How to Bet on Tennis

Tennis is undoubtedly one of the most popular sports on this side of the pond. Tens of millions tune in to enjoy a slice of Wimbledon entertainment every year, plus it's estimated that over 640,000 people play the game, meaning there are only three sports with more active players¹ in the UK! And now you have the chance to dive into the action. 

Here at Bally Bet Sports and Casino, y'all can bet on all the tennis fun, with odds on matches from across the world available, including in-play markets updating in real time to take you closer to the action. 

But don't sweat it if you're new to the game. We're never going to let our buds get started without some recommendations and tips to get started with, and you can bet we've got plenty of tennis betting advice in store. 

Keep reading as we've got everything you need to know about betting on tennis, featuring some top tennis betting tips and strategies along the way. 

What is tennis betting?

Let's kick things off with the basics. Tennis betting is one of the most popular markets for online sports betting. All it takes is just one game of tennis and a bunch of fans who are keen to put some bucks where their predictions are. 

With tennis betting, you'll have the chance to place wagers on tennis from around the world, either pre-match or as the action unfolds with heaps of live odds, so you can get behind all the excitement. 

How does tennis scoring work?

There are points, games, sets and matches in tennis scoring. A tennis player needs four points to win a game, six games to win a set, and two or three sets to win a match. 

To win a game, players must win by two clear points. Here's how each point in a tennis game is called: 

• Start - Each player begins on '0', also known as 'Love'. 
• Point one - '15' 
• Point two - '30' 
• Point three - '40' 
• Point four - 'Game' 

If the score is tied at 40-40, it’s known as 'Deuce'. The winner of the next point has 'advantage', and if they lose on game point, it's back to deuce. 

Sets are a race to six games, and the two clear points rule is in effect again. If it reaches 5-5 it becomes first to seven, then a tie-break is played to determine the winner if it's 6-6. Tie-breaks are won with seven points, unless it reaches 6-6, where play continues until someone has a two-point advantage. 

Most tennis matches are decided on the best of three sets, but men's Grand Slam tournaments are best of five. 

How can I bet on tennis?

It's easy to start betting on tennis online at Bally Bet. Click the 'JOIN NOW' button to register for an account, then head over to our sports betting site to find all our incredible tennis markets. 

To place a wager, add a selection from any match to the bet slip. Enter a stake and hit 'PLACE BET' to get involved! If it wins, the wager will be settled and the money will be credited to your account. 

Want to take the fun of betting on tennis when you're out on the go? Download our free mobile app and access all our sports betting markets no matter where you are. 

What tennis competitions can I bet on?

We've got the ultimate betting experience for all tennis fans at Bally Bet, with odds on matches from across the world all year round. 

Here are some of the awesome tennis events you can wager on with us, including some important dates for your diary. 

Grand slam tennis tournaments 

There are betting opportunities on each of the four Grand Slam tournaments. The first is the Australian Open in January, before the French Open on clay courts in May and June. 

Grass courts come into play in the summer with Wimbledon starting on 30 June, and the US Open is the final Grand Slam event of the season. This takes place at Flushing Meadows in August and September. 

All Grand Slam tournaments last for two weeks. With the men's and women's tournaments running alongside each other, we'll have plenty of live tennis betting options to dive into.

ATP tour 

Discover tennis betting odds on more than 60 events from the ATP Tour! These are held across 31 different countries, with the top players in the world competing for a place in the ATP Finals in Turin at the start of November. 

WTA tour 

We're serving up plenty of thrills from the WTA tour. Place wagers on all 56 events, with thousands of matches being played across the season. It all builds up to the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia in November, with over $15m in prize money up for grabs. 

Tennis in-play betting 

Didn't have a chance to bet before the match started? Don't sweat it. We've got heaps of in-play tennis betting odds, and every point is at stake. 

Wager on handicaps, set winners and the match result, plus you can stay up to date with all the latest scores. 

Popular tennis betting markets

Ready to go? Here's a quick look at some of the tennis odds you can expect to find on our online sports betting site - especially useful for any rookies out there. 

Match result 

A straight-up win market. Pick a player to take the victory in any number of sets, and if your hunch is correct then you'll be paid out. 

