Table tennis, also known as ping pong, has evolved from a casual basement game into a thrilling competitive sport followed by millions of fans and bettors globally.
In the United States, it does not rank among the most popular sports. But top online sportsbooks such as BetOnline and SportsBetting.ag attract a lot of interest and revenue, and you would be hard-pressed to find a site that does not offer odds on table tennis matches in 2025.
Whether you follow professional tournaments frequently or are just discovering the sport, this page walks you through everything you need to know to confidently bet on table tennis.
Understanding Table Tennis: The Basics
Before placing your first bet, it’s essential to understand how table tennis works. The sport is played on a hard table divided by a net, with players using small paddles to hit a lightweight ball back and forth.
While the concept is simple, the game moves at lightning speed, requiring exceptional reflexes, strategy, and precision.
The Rules of Table Tennis
Table tennis matches are typically played in a best-of-five or best-of-seven format. That means the first player to win three or four games respectively wins the match.
Each individual game is played to 11 points, and a player must win by at least two points. If the score reaches 10-10 (a deuce situation), play continues until one player achieves a two-point advantage.
In non-deuce situations, players alternate serves every two points. During deuce situations, they alternate after every single point. The serve must bounce once on the server’s side of the table before crossing the net and bouncing on the opponent’s side.
Unlike tennis, table tennis does not have second serves. If you miss your serve, your opponent wins the point.
Rallies can be incredibly fast-paced, and professional players can generate tremendous spin and speed on the ball. Points are won when an opponent fails to return the ball legally, hits the ball off the table, or commits a rule violation such as touching the table with their free hand during play.
Scoring and Match Formats
Understanding the scoring system is crucial for bettors. Since games go to 11 points with a two-point winning margin required, comebacks are common, and momentum can shift quickly. A player leading 10-8 isn’t guaranteed victory if their opponent wins the next three points to take the game 11-10.
Tournament settings feature various match formats. Olympic and World Championship matches often use best-of-seven (first to four games), while lower-tier tournaments might use best-of-five (first to three games). Some early-round matches may even be best-of-three.
The format significantly impacts betting strategy. Longer matches tend to favor more consistent players while shorter formats can produce more upsets.
The Table Tennis Betting Boom
Table tennis experienced an unprecedented surge in betting popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. When major sports leagues worldwide suspended operations in early 2020, bettors and sportsbooks desperately searched for alternatives. Table tennis, which continued in certain regions with strict safety protocols, became an unexpected lifeline for the sports betting industry.
Why the Pandemic Changed Everything
During 2020 and 2021, table tennis betting volume increased exponentially. In fact, some bookmakers reported 500-1000% growth in table tennis wagering. Leagues in Eastern Europe, particularly Ukraine and Russia, continued operating with limited or no spectators, providing crucial betting content when football, basketball, and other major sports were on hiatus.
This sudden spotlight introduced millions of casual bettors to a sport they had never considered wagering on before. Many discovered they enjoyed the fast-paced action, frequent matches, and the ability to watch and bet on live table tennis throughout the day. Even as traditional sports returned, table tennis retained a wealth of its new betting audience.
Why Table Tennis Remains Popular for Betting Today
Beyond the pandemic boost, table tennis offers several inherent advantages that make it attractive to bettors:
Frequent Matches: Professional table tennis has a packed schedule with matches happening almost daily somewhere in the world. Therefore, bettors have constant opportunities to find value and stay active.
Fast-Paced Action: Table tennis matches typically conclude within 30-45 minutes. So, bettors can see results quickly and potentially make multiple bets.
Live Betting Opportunities: The game’s point-by-point structure makes it popular for live betting. Odds can shift dramatically within moments due to changes in score and momentum.
Global Coverage: With leagues in Asia, Europe, and other continents, table tennis offers round-the-clock betting action across different time zones.
Types of Table Tennis Bets
Understanding the various betting markets available is essential for developing a successful table tennis betting strategy. Here are the most common bet types you may encounter at sites such as BetOnline, Everygame, and Lucky Rebel:
Match Winner (Moneyline)
Moneyline bets are the most straightforward table tennis bets. Simply pick which player will win the match and follow the match to find out the outcome. Moneyline odds reflect each player’s perceived chances, with favorites showing shorter odds and underdogs offering higher potential returns.
Handicap Betting (Spread)
Spread bets, also known as handicap bets, level the playing field by giving the underdog a virtual head start in games won.
For instance, if Player A is given a -1.5 game handicap against Player B, Player A must win by at least two games for your bet to succeed. Conversely, betting on Player B +1.5 means they can lose the match by one game and you’d still win your bet.
Spread markets are particularly useful in matches that feature a clear favorite. That is because spread bets offer more competitive odds than the straight match winner bet.
Total Games (Over/Under)
For over/under bets, bookmakers set a line for the total number of games played in a match, and you bet whether the actual total will be over or under that number. Over/under bets depend on analyzing whether a match will be closely contested or one-sided.
In a best-of-five match, the line might be set at 3.5 games. Betting “over 3.5” means you expect the match to go to at least four games. A bet on “under 3.5” means you predict a 3-0 sweep.
Correct Score
Are you seeking higher odds and willing to accept more risk? Correct score betting involves predicting the exact game score of the match.
