Tennis has always had a loyal, dedicated following that tracks every serve, volley and double fault passionately. Now they can turn that passion into real-money bets.

Betfair Sportsbook Tennis Rules

As the legal sports betting industry in the US expands, tennis bettors have flocked to online sportsbooks and betting apps to back their tennis heroes and, increasingly, bet on the shot-by-shot results of tennis tournaments major or minor.

Sportsbook with lots of tennis wagers, you should be able to bet on tennis to your heart’s content regardless of the match location. If you don’t have a current tennis betting website home, consider trying out one from our recommended list of trusted tennis betting sites at the top of this page. Bet on Sports, bet on the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship and all this 2021 NCAA Basketball Season with the Leading Online Sportsbook that Accepts Bitcoins. Cash out bet Cash Out this wager before it expires at an adjusted amount. While tennis has long been considered a “B-list” professional sport in the United States, it is a sleeping giant when it comes to sports betting. Tennis is wildly popular in Europe, Asia, and Australia, and with such popularity comes a tremendous amount of legal tennis betting. Bet on Tennis Odds and Futures Bovada. Gambling should be entertaining. Remember that you always risk losing the money you bet, so do not spend more than you can afford to lose.

The accessibility and pace of live tennis betting is drawing in a whole new set of fans, too – sports bettors looking for a new level of action. Tennis betting kicks the excitement up several levels and every point, set or match in a tournament means much more with money on the line.

For the tennis hobbyist, it’s a great way to get closer to the game. To start betting on tennis online, check our list below for the best legal online sportsbooks & sportsbook apps. Down the page you’ll also find the latest live odds for Tennis Grand Slams and the basics of good tennis betting strategy.

Best Tennis Betting Sites Online

Top 3 mobile apps to bet on tennis

Mobile sports betting is revolutionizing the industry and tennis is one of the sports benefitting the most. Tennis coverage and technology has drastically improved. You can find so much action in live tennis betting that a betting app is essential to keep pace.

Check our top three choices for tennis betting apps below. Each of them are accessible in several legal sports betting states and they all have very user-friendly platforms. Create a new account and download the Android or iOS app via our links below:

1. DraftKings Sportsbook – $50 free bet, up to $1,000 in bonuses

Use DraftKings Sportsbook online in: VA, MI, NJ, PA, CO, IN, WV, NH, IA, IL, & TN

The market leader in the daily fantasy sports industry has also become a major player in sports betting. DraftKings Sportsbook offers a smooth and easy to use app, a huge menu of live tennis betting markets (from the Grand Slams on down), and exciting promotional offerings.

DraftKings’ “Flash Bet” platform, offering live tennis betting at your fingertips, is one of the signature platforms in the industry and an amazing way to drill down into the shot-for-shot potential of in-game tennis betting.

2. FanDuel Sportsbook – Up to $1,000 risk-free bet

Use FanDuel Sportsbook online in: MI, NJ, PA, IN, WV, CO, TN, IA, IL & VA

FanDuel is another DFS heavyweight which has branched out into sports betting. The company has taken the same tenets that led to success in one niche and brought them over into sports betting, and that has made it quite a hit with users.

FanDuel Sportsbook has also jumped in to live tennis betting with both feet and has an equally robust tennis betting menu with Grand Slams, every WTA and ATP event plus Davis Cup, Challenger Series and more.

3. BetMGM Sportsbook – $600 deposit bonus

Use BetMGM Sportsbook online in: VA, MI, NJ, CO, TN, WV, NV, PA, IN & IA

Having a major presence in the US, the MGM brand has brought its extensive live betting options into play along with a fully functional sports betting app. BetMGM’s mobile app is compatible with both iOS and Android, and it has plenty to offer new and experienced tennis bettors.

If there’s a tennis tournament happening in the world, from the ATP and WTA Grand Slams to the Challenger tour and well beyond, BetMGM has betting lines on it.

