While prominent tennis tournaments such as Wimbledon and the US Open might get more coverage across Europe and the Western world, table tennis is by far the most popular tennis-based sport. A lot of the popularity stems from China, where it’s estimated over 25% of the population plays it in some capacity. There are several factors to consider when learning how to bet on table tennis, and we will be covering them for you in detail today.
The number of players is growing in the West too, and while it might not receive the same level of mainstream attention as it does in Eastern markets, it’s beginning to pick up and attract a new generation of players.
With this added interest comes a spike in gambling activity, especially in countries like the UK, which has a strong gambling culture and a growing number of people participating in the game. If you’re wondering how to bet on table tennis, do not fret. Today, we will cover the online markets and provide you with a comprehensive table tennis betting guide.
Table Tennis betting in a nutshell
Table tennis includes a few basic rules that are the foundation for games at all levels. For instance, most games, including elite-level table tennis competitions, consist of 11 points, the best of five wins. If a game is 10-10, it goes to a tiebreak until a player wins by two clear points. The quickfire nature of table tennis is clear in how the game is played, with games lasting between half an hour and 60 minutes.
Unlike professional tennis on a larger court, the serve can land anywhere on your opponent’s half of the table. However, in doubles, the serve must go to the right side of the opponent’s table half. Some other key rules to remember include not being allowed to volley the ball and not being able to touch the table with your free hand.
Make sure to understand the rules of any sport before placing your bets. Blind betting rarely pays off.
How to bet on Table Tennis competitions
There are three major table tennis competitions on the calendar. While there are some excellent mid-sized tournaments you can bet on, we will discuss the main three today. Each top tournament has a slightly different format, which we will explain in greater detail.
You can bet on individual points, games and how many points a player will win in a specific game. However, over the course of major competitions, you can also find specialist markets, so let’s look at the major ones to keep an eye out for.
Olympic Table Tennis betting markets
Knowing how to bet on table tennis isn’t limited to the regular, annual tournaments and the prestigious Olympic games. The Olympic games are the pinnacle of many sports, whether athletics, boxing or swimming. This year marks the 10th time that table tennis has been part of the Olympic program, and it continues to grow in popularity.
Olympic table tennis follows a different format than other major table tennis competitions. Players become eligible and ranked through various qualifying competitions, which are usually regional and continental. The top 16 ranked countries are seeded, with each choosing three of their best players. There’s then an eight game knockout tournament (best of three), which eventually decides the medal table. However, the singles are a straight knockout competition.
For table tennis players, an Olympic gold medal is often the ultimate goal. With Paris 2024 just around the corner, the betting markets are already starting to take shape. As with any other Olympic competition, you can bet on the gold, silver or bronze medallist. You can even bet on which order they’ll be in, whether it’s in the men’s or women’s singles or doubles.
While outright markets see a lot of action during the summer Olympics and are often the most popular of the table tennis bets, there’s also an assortment of in-play or game-specific markets where you can bet on individual points or scores. You can bet on a specific country to get a certain number of medals, or you can combine an accumulator bet, encompassing a variety of medal competitions and who you think will win the whole tournament.
ITTF World Table Tennis Championships
Just two years shy of its 100-year celebration, the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships is one of the world’s most prestigious table tennis competitions. Many players and fans would argue that it is the pinnacle of the game. Since the first tournament in 1926, it has showcased some of the greatest players to grace the sport. Quite fittingly, the 2026 tournament will occur in the English capital, marking its centenary where it all started.
Similar to Olympic betting, there are five categories of tournaments you can bet on:
– Mixed doubles
– Women’s singles
– Women’s doubles
– Men’s singles
– Men’s doubles
The ITTF tournament involves an immediate 128-participant knockout tournament and 64 games in the doubles. Although the initial reforms were considered extremely bold and potentially damaging to the game, many fans are happier with this new format, as it features nail-biting drama and action from the start.
Table Tennis World Cup
The ITTF also oversees another annual competition — the table tennis World Cup. It operates in stark contrast to the Olympics and the World Table Tennis Championship. High-seeded players usually qualify automatically. You can bet on many outright markets, such as which player will finish top of their group or who will end up winning in their classification.
The qualifiers blend the top-ranked eight players, the current world champion and an assortment of wild cards to add a bit of spice and intrigue to proceedings. Following qualification, the top 16 players are seeded and spread across the group to ensure they don’t meet too early. For instance, the top-ranked player will be in Group A, the second in Group B, and so forth.
Out of the four groups, the top two names proceed to the knockout stages and battle it out to reach the final. The semi-final losers compete for third place, and the final two battle it out for the crown.
Table Tennis betting guide – Markets explained
Of all the available table tennis markets to bet on, there’s a bottleneck that forms at the top, which is where sportsbooks often see the most action. Usually, specialist markets will have a smaller audience, but the outright, over/under and in-play markets are the most popular.
Outright simply means a player, or pair, to win the tournament. Other table tennis bet types include betting on a nation like China to win the most Olympic table tennis medals.
Over/under markets simply cover the winning margin, or the points scored in the game, which is usually around 65 to 70. However, if you think one player will demolish the other, you can bet on 4-0 wins or a player winning by two clear games or more.
The in-play markets are vast; you can bet on a player to get an ace, the number of shots in one rally, the winning margin in a specific game or the correct score. Since the emergence of mobile betting, you can watch many of these games unfold on your mobile device, and it’s helped drive increased demand in in-play betting markets.
What to analyse for your Table Tennis bets
Here are some of the key components to note to build a more comprehensive picture of how to bet on table tennis:
Rankings
As with any sport, the elite often have the shortest odds and are the favourites going into the competition. However, exploring how quickly other players are moving through the ranks can be a strong indicator of who could be tomorrow’s stars and whether they have market value in upcoming, prominent competitions.
Statistics and form
Explore a player’s overall career achievements or form going into a major competition. Sometimes, players will be ranked lower, or they can overachieve because they’re in a rich vein of form. Given that outright markets are one of the most prominent table tennis bet types, statistics and form are studied in significant detail by punters.
Head-to-Heads
There are great rivalries in any sport, and players that bring out the best in their opposition. Table tennis is no different, and those who know how to bet on table tennis understand that head-to-heads can be a strong indicator of any potential match-ups. It doesn’t guarantee a successful bet, but it’s one of many elements that will help you understand table tennis betting markets.
Conclusion
Table tennis is one of the most popular sports in the East, and as sports betting companies begin to go through a global golden period, these markets are growing year after year. However, there is still a long way to go for table tennis to reach the same levels of popularity in the US, UK and Europe.
It’s estimated that over 350 million people watch or play table tennis in China, but a more accessible stream of media and growth in betting markets are helping to bridge the gap in the West. If you’re wondering how to bet on table tennis, the above information should help you to step into the market and see what it’s all about.
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Please note that the information provided in this article is for entertainment purposes only. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided. Any action you take upon the information on this article is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any losses and damages in connection with the use of our article. We do not encourage gambling and remind you to gamble responsibly.
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