Badminton is a popular racket sport with a history that spans the course of centuries. Although it is most commonly played for fun, this niche sport does in fact have a thriving betting scene, and bettors can win plenty of cash pots by wagering on competitive games and players.
Badminton betting is a particular favourite pastime among those bettors who prefer to tune into rare, under-appreciated or niche sports like this one. If this sounds like you, read on for our guide to betting on badminton and how to ensure that you will earn the best possible returns when you do!
The Basics of the Sport
Badminton uses a shuttlecock, a device that can hit speeds of up to 200 miles per hour, which is hit by a specialised racket between 2 or more participants in a game. Although some might dismiss the game altogether, competitive players of this sport need to be quick, agile and athletic, not to mention having exceptionally fast reaction speeds as well, much like any other popular sport.
The international community first recognised badminton as a top-quality pastime in 1992 when it was officially dubbed an Olympic sport – but sadly, it was dropped from the Olympics following the 2008 edition of the legendary international event.
How to Find Games to Bet On
Badminton might not feature on the Olympic roster any more, but there are still many major badminton matches around the world to bet on today. In some countries, these games are widely televised just like online bingo and slots games allowing bettors to make accurate and informed wagers on the most promising players and teams.
Involved badminton bettors look forward to wagering on the World Championship and the BWF Super Series each year, both of which come around on an annual basis. The most popular types of bets placed in this sport are straight up bets, in which a bettor must choose and place money on the player they think is most likely to win.
Types of Bets for Badminton Fans
Sportsbook retailers and online betting websites will usually supply a list of scheduled matches and their players to give you a chance to do your research before placing money on them. Every player will also have their odds listed beside their names.
The biggest returns will be paid to bettors that wager on players with the lowest chances of winning; these participants are usually referred to as the ‘underdogs’. If you wager on the match favourite, however, your returns will be less in order to compensate for the favourite’s higher odds of winning the match.
The World’s Top Annual Badminton Events
If you are interested in betting on badminton, it is advisable to wait for one of the sport’s main annual events to swing around in order to capitalise on the action. Since the sport no longer features in the Olympics, sports betting fans can get their fixes by wagering on top events like:
- the BWF Super Series – an annual, second tiered event created by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) in 2006 that involves 12 countries;
- the Super Series Masters Final – the culmination of the BWF Super Series. It takes place at the end of each year and offers $500,000 in prize money to the ultimate winner. The top 8 players and teams based on Super Series rankings appear in this final tournament;
- and the World Championships – having taken place since 1977, the World Championships gather all the best players in the world to compete across 5 divisions; women’s singles, men’s singles, women’s doubles, men’s doubles and mixed singles.
