wants of their customers.
New Betting Sites
We are always on the lookout for new betting sites that offer good odds on tennis and other sports. Our criteria extend far beyond just the markets for tennis and odds. In fact, we only spread the word about new bookies that measure up to sportsbooks with a proven track record of delivering excellent service.
Top New Tennis Bookie
Though relatively new, this operator comes on in leaps and bounds with a well-thought tennis betting section and a surprisingly well-balanced promotions program. The deal-clincher is the tennis live betting section that’s available for almost every match of the ATP tour. Live streams are also available for the major events.
Countries Where Tennis Betting is Legal
Opinions on sports betting are not one and the same and that shows in the different legality status tennis betting is given around the world. So, there’s no clean-cut answer that applies to all jurisdictions. In case you find yourself in need of information, you can refer to the table below for information on the legality of tennis betting around the world.
| Country | Legal Age | Online Tennis Betting |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 18 | Yes |
| United States | 21 | Depends on the State |
| France | 18 | Yes |
| Spain | 18 | Yes |
| Malta | 18 | Yes |
| Italy | 18 | Yes |
The legal situation concerning wagering on tennis in the US is unique with that some states allow sports betting and some don’t. There’s, however, a clear trend towards loosening up the restrictions and lifting the ban on this form of gambling in the states where the practice is still forbidden.
On the other hand, in the United Kingdom and the majority of the European countries, pre-match and live tennis betting are considered legal. Not to mention that some of the best tennis betting sites are based in Europe and are regulated by reputable authorities like the UK Gambling Commission.
Tennis Betting Tips and Pointers
When it comes to tennis betting strategies, mixing it up is quite important. Keeping your options open and exploiting every angle the sport allows for will help you along the way. If you are an experienced punter, your best bet would probably be tennis live betting. Regardless, these tips are applicable to all online tennis wagering markets.
- Choose tournaments you are familiar with. This gives you an insight into the weather conditions and court surface. It’s not a rare phenomenon that players would perform better in certain tournaments, so spotting such an affinity can also be very beneficial.
- Bet on Players you know. All athletes have their ups and downs and you are not expected to be able to predict them. You simply need to know full well what a player is capable of under pressure, and whether they are a decent front-runner
- Consider different tennis bet types. Over/Under seems like a good alternative to the straight up win bets in that you don’t have to specify who the winner will be, but rather, bet on metrics that are easy to follow with the help of statistical data.
- Allocate a bigger part of your bankroll to betting on majors. Grand Slams present a better opportunity for tennis betting due to the better odds and bigger in numbers markets.
- Make good use of Cash Out. When things aren’t panning out, don’t hesitate to cash out your bet. The feature can also be used to protect your winnings if you have more than one selection in your bet slip.
We’ll continue with specific tennis betting tips that you can easily incorporate in your routine. These strategies teach how to control bet size proactively, depending on whether you win or lose. The ultimate goal is to better your chances of turning a profit in the long run. Take a look at the five best practices known to bettors.
| Strategy | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Kelly Criterion | This bet managing system suggests that you cut your bet when losing and up the stakes when you’re winning. You need to know the exact formula to a tee for the best results so here it is: f= p – q/b. f- fraction of the current bankroll to bet; b- net odds; p- probability of winning; q- probability of losing. |
| Hedging | There’s no love lost between the sportsbooks and hedging. You need to keep your eyes peeled for odds discrepancies such that covering both outcomes will turn a profit whichever of the two may come to pass. Comparing the odds of different operators is the key to making this work. |
| D’Alembert | The D’Alembert system works with units, and that makes it suitable for all stake sizes. Your first bet determines how much one unit should be and what your next move must be. Upon losing you increase your wager by one unit. If your first wager is a winner, you keep betting that amount. |
| Fibonacci System | This system uses the Fibonacci sequence. When a bet loses, move up the Fibonacci sequence to find out what your next bet should be. If a bet wins go two numbers back the Fibonacci sequence. If you are still in the first position of the sequence, you keep making the same bet until it loses. |
| Martingale | Martingale is one of the oldest betting systems and arguably the least reliable. It works fine if you have unlimited finances but is not very practical. According to the Martingale system, you ought to double your wager every time you lose. Every time you win, you bet your initial wager. |
Whichever your is your favorite sport for betting, you’ll sure find out that these systems also find application there. Such is the case with MMA betting and even boxing. As long as you stay in control of the stake size, you’ll have a chance to do well.
