When you think of sports betting, the likes of football, boxing and horse racing may come to mind, but tennis is actually one of the most popular sports betting markets in the UK. The fast-paced nature of the sport is not only great for spectators, it also makes for an interesting array of betting opportunities for sports punters. But where’s the best place to make these bets? We’ve got the answer.
There are a few different factors you should consider when you’re choosing where to bet on tennis- from odds to banking options, and from bonuses to betting markets. Our list of the top tennis betting sites makes things a whole lot easier, and our expert reviews help you compare to find the best betting sites for you. Want to learn a little more about betting on tennis before you put your money on the line? Let’s dive right in.
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Tennis Competitions
- Wimbledon
- The Australian Open
- The French Open
- US Open
- ATP and WTA World Tour
- Challenger Tour
- ITF Circuits
- The Davis Cup
The most prestigious and best-known tennis tournaments are the Grand Slams, where the best in the business go head to head. These are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US open. Played from January to September, each event lasts around two weeks. This may sound like a relatively short time, but plenty happens in these two weeks- men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, mixed doubles, junior competitions and more, which means there are plenty of markets for you to bet on.
But the tennis tournaments don’t stop there. There are also plenty of other tournaments throughout the year, from the ATP and WTA world tour to the Challenger Tour, and the ITF circuits. You can also bet on international tournaments, like the Davis Cup, held annually and known as the “World Cup of tennis”. The same markets are generally offered across all tournaments, though it’s up to each online bookmaker to decide which markets punters can bet on.
Market Options
There’s a wide range of markets available at tennis betting sites. The most simple bets are those made on the victors of individual matches and outright bets on tournament winners, but you can also bet on individual moments within games. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer on the tennis betting market.
Match Betting
This is the simplest market out there and it’s made even simpler by the fact that tennis matches can’t end in a draw, using a tie breaker to decide a victor if two players can’t be separated. So, unlike with football betting, you only have two possible choices when wagering on the winner of a tennis match: player A or player B, or team A and team B if you’re betting on doubles matches.
Tournament Betting
The key feature that separates tennis from sports like rugby or cricket, is that it’s mainly played in a tournament format rather than in a league. As such, there are tournaments all year round and, therefore, plenty of opportunities to bet on outright tournament winners. Big names like Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic are often tournament favourites but, with a lot of upsets in tennis, betting on an outsider is still a viable option.
Over/Under
In this market you are not betting on the winner of the game, but the length of time you think it will take to end. In a 3 set format match, for example, if you think it will end in straight sets then you bet under 2.5 sets. If you think it will be a more competitive match, however, then you bet over 2.5 sets.
Correct Score
The correct score market is much like the over/under, only more specific. You’re not just betting on the rough length of the match, but on what the exact score will be. This can be a much trickier bet to make in the latter stages of tournaments as the matches are likely to be very competitive. Nonetheless, the potential winnings from this market can be huge.
Statistic Betting
This market is the most varied, allowing punters to bet on the specific intricacies of each match. You can bet on a seemingly endless amount of possibilities, from first break of serve and first match point to fastest serve and first double fault. The best tennis betting sites have options for in-play betting on tennis events, which means you can get involved even when the action is already underway. With such a fast-paced sport, in-play betting can get very exciting!
In-Play Betting
The best tennis betting sites offer great in-play markets, which can also be referred to as live betting. They give you the ability to place bets on a match while it is already happening, meaning that if you forgot to place a wager before the match or just didn’t fancy the odds, there’s still a chance to pick up some decent winnings.
In-play betting also gives you the opportunity to get better value odds from a bet. Say you want to back Maria Sharapova in a game, but her serve is broken early on. She is still favourite to win, but betting on her now offers a far better return.
Live Streaming
Live streaming has become a central part to a lot of online betting recently with the best sites giving you the option to stream high profile tennis matches from wherever you are in the world. Live streaming can really enhance your betting experience by allowing you to make a more informed bet when playing on the in-play market. You will most likely need to have a funded account or have placed within the last 24 hours to be able to access this feature, but you will still be able to watch some of the best tennis in the world without paying a monthly subscription.
How to Pick a Winner
As with all sports, picking a winner when you bet on tennis isn’t straight forward. While you’ll never find the secret to making a winning bet every time, there are a few factors that could help you make a more informed bet. Let’s take a look:
Get to Know Tennis Basics
You don’t need to be an expert to bet on tennis, but it helps to have a basic understanding of the game. This allows you to make bets based on current performance and gameplay- especially useful if you want to try your chances at live betting.
Check Out World Rankings
World rankings are a pretty good place to start when it comes to understanding how strong players are. However, it’s important to remember that these rankings are based on performance over an extended period of time, and won’t reflect a players’ strength against a particular opponent.
Read Recent Match Reports
Reports give you an indication as to how a player is performing currently, and any weaknesses or injuries they may have experienced, as well as current playing styles. From these reports you’ll understand how players perform against one another and how playing styles change according to opponents.
Tips from tennis betting pundits can be a good place to start, but you should always take these with a pinch of salt. We’d recommend doing your own research, and using tips and statistics to build on your own knowledge, rather than relying on tipsters.
Court Surface and Style of Play
In tennis, game styles are often suited to a particular surface such as hard court, grass court, clay court, etc. It is for this reason that it’s not unusual for lower-ranked clay-court specialists to beat top-level players at the French Open, for example, which is played on clay.
New Tennis Betting Sites
Because the UK is one of the most active and profitable betting markets in the world for the bookmakers, new betting sites are constantly being established. In order to attract new players, new tennis betting sites will offer player-friendly bonuses and promotions. So if you’re looking to switch things up from the more established names in the industry, new betting sites are a great way to do that.
