How to bet on darts

Darts is a simple yet alluring sport. Often played in pubs and bars, contestants simply have to throw darts at a board to get the highest score possible, or an exact score, to help them win.  

Darts players aren’t necessarily athletic, but their skill and accuracy with the sharp projectiles is superb. And something else that adds to the sport is the electric atmosphere that is generated by live crowds.  

This all helps to make it a unique and enthralling atmosphere – one in which many people are keen to place a bet. You may, however, be unsure about the best types of bets to place. 

So, in this guide, we’ll take a look at how to bet on darts, what kinds of options are available to you and how to get the best bonuses and deals from betting companies.  

Darts is a sport that is popular around the world. Nearly 1.5 million people tuned in to the PDC World Darts Championship between Michael Smith and Peter Wright in January 2022, making it the second-highest audience in the tournament’s history. 

Darts fans will hope that this popularity will continue in the future. If you’re new to the sport, you may be wondering about ways in which to bet on darts and where the best places are to make a bet. 

Well, you’ll be happy to learn that it’s possible to bet on the sport anywhere in the world, with even the States getting in on the action - sports betting sites in AZ are now carrying the sport! Let’s look at how darts matches work. 

How does a darts match work? 

Before we dive into different types of darts bets, let’s look at how a darts match plays out. 

Players, also referred to as “dartists”, are given three darts to throw at a board. This board is separated into segments that carry different point values. Narrow segments found in outer and inner rings can see players score double or triple points, with 180 being the maximum score per each set of throws.  

Players take turns to throw their darts, chipping away at an overall starting score, which is usually 501. The first player to zero wins. 

One of the simplest bets you can make on darts is the moneyline wager. This is simply backing the player who you think will win the match.  

Depending on who you back, the odds can vary from being great to underwhelming, especially if you back a favorite. 

Something that you can do to boost those odds is create an accumulator bet. This involves picking the moneyline winner in a number of different matches. As it’s harder to call the results of so many games, you naturally attract greater odds.  

Another type of wager you can make is to bet on the correct match score. Usually players compete over a series of “legs” or “sets”, similar to tennis. You can bet on the final figure, though it can be tricky. For example, you could bet that Michael Van Gerwen will win 7-3 overall. This is sometimes a good way to secure greater odds.  

Perhaps the most speculative bet you can make is a nine-dart finish. With the total starting score often being 501, it’s possible for players to clear this score with nine darts. Van Gerwen has done this in six televised competitions in the past, and the odds on him doing this again are generally sky-high. 

The darts sporting calendar is packed with different competitions held all over the world. Many of these events are televised on major networks, such as Sky Sports and ITV in the UK.  

Some of the major tournaments include: 

There’s also the WDF World Cup for national darts teams, as well as the Europe Cup.  

In the run-up to all of these competitions, you’re likely to find that betting companies offer lots of welcome bonuses and deals to attract new players. Some of these deals can see you earn lots more money – if you win. 

One of them is the matched first deposit or first bet bonus. This means that when you place your first bet, say of $50, the betting site will match it for free, meaning you’re effectively wagering $100.  

Some betting sites offer first bet matching of up to $1,000 or even $2,000. If you do a bit of research, you’re likely to find the best sportsbook for you.