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Darts might seem like a niche sport, and compared to football, it is; however, darts has never been more popular among sports bettors, and once you learn how darts work and how to bet on darts, you will quickly understand why. Even though there are only a few big darts tournaments, the sport offers plenty of betting opportunities and many ways bettors can profit.
In this gambling guide, we will teach you everything you need to know about online betting on darts and touch on 4 key points you should know before you place your first bet on darts, including:
- Where to find the best darts betting sites?
- Which darts bet types are available and how to use them?
- How to bet on darts?
- What are tips & tricks for online betting on darts?
List of the Best Darts Bookmakers
Just like you need to have access to snooker bookmakers if you want to bet on snooker, you need to have an account with a sportsbook that offers darts betting lines. That isn’t that difficult, knowing that most online wagering sites are darts bookmakers, namely UK bookies such as William Hill.
But while finding a bookie that offers betting odds is simple, you should always use only the best darts betting sites. Namely, those bookies that offer competitive darts odds, enough market depth, and online darts betting sites that offer free bets, deposit bonuses, and other offers.
Darts Betting Bonuses and Promotions
Why do we rate bonuses and promotions among the top factors in each sportsbook? Because they’re an integral part of online sports betting. Everyone loves getting something extra when wagering on sports, and while shops can only offer boosted odds or similar promotions, things are much different (and better) online.
Online darts betting sites have a variety of bonuses and promotions in their arsenal. Those include welcome bonuses, free bets, and other promos that will give you plenty of extra funds to stay in the game.
Of course, you should always go for the sportsbooks with fair bonus terms and give the fine print a read.
Darts Free Bets
Darts free bets are the most common promotion on online darts sportsbooks and are arguably one of the top betting bonuses you can find. Most commonly, online bookies will offer free bets on major darts events such as the Darts World Championship, Darts Premier League, or the Grand Slam of Darts.
Some bookies will offer free bets for punters who are the most active on the site and have already placed wagers. But others might have a free bet ready regardless of your activity to promote the darts tournament that is currently running.
Depending on which bookmaker you use, the terms and conditions for free bets will differ, but Bet365 is one of the best bookies, offering a free bet of up to $10 without any restrictions. Still, Bet365 is not the only bookie with these kinds of offers.
How Does Darts Betting Work
Darts is an old and simple sport anyone can play, making it easy to understand and a sport anyone can bet on. If you dedicate just a few minutes of your time to watching one game of darts, you will quickly learn how the game is played, and once you do, you’re almost ready to start betting on darts.
But first, you need to understand how to read darts odds, which darts bet types are available, what they mean, and most importantly, where to place your wagers. So without further ado, let’s check all that!
Darts Odds
While searching for darts odds, you will quickly spot a couple of things – depending on the bookmaker you’re using for darts betting online, the odds will be written in one of the 3 formats. UK bookies will use a fractional format; US bookmakers will have all their odds written in American format, whereas all other darts betting sites will have odds written in a Decimal format.
The 3 show the same thing, but in a different ways. For example, the outright betting odds on Gary Anderson to win the Darts World Championship will be written in:
- Fractional – 3/1
- Decimal – 4.00
- American – +300
The 3 formats look very different, but they show the same thing.
The Fractional odds (3/1) indicate the ratio between the amount of profit (3) won to the stake (1). American odds show how much profit you can expect to earn (+300) for every $100 wagered. In contrast, Decimal odds present you the number you can use to multiply your stake and see how much money you can expect to get back (profit + initial stake).
It’s also important to know that one sportsbook won’t have the same odds. For example, Coral can have Anderson priced at 3/1 to win the Darts World Championship, but Betfair can offer 4/1. This is why it’s important to wager only with the best online darts betting sites.
And that rule applies not only for darts betting on the outright winner but even when gambling on individual matches.
Most Popular Darts Competitions & Tournaments
Darts offers many betting opportunities, mainly because of many tournaments and competitions. Some are smaller, others are larger, and even though bigger tournaments are more popular among bettors, there is no shortage of excellent betting opportunities in any darts competition.
Here are some of the most popular darts competitions and tournaments:
PDC World Darts Championship
The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) organizes this popular tournament for short. It is held annually and is one of the most prestigious darts events on the yearly calendar. The PDC begins in December and runs until January. It is held at Alexandra Palace in London. While it’s not the only venue where the PDC is being held, it hasn’t changed since 2008. The winner receives the Sid Waddell trophy in honor of the legendary darts commentator who passed away in 2012.