Each of the apps are free to download and very user-friendly. You can perform all the same functions on the app as you can on the full online sportsbook and everything has been optimized to work well on smaller screens. You can also manage your account with all of your deposits and cashouts.

Online tennis betting vs. betting at a retail sportsbook

Online sportsbooks and betting apps give you access to all the retail sportsbook has to offer without having to wait in line to make/cash out your bets. You can:

• Make bets instantaneously
• Add and withdraw funds
• Play around with parlays and odds boosts on your online betting slips
• Take advantage of promotions right away

A few more reasons why tennis bettors lean towards online and mobile over retail sportsbooks:

Simplicity: The major players in sports betting invest heavily in tech. That becomes readily apparent when you visit one of their websites or open their apps. The platforms are user-friendly and built so you can find what you’re looking for when you want it.

Convenience: Having a sportsbook at your fingertips is no longer an unattainable goal. Websites and apps make it possible for you to place bets when and where you want without having to worry about travel and whether or not you’ll make it before gametime.

Versatility: There are some facets of sports betting that just work better on mobile and desktop. Live betting is one of those areas. Markets move fast in this type of betting, and users need to be able to react quickly to what they are seeing.

Flexibility: Betting wherever and whenever you want is a key feature of online and mobile sports betting. For those in legalized states, they have a full sportsbook within reach whenever they want it. Those in neighboring states can also take advantage by managing their account from home, then taking a trip to the legalized state to place their bets.

Is it legal to bet on tennis online in the US?

Since the 2018 Supreme Court decision that allowed individual states to pursue legalized sports betting, over a dozen have taken advantage and initiated legislation. Many states are now live with various forms of legalized sports betting – either with retail-based sportsbooks in existing casinos or with both retail locations and online sportsbooks and apps or both.

For online purposes, we’ve highlighted the current states with the most developed online tennis betting options. Betting on tennis online in legalized states is very straightforward. All you need to do is open up an account at a regulated online operator, fund your account, and find the bets you find appealing.

Betting in Pennsylvania: Retail sports betting debuted in PA towards the end of 2018. Online and mobile options became available the following year. As far as local tennis events go, the ATP and WTA tours don’t have any events scheduled in Pennsylvania for 2021.

Betting in New Jersey: NJ was one of the first states to act in the wake of the SCOTUS ruling. Today, the Garden State rivals Las Vegas in terms of overall sports betting numbers. ATP and WTA players won’t be touching down in NJ in 2021, but one of the biggest events of the year isn’t too far away as the US Open takes place in August in New York City.

Betting in Indiana: Folks in the midwest finally got their first taste of legalized sports betting in 2019. Indiana opened up the floodgates in that area, but other nearby states are moving in that direction. No ATP or WTA events here either, but the USTA has some tournaments scheduled for the Indianapolis area.

Betting in West Virginia: West Virginia also acted quickly on legalizing sports betting, but there were some online betting hiccups to contend with. The issues have been taken care of. If you’re interested in seeing some live tennis, there are minor events sprinkled through the state here and there, as well as some on the collegiate level.

Betting in New Hampshire: New Hampshire took its time getting everything right with online and retail sports betting. The first and only online and mobile options debuted at the end of 2019. Collegiate and minor tournaments are the top options for live tennis. However, a road trip to NYC could be worthwhile for those who would love to take in the US Open.

Betting in Colorado: Colorado joined the online and retail sports betting party in May 2020, and there are now multiple online sportsbooks available for your wagers on pro tennis events. If you’d like to see an event, there are usually multiple USTA tournaments held in and around Denver throughout the year.

Tennis Live Odds

Check below for current futures odds as listed on DraftKings for the next upcoming Grand Slam event.

Bet on tennis Grand Slams

While tournaments are held throughout the year, the interest really ratchets up for what are known as Grand Slam events. These are the four biggest events on the sporting events calendar each year, and betting interest is high for each of them. Here’s what you need to know for this year’s Grand Slam events.