Mobile Tennis Betting
You’ll be glad to know that most tennis betting sites have optimisted mobile apps and websites available. Mobile betting has improved in leaps and bounds in recent years, allowing you to live stream matches, cash-out bets, place live wagers, as well as a whole host of other features.
The mobile sites themselves are also often fully compatible with both iOS and Android operating systems as well as tablet devices. Made with exceptional design quality, mobile sites can often be just as good as their desktop counterparts.
Tennis Bonuses
Tennis is an extremely popular betting market, meaning that it comes with some pretty enticing bonuses. Let’s have a look at what you can expect to find on offer.
Welcome Bonuses
Welcome bonuses are a great way for new customers to get used to how a tennis betting site works. They can come in a range of formats, such as a matched deposit – offering players a matched percentage of their first deposit – or a free bet. These bonuses will often come with wagering requirements attached to them so it’s worth bearing in mind that full T&Cs apply when you invest on an offer.
Many bonuses will be associated with the biggest tournaments, like the US Open, for example. Free bets and matched deposits will be on offer before these big tournaments, so keep an eye for what your betting site is offering if you want to make the most of the promotions they have on offer.
Match Specific Bonuses
Match specific bonuses are also a feature that work in a similar way to tournament specific bonuses. Usually reserved for meetings between the heavyweights of the sport, enhanced odds and lots of free bets will be a common feature as bookies attempt to stand out from the competition.
Specials and Promotions
Accumulators
Accumulators have become one of the most popular features of modern online betting and they are a big part of tennis betting markets. The real beauty of accumulators is the potentially huge winnings you can make from a relatively small outlay. By piling a series of different bets into one acca, all the odds are multiplied together, exponentially increasing your potential winnings.
The one downside to accumulators is that in order for you to win big, all your selections will need to come in. That’s why the best online bookies offer acca insurance, which gives your initial stake back as a free bet if just one selection lets you down. This isn’t available on all markets and obviously depends the individual betting site, but it’s a great safety net should you fall short.
Payment Methods
The best online betting sites will offer a range of payment options, meaning it’s easier than ever to place a bet on your favourite tennis markets. Let’s have a look at how you can expect to pay.
Debit Card Transactions
All online bookmakers will feature debit card transactions, meaning that they are by far and away the most popular payment method for online punters. They are also one of the safest and most secure methods around. But they are also slower than other options, taking up to five working days for withdrawals to be processed. What’s more, as the Government’s Review of Gaming Machines and Social Responsibility Measures, the UK Gambling Commission announced on 14th April 2020 that credit cards are banned from online gambling.
E-Wallets
E-wallets are becoming increasingly popular with online punters and it’s easy to see why. Services like PayPal, Neteller and Skrill are all free to sign up to, totally secure and much quicker than debit card transactions.
The only downside is that some bookies won’t accept e-wallets as a payment method for their bonuses. It’s, therefore, really advisable to check the bookie’s T&Cs before you sign up.
How to Start Betting on Tennis
- Compare tennis betting sites
First things first, you’ll need to find the right tennis betting site for you. Whether you’re looking for tennis betting bonuses, a wide choice of betting markets, or the chance to bet on other sports like football and rugby, our list of online bookmaker recommendations has you covered. All you need to do is compare our featured bookies and read our expert reviews to pick out a favourite.
- Sign up
Found a tennis sportsbook that ticks all the boxes? Follow our link to go to the registration page and create your account. It only takes a few minutes and you’ll just need to enter some basic personal information to get started. Like the look of the bookies’ welcome bonus? Opt in so that you don’t miss out- you can count on us to highlight the key terms and conditions.
- Deposit
You’ll need to make a deposit before you can make real money bets on tennis. The good news is that the top tennis betting sites offer a choice of different payment methods, so it’s easy for everyone to make a deposit. Most sites offer debit card deposits, as well as e-wallets, like Neteller, Skrill and PayPal payments. Check that your preferred payment method is eligible for a betting sign up bonus, if you’ve opted in.
- Bet
As soon as your deposit has been credited to your betting account, you’re ready to bet on tennis. Simply pick your market, make your wager and wait for the results to come in. Good luck!
Ready to Play?
Whether you’re a casual fan who just wants to make outright bets on the grand slams, or a more committed tennis punter looking to bet on more niche markets, our list of the top tennis betting sites has something for everyone. All you need to do is compare odds, check out the bonuses, market depth and payment methods to pick out the right sportsbook for you.
For sure. Mobile betting has improved enormously in the last few years, with the best sites providing native apps for punters to bet on their favourite tennis markets. Failing that, then all the sites we’ve recommended here will at least have a fully optimised mobile site for you to use.
Absolutely. The tennis season runs through most of the year, but when the biggest stars meet at major tournaments like Wimbledon and the US Open, you’ll often find some pretty attractive and exciting bonuses attached to those high profile matches.
Tennis tournaments are held largely throughout the year, but not every tournament uses the same surface. Some use grass courts, some use hardcourt and others use clay, all of which suit different playing styles. So it’s best that you do your research before on the surface type and which players prefer it before you place your bets.
Yes, you can create a tennis accumulator. Accas are a hugely popular way to bet because of the increased winnings on offer. But with a higher reward comes a high risk of losing so always make sure that you’re confident in your selection before investing any of your own money.
In order to operate legally in the UK, all betting sites must hold a license from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). This ensures that each transaction carried out on the site is safe and that all of its marketing is legal and fair. The details of the UKGC license should be found at the footer of the homepage of your chosen betting site.