Correct score 

Wager on the exact score the match will finish. Three-set matches can be 2-0 or 2-1, while five-set events can be 3-0, 3-1 or 3-2. 

Correct set score 

One for the tennis buffs. Correct set scores have a wider range of possibilities, but also bigger odds at stake. Sets can finish 6-0, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 or 7-6 if it ends in a tie-break. 

Total sets 

Struggling to pick a winner? If the match is too close to call, bet on the total number of sets to be played. Grand Slam tournaments offer over/under 3.5 and 4.5 sets, while the line is set at 2.5 for all other events. 

Total games 

Back the total number of games you think will be played during the match. Grand Slam events could have as many as 65 if all sets go to a tie-break, while regular tournaments may be up to 39. 

Tie-breaks 

Take a look at all our betting offers on tie-breaks. Wager on the winner of the tie-break, the correct points score in the decider, or whether there'll be at least one tie-break during the match. The choice is yours. 

Handicaps 

We've got handicap markets on games and sets for our buddies. This means you can wager on a player to have a head start or a disadvantage, basically levelling the playing field. 

For a set handicap of -1.5, a player has to win by at least two to pay out. A game handicap of +3.5 means a player can lose no more than three extra games than their opponent for the bet to win. 

Tennis betting tips

The clock's ticking, folks. It's time to step out onto the court. Here's a selection of some of our top tennis betting tips for you to keep in mind when wagering on the action-packed sport. 

Read up on the best tennis bets 

Getting a second opinion is never a bad thing. If you're torn between two players, find out what some of the most well-known anoraks think to help make up your mind. You might even learn a thing or two. 

Check the surface 

Certain players can be more dominant depending on the surface. Rafael Nadal won 14 French Open titles on clay courts, after all. 

Make sure you know the surface the match is being played on, plus what the players' records are on it. This could help you uncover some strengths or weaknesses. 

Find the form guides 

They say “form is temporary, class is permanent”, but we all know class doesn't win bets. It's important to take some time to read the latest form guides to stay on the right side of any red-hot or ice-cold players. 

Research head-to-head records 

If you're serious about the hustle, then get to know head-to-head records when betting on tennis - you might find one player seems to have the edge over another. Stats can be great guides, so always do the research. 

Check weather forecasts 

Like with any sport, the weather can have a big say in the result of tennis matches. Check the forecast to see if there's any rain that could interrupt the action, or strong winds which can make it harder to play in. 

Look for injury records 

It's never wise to put your faith in a player with recent injury troubles or a sketchy record in general. Find out whether a player has been struggling before putting any money down. 

Research different tennis betting strategies

Take a look at some of the top tennis betting strategies and see what tips other bettors have for you. This includes setting limits and gambling responsibly, making the most of free bets and not letting the heart rule the head. 

Tennis betting FAQs

Want to know a little bit more about tennis before putting any money down? We got you. Here's some of the most common questions with some answers for y'all below. 

How many sets in tennis? 

Most tennis matches have up to three sets, with two sets needed to win. Men's Grand Slam events are the best of five sets, so they can sometimes take longer to be played. 

How many games are there in a set of tennis? 

Players need six games to win a set of tennis, although this can be as many as seven. If the score is 5-5, at least two more games are played, with a tie-break to settle the deadlock at 6-6. 

How does a tie-break work in tennis? 

Tie-breaks are won when a player secures at least seven points, but they must have a two-point margin. So, it could be anything from 7-0 to 7-5, or they'll play on until someone has the coveted two-point buffer. 

What happens to my bet if a tennis player retires? 

If a player gets hurt and can't carry on, all match result wagers will stand as long as at least one set has been completed. Correct score bets are made void, while over/under and handicap markets are settled based on the score at the time. 

What is a walkover in tennis betting? 

Walkovers give tennis players a bye into the next round of the tournament. This could be because of injury, illness or disqualification. All bets will become void as the match didn’t start. 

Start betting today with Bally Bet Sports & Casino

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Head over to the Bally Bet blog to get all our latest how-to-bet guides, plus plenty of rewards to enjoy while playing online games.

¹https://www.spond.com/news-and-blog/most-popular-participation-sports-in-the-uk