Everything You Need to Know About Responsible Tennis Betting

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Tennis betting comes with unique terms and strategies, from match winner bets to player prop wagers. Understanding these terms is essential for making informed decisions and creating a sustainable and enjoyable betting experience. This knowledge ensures you can fully grasp the odds, calculate potential payouts, and identify value in the betting lines.

Below is a guide to popular tennis betting terms, complete with real-world examples illustrating how each type of wager works in practice. By mastering these terms, you’ll be better equipped to approach tennis betting with clarity and confidence.

Tennis betting odds represent the probability of specific outcomes in matches and determine potential winnings based on the amount wagered. These odds are commonly presented as American odds (positive and negative), decimal odds, or fractional odds, depending on the region. Understanding how tennis betting odds work is crucial for making informed decisions and maximizing your betting experience.

Positive and Negative Numbers in American Odds

Positive Odds (+)

Positive odds indicate the profit you can earn from a $100 wager.

• Example:
  If Daniil Medvedev has moneyline odds of +250, a $100 bet would result in a $250 profit for a total payout of $350 (original stake + profit).

Negative Odds (-)

Negative odds represent the amount you must wager to win $100.

• Example:
  If Novak Djokovic has odds of -150, you must bet $150 to earn $100 in profit, resulting in a total payout of $250 (original stake + profit).

Types of Tennis Betting Odds

Match Winner Odds

This is the most straightforward bet, where you wager on which player will win the match outright.

• Example:
  • Novak Djokovic: -150
  • Stefanos Tsitsipas: +130
    Betting on Djokovic at -150 means you need to stake $150 to win $100, whereas a $100 bet on Tsitsipas at +130 would earn you $130 in profit if he wins.

Set Handicap Odds

Similar to point spreads in other sports, set handicaps level the playing field by giving one player a virtual advantage or disadvantage in sets.

• Example:
  • Serena Williams -1.5 sets: (+120)
  • Bianca Andreescu +1.5 sets: (-140)
    Betting on Williams -1.5 means she must win the match by at least 2 sets for your bet to win. Conversely, a bet on Andreescu at +1.5 wins if she loses by only one set, or wins the match outright.

Over/Under Total Games (Totals)

A wager on whether the total number of games played in a match will be over or under a set number.

• Example:
  Total Games: 22.5
  • Over (-110): A $110 bet wins $100 if the match has 23 or more games played.
  • Under (-110): A $110 bet wins $100 if the match has 22 or fewer games.

Parlays (Accumulator Bets)

A single bet that combines multiple selections; all individual bets must win for the overall wager to pay out.

• Example:
  Combining match winners from different rounds of a tournament. For instance, betting on:
  • Novak Djokovic to win his quarterfinal match (+150)
  • Iga Świątek to win her quarterfinal match (-130)
    If both players win their matches, the payout is higher than placing individual bets on each match.

Player Prop Bets

Wagers on individual player performances during a match.

• Example:
  Betting on Roger Federer to serve over 10 aces in his match at the ATP Finals at odds of +150.

Tournament Futures Bets

Long-term wagers on outcomes like tournament winners or overall season performance.

• Example:
  • Betting on Iga Świątek to win the French Open at +400 before the tournament begins.
  • Betting on Novak Djokovic to finish the season as world number one at +250.

Betting on tennis, whether it's a high-stakes match or a big tournament, often comes down to comparing odds across sportsbooks. Knowing how these odds differ can boost your potential returns. For instance, when you're looking at futures betting on major events like the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, or the US Open, even small variations in the odds can add up. This is why checking out what licensed sportsbooks—such as DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars—offer is so important.

Understanding these differences can help you make smarter bets. Not only does this improve your chances of a better return, but it also encourages a responsible betting habit. By sticking to your budget and choosing licensed operators, you’re ensuring a fair and secure experience.

Take a look at this example of futures odds for the upcoming Wimbledon champion market. The table below shows the odds for three potential champions, as offered by a few well-known sportsbooks. Keep in mind that these numbers are just examples:

The bottom line is that comparing odds across different sportsbooks can help you squeeze out every bit of value from your bets. This practice not only maximizes your returns but also supports a responsible betting approach—keeping you within your budget and ensuring you're betting with trusted, regulated providers.

By taking the time to compare odds and make informed decisions, you can enhance your tennis betting experience while maintaining a smart and responsible approach.