In a best-of-five format, you might bet on a 3-0, 3-1, or 3-2 result for either player. The precision required means higher potential payouts but lower probability of success.
Set Betting
Set betting is similar to correct score but with more specific predictions about individual game outcomes.
Some sports betting sites offer pre-game or in-game odds on whether a specific game will go over or under a certain point total, or who will win a particular game within the match.
Live Betting (In-Play)
Perhaps the most exciting table tennis betting option, live betting allows you to place wagers as the match unfolds.
Live betting odds update constantly based on the score, momentum, and game situation. You might bet on the next point winner, the current game winner, or update your match winner prediction as circumstances change.
Because of how fast-paced table tennis matches are, live betting requires quick decision-making and a good understanding of how momentum shifts in table tennis. A player who loses the first game might see their odds lengthen significantly, potentially offering value if you believe they will adjust and come back.
Tournament Winner/Outright Betting
Table tennis futures are not commonly found at U.S. sportsbooks such as Lucky Rebel and Bovada, but you might see them for the Olympics and similar high-profile events.
Before a tournament begins, you can bet on which player will win the entire event. These bets typically offer longer odds since they require wins in multiple matches, but they can provide significant returns if you correctly identify an undervalued player.
Developing Your Table Tennis Betting Strategy
Success in table tennis betting requires more than merely just understanding the markets. You need a thoughtful approach based on careful research and discipline.
Research and Analysis
Start by following and studying major table tennis tours and leagues, notable players, and head-to-head records.
Table tennis players often struggle against specific opponents due to playing style matchups. A player with an aggressive, attacking style might repeatedly lose to a defensive specialist who can neutralize their strengths.
Pay attention to playing conditions. Table tennis can be played on different table surfaces and in venues with varying lighting and temperature conditions. Some players perform significantly better or worse depending on these environmental factors.
Recent form also plays an enormous role in table tennis, as it does in “regular” tennis. A player who is struggling or may be returning from a layoff may be a risky choice for bettors. Conversely, a player coming off several tournament victories might be brimming with confidence and hitting peak form.
Bankroll Management
Table tennis’s quick turnaround times, as well as its popularity with live betting, can tempt bettors into placing too many wagers. Just because matches and odds are constantly available does not mean you should fire off wager after wager.
Be selective and focus on matches where you have done proper research and identified genuine value.
Understanding Value
The key to long-term table tennis betting success is finding value. Seek spots where a player’s actual probability outweighs what the odds suggest.
Developing this skill takes time and experience. But it is far more important than simply trying to predict winners. You can pick more winners than losers and still lose money if you consistently wager on overpriced favorites.
Specialization
Consider specializing in specific leagues, tournaments, or even individual players. Becoming an expert in a narrower area of table tennis betting can give you an edge over bookmakers who must set odds across hundreds of matches.
Some bettors focus exclusively on lower-tier tournaments, as bookmakers may not monitor or adjust odds for these tournaments. Others specialize in live betting, using their ability to read momentum and make quick decisions to find opportunities for success.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced bettors can fall into traps when betting on table tennis. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when betting on table tennis:
Overvaluing Rankings: Official rankings do not always reflect current form. A player ranked #25 who has won three consecutive tournaments might be playing better than the #15 player who has struggled recently.
Ignoring Motivation Levels: In minor tournaments, top players may not be fully motivated. Conversely, lower-ranked players might show exceptional determination in these situations.
Betting on Unfamiliar Leagues: During the pandemic boom, numerous obscure leagues emerged to meet betting demand. Some had questionable integrity and unusual playing conditions. You don’t have to avoid these kinds of leagues and tournaments completely, but please be smart about your choices if you decide to wager on them.
Tilt Betting: The rapid pace of table tennis matches can lead to emotional betting after losses. Take breaks and avoid making impulsive bets in an attempt to quickly recover losses.
Neglecting External Factors: Travel fatigue, time zone changes, and scheduling (playing multiple matches in one day) can significantly impact performance. A player might look strong in their first match of a tournament but fade badly by their third match of the day.
Getting Started with Table Tennis Betting
Are you ready to place your first table tennis bet? Start by choosing a reputable sportsbook that offers comprehensive table tennis coverage with competitive odds. As mentioned above, most major online sportsbooks now offer table tennis odds. We recommend line shopping to see which books offer the best odds on a consistent basis.
Begin with small stakes on match winner bets while you learn to analyze matches and understand how odds move. Watch as many matches as possible, if you have access to live streaming of matches (which some sports betting sites provide). This allows you to combine research with direct observation of playing styles and form.
Keep detailed records of your bets, including your reasoning for each wager. Over time, this will help you identify patterns in your choices, recognize which strategies work well and which do not, and learn from any mistakes that you make.
Also, join online communities of table tennis bettors where you can discuss strategies, share insights, and learn from experienced bettors. Just remember that while others’ opinions can offer value, your own research and analysis should be the backbone of your betting endeavors.
Table tennis betting offers an exciting, fast-paced way to engage with a dynamic sport. With its frequent matches and diverse betting markets, table tennis has maintained a place in the sports betting landscape even after its pandemic boom.
If you take the time to understand the rules, study the markets, develop a disciplined strategy, and keep learning, growth, and responsible gambling as top priorities, you can enjoy the thrill of table tennis betting while maximizing your chances of long-term success.