The tennis betting industry is immensely popular, its diverse betting options meaning it offers whatever a bettor is looking for.
Futures betting in tennis has been covered recently here at 888sport, but it’s each-way betting that gets the focus of our attention in this piece.
Usually associated with horse racing, each-way betting is a common form of gambling. When we’re talking horses, an each-way bet works effectively as an insurance policy.
Bookmakers will offer different terms for each-way bets, something that will be used as a marketing tool, particularly around Grand National time.
The benefit for the bettor is that placing an each-way bet can mean a payout even if your horse doesn’t win the race. It’s not just horse racing where bettors can take advantage of each-way bets, however…
Tennis: Each Way Betting
Unlike in sports with multiple competitors like horse racing or Formula One, each-way betting is only applicable in tennis for a tournament outright bet.
Whereas in The Masters or the British Grand Prix, an each-way bet would payout for your driver or golfer finishing second, in tennis this only works out if they finish runner-up in the tournament overall.
It works as two bets with equal stakes. One is placed on player X to win the tournament outright, and the other goes on player X to reach the final.
If player X reaches the final, you are guaranteed a payout from the bet, but that return will obviously be greater if they go on to win the trophy.
Horse racing is still the most popular each-way betting sport, but Formula One, golf and tennis are all getting more each-way interest.
When To Bet Each Way
Knowing what each-way betting is doesn’t help too much if there’s no good reason to use it. For strong favourites like Roger Federer at Halle or Rafael Nadal in Paris, there’s little justification to shorten the odds.
Each-way betting is most valuable when you’ve spotted some good value, perhaps a real longshot, in the latest tennis odds.
An outsider who you think looks a sneakily sensible bet to go all the way, but you want that added insurance of a payout even if they fall just short.
Say you like the look of Nick Kyrgios’ route to the final, and he’s been playing great tennis of late. Kyrgios is always an added risk because of his inconsistencies, but the talent is there and you fancy his chances.
If his path to the final looks good, backing him to go all the way makes sense. Perhaps Novak Djokovic is the likely opponent in the final, however – maybe an each-way bet is the way to go.
Using Similar Markets
Should you decide against an each-way bet, like in the aforementioned Kyrgios example, the option is always there to settle for another bet.
‘To reach the final’, which makes up half of an each-way bet, is a good option. There are plenty of tournaments throughout the year when one half of the draw is considerably weaker than the other, setting up the potential for a ‘to reach the final’ bet.
Tournament outright options are good to consider too. Certain players might not represent much value as an each-way bet. The risk, of course, is that you watch them lose an agonising five-setter and watch your winnings disappear down the drain.
Few sports have the same betting versatility as tennis. Each-way bets are an increasing part of tennis gambling, and something worth pondering, but there’s plenty more to understand and investigate before delving into the latest tennis odds.
Whether it’s futures betting, in-play or finding out how to conquer the doubles world, there’s always more to learn when it comes to tennis.
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*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alberto Pezzali / AP Photo*
