Beginner's Guide to Darts Betting

Darts is a fast-paced and highly competitive sport that combines incredible precision with mental focus. Whether you’re watching the PDC World Championship or a Premier League night, betting on darts can add another level of excitement to the game. In this guide, you’ll learn how darts betting works, which markets are worth your attention, how payouts work with real examples, and practical tips to help you start strong.

Darts Markets

1. Understanding Darts Competitions

Most professional darts matches are played in a “legs” and “sets” format. A leg is one game of 501 points, and players take turns reducing their score to exactly zero, finishing on a double. A set is usually made up of the best of five legs. Matches vary in length depending on the event and the round.

Major tournaments like the PDC World Championship, Premier League Darts, and Grand Slam of Darts feature top-ranked players and attract the most betting action.

2. Key Darts Betting Markets

Let’s walk through the most common and beginner-friendly betting options in darts.

1. Match Winner
The simplest and most popular bet. Choose who will win the match.
Example:

Michael van Gerwen: 1.60
Gerwyn Price: 2.30

A €20 bet on Price returns €46 if he wins.

2. Correct Score
Predict the final score of the match in sets or legs. This market offers higher odds due to its difficulty.
Example:

van Gerwen 3–2: 5.00
Price 3–1: 4.50

3. Most 180s
Bet on which player will score the most 180s (maximum score in a single visit).
Example:

Smith: 1.95
Wright: 1.80

4. Total Legs or Sets Over/Under
Bookmakers offer a line on how many legs or sets will be played. You bet over or under that number.
Example:

Over 8.5 total legs: 1.85
Under 8.5: 1.95

5. Handicap Betting
A virtual advantage or disadvantage is applied to one player to level the odds.
Example:

Wright -1.5 sets: 2.20
Clayton +1.5 sets: 1.60

6. Outright Tournament Winner
Pick a player to win the entire tournament. Odds are available before and during the event.
Example:

van Gerwen: 3.50
Luke Humphries: 7.00

7. Nine-Dart Finish
Bet on whether a perfect nine-dart leg will be thrown in a match or during a tournament.

3. Practical Example

Match: Jonny Clayton vs Joe Cullen
You bet:

€15 on Cullen to win at 2.40
€10 on Over 8.5 total legs at 1.90
€5 on Most 180s for Clayton at 2.00

If all bets are successful:

Match winner returns €36
Total legs returns €19
Most 180s returns €10
Total payout = €65 from €30 stake

4. 7 Tips for Betting on Darts

1. Know the format
Some matches are best of 11 legs, others are sets. Different formats favor different player styles.

2. Analyze recent player form
Darts is streaky. A player in good form can beat higher-ranked opponents.

3. Watch head-to-head records
Some players consistently beat others due to matchup styles.

4. Pay attention to crowd influence
Loud crowds can rattle some players and fire up others. Premier League events are especially rowdy.

5. Consider tournament stage
Early-round matches tend to be shorter, making upsets more likely.

6. Follow 180 scoring patterns
Not all elite players hit high numbers of 180s. Some prefer setup shots over max scores.

7. Use in-play opportunities
Momentum shifts quickly in darts. Live betting allows you to react to the flow of the match.

5. Conclusion

Betting on darts is as much about sharp observation as it is about knowing the odds. From match winners to 180 totals, there are many betting angles to explore. As with any sport, start with small stakes, focus on the markets you understand, and build your knowledge with each event. With practice, your eye for darts betting will become as sharp as the players’ aim.