How to Identify the Best Tennis Betting Sites?

Posted by Harry Kane on Friday, December 1, 2023

It’s fair to say that not all sports betting markets have been created equal, as whilst some see huge amounts wagered, others are considerably less popular. Tennis belongs to the former camp, with real-time wagering particularly popular for fans of this sport in the UK and globally.

Overall, an estimated 81.1% of the tennis audience like to wager on the action as it unfolds, making it more popular than football in this respect. The challenge for these punters is selecting the best and most reputable tennis betting sites, so here are some consideration to keep in mind!

1. Identify a Reputable and Secure Site

Let’s start with the basics; as you should never wager money through any site without first ensuring that it’s reputable and secure. In terms of the former, you need to make sure that the site in question is operated by an accredited and regulated company, with the legal right to operate in a specific jurisdiction.

On these shores, this means that your chosen site should be fully licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), regardless of whether it offers only sports betting or an array of additional verticals. If a betting site does not have this accreditation, it’s operating unlawfully in the UK marketplace.

Whilst the brand can also boast alternative licenses that are pertinent to other jurisdictions in which it operates, it’s not legal to accept bets from British customers without a license from the UKGC. What’s more, operators are legally obliged to display their licensing information and number of their website, while this should ideally be hyperlinked to a trusted third-party site.

When it comes to security, it’s also important to verify that your preferred site is capable of protecting both your money and your personal details. Ultimately, the site should offer the industry standard 128-bit SSL encryption as a minimum standard, which safeguards individual transactions and the sensitive information associated with them (such as your email address and bank account). If a company is unable to offer this, it will either be incapable of safeguarding your hard-earned bankroll (or securely completing transactions) or make a deliberate attempt to steal your money as

part of a rogue operation. Such scenarios should be avoided at all costs, so ignore sites that cannot reveal or verify their licensing credentials.

2. Consider the Odds and the Value Proposition on Offer

Whilst the odds on tennis betting don’t typically fluctuate so much across the major tournaments, it always makes sense to research the market thoroughly before making an informed decision. The reason for this is simple as even subtle shifts in the quoted odds can increase the value proposition of your wager and boost your potential returns.

There are some figures that can help you to arrive at your decision, as they translate the odds published by operators into an average return-to-player (RTP) rate across different tennis tournaments. This way, you can identify the best operators according to the precise event that you’d like to wager on.

Typically speaking, the market leading sportsbooks and betting sites offer an RTP rate of between 94% and 96% on tennis and selected markets. This average may increase during high profile tournaments such as the SW19 championships at Wimbledon, which are likely to be the focus of specific, value-creating promotions and daily odds boosts (where available).

However, some sites will offer an average payout above 96% across all tennis betting markets, while others may see their own RTP fall below the 94% value. Regardless, it’s important to gauge the average payout and value proposition across every potential tennis betting site, to determine which one offers the most competitive and consistent odds.

Look out for odds boosts and promotions too, as they can really help to enhance prices in the short or longer-term. This applies to futures and in-play markets too, so remaining vigilant and using independent sportsbook comparison sites to evaluate your options may ultimately prove very profitable.

3. What are the Markets on Offer?

We’ve already spoken about the popularity of in-play betting amongst tennis fans, and this remains one of the most generative markets for sports supporters anywhere. The range of betting markets provided by operators is definitely key when selecting an operator, as this will make it easier to identify the best value wagers and build lucrative accumulators through a single platform.

Once again, a brief analysis of the leading operators offers us an insight into which one is home to the biggest range of major markets, although it’s fair to say that there’s little to choose between the primary options when it comes to tennis. In fact, most of the best betting sites offers comprehensive coverage of tennis and its various Grand Slam tournaments, including Wimbledon and the US Open.

However, you can potentially narrow down your search simply by considering your preferred bet types and whether these are catered for by a specific site. The easiest distinction is between futures and in-play betting, as different markets boast variable representation and some may be more readily available than others.

If you’re somebody who likes to bet on tennis and similarly popular sports such as football, boxing or basketball, you should give consideration to the wider range of sports categories

available at a particular sportsbook. Typically, operators cover more than 30 high profile and niche sporting disciplines, although some offer access to more than others.

So, explore a site’s full range of sports and tennis betting markets, both independently and using sportsbook reviews. This way you can make a truly informed and considered selection, and one that suits everything from your preferred betting strategy and wager types to the qualifying terms and conditions associated with its welcome offer!