Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, has gained popularity on online betting platforms, especially at international events and major competitions such as the Olympic Games, the World Championship, and professional leagues. Although not as massive as other sports, table tennis offers a wide variety of betting options that you can find on platforms, making it an excellent choice for punters looking for something different.
Below, we explain the main types of bets that can be found on table tennis on online platforms.
1. Match Winner (Moneyline) Bet
The match winner bet, also known as moneyline, is the most basic form of table tennis betting. In this bet, it is simply a matter of predicting which player will win the match. Bookmakers assign odds to each player based on their probability of winning. The favorite player will have lower odds, while the underdog will have higher odds, offering higher profits in case of an upset.
This type of bet is ideal for those who are just starting out in table tennis betting, as it doesn’t require too much in-depth analysis and is easy to understand.
2. Handicap Betting
Handicap betting is popular in table tennis because there are often large differences in level between players, especially in competitions with clear favourites. In this type of bet, a handicap is added to one of the players to level the playing field.
For example, if a player is heavily favoured, the bookmaker may assign them a handicap of -2.5 sets. This means that the player must win the match by at least three sets for the bet to be a winner. Likewise, the other player is given a positive handicap, meaning that they could lose the match but still win the bet, as long as they keep the difference within the assigned handicap margin.
This type of bet is useful for punters who are looking for more excitement in matches where there is a clear favourite and want to get better odds.
3. Over/Under Bet
In table tennis, a common bet is the over/under bet. In this case, the bettor predicts whether the total number of sets in a match will be over or under a figure determined by the bookmaker. For example, if the line is at 4.5 sets, you can bet that the match will go over five sets (over) or under four sets (under).
This type of bet is ideal for those who analyze the playing style of players, as some matches can be fast and dominant, while others could extend with more competitive sets. It is an interesting option for those who prefer not to focus solely on the final result of the match.
4. Specific Set Winner Bet
Another common option in table tennis betting is to bet on the winner of a specific set. Here, instead of predicting who will win the entire match, the bettor can focus on which player will win a particular set, such as the first set or the second set.
This type of bet is popular in matches where players have a variable performance throughout the match. Some players start off strong and win the first sets, while others are known to be stronger in the later stages of the match. Analyzing the statistics and behavior of players in previous situations can be key to being successful in this type of bet.
5. Live (In-Play) Betting
Live or in-play betting is increasingly popular in table tennis due to the speed of the game. During the development of the match, punters can place bets in real time, taking advantage of fluctuations in the odds as the match progresses.
Live betting allows players to bet on a wide variety of markets, such as the outcome of a specific set, who will win the next point, or whether a player will come back from being down. This type of bet requires quick decisions and a good knowledge of the sport, as changes in the score can affect the odds in a matter of seconds.
6. Outright Bets
In addition to betting on individual matches, many online platforms offer the option of placing outright bets on table tennis competitions. In this type of bet, the punter predicts who will win a particular tournament or championship before it starts or during the event.
For example, in a tournament such as the World Table Tennis Championships, punters can select the player they think will be crowned champion. The odds for this type of bet are usually more attractive, as it is more difficult to predict the final result of a competition with several players.
7. Exact Match Score Bet
In table tennis, there is also the possibility of betting on the exact score of the match. This bet consists of predicting the final result in sets, for example, whether a player will win 3-1 or 3-2. The odds on this type of bet are usually quite high, as guessing the exact score is more complicated than simply predicting the winner of the match.
Conclusion
Table tennis offers a wide range of betting options on online platforms, ranging from simple bets on the match winner to more complex options such as handicap bets, total number of sets or live bets. This sport, characterized by its speed and dynamism, provides many opportunities for bettors looking for analysis and excitement. As with any sport, a thorough knowledge of the players and their playing style can make all the difference when betting on table tennis.