Darts Betting at Bally Bet

Darts has quickly evolved from its pub game roots to become one of Britain’s most popular spectator sports, with millions tuning in for major tournaments or joining the action in person at atmospheric venues like Alexandra Palace.

Thanks to its year-round calendar of events, memorable personalities and fast-paced format, darts is compelling viewing. And the betting markets that come with it – from match winner to nine-dart finishes - provide extensive opportunities to get involved.

At Bally Bet, we offer comprehensive markets that cover the major tournaments and events throughout the season. Whether you're familiar with the PDC circuit or discovering professional darts for the first time, you'll find everything you need to know here.

How a Darts Game Works

Understanding key terminology, competitive formats and scoring helps navigate darts betting markets more confidently.

Professional Game Structure and Formats

Depending on the format of the competition, professional darts matches are made up of either legs or sets.

A leg is a single match of darts, and a set is a sequence of a certain number of legs.

A darts match following a leg format will employ a ‘best of’ system. In a ‘best of 11’, the first player to win six legs would win the match. You’ll encounter this type of format for league games and the UK Open.

A match with a set format, on the other hand, combines legs and sets, like ‘best of three sets, best of five legs’. Here, a player would need to win three legs for a set and then four sets to win the match.

Scoring System

A leg typically starts at 501 points for each player – 301 may be the starting figure for short game formats – and their aim is to reduce their score to zero in as few dart throws as possible. It’s a game where, unlike most other sports, the scoring works in reverse.

A player throws three darts with each visit to the oche (the line they throw from), with scores deducted from their total after each turn. However, players can only finish a leg by hitting a double (the outer ring) or the bullseye. If they have 40 points remaining, they need double 20 to win.

Key Terms and Meanings

Most of the terminology used in darts is pretty straightforward, but here’s a quick refresher in case you need it:

The Oche – the throwing line players must stand behind, 2.37 metres from the dartboard.

Visit – each turn where a player throws three darts.

Break of Throw – similar to a breaking serve in tennis and giving a notable advantage to whoever achieves it, it’s when a player wins a leg without being the first to throw.

Bullseye – the centre of the darts board, worth 50 points. The surrounding outer bull – usually green – is worth 25 points.

Double – the thin outer ring that doubles the value of the corresponding number. To finish a leg, players must land a dart here.

Treble – the smaller inner ring on the dartboard that triples the value of the corresponding number.

Checkout – the final score, like 170, a player must hit to win a leg, via a double or bullseye.

Major Scores and Achievements

180 – the highest possible score with three darts, made up of three treble 20s. These appear regularly in professional matches, making them a popular market.

Nine-dart finish – or the “perfect leg”, where a player gets their starting 501 down to zero in just nine darts (three visits). Very rare, but not impossible, and normally achieved by throwing two 180s before tackling the remaining 141 with a treble 20, treble 19 and double 12.

Big Fish – a nickname for the highest possible checkout, 170, which is achieved by throwing two treble 20s and a bullseye.

Bogey numbers – scores lower than 170 that cannot be finished mathematically with three darts. These are 159, 162, 163, 165, 166, 168 and 169.

Differences Between Major Darts Tournaments

PDC World Championship

The World Championship is the highlight of the darts calendar, taking place at Alexandra Palace in December and January to capacity crowds.

The tournament uses a set format throughout, with the number of sets increasing in later rounds. First and second round matches are best of five sets, the third and fourth rounds are best of seven and the final is best of 13.

The competition features 96 players in a knockout structure, with the top 32 PDC Order of Merit players being seeded automatically to the second round, another 32 qualifying for the first round via the Pro Tour Order of Merit and the remaining 32 qualifying from various other events.

With a total prize fund of £2,500,000, it stands as the most lucrative tournament in professional darts.

World Matchplay

Taking place at Blackpool's Winter Gardens in July, the World Matchplay features 32 players in knockout format.

Early rounds use a legs format before transitioning to sets in later stages. The top 16 players from the PDC Order of Merit gain automatic qualification, with the remaining spots filled by top performers from the Pro Tour Order of Merit.

Premier League Darts

For a completely different structure to knockout tournaments, look at Premier League Darts games, which take place from February to May.

Each Thursday, eight top-ranked players face off against each other and earn points based on their finishing positions. The final top four players in the league then compete in playoff games to determine the overall champion.

This weekly format allows for better form tracking when compared to one-off knockout events.

Other Major Darts Tournaments

Moving beyond the World Championship, World Matchplay and Premier League tournaments, there are a few other notable events throughout the year:

UK Open

Taking place in March, the “FA Cup of Darts” features an open qualifying structure to allow a broader field of talent. Make note of this tournament if you’re interested in watching potential giant-killings, with lower-ranked players causing upsets.

PDC World Masters

Alternatively known as “The Masters”, this tournament features 24 top players – as per the PDC Order of Merit ranking system – and a straight knockout format that takes place over a March weekend.

World Grand Prix

Utilising the ‘double in, double out’ format – where a player must hit a double to start and finish a leg – this tactically challenging tournament takes place at the Leicester Arena in October.

Grand Slam of Darts

A combination of different darts organisations that sees unique matchups not often found in regular PDC events. Starts with group stages followed by knockout rounds and takes place in November.

