Though the act of betting on tennis may seem quite simple, there is a lot more to the process than most people realize. Thankfully, this guide will walk you through the various things of note like betting types, best tennis betting site features, best strategies, and so much more. Let’s break it down and see what you need to know about betting on tennis.
Tennis Betting Markets & Types of Bets
It can be confusing to understand all of the terms within the realm of sports betting, especially tennis betting. When it all comes down to it, betting markets relate to a specific category or type of bet.
Sports betting markets encompass all of the odds for that sporting event and there are typically different betting markets for one match. This gives bettors the ability to focus on the kind of bet that will best work for their prediction. As for the betting types, those get a little more granular and specific.
Moneyline - The simplest bet type that there is. With the moneyline pick, bettors are choosing who will win the game or match. Odds can vary exponentially depending on the players as a large favourite can produce a far lesser return than an underdog would.
Over/Under - If you aren’t confident in making a moneyline or point spread pick, there is the point total. The sportsbook will set the total number of points to be scored by both teams (or total games when it comes to betting on tennis) and the bettor must pick whether the total will be over or under that amount.
Point spread - Because odds can be so tough to manage with a money line pick, the point spread is the great equalizer. It is simply the number of points that the favourite must win by in order to cash the bet. For instance, in a basketball game, if Houston is -7 they would need to win by more than seven to win the bet. In tennis, a player may need to win by a certain amount of games or sets.
Parlay - A parlay includes multiple bets, typically starting with two picks and going all the way up to 10 or more. The odds on a parlay bet are substantially higher so the payout is typically much higher. The problem is that all of the picks, or legs, must hit in order for this bet type to cash.
Round robin - The round robin is a variation of the parlay in which bettors can choose combinations instead of needing the entire ticket to win. So, in a 10-leg parlay, bettors can choose different combinations – say combinations of four – where if any combination of four hits, it will pay out.
What About the Odds?
Odds are essentially the likelihood of the outcome happening. In the event of a money line pick, the odds can swing substantially one way or the other depending on the matchup. In the instance of a heavy favourite versus a major underdog, the odds would result in a low payout for taking the former. Odds can vary from sportsbook to sportsbook as well.