World Cup of Darts
The World Cup of Darts is an annual competition organized by the PDC. Unlike the World Darts Championship, this one’s a team event. Held in Germany, the tournament is highly prestigious and a favorite of team bettors. It was one of the 3 new tournaments added to the schedule in 2010.
World Matchplay
The World Matchplay tournament is a pro darts tournament and one of the 3 legs of the Triple Crown. The other 2 are the World Championship and the Premier League. World Matchplay is played in a leg format by the PDC, played annually in the UK. In terms of value, it is regarded as the second-best pro darts tournament.
World Grand Prix
The World Grand Prix is another annual darts pro-tournament held in Dublin, Ireland. The PDC has been organizing it since 1998. The tournament is in a ‘double in, double out’ set format. Thanks to that, it gives bettors plenty of new and exciting betting opportunities as opposed to the leg format other tournaments use.
Darts Premier League
The Premier League Darts tournament is held annually from February to May. It originally started as a fortnight tournament in small venues across the UK. But, as it gained popularity, it moved to bigger venues and featured the top 8 PDC players competing in a knockout-style format. The Premier League is considered part of the Triple Crown.
Grand Slam of Darts
Organized by the PDC, the Grand Slam of Darts is a ranking tournament held annually in the UK. It’s been a ranking tournament since 2015, with all previous editions being unranked. It was previously managed by the BDO, featuring some clashes between PDC and BDO players. Since the PDC took over, BDO players have been invited to participate.
UK Open Darts
Just like there’s a UK Open in tennis and other sports, there’s a UK Open in darts too. It’s a major ranking tournament held in the UK every year. The PDC organized the UK Open, often called the FA Cup of Darts. It features 160 players who compete in a multi-board event to win the prestigious crown.
WDF World Cup
The WDF World Cup is a biannual tournament organized by the World Darts Federation. It’s a major WDF tournament held since 1977. The tournament consists of 4 players per country, competing in singles, pairs, and 4-player team events. Champions are crowned in 3 categories (men, women, and youth) based on the highest number of points amassed.
WDF Europe Cup
Another tournament organized by the WDF, this popular European competition has been held since 1978. It consists of singles, pairs, and teams championships, with all events having men’s and women’s competitions. It is played in a leg format and is a popular darts betting tournament at European sportsbooks.
Darts Betting Apps
Like there are many competitions to bet on, there are also plenty of ways you can approach wagering on darts. You bet on darts at your local shop, on the sportsbook’s website, or via a mobile betting app.
The latter option has become increasingly popular over the years because it allows you to bet on the go, anywhere, and anytime you want. And even though not all bookies will have a mobile betting app, most darts bookmakers in 2023 will.
Betting with a mobile gambling app is very convenient, and some bookies will also have special offers and promotions for mobile bettors. There is no shortage of mobile betting app-exclusive bonuses you will be able to find, so this is just another reason why mobile wagering is as popular as it is.
Darts Bet of the Day
The Darts bet of the day is the best wager you can take today at the latest darts odds. Each day there can be many great betting opportunities online darts betting sites will offer, but only one is the best, meaning it has the highest chance of winning and offers the most value out of all darts bets at the latest darts odds.
Check our darts betting tips for the best bet for tonight at the button below.
How to Bet on Darts
Betting on darts can be exciting, fun, and also highly profitable. And while the first 2 things are subjective, it takes some dedication and willingness to learn if you want to make a profit in the long term.
Not everyone will profit from betting on darts, but anyone can set themselves up for success. And you can do so by following our step-by-step guide on how to bet on darts and what to do to put yourself in a position to succeed in darts betting online.
- Find a reputable, legit, and licensed darts betting site
- Make sure only to use darts betting sites that offer competitive odds, enough betting lines, and occasional offers and promotions.
- Preferably, you should have accounts with multiple bookies – for odds comparison.
- Consider registering with darts bookmakers that offer live darts odds.
- Learn the basics about darts and the game’s rules.
- Find a betting site that can provide stats, data, news, and all information to help you decide what to wager on.
- Preferably, you should follow darts betting experts and read darts gambling previews, which are an excellent source of information.
- Find a betting strategy that suits your style and stick to it.
- Learn how to manage your bankroll, never chase losses, and be aware of the dangers of gambling addiction.
Most Popular Darts Betting Markets
Betting on darts is quite an experience, and it can be done in many different ways. That is largely thanks to the generous offer of various betting markets on darts, offering enough variety to wager on anything you please and more.