2021 Australian Open

Dates: February 8 – February 21, 2021
Location: The Australian Open is held at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Playing Surface: GreenSet hard surface
Prize Pool: $49.1 million
Men’s favorites: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev
Women’s favorites: Serena Williams, Ashleigh Barty, Naomi Osaka
2020 Men’s winner: Novak Djokovic
2020 Women’s winner: Sofia Kenin

Live odds will appear here as soon as our feed becomes available. For current futures and live Australian Open odds during the tournament, check your local sportsbook.

2021 French Open

Fanduel Sportsbook Tennis

The 2020 French Open was originally scheduled for May as usual but was postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. It was rescheduled for the Fall, and went ahead as planned, although many of the game’s top players withdrew due to health concerns. The 2021 French Open will return to its usual spot in May. For live 2021 French Open odds, check your preferred sportsbook.

Dates: May 23 – June 6, 2021
Location: Roland-Garros in Paris, France
Playing Surface: Clay court
Prize Pool: €38 million in 2020
Men’s favorites: Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Dominic Thiem
Women’s favorites: Simona Halep, Naomi Osaka, Kiki Bertens
2020 Men’s winner: Rafael Nadal
2020 Women’s winner: Iga Swiatek

For current futures and live French Open odds during the tournament, check your local sportsbook.

2021 Wimbledon

Dates: June 28-July 11, 2021
Location:Wimbledon is held at All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club in London, England
Playing Surface: Grass court
Prize Pool: $49.4 million in 2019
Men’s favorites: Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal
Women’s favorites: Serena Williams, Ashleigh Barty, Bianca Andreescu
2019 Men’s winner: Novak Djokovic
2019 Women’s winner: Simona Halep

Note: 2020 Wimbledon was cancelled due to Covid-19.

For current Wimbledon futures and live odds during the tournament, check your local sportsbook.

2021 US Open

Despite a continued presence of Covid-19 in New York and a mix of concerns from top tennis professionals, the 2020 US Open tennis ran from Aug. 31 -Sept. 13. (just one week later than usual). The tournament was played without fans and with strict safety protocols in place, which was both a boon and relief for avid tennis fans and bettors.

The 2021 US Open should proceed as expected with, they hope, fans again in the stands.

Dates: August 30 – September 12, 2021
Location: The US Open is held at Flushing Meadow Corona Park in Queens, New York City
Playing Surface: Hard court
Prize Pool: $53.4 million in 2020
Men’s favorites: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer
Women’s favorites: Serena Williams, Ashleigh Barty, Bianca Andreescu
2020 Men’s winner: Dominic Thiem
2020 Women’s winner: Naomi Osaka

For current US Open futures and live odds during the tournament, check your local sportsbook.

Since these are the tennis tournaments which attract the most betting interest, sportsbooks will have more offerings than normal when it comes to things such as prop bets and odds boosts.

How does tennis betting work?

Odds for tennis betting are similar to what you’ll find in other sports. There are favorites and underdogs, as well as spreads and totals. Here’s a look at some of the main ways to bet.

• Outright/Match/Handicap: In tennis tournaments, players are matched up in the first round with the winner advancing to subsequent rounds. Each of the matches will be laid out for bettors to examine for opportunities. You can simply bet on the winner, or get a little more advanced with spreads and totals. In addition, you can also just choose to focus on the tournament as a whole by betting on the outright winner.
• Moneyline: A moneyline wager is simply a bet on who will win the match. The favorite will have negative odds such as -120, while the underdog will be represented with positive odds such as +130.
• Game spread: A game spread takes moneyline betting and adds a new wrinkle to the equation. For these wagers, the favorite will have a margin of games that they’re expected to win by, as set by oddsmakers. Bettors need to decide if they like the favorite ‘minus’ the spread, or if they like the underdog ‘plus’ the spread.
• Set spread: For these wagers, you’re drilling down within the match to determine how the individual game sets will go. For example, in a typical three-set match, you can bet on the favorite minus 1.5 sets. That means that the favorite would have to win two of the three sets to cover the bet.
• Over/Under: In popular team sports, the Over/Under refers to how many total points are expected to be scored in a game. In tennis, totals betting revolves around the total number of expected games in the completed match. Oddsmakers will set a benchmark, and bettors then decide if they like the ‘Over’ or the ‘Under.’

