Darts has gone from a popular pub game to a fully functioning sport in a relatively short amount of time.
The rise of darts has been incredible to follow, with the likes of Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld contributing to the excitement and popularity of darts betting.
Nowadays, Luke Humphries is widely regarded as the best darts player in the world.
The Englishman regularly tops darts odds for major tournaments and he will be eyeing up plenty more silverware in the second half of the 2020s.
Darts Betting Guide
Like many sports, darts betting is fairly straightforward. The most popular pick for punters who bet on darts is for a player to win a match – you can also combine this market to build a darts betting accumulator.
However, there are lots of other darts betting markets to whet the tungsten appetite. You can bet on a player to hit more 180s than his opponent, record the highest checkout of the match and even back either competitor to hit a nine-dart finish
Darts Betting Tips
The sport is growing at an astronomical rate and darts betting aficionados will be well aware of the different tournaments taking place around the world. Every competition has a slightly different format, whether that’s leg vs set play or starting off on a double.
The PDC World Championship is undoubtedly the biggest tournament of the calendar and all of the top darts players compete at the event. Humphries is the defending champion and he will be a popular pick in World Championship betting tips to retain his crown.
Every player bids to win the PDC World Championship but finishing at the top of the Order of Merit is perhaps more important. This is used to calculate total prize money won over the course of the year, with the highest earner taking the title of the world’s best darts player.
Here at 888sport, darts betting fans can access various enhanced specials for some of the biggest events. For example, there are regularly boosted trebles for a player to win a match, hit the most 180s and record the highest checkout of the contest.
In-Play Betting On Darts
One of the most popular ways to bet on darts is during a match. There are a number of very important factors to consider when betting in-play on darts, including but not limited to following which player has the throw, double percentage accuracy and match format.
You don’t need to be a darts betting expert to figure out that the player who throws first is likely to reach a checkout first. However, it is well worth monitoring the double success rate of competing players in order to assess whether in-play darts odds are favourable.
Furthermore, the type of match also has a major impact on in-play darts odds. Some players start slowly while others hit the ground running – set play will favour the former while a legs format contest will suit the latter.
If you are looking to bet on darts against Humphries or other stars, backing their opponent in-play to win certain legs may be the way to go. By the same token, placing a bet on the best darts players in the world to come from behind to win is another option.
The fast nature of the sport means that betting in-play on darts is exciting and fun – both for darts experts and darts betting novices. You can find helpful tips and in-play betting advice for all sports on the 888sport blog.
Biggest Darts Betting Events
As previously mentioned, the PDC World Championship is the biggest darts betting event of the year.
It is held over the Christmas period, with the final usually taking place at the Alexandra Palace on New Year’s Day. The tournament is a huge hit with darts fans, as well as general sport followers.
Premier League Darts is now one of the best darts competitions, with matches taking place at different venues around the country.
In recent years, darts betting fans will have noticed that the Premier League has ventured abroad – this is the ideal tournament for outright bets given it takes place over a longer period of time. Don't forget the option to place an each-way bet in Premier League Darts outright markets.
Excluding these two tournaments, the World Matchplay is the most lucrative event in darts. With £200,000 on offer to the winner in 2024, only the very best darts players will be in contention to lift the trophy. World Matchplay odds will be available ahead of each competition
Meanwhile, the UK Open has a fantastic reputation for shocks. With no seeding for the top ranked darts players, the UK Open is known as the ‘FA Cup of darts’. It is one of only seven Premier Ranked Events in the sport – no wonder it is popular with darts betting experts.
For a full list of the biggest darts competitions, visit the PDC website. You can find the latest darts betting news, tips and information on upcoming tournaments, as well as an updated list of the PDC Order of Merit.
Premier League Darts Betting Tips
Launched in 2005, Premier League Darts has gone from strength to strength over the years and it is now up there with the biggest darts tournaments to bet on. Michael van Gerwen's period of dominance looks to be drawing to a close, with Luke Littler defeating Humphries in the 2024 final.
The format has changed considerably over the years, with the 2024 competition looking very different to the 2005 tournament. The four players at the top of the PDC Order Of Merit qualify, as do five wildcard choices selected by the darts governing body.
However, there are now nine ‘Challengers’ – one for each week of Phase One. After that, the nitty gritty stage of Premier League Darts betting starts as the battle to reach Finals Night intensifies.
Van Gerwen is one of the most successful players in the competition's history -- he has five more titles than any other active player. However, the new format may prevent darts tipsters from getting too involved – anything can happen on the PDC stage.
Grand Slam Of Darts Betting Tips
A major event that we’ve not yet touched on is the Grand Slam Of Darts. Here, the top darts players from the British Darts Organisation (BDO) are invited to enter alongside stars from the PDC. Split into eight pools, a total of 32 players enter in a bid to secure the jackpot.
Gerwyn Price is a three-time champion and plenty of punters will be keeping an eye out for the Welshman in the Grand Slam of Darts odds later this year.
888sport is the place to be for darts betting tips, news and odds – and the Grand Slam Of Darts will be popular with tungsten fans around the world. One of the highlights of the darts calendar, you will not want to miss this particular tournament!
Free Darts Betting Tips
As darts continues to grow as a sport, more free darts betting tips are becoming readily available. In years gone by, paid tipsters dominated the darts betting scene but the industry is now focused primarily on free darts tips – which is of course fantastic news for sports betting fans.
Betting on darts is simple and it is one of the most exciting sports to get involved in. The topsy-turvy nature of the sport only enhances the drama and the number of matches at each event gives punters a real chance to build a darts betting accumulator.
Free darts betting tips are particularly useful on major tournaments, with helpful statistics and information giving punters insight into various key figures. For example, darts betting fans are able to access double percentage numbers, three-dart averages and even head-to-head records.
Statistics aren’t the be all and end all in sport but they are particularly useful in darts. Some players enjoy certain competitions while struggling in others – it is important for every darts betting punter to familiarise themselves with every major tournament. That way, you could be able to enhance your betting experience.
Bet On Darts With 888sport
888sport is the place to be for darts betting, with odds and tips on all of the major darts events. To find our darts odds, simply navigate to the darts betting area of the website on the left-hand side and then click to find your chosen tournament.
If you want to bet on darts, remember to keep an eye on the upcoming schedule for the major events. Thursday night is Premier League Darts betting night during the spring so be sure to check odds weekly to avoid missing out on the competition.
You can find all of the ‘need to know’ darts betting tips on the blog – with regular updates on the biggest darts tournaments around the world.
Covering events such as the Grand Slam Of Darts, the World Matchplay and the PDC World Championship including PDC outright odds, our experts will keep you up to date on the latest free darts betting news.
*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*