Here we will check some of the most popular betting markets you will find while wagering on darts, including outrights, moneyline, and anything in between.
Outright Tournament Winner Bet
Outright betting is the most popular approach for betting on darts and is widely used by all darts punters. With it, you’re essentially predicting how a player will perform in a tournament – and you can bet on whether he will win, finish as a runner-up, be in the top 4, or do anything else.
In darts, most tournaments are fixed-draw, so you can plot each player’s route to the title and better understand his chances of winning. Moreover, outright betting can also be highly profitable because the outright betting odds you will find on online darts betting sites can easily reach 30-1, 100-1, or even higher!
The principle of darts outright betting is the same as with any other sport – you’re predicting a player’s success in a specific tournament. But compared to other sports, darts outright odds are often much higher.
Match Win Bet
Match win bet is the simplest wager you can make when betting on darts. With it, you’re simply predicting which player will win a match, and it doesn’t matter by how large of a margin he/she does it.
Set Win Bet
Instead of betting on which player will win a match, you can also bet on which player will win a set. Depending on the number of sets, you can bet on a player to win the first, second, and third… set.
This bet type is similar to how you can bet on which football team will win the first and the second half or which ice hockey team will win each of the 3 thirds.
9-Darter Bet
A 9-Darter bet is a prop wager because while looking at an occurrence or non-occurrence of a specific event in a match, its occurrence does not necessarily affect the outcome.
When betting on darts, the bookies will offer you a chance to bet on whether there will be a 9-darter. In other words, you can bet on whether a player will achieve a 9-darter which entails winning a match, or a leg off 9 short – which is 3 full turns.
As an interesting fact about a 9-darter finish, there are 3,944 possible 9-dart combinations, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that 9-darters are common.
Most 180s
A bet on the most 180s is a very straightforward wager on which player will hit the most maximums. A 180 is when a player hits 180 points in a single turn (3x 60) which is the most you can hit with 3 darts.
Sometimes, the darts betting sites will also offer over/under 180s markets, which, as it sounds, is a bet where you predict how many 180s there will be in a game. Know that this bet type is very popular and is often offered on the live darts odds markets.
Handicap Betting
Handicap betting in darts is very popular and is mainly done on Leg/Set handicap betting markets.
In a Leg/Set handicap betting, one player has a specified number of legs or sets subtracted or added from their final score to determine the outcome of the wager. Handicap betting in darts works the same way as handicap betting on football, hockey, basketball, or any other sport.
The favourite will always have legs/sets subtracted from his final score, while the underdog will be on the positive side of the handicap. So, for example, if you bet on Michael van Gerwen to win a match with -2.5 sets, he needs to win with at least 3 sets to spare (10-7 or better).
Handicap betting is very popular and readily available on all darts bookmakers, mainly because it is similar to moneyline but offers more variety when picking your bets. So as long as you’re familiar with handicap betting in other sports, you won’t need to watch any “darts handicap betting explained” videos or guides since you already know everything there is to know.
Special Markets
It’s hard to specify which darts bets are “special” since there are many different wager types. Still, a few stand out as unique bets, including King of the Oche.
King of the Oche is a bet that you can use to predict one of the players to win the match, have the most 180s, and highest checkout. This bet type is very popular among more adventurous bettors who seek higher payouts.
To win a quarter is another special outright wager, with which you predict which player will win their quarter of a draw (in a tournament). Besides the 2, the UK bookies offer a nice selection of various prop bets, so you can be sure there is no shortage of options.
Correct Score
It is a market that does what it says. Betting on the correct score in darts allows you to put your money on the precise score in a match. It’s one of the simplest and most popular bets on darts online since the returns can be impressive if you get the score right.
When betting on the correct score, take note of the format of the match or tournament involved. Most games use the best format, but competitions and contests have different winning legs. For example, in the Premier League, the format is best of 8 since the matches can end in a tie, while other competitions use a best of 6 or best of 3.
Total 180s
This betting market is unique to darts matches. For those unaware, 180 is the maximum score you can achieve in a game of darts. In this market, you’re betting on the total number of 180 scores that will be hit in a match. This bet works similarly to an over/under bet. For example, a darts sportsbook will set the line for 180s in a game – for example, 3 or 4.
Depending on what you believe happens, you can place a bet over or under that line. It can be quite lucrative, especially if the line for explosive competitions is set relatively high.