History of Tennis Betting
Betting on tennis online has had a lot of history. Some of the features we know and love, became available much later. Not to mention that betting legislation in the US and the UK went through a lot of changes too. Below is a short tennis betting timeline with a brief explanation of the events that shaped the space.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2007 | The first tennis betting live streams become available. Some of the very first live sports streams on the Internet were provided by online sportsbooks. Around the year 2007 is when live streaming was made possible by the technological advancement of the Internet and live streams were made widely available. |
| 2007 | On 1 September 2007 the UK Gambling Commission was formed. It is the successor of the Gaming Board, fully inheriting the responsibility to regulate the gambling industry in the United Kingdom. |
| 2018 | The Supreme Court of the USA lifts the federal ban on sports betting. In a 7-2 decision, the court proclaimed the ban unconstitutional and left the decision in the hands of the states to decide whether to permit sports betting or not. |
| 2018 | Delaware legalizes sports betting Delaware was the first state to offer single games wagering on a variety of sports. That decision was officialized just three weeks after the Supreme Court ruled out the 1992 federal ban. |
| 2018 | Gamblers reach 2.9 million per year in the UK alone. According to the UKGC 2018 report, the annual number of betting punters was just shy of three million. |
| 2019 | Colorado legalizes betting on tennis and other sports. While not the first, Colorado is definitely amongst the first states to legalize sports betting. The decision came on the heels of many other states legalizing sports betting after the 1992 federal ban was lifted in 2018. |
Both tennis and rugby betting benefited in a big way from the sports betting legislation reforms that recently took place in the United States. This only served to propel sports wagering even further and all punters agree it was a much-needed change.
In Conclusion
The best online bookmakers have paved the way to a streamlined and enjoyable tennis betting experience. Thanks to their pioneering effort, the true fans of this sport are able to leverage the industry’s top features and bonuses. When it comes to the top tennis betting sites, we have one last noteworthy proposition to bring to your attention.
Top Offer
Whether it is the best online gambling sites or sportsbooks, our experts work in the trenches to rank and rate the top-performing operators. Our charts and advice follow the latest trends and developments in the industry, thus making sure that the information here is relevant.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tennis Betting
All the novelty features, tennis markets and betting systems can be a little confusing at first, but this is nothing that a well-written FAQ section can’t solve. Stick with us and read through the commonly asked questions and their respective answers and hopefully everything will dawn on you in due time.
1. What is the best online tennis betting site?
There are many sportsbooks that offer tennis markets but don’t measure up to the best tennis betting sites. In this case, either their live betting or cash out isn’t up to snuff. For more details about the best tennis betting sites? you can refer to the full table of operators at the beginning of this review.
2. Can I bet live on tennis?
There’s hardly an online bookmaker nowadays that can’t ensure smooth tennis live betting. There are all sorts of markets to wager on in-play that are not accessible otherwise. It’s important to note that the odds are also updated in real-time without the need to refresh.
3. What is the best tennis betting app?
If you want to get acquainted with the key features of the best tennis betting app, we suggest you give our full review a look. Not only does it make tennis betting on mobile possible, but it also integrates features like cash out and in play. The app is compatible with iOS and Android.
4. Are there new tennis betting sites?
While not an everyday occurrence, we do see new tennis betting sites pop up every now and then. Lacking the track record also doesn’t mean they fail to deliver. You can get an impressive welcome bonus and use it on a range of tennis betting markets. As usual, we’ve reviewed and rated the very best of the lot.
5. In which countries is tennis betting legal?
The majority of the countries where tennis betting is legal are in Europe. If you live in Europe, it’s safe to assume that tennis betting will be legal in your country, though not necessarily. America is also taking steps toward legalizing tennis betting and there are now states in which it’s legal.
Matt Speakman is a Connecticut-born and raised betting expert with a soft spot for the Patriots. He is also a proud member of the online-gambling.com team. You can read his articles on a broad range of topics, including sports betting and DFS.