{"id":9170,"date":"2025-06-27T11:50:12","date_gmt":"2025-06-27T10:50:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/?p=9170"},"modified":"2025-07-03T11:10:36","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T10:10:36","slug":"darts-handicap-betting-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/matched-betting\/darts-handicap-betting-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Darts Handicap Betting Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Darts seems to be becoming more popular throughout the years, with players such as Luke Littler and Luke Humphieres lighting up the global stage. Darts is also one of the most common sports for bettors to place wagers on, with interesting markets such as most 180s, bullseye finishes, and the highest checkouts being available. One such darts betting market that can be used is the handicap betting format, which is seen in darts and a multitude of other sports as well. The handicap betting system allows for one player to gain a theoretical advantage over their opponent before the fixture has even begun!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OddsMonkey<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, we are going to look through all things handicap betting in darts, different examples of darts handicap betting and how it compares to handicap betting throughout different sports in the betting industry.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What Is Handicap Betting In Darts?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The darts handicap betting system is quite similar to how it works in other sports betting, as it will give one side or player a theoretical headstart compared to their opponent. For example, if one side has a lead of a couple of legs, this means the side can still win in terms of the bet even if they lose in real life. This makes handicap betting perfect for those games when a heavy favourite comes up against an underdog. Despite the actual darts matchup being heavily outweighed, by using the handicap betting system, we can even the odds and create a betting opportunity by giving one player a headstart. The darts handicap betting system is not exclusive to darts, as handicap betting is used across different sports, which we explain throughout our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">matched betting blog<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For those darts matches where a short-priced favourite comes up against a clear underdog, the handicap betting system can be extremely useful, as you can even the odds by giving the underdog a headstart compared to their competitors. Whilst darts handicap betting is becoming more popular, so is traditional darts betting! If you are interested in learning more about darts betting, we have our own detailed <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/matched-betting\/darts-matched-betting-guide\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">darts matched betting guide<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> available for users, along with a range of sports betting pages on site. Here, we are going to show some real examples of handicap betting throughout the sport of darts:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-9171\" src=\"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image3-3-1024x290.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"227\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image3-3-1024x290.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image3-3-300x85.png 300w, https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image3-3-768x218.png 768w, https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image3-3.png 1287w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We are using an example from the Darts World Cup; however, handicap betting is also available throughout other popular darts competitions such as the Darts Premier League and the PDC World Championships.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that we have reviewed the handicap betting system for darts, we are going to look at some real examples of darts handicap bets and the different forms they can take.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How Do Darts Handicap Bets Work?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When trying to understand how handicap bets work, there are a couple of different ways they can operate, but the same principles are always in play. Either one side will have points added or subtracted from their total<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a couple of ways to think about handicap bets and how they work; these two ways can help you visualise handicap bets and help your understanding of how these bets are applied:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Points are adjusted before the game begins: For example, let&#8217;s say Luke Litter is playing against Rob Cross, and to create a handicap bet, Luke Litter starts at -2 legs. This means that theoretically the game begins as -2-0 to Rob Cross, as Luke Litter will begin the game 2 legs down.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Points are adjusted after the game begins &#8211; Using a similar example, we will use the same match and handicap, and a Premier League match-up ends 6-5 to Luke Litter. If you had placed a handicap at -2 for Luke Litter, this bet would not come in as 2 legs would be subtracted from Littler, meaning the match would end up at 5-4 to Rob Cross.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As dart matchups cannot end in a draw, there are only two outcomes which can occur throughout these bets, which are either a win or a loss. Here is a quick table to show how different results of the match would affect handicap bets.<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Handicap<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Outcome Needed For the Bet To Be Successful<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Litter +2.5 Legs<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Litter to win the match, or lose by less than a total of 2 legs<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Litter -2.5 Legs<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Litter to win the match by 3 or more legs<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a tie is not possible, there is no option to place draw handicap bets on darts, but if you are looking for sports where you can place these types of bets, then check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/matched-betting\/football-handicap-betting-explained\/\">football handicap betting explained guide<\/a>, which goes through draw handicap bets.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is also important to remember that there are different types of handicap bets available, such as set handicap bets, giving players advantages when it comes to sets instead of legs.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Darts Handicap Betting Examples<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Darts handicap betting can come in handy in plenty of different ways, so we are going to go through some of the most popular ways that you can place these unique bets, and what different match results will affect handicaps.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-9174\" src=\"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image2-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"151\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image2-3.png 882w, https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image2-3-300x57.png 300w, https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image2-3-768x145.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using this example from Bet365, we can see that handicap bets are available for all different types of dart matchups, as this is a game in the MODUS Super Series. As we can see by the odds here, it is a fairly even match-up between these two players. However, by giving players a leg advantage, they will have a better chance of winning compared to their competitors, therefore awarding the bettor with potentially greater odds!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unlike what we have seen in other examples, there are no options to place 3-way handicap betting options, as dart matches cannot end in a draw. This means bettors only have the option to bet on one of the two players winning.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you can see in the example above, Bet365 is offering plenty of different handicap options, whether you are looking to bet on one of the players having an advantage or disadvantage. As shown by the example, you can see clearly how the different betting options affect the betting odds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using this example, let&#8217;s go through some of the different results of the match and what bet would be successful throughout these different options.<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Handicap<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Match Outcome<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adam Gawlas -1.5<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adam Gawles must win the match by 2 or more legs<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Neil Duff +2.5<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Neil Duff must win the match or lose by 2 or fewer legs<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As there is no clear favourite in this matchup, by using handicap betting, we can create better odds out of these situations, therefore ensuring that value can be found throughout different bets. Handicap betting can be a technique that is used in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/matched-betting\/value-betting\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">value betting<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as it allows bettors to find more favourable odds on different betting selections. However, this obviously affects how likely it is for a bet to come in, so we recommend doing research on the matchup before using handicap betting.