Why Bet on Table Tennis?
Table tennis is probably not something that immediately leaps to people’s minds when they’re considering having a flutter. Football, rugby, golf? Sure. But ping pong? Not so much. Nevertheless, table tennis is a sport with long and proud traditions. Its governing body, the International Table Tennis Federation, was founded way back in 1926, and table tennis achieved Olympic status in 1988.
Its fast pace makes table tennis exciting to watch and fun to bet on. The question is, how do you go about it? There are so many betting sites around, competing for your custom, that it can be tricky to select one to sign up with. This is where our expert reviews come in. We’ve carefully vetted the best table tennis betting sites in the UK to weigh up factors like odds, bonuses and banking options so you can make an informed choice in no time. Here’s our handy guide to betting on table tennis in the UK.
Table Tennis Competitions
Some of the most well-known table tennis events include:
- Summer Olympic Games
- World Table Tennis Championships
- World Team Table Tennis Championships
- ITTF Men’s World Cup
- ITTF Women’s World Team Cup
- ITTF Team World Cup
- ITTF World Tour Grand Finals
- European Table Tennis Championships
- Asian Table Tennis Championships
Table tennis comes to the widest international attention every four years with the Olympic Games. This is arguably the only time the sport really features on the radar of most casual sports fans and bettors. However, there’s far more to competitive table tennis than the Olympics, with a selection of fiercely-fought tournaments running at different points in the sporting calendar.
The World Table Tennis Championships are, as the name suggests, highly prestigious tournaments. The singles and team events exist as separate entities, taking place over alternate years. There’s also the annual men’s and women’s Table Tennis World Cups, not to mention the Team World Cup, the European and Asian Championships, and the World Tour Grand Finals, which are open to the players who’ve amassed the most points during the various ITTF World Tour tournaments. So, as you can tell, there’s a lot of potential here for sports bettors, especially when you factor in the various markets on offer.
What Can I Bet On?
These days there are all sorts of betting markets on offer at the UK’s best online bookmakers, so let’s have a quick glance at what you can expect from them.
Match Betting
This is the most straightforward way to bet on table tennis – you simply wager on who you think will win. It helps that table tennis matches will always have an outright winner, so you either bet on Player A or Player B. It’s a simple, binary choice.
Tournament Betting
As we mentioned above, there are plenty of table tennis tournaments running throughout the year, from major championships through to events like the Qatar Tour. This gives you the chance to bet on the outright winners of these tournaments, whether you want to play it safe on favourites or go big on the underdogs.
Over/Under
Here, you’ll bet on whether you think the total number of points will be over or under a set figure. For example, Over 75.5 or Under 75.5.
Correct Score
A pretty self-explanatory betting market. It works a bit like Over/Under, except this time you’re being more precise in your prediction and betting on what the exact score will be.
Other Bets
The best table tennis betting sites have all kinds of other options for in-depth betting, which can range from betting on the correct score after two games in a match to who the winner of the first game in a match will be, or even whether the total points will be an odd or even number.
In-Play Betting
The UK’s best table tennis betting sites let you get in on the action even after matches have begun. This is known as live or in-play betting, and it means you can take advantage of fluctuating odds in real time. For example, if the favourite loses the first game in the match, the odds in this case may shift, meaning that betting on the favourite at this point may get a better return if they go on to win.
Live Streaming
Imagine being able to watch the match unfold through the betting site itself. You might well be able to enjoy this perk with some of the UK’s top sportsbooks, which will both add to the exhilaration and let you make instant, informed decisions in-play. Chances are you’ll need to have made a deposit to access live streaming, but that still beats having to pay for a monthly sports channel subscription.
Cash Out
Depending on the operator you’ve selected, you could have the option to cash out before a bet is settled. Cashing out means you can recoup some of your original stake if it looks like the bet is going to lose, or it can mean taking back slightly more if your bet’s on course to win but you’re losing confidence that your selection will see a lead through to the end. The amount on offer from cashing out is calculated at the time you choose to do it and varies depending on the likelihood of winning the bet at that time.
How to Pick Table Tennis Winners
As with almost all kinds of sports betting, it pays to do a bit of homework beforehand to make the wisest call with your wager. Here are some factors to consider.
The Game Itself
If you’re not a table tennis aficionado then it’ll pay dividends to get a working knowledge of the sport. Watch some videos online, get to grips with the gameplay and scoring, and you’ll be in a better position to bet — particularly if you go the in-play route.
Consider the Players’ Form
It’s natural to consult the official rankings when you’re researching the players you’re betting on. However, bear in mind that rankings only provide a general overview, and may not be that useful when it comes to betting on a specific match. Instead, look into the players’ recent form, whether they’ve suffered any injuries lately, and how they’ve fared against each other before.
Be Wary of Tips
Online tips are widespread, and it can be useful to take on board some pointers from table tennis pundits. But, as with any betting tips, take them with a pinch of salt and do as much of your own research as you can.
New Table Tennis Betting Sites
You might think the UK betting site landscape is pretty crowded – and you’d be right. But new sports betting sites are always emerging, and it’s good to keep an eye out for these recent additions to the scene. Not only is it interesting to see how they may push the envelope and do things differently with their setup and interface, but you may also reap the benefits of extra-lucrative welcome bonuses designed to attract interest to new sites. We keep our finger on the pulse when it comes to new sites, so be sure to check out our rankings and reviews for the best of the new kids whilst selecting your next operator.
