The truth is that betting on volleyball is still not as popular as betting on other sports like football, basketball, and cricket. However, we can say that volleyball betting has been steadily growing over the last few years.
There has been an increase in media coverage for volleyball events, especially during the Olympics and the FIVB World Championships.
Many online sportsbooks are also now offering odds on volleyball. So, even if some punters aren’t fans of the sport, some can venture into this sport because this sport, after all, has quite a busy calendar.
Those who are interested can bet on major tournaments like the Volleyball Nations League, the biennial World Championships, and the Continental Championships. These are the ones that usually have more chances and can be considered high-level competition.
Understanding Volleyball Betting
Before you get into volleyball betting, there are things you should familiarize yourself with. That includes knowing what types of bets you can place whether you’ll be doing that in an in-person bookshop or online sportsbook.
Here are the most common volleyball bets you can encounter:
- Moneyline: This is the most straightforward type of bet, where you simply wager on which team will win the match outright. The odds for each team are determined based on their perceived chances of winning. The favorites to win usually have lower odds and the underdogs would have the higher odds.
- Point Spread: In this type of bet, the bookies assign a point spread to each team that will indicate the margin by which they are expected to win or lose. You can then bet on whether a team will cover the spread, which means they will win by more than the assigned margin or lose by less than the assigned margin.
- Over/Under This bet involves predicting whether the total number of points scored in the match will be over or under a specific number set by the bookmaker. Factors such as the teams’ offensive and defensive capabilities as well as the expected pace of the game can influence the over/under line.
Now, when you visit online sportsbooks, odds displayed for volleyball can look different for certain sites. Some bookies would show odds in three main formats which are moneyline, decimal, and fractional.
American odds use positive and negative numbers to represent the potential payout and the amount you need to wager, respectively. Decimal odds show the total payout you’ll receive for every unit staked, while fractional odds express the potential profit relative to your stake.
Now, when it comes to placing your bets, know that betting, in general, isn’t just about luck. This is when you can be strategic and smart because you need to look into specific factors that could help improve your chances of winning.
If you’re unsure what those are, here are three of the most important factors you should be looking into before you even see the latest volleyball odds:
- Team Form: This includes recent performances, latest statistics, etc.
- Player Injuries: There’s no denying that when key players are injured, the performance of a team can be significantly impacted.
- Home-Court Advantage: Some probably still don’t believe in this, but home-court advantage is a well-documented phenomenon in sports, even in volleyball. So, it’s wise to check how a certain team performs on the home court and whether you can bank on that.
Pros of Betting on Volleyball Matches and Why It May Not Be Ideal To Some
For starters, betting on volleyball gives you a shot at making profits the fun way.
However, it’s still best to see this as a form of entertainment if you’re new to following volleyball and sports betting. It might be wiser to put off placing bets with a large sum if you’re already comfortable with your betting strategies.
Also, remember that no matter how sure you are about the outcome of a game, things can easily turn out differently during a match. So, you should always be ready to carry losses. That said, if you can’t afford to lose your bet, you probably shouldn’t be betting in the first place.
Conclusion: To Bet or Not to Bet?
So, is betting on volleyball matches worth it? This is circumstantial, but generally, it can be. As long as you take the time to understand how it works and you have enough knowledge of the sport, then you’re capable of improving your chances of winning.
It’s just a plus that you can now easily place volleyball bets online. This makes it more accessible for most volleyball fans anywhere in the world.
If you do decide to bet on volleyball, remember that it’s still gambling. Assess your risk tolerance, manage your bankroll efficiently, and as always, gamble responsibly.