Player 180s
This type of darts bet is similar to the one explained in the previous paragraph. However, this time you’re betting on the number of 180s a particular player will hit in a game or tournament. The sportsbook will publish the 180s line it believes a player will score in a match.
Payouts for this market vary, but they are often high as it’s hard for a player to score even one 180, not to mention several. You can then bet over or under that number. It’s an exciting market with high returns you should go for.
First 180
Who will score the first 180 in a match? That’s precisely what this market offers. Betting on it is easy. You pick the player who you believe will hit a 180 first. If you predict correctly, you win your bet. If the other player hits a 180 first, you lose it.
This particular market can pay impressive returns if you guess correctly. If one has a habit of going for the first 180 in a match with a major rival, it is the obvious bet pick. It’s one of the simplest bets and a great pick for seasoned bettors who know their darts players well.
Highest Player Checkout
Checkout will be an unfamiliar term if you’re new to darts betting online. In darts, this term represents the final 3 darts a player throws. The checkout must end on a double number – for example, a double twenty. It gives bettors numerous options to bet on, including the highest player checkout.
A darts betting site will set the line for the highest player checkout, and you bet over or under it. With this bet, you predict the highest checkout for player A or B during a match. Like the 180s wagers, this one’s structured as an O/U market.
Highest Match Checkout
Once again, this is an over/under market where you will bet over or under a number (line) set by the sportsbook. You can wager on the highest match checkout if you’re not fond of choosing the player with the highest checkout. If you guess correctly, you win your bet. You lose it if you fail to predict the highest match checkout accurately.
Compared to the highest player checkout, this market has shorter odds. On the positive side, it’s easier to predict, so it’s popular among new and seasoned bettors.
Darts Live Betting
Live betting is an exciting and alternative way to approach wagering on darts. As the name would suggest, live betting (or in-play betting) is when you bet on a match while it’s happening.
Unsurprisingly live darts betting is very popular because darts is an excellent sport to live wager on. Almost all darts betting sites will have live markets with live darts odds available, and there is no shortage of betting sites that will also offer live streaming of the events.
Admittedly, live betting is more demanding than pre-match betting, but it often offers more value and can be highly profitable.
Darts Betting Tips & Predictions
Even though it’s easy to place a bet, it’s sometimes hard to decide what to bet on. In such situations, you should check out darts betting experts’ betting previews of the matches and tournaments, giving you a better idea of which players are worth betting on.
The darts betting tips and predictions will be readily available online, but you should always trust only reputable tipsters since it’s very easy to give out tips, but it takes a lot for a tipster to make a profit. Finding a betting site that can provide you with expert darts betting tips will be instrumental to your long-term betting success.
And even though you don’t have to follow all the picks, reading through the betting previews can be an excellent way to get more information on the match you’re planning to bet on.
Darts Betting Strategies
If you’re looking for the best betting strategy for darts to guarantee a profit, we’re sad to inform you that there is no such thing. There are ways to increase your chances of winning long-term, but no magic formula will guarantee you profits week in and week out.
The best and easiest way to set yourself up for success is to follow these simple steps:
- Bet with only the best darts betting sites.
- Follow darts betting tips and predictions from expert bettors.
- Consider betting on live darts odds markets.
- Learn how to manage your bankroll.
If you follow these 4 key steps, you will be on the right path to succeed in betting on darts. However, some betting strategies, such as Martingale’s betting strategy, might benefit some punters.
How To Pick the Online Betting Sites for Darts
Every betting site with darts markets has different odds and features. When choosing one, it’s normal to pick the venue that suits you the best. It means selecting a sportsbook with the best bonuses and promotions, the highest odds, top-notch customer services, a wide range of markets, and a great live betting platform.
Here are a few things you should check for the best darts betting sites.
Best Darts Betting Offers
Online sports betting bonuses are among the most exciting things about betting on sports online. Make sure to choose a darts sportsbook which opens up with a welcome offer and follows it up with further bonuses.
Customer Service
A top-shelf sportsbook should have great customer support. It should be available via e-mail and live chat at the very least and always online.
Feasible Funding Method
The best darts betting sites should only accept trusted and reputable payment methods. Always choose a sportsbook that agrees with the one you use and like the most, whether it’s credit/debit cards, online banking, or E-wallets.
Recommended Payment Methods at Darts Sportsbooks
The darts betting sites on this page only accept trusted payment methods. Their availability varies per country, but they generally accept online bank transfers, debit and credit cards, and E-wallets.