European Championship

Wraps up the European Tour season in October and pits top European players against highest-ranked players from the PDC.

Players Championship Finals

The culmination of the year’s Players Championship events, featuring the top 64 players and taking part in November.

Popular Darts Betting Markets

There’s a diverse selection of markets to choose from when betting on darts, with match outcomes, individual achievements and combinations all available.

Main Match Markets

Match Odds represents the most straightforward market: backing which player wins the match. The odds attached to this bet reflect Odds reflect current form, head-to-head records and the context of the tournament.

With a bet on the Highest Checkout market, you’re predicting which player will win a leg with the highest score. Top players regularly hit checkouts exceeding 100, making for interesting betting situations.

Most 180s is a bet on which player hits the most top scores in the match. In-form players routinely hit treble 20, which makes this market one to look out for. At Bally Bet, you can pick from related markets like 180 handicaps and total 180s.

King of the Oche, when it’s available, is a specific market where a player has to win the match, hit the highest checkout and record the most 180s. It’s one bet, but similar to a bet builder in that three related events must happen for it to win.

Score Prediction Markets

Predict the exact final score with a Correct Score bet. In a best-of-11-legs match, you might choose 6-4, 6-3 or 5-6 depending on the player and how competitive you think the match will be.

With handicap betting, you give a virtual advantage to the underdog or a deficit for the favourite to overcome and, in doing so, even things out a bit. For example, a ‘-2.5 leg’ handicap means the favourite has to win by more than three legs for the bet to succeed. Handicap bets can be added to other markets as well, like 180s.

Factors That May Influence Darts Outcomes

By no means an exhaustive list, and nothing's guaranteed, but here are several aspects besides player rankings to keep in mind when assessing darts matches.

Current Form

For a clear indication of current performance levels, look at recent results. During the early months of the season, the Premier League is a solid form indicator, as the top eight players will face off against each other on a weekly basis.

It’s straightforward enough to find data about a player’s checkout percentage, three-dart average, frequency of 180s and more online. Obviously, no-one can predict exactly how a match will play out, but these metrics are worth looking at if only because you like crunching numbers.

Head-to-Head Records

You’ll find fierce rivalries when watching certain darts matches, and the psychological aspect of them can sometimes override a player’s current form. Some players consistently struggle against specific opponents despite strong overall records.

Style of play matters too. A more methodical, slower-paced player might disrupt a rapid-fire opponent’s rhythm, creating interesting match dynamics that aren’t completely reflective of individual quality. It’s worth checking historical matchups between two players for insight into how things tend to pan out.

Tournament Format

Some players perform better in leg-based formats, while others do well in tournaments featuring sets. Each requires a different mindset for success, with set formats asking players to win crucial legs at important moments to claim sets and put pressure on their opponent.

Set formats also generate more deciding legs per match, which tests a player’s nerve in high-pressure situations more so than a straight leg format. In addition, a tournament making use of the double-start rule can favour certain players.

Venue and Atmosphere

Historic venues such as Alexandra Palace are known for their intense atmospheres, which can make or break players. Equally, if a player is used to big crowds, smaller venues may affect how they perform.

Where in the season a tournament falls is worth considering too, with players displaying different levels of performance early on when compared to the autumn/winter period during which the major titles are decided.

Darts In-Play Betting

Due to regular breaks between sets, the format of darts helps foster timely opportunities for in-play betting.

Rhythm Indicators

Players looking as though they’re finding their groove – via consistent scoring and dart averages – are worth looking at throughout the match. Equally, players struggling to find their footing may be worth keeping tabs on too.

Strategic Timing

If a favourite falls behind early on, the odds will lengthen considerably. Similarly, an underdog performing well might offer opportunities to settle early before the favourite finds their form. Recognising these developments as they happen can be useful when deciding when to wager.

In-Play Statistics

Live statistics covering current averages, checkout percentages and number of 180s can help inform your in-play decisions more effectively than pre-match figures. It’s worth keeping these handy when looking at in-play markets.

How to Bet on Darts at Bally Bet

1. Head to the Darts section, which you'll find listed in the main Sports menu.
2. Review the tabs and choose the tournament and match you’d like to bet on.
3. Choose your market(s) and add it to your bet slip. The odds will appear alongside the bets in the bet slip.
4. Add your stake amount and review the potential returns before confirming.

Betting on Darts Responsibly

With darts events taking place all year round, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved. But this frequency also requires a disciplined approach. Here are some pointers on making sure you’re always enjoying darts betting responsibly.

Manage your tournament involvement

As major tournaments can take place across multiple days – with numerous matches – it's good to set budgets for the event beforehand rather than betting across every game.

Avoid chasing through rounds

Don’t try to recoup early losses by betting on later matches. Treat each match as an independent event and bet accordingly.

Recognise knowledge limits

While darts betting is accessible, professional nuances may not always be obvious to casual viewers. Acknowledge knowledge gaps when betting on lower-profile tournaments or less familiar players.

Use the Responsible Gambling tools we have available

We have a range of tools to help you stay in control when you play with us. You can set spend and deposit limits, account timeouts and check your betting history to maintain control over your activity.

Darts provides compelling entertainment whether you’re betting or simply enjoying sport. Keeping that perspective front and centre ensures ongoing enjoyment throughout the season.