Tennis live betting

Live betting is an area of the sports betting industry which is experiencing rapid growth. It has essentially become a must-have for online and mobile operators. Markets move quickly, but there are plenty of opportunities there for the taking.

You’ll need to be betting online or via mobile when live betting, as the odds can change in an instant. Tennis has become incredibly popular among the live betting crowd, as there are numerous betting opportunities available for each contest.

Here are some of the ways you can get in the game:

• Live betting on tennis points: For every back-and-forth on the court, you can get your bets in on how the next point will break. As you would expect, this betting market moves very quickly.
• Live betting on tennis games: If points move too fast for you to feel comfortable betting, then move over to the games themselves. As the action takes place on the court, the odds will evolve based on who is most likely to win the current game.
• Live betting on tennis sets: To slow things down even further, look at live betting on the sets themselves. It works in the same fashion as betting on the games within the set. These bets can pose some interesting opportunities for those who feel they have a good sense of momentum shifts.

In addition to all of the above, the odds for the winner of the contest will continue to evolve as the match plays out. For example, let’s say a match is all tied up at a set apiece. As you see it, one of the players is building momentum and on their way to victory. You can jump in and place a bet on that player to win the match based on the current odds.

Tennis futures

A futures bet is a wager that’s placed on an event that will happen in the future. For tennis, the main futures markets revolve around the Grand Slam events and player accomplishments.

• US Open Outright Winner
• French Open Outright Winner
• Australian Open Outright Winner
• Player of the Year

For each of the above categories, you’ll be able to place a futures bet on both the men’s and women’s side. You’ll also find options to bet on the outright winner at each of the ATP and WTA tour stops as the tournaments approach.

Futures betting can be incredibly interesting, not to mention rewarding. For example, a player you may be high on may not be getting the love from oddsmakers. That could make for an awesome opportunity for you to place a futures bet on someone you believe is on the cusp of making some major noise.

Tennis prop betting

Prop betting markets are vast when it comes to major team sports, but that’s not the case with tennis. That said, you will find some prop bets available at various operators. In a nutshell, a prop bet is a side wager on something that may occur during the match.

For example, you may find a prop bet available on some of the following situations:

• Will there be a tiebreak in the match?
• Will the winner advance in straight sets?
• Will a player win Over or Under a certain amount of games?

It’s certainly worth taking the time to check out tennis prop bets being offered. However, you should only be wagering on those you feel comfortable with.

5 simple tennis betting tips for beginners

When tackling any new sport, it’s always a good idea to get a handle on some basic pieces of information that can help point you towards betting success. That said, don’t overwhelm yourself with too much data right off the bat.

Start with a simple research routine, and then you can expand and tweak as needed. Here are some basic sports betting tips that can help you get off on the right foot with tennis betting:

1. Trust what the odds tell you

For starters, learn to read what the odds are telling you. A great place to begin is by checking the outright odds to win the tournament. This will give you an overall sense of the field and how they will be priced throughout the tournament by oddsmakers.

Additionally, those well-versed in tennis may be able to spot some dark horse contenders who are being undervalued. In the opening rounds, you’ll see plenty of mismatches from an odds perspective. Trust what the odds are telling you, as oddsmakers have a ton of data at their disposal when setting lines. However, don’t be shy about taking a swing on the undervalued players you’re high on.

2. Who thrives on what surface?

Certain players perform well in certain environments and less so in others. This is true in all sports, but it’s especially true in tennis when you factor in the playing surface that the tournament will be contested on.