The most popular payment methods used by bettors include:
- Visa/MasterCard
- Neteller
- Skrill
- ecoPayz
- PayPal
- PaySafeCard
- Trustly
All these options have a stellar reputation and offer fast and easy deposits and withdrawals. None of them charges fees for making transactions, and they can also be used for mobile betting. We will stick to the above payment methods if you want our recommendation.
History of Darts
Back in the day, darts were not considered a sport but rather something people did in the past. But as darts became increasingly popular and competitive, it soon became clear that there was a need for proper tournaments and competitions, effectively turning darts from an activity people enjoyed doing at the pubs into a proper sport.
Throughout the years, darts went through many innovations (mainly in the 1900s), with the standardized rules of the game bringing more players to darts. There is no clear date of when the first bet on darts was placed, but given the sport’s exponential rise in popularity in the 1930s, it’s fair to say that the first darts bet was placed somewhere in that period.
Nowadays, darts is a massive business, a global sport, and a big deal in the world of online sports betting. But you don’t have to look far to learn that darts and darts betting is massive.
Darts Rules
Darts is commonly played in the “game of 501”, where the game’s object is for a player (or team) to be the first to reach zero points – starting from 501. In very simple terms, the players achieve that by throwing darts at the board, subtracting the total scorer from his total until he reaches zero.
However, for a player to reach zero, he must finish by throwing a double, meaning if a player has 40 remaining, he needs to hit a double 20 to win. Whereas a player with 45 must hit a single 5 and a double 20 to win the match.
There are other variations of how the players can win the game and reach zero – from 45, a player can score 15 and double 15, or a 10, 5, and a double 15. The only thing that matters is that the final dart must be a double.
These are the most basic rules about darts. There are also separate format rules for each tournament, which dictate how many legs and sets are played. For example, in a best-of-11 format, a team or player who wins 6 legs first wins the match.
Other tournaments are played in a sets format, whereby a player must win a set by winning the best-of-5 legs before claiming the match. Most commonly, the best-of format includes best-of-3/5/7/9/11/13 sets.
Darts Overview
Before we conclude our article, here are some interesting facts about darts you might not know about.
- Some of the most popular tournaments and competitions in darts include the World Cup of Darts, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, UK Open, Premier League Darts, and Players Championship Finals.
- Some of history’s most popular darts players are Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, Raymond van Barneveld, Martin Adams, James Wade, Peter Wright, Fallon Sherrock, and Eric Bristow.
- Darts is very popular in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, and Australia, as 8 countries where some of the best darts players are from.
- No sport is like darts, but there are unique variations of darts, including dart golf and dart ball.
- Some of the most popular and legal online bookmakers for darts betting include Skybet, Ladbrokes, Bet365, Coral, and William Hill.
- Darts is primarily played between 2 players, but it can also be a team sport.
- There have been great efforts by various darts organizations to get darts into the Olympics, but to no avail. Finally, however, there have been moves to incorporate darts into the 2024 Olympics Games.
- Darts is one of the oldest established games in the world.
- John Lowe is the first player to manage a perfect score in the classic 501 games at the 1984 World Matchplay championship.
- Darts became a sport in 2005 when it was granted official sports status.
Bottom Line
We come to the end of our darts betting guide, providing you with all the information you’ll need to start betting on darts. If you’ve read our article to this point, all there is left to do is for you to register with the best darts betting sites and start placing your bets!
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is darts good to bet on?
Darts is arguably one of the best sports to bet on. It offers many wager types, and the outright betting markets often give punters very generous odds.
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How do you bet on darts online?
You can bet on darts online using almost all online bookmakers. Most commonly, you will be able to find darts betting odds on UK bookmakers, but since darts is a global sport, it’s not hard to find gambling markets on international bookies as well.
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How does each way work in darts?
Each way in darts is used on the outright betting markets and is 2 bets in one. If you wager $100 on a player to win a tournament on the each-way market, you have placed a $50 bet on the player to win and $50 on the player “to place”. The place part usually means for him to reach the finals.
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What does +1.5 in darts mean?
If you see +1.5 on darts betting markets, you have found a handicap wager, which allows you to add or deduct sets or legs from the player’s final score. In this instance, the +1.5 next to a player allows you to bet on the player with a +1.5 set/leg advantage, meaning he is the underdog for the said match.
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Which is the best site for darts betting?
There is no “best” site for darts betting, but there are many great options. Most notably, William Hill, Bet365, and Coral are known as some of the best darts betting sites due to their odds quality and market depth and because they offer some of the top betting bonuses for darts.