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Darts Set Handicap Betting\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Betting on legs is not the only way to place dart handicap bets, with set betting also being available. For example, in the Darts Premier League, the player first to 6 sets will win the match, so it is also possible for players to get a head start when it comes to sets.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To put this into an example, let\u2019s use a Premier League matchup of Van Gerwin against Humphries, and Van Gerwin has a handicap of +1.5. This would mean that if Luke Humphries won the game 6-5, the bet would still be successful as Van Gerwin would be awarded the extra +1.5, meaning the game would theoretically end 7.5-6 to Van Gerwin.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other hand, Luke Humphries would have to win the game by two or more sets to ensure that it covers the handicap.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How To Use The Darts Handicap\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The handicap betting system is becoming more and more popular throughout the darts betting market and other sports. It can be used throughout a range of different dart games, as there are usually mismatches throughout events such as the PDC World Championship. Whilst handicap betting is not something that we use in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/matched-betting\/what-is-matched-betting\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">matched betting<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, it can be extremely handy for those looking to gain extra value from their darts betting.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some tips that we would recommend taking into account before placing any dart handicap bets:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research The Matchups &#8211; Darts is a sport where certain players thrive in specific situations. Understanding different players and how they cope with pressure can help you make the most of your darts handicap bets. Researching players and their recent performances is important not only for handicap betting but also for other forms of sports betting.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Understanding Different Formats &#8211; Darts is full of plenty of different formats, whether it be classic 501 or double in double out, it is essential to understand these formats and how players perform in them.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t Be Afraid To Back The Favourite &#8211; Darts is one of those sports where games can be over relatively quickly, with one player dominating the other. In competitions such as the PDC World Championship, lower-ranked players will play against the top players. We can use the handicap betting system to give the lower-ranked player a head start, creating better odds for the favourite.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Darts Handicap Vs Other Handicaps<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Darts handicap betting is quite unique and fascinating, as darts features plenty of different tournaments: ones that are played individually, ones that involve teams, and ones that involve lower-ranked players. This means darts handicap betting can be used in a variety of different ways, but as darts does not allow for draws, only 2-way handicap bets can be placed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other versions of handicap are available, not only for different sports, but also for Asian handicap, which we discuss in detail in our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/matched-betting\/what-is-the-asian-handicap\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Asian handicap betting guide<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here, we are going to take a quick look at the positives and negatives of handicap betting throughout darts, ensuring you know what to take into account before you place any handicap bets.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2705As mismatches are frequent throughout tournaments like the PDC World Championships, handicap bets can be used to even the odds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2705Handicap bets can offer better odds compared to other traditional betting forms by requiring players to win by more or lose by fewer points<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2705No draws in darts, meaning there are only two outcomes available<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u274cMore complicated compared to other betting strategies<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u274cRequires plenty of research on players and matchups<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Darts Handicap FAQs\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As handicap betting can be quite confusing, we are going to look through some of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to the darts handicap.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What Is The Difference Between Darts Handicap Betting and Darts Asian Handicap Betting?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Asian handicap betting is traditionally used throughout football betting, as it does not allow for draws. However, in darts, draws cannot occur as one of the players has to win. Similar to Asian handicap betting, which uses decimal numbers, a draw is not possible. This means that the asian handicap and traditional handicap are essentially the same thing in darts, as neither includes the possibility of a draw in play.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Where Can I Find Darts Handicap Bets?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just like other betting options, it is not too hard to find handicap bets, but you need to make sure you are looking at the right bookmakers, as some bookmakers do not offer handicap bets. Here, we are going to use the example of Bet365, as you first must find the \u2018Darts\u2019 category, which can be seen on the left-hand side of the home screen.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-9173\" src=\"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image1-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"165\" height=\"403\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image1-3.png 165w, https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image1-3-123x300.png 123w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 165px) 100vw, 165px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Then, once you have entered the darts section, you can navigate through the available markets. At Bet365, you can find the different handicap betting options, such as 2-way handicaps and 180 handicaps!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-9172\" src=\"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image4-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"686\" height=\"246\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image4-3.png 686w, https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image4-3-300x108.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 686px) 100vw, 686px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why Should I Use The Darts Handicap Betting System?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The handicap betting system is one of the most popular betting markets throughout darts, and it is mainly popular due to the fact that darts usually features a heavy favourite and a clear underdog. This usually happens in matchups throughout the PDC World Championships, as top-seeded players come up against unranked and lower-seeded players. In these competitions, the darts handicap betting format can provide more variation in the odds as players are given hypothetical advantages or disadvantages in play.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you are looking to place a bet on the underdog or the favourite, handicap bets can alter the odds and allow for betting opportunities, as you can bet on the favourite to win by a huge margin, or for the underdog to have a head start.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Darts seems to be becoming more popular throughout the years, with players such as Luke Littler and Luke Humphieres lighting up the global stage. Darts is also one of the most common sports for bettors to place wagers on, with interesting markets such as most 180s, bullseye finishes, and the highest checkouts being available. One [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_breakdance_hide_in_design_set":false,"_breakdance_tags":""},"categories":[61],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[628,756,2913,2762,4077,517],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9170"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9170"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9170\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9216,"href":"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9170\/revisions\/9216"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9170"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=9170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}