To accommodate the growing number of rugby punters, more rugby betting sites are emerging on the market. While this is undoubtedly great news for punters, the downside is not all rugby betting sites are worth your time. That’s why we’ve taken the liberty to help you select the best rugby betting sites on the market. We’ll also include the betting markets involved and round off with a few rugby betting tips.
Rugby betting explained
If you’re new to the world of rugby, it’s essential to understand the game’s basic rules. We’ve described most of them in our guide to rugby betting and here we will also take a short look on them. Firstly, a rugby team consists of either 13 or 15 players depending on whether it’s under the Rugby League or Rugby Union.
Each game lasts 80 minutes, with the first and second halves lasting 40 minutes each. Players are only allowed to pass the ball back to a teammate — never forward. The latter warrants a penalty.
Tackling should always happen above shoulder height. Any lower, and it’s considered an infringement. At no point should a player obstruct another by charging or pushing. Also, repeated infringements warrant a yellow card.
Recommended Rugby League & Rugby Union betting sites – Best 5
While rugby betting sites are erupting left, right and centre, it’s important to note that not all sites are worth exploring. Ideally, when it comes to rugby betting online, you want to look for a platform that offers you the best rugby betting opportunities. Firstly, the best bookmakers are licensed online operators regulated by reputable gambling authorities. By signing up with verified betting sites, you’re dealing with a platform that adheres to fair gambling practices. Secondly, leading bookies allow players to wager on both Rugby League and Rugby Union games. Plus, they feature a wide range of popular rugby tournaments enjoyed around the globe.
You also want to pick a site that avails a wide range of betting markets which we’ll explain later in the article. The best bookies offer attractive signup bonuses to punters and fast real money payouts per game. If you can find a site that can offer the best competitive rugby betting lines and allows for live betting, that’d be even more ideal.
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- Pros:
- One of the best iGaming operators for rugby
- You can read detailed betting guides
- Rugby Union fans can wager on different events
- You can get free bet offers
- Cons:
- There could be more markets
- Pros:
- You can read rugby betting tips
- There are different markets
- Helpful features for betting on rugby
- Cons:
- No promotions for rugby
- Pros:
- You can punt on interesting rugby matches
- A good array of betting features
- Odds capable of satisfying every punter
- Cons:
- The site does not have offers solely for rugby
- Pros:
- You can punt on many Rugby Union events
- Impressive odds for Rugby Union
- A live betting section
- Cons:
- Not enough rugby markets
- Pros:
- You can bet on every popular rugby event in the world
- The odds are impressive, to say the least
- BetWinner is home to innovative features that you can use for rugby
- Cons:
- No rugby-exclusive promos for new or existing customers
What betting markets are available?
As previously mentioned, you’ll find a wide range of rugby betting markets. Players can bet on several options before and during a rugby match. These betting opportunities are what are referred to as markets. Below, we’ll explain some of the most popular betting markets at your disposal.
Match winner
Match winner markets are simple bets where players predict which team will win a particular rugby match. Players can place bets on whether the team will win or tie.
Outright winner
Outright winner markets are among the most popular, where punters bet on who will ultimately win the tournament. The most common markets that fall under Outright winner markets include the World Cup, Aviva Premiership, and Six Nations.
Draw no bet
The draw no bet market removes the outcome of a draw in a particular match. If the rugby match finishes in a draw, you’ll get your stake back in full. This makes the draw no bet option very attractive to punters.
Handicap markets
Handicap markets are even more exciting. The bookie tries to level the playing field by giving the underdog team a handicap in a match. After which, the favoured team will have to overcome the handicap set to win.
Totals – Over/Under
Under these markets, punters have to predict the total number of points that’ll be scored in a particular match. Bookies ask punters if the points will be over or under 30.5 (or different points) in a match. The punter has to decide to bet on the team they think will have more or fewer points.
Winning margin
The winning margin is another popular rugby bet where players place wagers by predicting the number of points a particular team will win.
Number of tries
As the name implies, punters need to predict how many tries a team scores in a particular match with these markets.
Highest scoring half
For the highest-scoring half, punters have to determine if the team will score more goals in the first half when compared to the second half of the game. Note that goals scored during extra time don’t count.
First scoring play
These markets allow punters to bet on which player will score the first try in a rugby match. We’ll quickly point out that this is a very risky bet, and chances of winning it are low. However, if you back the right player, the winning margins are huge.Race to
With the race to points markets, bookies set a certain number of points that punters must bet on. Bettors then need to place a bet by predicting the team they think will reach the specified points first.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Rugby betting
Like with all sports betting activities, rugby betting has its own set of pros and cons. While rugby betting comes with several benefits, it’s not without its own shortcomings. To give you an objective review and help you make an informed decision, we’ll give you both sides to rugby betting.
- Advantages
- The convenience of betting on your favourite team while on the move.
- Safe gambling experience provided you’re using a licensed platform.
- Offers some of the best odds on the sports betting scene.
- Higher chances of good returns.
- Multiple intercontinental competitions.
- More defined patterns than betting on sports like football.
- Disadvantages
- Can give punters a false sense of control and overconfidence.
- House edge usually in favour of bookies.
- It can be highly addictive.
- Players can lose money quickly.
- You won’t always win because the outcome is pretty random.
Rugby betting tips and things to consider
Just like any gambling activity, rugby betting is a game of chance. As such, winning is never guaranteed. Nonetheless, there’s no harm in equipping yourself with a few rugby betting tips to boost your winning chances.
Next, you want to check the statistics and form of the teams. Knowing this information will ensure you don’t bet blindly, as you’ll have an idea of the strengths and weaknesses of the teams involved.
In the same vein as checking out the form of the team, it’s wise to look out for injured players as performance might be compromised.
Finally, you want to be careful of the weather conditions. It goes without saying that the prevailing weather conditions might negatively impact a game’s outcome.
Live betting on Rugby – is it a good choice?
Speaking of live-betting, bookies that allow you to watch the games you bet on live are always a winner. Why? It’s much more fun, plus it makes you a better punter since you get more revelation on how the match plays out and affects the gambling side of things.
Betting on Rugby – is it worth it?
Rugby betting isn’t only fun. But with the right knowledge, you can easily increase your chances of winning. Just remember that despite having even the best strategies, the house will always win in the end. As such, it’s always wise for you to tread carefully and manage your bankroll effectively. That means having betting limits in place and knowing when to call it a day. But what has to be the most important takeaway is selecting the right rugby betting site to begin with.
It’s advisable to do your due diligence before signing up with a rugby betting platform. Make sure it’s a licensed operator, first and foremost. Then you can unpack other aspects like the betting markets available, user interface, payment methods, and live rugby betting.
FAQ
How to bet on rugby?
There are multiple betting options when it comes to rugby. The most popular being betting on handicap markets, outright betting, and totals betting. You can also bet on other options, like try scorer and first scorer bets.
How to find the best site for rugby betting?
To find the best site, you need to look for a licensed operator. Then you need to check if it has attractive welcome betting offers, competitive odds, a wide variety of events, and offers live streaming.
Can I find any rugby betting bonuses?
Yes, some operators offer new rugby punters welcome offers. These can either come in the form of a first deposit match bonus up to a specified amount or a certain amount of bonus cash.
What is an accumulator bet in rugby betting?
An accumulator bet is when you place a bet with two or more selections.
What is in-play betting in rugby?
In-play betting means you can place a bet during the match. This type of betting is known to make the whole gambling experience even more exciting.