There are players who thrive on grass and stink it up on clay courts, and vice versa. Understanding which players perform well where can save you a lot of heartache, not to mention help you spot potential upsets in the making.

3. Know your injury issues

Athletes are just like the rest of us. They have to work through certain issues while doing their jobs, and that includes injuries that can spring up here and there. While major injuries will lead to a withdrawal, there are smaller issues that they’ll play through. In this case, research is your friend.

Dig into the news surrounding the tournament before it gets underway. Is there a player who just hasn’t been right as of late due to an issue they’re playing through? Little nuggets of information such as this can be the difference between winning and losing betting tickets.

4. Who’s on form?

Just like in other sports, tennis players can go on fantastic runs. There can also be swings in which they get mired in slumps and don’t play up to their capabilities. This is all perfectly normal. After all, athletes are human. We can use this information to our advantage.

As you examine the tournament field and individual matches, make this a key part of your research routine. Who has been faring well in recent tournaments? Have any players been consistently knocked out in the early rounds lately? It can take some time to get out of a slump – or for a hot streak to be snapped, for that matter. Recency can be a good indicator of what’s to come in the near future.

5. Who likes the French?

Experienced tennis pros build up a track record as they move through their careers. There are players on both the men’s and women’s side who can absolutely dominate certain events year after year. On the other side of the coin, there are events that just seem to bring out the worst in them.

Understand this going in, and gain a sense of how they’ve fared in previous editions of the event at hand. For example, if a player consistently performs poorly at the French Open and on its clay courts, don’t just assume a flip will be switched this time around.

These simple tips can form the basis of a solid beginner research routine. Once you have these steps mastered, feel free to add additional pieces of intel, such as current year’s money earned and various advanced statistics.

Betting on ATP/WTA tennis tours

There are two main tours which are considered to be the big leagues of tennis. On the men’s side, it’s the ATP, which stands for the Association of Tennis Professionals. For women, it’s the WTA, which is the Women’s Tennis Association.

These two tours have calendars that span the year. While the Grand Slam events are the biggest highlights, there are a number of other signature events that attract tons of attention. Here are some highlights of the 2020 calendar for both tours.

ATP tournament highlights 2021

• Rio Open, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. (Postponed) February 15 – 21. Outdoor Clay.
• Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Dubai, UAE. March 15 – 20. Outdoor Hard.
• BNP Paribas Open. Indian Wells, CA. (Postponed) March 11 – March 21. Outdoor Hard.
• Miami Open presented by Itau. Miami, FL. March 24 – April 4. Outdoor Hard.
• Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. Monte Carlo, Monaco. April 11 – April 18. Outdoor Clay.
• Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell. Barcelona, Spain. April 19 – April 25. Outdoor Clay.
• Internazionali BNL d’Italia. Rome, Italy. May 9 – May 16. Outdoor Clay.
• Hamburg European Open. Hamburg, Germany. July 12 – July 18. Outdoor Clay.
• Citi Open. Washington DC. August 2 – August 8. Outdoor Hard.
• Rogers Cup. Toronto, Canada. August 9 – August 15. Outdoor Hard.

WTA tournament highlights 2021

• Qatar Total Open. Doha, Qatar. March 1 – March 6. Outdoor Hard.
• Miami Open presented by Itau. Miami, FL. March 23 – April 3.Outdoor Hard.
• Volvo Car Open. Charleston, SC. April 5 – April 11. Outdoor Clay.
• Mutua Madrid Open. Madrid, Spain. April 29 – May 8. Outdoor Clay.
• Bett1open. Berlin, Germany. June 14 – June 20. Outdoor Grass.
• Citi Open. Washington DC. July 31 – August 8. Outdoor Hard.
• Rogers Cup. Montreal, Canada. August 9 – August 15. Outdoor Hard.
• Zhengzhou Open. Zhengzhou, China. September 13 – September 19. Outdoor Hard.
• VTB Kremlin Cup. Moscow, Russia. October 18 – October 31. Outdoor Hard.

