Best Darts Betting Sites 2024

A brief history of darts

There is much speculation regarding the history of darts. But if there is a speck of truth in these rumours, then the origin of darts can be traced back to England during the reign of Henry VII. Experts believe that the king told his archers to practice their skills every day of the year to stay sharp and prepared for battle.

During practices, the archers threw arrows at tree stumps for fun instead of shooting. The thinking was they were all accurate in shooting arrows. But now, they needed to know who was great at throwing them. And given the unfavourable weather in England, it wasn’t long before the outdoor sport transitioned into an indoor sport. To make the game indoor-friendly, the arrows were shortened, and the target was made even smaller.

Eventually, the sport grew in popularity, and noblemen in England became hooked. History records that King Henry VIII was gifted with a set of darts.

Different people try various variations. However, they don’t catch on like the original darts. Scandinavians, for instance, play a version of darts where they throw spears at a target a couple of yards away.

Aside from the numerous variations, darts has dodged many banning bullets. Many people believe that darts is a game of chance and not skill. For this reason, a case was taken to court in 1908, which saw darts being banned in Scotland. It was labelled a corrupt influence, but the law was short-lived due to the public outcry.

Today, the sport is common in the UK and has millions of followers and players worldwide. It is popular in Germany, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, and the US.

How betting on darts works

Darts became a massive hit with betting sites when significant tournaments like World Matchplay, the Premier League, and the World of Champions came to life. But like with any sport, the most lucrative deals are in the pre-tournaments. There’s no need to limit yourself to wagering on a player you think will emerge in the top 3. As you’ll see, there are plenty of other options to consider.

Best darts betting markets

Set betting

This is more or less like the correct score in the football matches. You are expected to predict what the final set score will be.

The odds on these bets are higher than the outright wins. This is because the prediction is much tougher. To have better chances of winning, you should place this type of bet in the early rounds of the tournament when the payer is fresh and cruising through the challenges dropping one or no set in the process.

Most 180s in the match

This market sounds simple, right? Well, it is. You place a bet on the player who scores the most 180s in a game. This is considered more of a proposition bet as the bet isn’t related to the winner of the game.

Moreover, the bet has variations. Some odd makers offer the bet for the first 180, a total of 180s in a day, a total of 1980s in a leg, and many others.

Understanding the player's scoring habits in the game will increase your chances of winning this bet.

Highest checkout in the match

You place this bet on a player who you feel will have the highest checkout in a game. The maximum is 170. To excel in this bet, you have to be a good judge of the player’s form. Some players are notorious for nailing insane checkouts. Back these players in your bets. Alternatively, if you know some struggling players, you can confidently bet on their opponents.

Darts correct score

In this type of bet, you try to predict the correct final game score when you place the bet. Since it’s hard to pick out outright winners, these bets have higher odds. If you pick them right, you can make loads of cash.

9 dart finish

9 darts are the least number of darts a player can utilise and win a match. With this bet, you are wagering money on whether you think there shall be a nine-dart finish.

This bet has a 'Yes' and 'No'. So what you need is to pick the one you feel is right and cross your fingers.