Table Tennis Betting on the Go
Whether you fancy a flutter on the go, or just while chilling out on the sofa with your phone in hand, mobile table tennis betting is all about convenience. The best betting sites make it happen, in two possible ways. The first is to access the betting site via the web browser on your device, log in and get betting as normal. Alternatively, if the site has one available, you can download its native app onto your smartphone or tablet. Native apps are a doddle to use, and offer extra benefits such as an extra fast interface and the ability to receive push notifications alerting you to the latest bonuses and promos as they happen.
Take Advantage of Exciting Bonuses and Promos
You can count on UK betting sites to do whatever it takes to get your attention as a punter. That means some pretty juicy bonuses will be on offer. Here are some to look out for.
Welcome Bonuses
These are incentives to encourage you to sign up to a site for the first time. A common type is the matched deposit bonus, where the site will match your initial deposit up to a certain percentage for a healthy boost to your wallet. Free bets may also be offered if you wager a certain minimum amount. Just remember that wagering requirements are very often attached to such welcome bonuses, so check out the terms and conditions before signing up to make sure the deal is right for you.
Tournament Bonuses
The biggest events in a sport–such as the Olympics or World Championships in the case of table tennis–can inspire betting sites to offer special tournament bonuses. These can be free bets and matched deposit bonuses which are made available during the time period of the tournament.
Match Specific Bonuses
Sometimes, bonuses can be offered with respect to specific matches, as well as larger tournaments. This is especially the case if two superstars of the sport are squaring off, generating lots of interest among punters.
Balance Risk and Reward with Accumulators
Acca betting is hugely popular among today’s online bettors, and it’s not hard to see why. By combining different bets into one accumulator bet, you’ll be multiplying your odds together. That means your winnings will be much bigger compared with winning each bet individually, although accas come with considerably more risk than standalone bets.
The snag is that, to get that acca bonanza, all your selections need to come up trumps. On the plus side, the best UK online sportsbooks provide acca insurance, meaning you can get your initial wager back in the form of a free bet if you miss out on an acca win by just one selection.
Payment Methods
The UK’s online bookies make it very easy to bank with them, and there’s a whole range of deposit and withdrawal methods available.
Debit Cards
Credit card gambling has been banned in the UK, but debit cards remain a safe and secure way to have a flutter online. The potential downside is transaction times may be slower, especially when it comes to withdrawing funds from your betting site account.
E-Wallets
Online payment services such as PayPal, Skrill and Neteller are a hit with customers at UK betting sites. Not only are they easy to use, but using them means you won’t have to input your bank account details whenever you join a new bookmaker. Withdrawal times also tend to be a lot faster compared to bank and debit card transfers. It’s important to check that using certain payment systems won’t render you ineligible for welcome bonuses, though, so be sure to read the terms and conditions.
PayPal's additional security layers, ease of use, and quick sign ups are great reasons to opt for it as your payment option.
Skrill is another great e-wallet option famed for its speed and convenience, and it's widely accepted across the UK's online gambling industry.
If you're looking for a great way to manage your spending, Paysafecard's pre-paid cards and PIN systems are a great choice.
Neteller combines the benefits of e-wallet and pre-paid card solutions, offering you the flexibility to manage your money in the best way for you.
How to Start Betting on Table Tennis
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Browse and Compare Betting Sites
Have a good read through our carefully curated list of table tennis betting sites. Compare the betting markets on offer, as well as welcome bonuses, tournament bonuses, and the breadth of other sports covered.
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Sign Up
Once you’ve selected the right sportsbook for you, just follow our link which will whisk you over to the registration page. You can create an account in a matter of moments by entering some basic details. At this point you can enter the code to unlock welcome bonuses, or they’ll be automatically provided on completion of the sign-up process.
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Deposit Funds
Use your preferred payment to deposit funds. Whether that’s via debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller or another method, you’ll soon be all set.
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Start Betting!
Once you’ve transferred the deposit, you can click or tap your way through to the table tennis section of the site, select your markets and get betting!
Ready to Bet on Table Tennis?
You might be new to the sport of table tennis, or it might already be something you enjoy watching. In either case, our reviews of the UK’s top betting sites make it a cinch to get started. Check out the welcome bonuses, compare the markets and odds, and find the right site for you, right now!
Frequently Asked Questions
Tipsters are a great way to point yourself in the right direction when it comes to selecting a bet, but it’s important to remember that there are never any guarantees. A tipster’s past performance doesn’t mean their next tip-off will come good, and it’s important to augment their advice with your own research to make the bet that feels right to you.
Generally speaking, yes. While many operators will allow you to use your bonus funds for accas, check the terms and conditions of your chosen welcome bonus to make sure it’s right for you. Bear in mind that operators often have varying rules when it comes to welcome bonus wagering requirements, such as which bets count towards them, and whether a percentage of your wagers are put towards the total rather than the full amount. For example, an operator may allow players to use their welcome bonuses with accumulator bets, but it may be that only 20% of your acca-based wagers go towards the amount required to meet your wagering requirements and unlock withdrawals. Every operator is different, so be sure to check.
If you’re looking for odds on a specific outcome, it’s worth shopping around to see what’s on offer with different operators on the day you want to make your bet. Bookies are competitive and tend to have similar odds, particularly for favourites, but these can vary daily and may also be influenced by enhanced or boosted odds promotions at individual sites.
Every site ranked on Compare.bet is fully licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). The regulatory body is considered one of the best in the world when it comes to gambling, and its work ensures licensed operators follow strict codes of conduct and operation in order to protect consumers. These rules include providing encryption for all customer transactions, delivering transparency on how games operate, and ensuring games and bets are fair, among other regulations.
Never place a bet with an unlicensed operator, as you won’t be protected if anything goes wrong. If you’re ever in doubt about an operator’s license, check out the UKGC’s public register where you’ll be able to find every licensed operator’s details.