This is just a sampling of the bigger tournaments held on both sides. You will have plenty of tennis betting opportunities, ranging from outright tournament winners to tons of individual games. You can follow along with your favorite players and focus on the events they’ll be competing in, or dive right in and get involved with every event on the calendar.

Betting on men’s vs. women’s tennis

While the object of the game is the same, there are some differences to consider when deciding to bet on men’s or women’s tennis. For starters, the style of play can vary. Men’s tennis can skew more towards power, while the women’s side can be more finesse.

However, there’s natural crossover with both approaches. Some men’s players have incredibly powerful serves but struggle on finesse aspects, and vice versa. The same applies on the women’s side.

Another important variable to consider is the length of matches. For men, there can be up to five sets in a contest, while women’s games are typically capped at three sets. That’s another nugget of intel to consider as you expand your repertoire of research skills. Endurance can be a huge factor in a match that’s expected to go the distance.

Betting on Davis Cup

The Davis Cup is an international event in which teams are comprised of players representing their home nation. The 2021 Davis Cup Finals will be held November 25 – December 5, 2021 in Madrid, Spain. In 2019, there were 18 teams competing for the title. Throughout the tournament, there will be singles and doubles matches with the teams coming out on top advancing when all is tallied up.

For betting purposes, you can place bets on the team that will win outright. In addition, there will be plenty of individual matches to focus on. Normal handicapping rules apply when it comes to the individual matches. When it comes to outrights, it comes down to analyzing the overall strength of the teams involved.

Betting on Olympic Tennis

The XXXII Summer Olympic Games take place in Tokyo, Japan, and tennis will be a part of it. The tennis competition is slated to run from July 24 through August 1, 2021. There will be tournaments on both the men’s and women’s sides for singles and doubles, as well as mixed doubles.

There will be plenty of individual matches to zero in on, as well as the outright winners of the tournaments. It’s another highlight of what shapes up to be an exciting overall year for tennis from both a viewing and betting perspective.

Tennis betting rules

Just like in any other sport, there are certain quirks with tennis that you should be aware of. First things first, it’s good practice to review the rules on the sportsbook you will be playing on. It’s a good habit to get into with any sport, but it can be especially helpful for those who are new to tennis betting.

Here are some of the more important rules you’ll need to understand.

1. Player retires during match

It happens often enough during matches that a player will be unable to continue due to injury or other unforeseen circumstances. Rules can vary at sportsbooks, but it’s generally handled in one of the following ways:

• First ball: Bets are live once the first ball is played.
• One set: Some operators require at least one set to be played for a bet to be graded.
• Two sets: Other books will want at least two sets completed.
• Full match: And then there’s the operators who want a full match completed.

Once again, review the rules on the book you are playing on to avoid any surprises if and when a player in one of your matches retires.

2. Walkovers

If a player automatically advances to the next round because the opponent they were matched up with withdraws from the tournament, bets are generally voided.

3. Weather considerations

Weather can cause a match to be postponed before it starts, and it can also lead to a delay in finishes for matches already underway. If it’s postponed, you should be good to go, and the same applies on delays. As long as it’s finished within a certain time frame, the bets will still be considered live.

One other note on weather: be aware that prolonged weather events can lead to venue changes – i.e. outdoor to indoor, etc. As such, the surface may change, and that can add new wrinkles to your handicapping approach. Take a gander at the weather before finalizing bets to spot any potential issues.

As your experience grows with tennis betting, your understanding of the rules of the game and special circumstances will increase. In the meantime, check out the rules that are specific to your sportsbook of choice.

Where else can I legally bet on tennis online in the US?

The legal sports betting environment continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Many states are in the process of finalizing legislation, so additional online marketplaces will open up in 2021.

Not all of them will have retail betting and not all will have mobile. Some will only offer one of those, but it’s still a better choice than nothing at all.

For more on other “niche” sports you can bet on at US online sportsbooks, see our page here: