Is betting common in tennis? Betting 2024 French Open responsibly

Is betting common in tennis? Betting 2024 French Open responsibly

Is betting common in tennis? Betting 2024 French Open responsibly

Published:

May 23, 2024

Published:

May 23, 2024

Published:

May 23, 2024

With qualifiers underway at the 2024 French Open – one of the four Grand Slams in tennis – top players from across the globe are en route to Paris. Last year, superstars Novak Djokovic and Iga Świątek captured the men’s and women’s titles at Roland Garros. Both will be looking to defend their crowns and are serious contenders to win again, according to sportsbooks’ odds across the world. But is it legal to bet on tennis? Let’s get into the good, the bad, and everything else regarding tennis gambling.

History of tennis and sports betting

Tennis is an incredibly popular sport around the globe. Hundreds of tournaments are held throughout the year worldwide, but the four major events are the French Open, Australian Open, US Open and Wimbledon, which are known as the Grand Slams. The French Open is the second Grand Slam of the season, as the Australian Open takes place in the middle of January. Unlike the other Grand Slams, the French Open is famously played on clay courts. That gives certain players an immediate advantage.

Gambling on tennis in the United States is relatively new. In 2018, the Supreme Court repealed the federal ban on sports betting. That allowed individual states to legalize sports betting and enabled their residents to bet on sports like tennis. Since then, betting on tennis has been allowed in all states that have passed sports betting legislation.

Tennis betting controversies and scandals

Over 180 tennis players involved in illegal gambling ring

The story begins a decade ago in Belgium with a man named Grigor Sargsyan. Sargsyan was no stranger to sports gambling, and it started when he wondered if there was a way to bet on tennis and be guaranteed to win. After a few months of research, Sargsyan learned that professional tennis players at a low level were not making a lot of money, and more importantly, were corruptible. 

Over the next year or so, Sargsyan recruited more than 180 professional tennis players into his match-fixing ring (NPR). The plan was simple: have players purposely lose a game or set. The players didn’t even need to lose the match because Sargsyan wanted to remain as cautious as possible. Players made a few thousand dollars by match-fixing for Sargsyan, but four years after his plan had begun, Sargsyan was caught and his illegal gambling ring was uncovered.

Tennis umpire banned for 10 years for betting

Last Fall, Slovenian tennis umpire Marko Ducman was found to be betting on matches and manipulating data to his advantage. The bronze-level umpire had previously been involved in ITF, ATP, and WTA tournaments. Due to his breaches in the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program, he was fined $75,000 and banned for 10 years (ESPN).

How popular is betting on tennis? Worldwide & U.S.

Betting on the Grand Slams does see some major action in the United States, but it’s not at the level of other top sports. According to Statista, basketball, football, and soccer were more popular among Americans than tennis in the first half of 2023. In the findings, only 21.1% of respondents preferred to bet on tennis.

Across the pond, tennis is a popular sport to bet on in the United Kingdom, but there are still a few sports with higher popularity. In a study conducted in the UK, tennis came in 5th place on the most popular sports to bet on. About 8% of respondents had placed a bet on tennis in the last year (Square Mile). Above tennis on the list was soccer, horse racing, golf and boxing. 

One main reason for tennis being a popular sport to bet on worldwide is the amount of opportunities it provides. In addition to the four Grand Slams, there are hundreds of matches throughout the year in other tournaments around the globe. 

Is it legal to bet on the 2024 French Open in the U.S.?

Yes, it is legal to bet on the French Open in some states in the U.S. Tennis is one of the many sports that is legal to bet on, as long as you are in one of the 38 states that offer some form of legalized sports betting. In the 30 states that have online betting options, people can bet on any of the Grand Slams at sportsbooks like FanDuel, DraftKings, and more.

As of the time of writing, Carlos Alcaraz (+200) and Iga Świątek (-150) are the favorites at DraftKings to win the French Open.

How to bet on tennis responsibly

Whether it’s a small tournament or a Grand Slam, it’s important to bet on tennis responsibly. Here are a few tips to remember if you intend on gambling on the French Open.

  • Perceive gambling as paid entertainment. That means only gamble what you are willing to spend on a ticket to a sporting event or concert.

  • Only gamble what you can afford to lose. That means choosing a reasonable betting budget and sticking to it.

  • Never chase your losses. Betting just to try and break even on the day is a fast way to lose more than you expected.

  • Set a limit for yourself on a daily, weekly, monthly basis. For the French Open, that applies more for daily and weekly limits since the tournament lasts for only two weeks.

  • Avoid gambling under the influence of drugs or alcohol. These substances can affect your decision-making.

Gambling Addiction treatment and resources

Help is available if you or someone you know is struggling with a gambling addiction. One option is Birches Health, which is a completely virtual resource. Birches offers gambling addiction treatment from a team of trained professionals with years of experience. All meetings are 100% confidential, and the best part is that many patients have a $0 out-of-pocket cost.

Sources:

Over 180 professional tennis players participated in a global match-fixing ring : NPR

Tennis umpire gets 10-year ban for betting, data manipulation - ESPN

Most popular sports to bet on US 2023 | Statista

The most popular sports for betting in the UK | Square Mile

With qualifiers underway at the 2024 French Open – one of the four Grand Slams in tennis – top players from across the globe are en route to Paris. Last year, superstars Novak Djokovic and Iga Świątek captured the men’s and women’s titles at Roland Garros. Both will be looking to defend their crowns and are serious contenders to win again, according to sportsbooks’ odds across the world. But is it legal to bet on tennis? Let’s get into the good, the bad, and everything else regarding tennis gambling.

History of tennis and sports betting

Tennis is an incredibly popular sport around the globe. Hundreds of tournaments are held throughout the year worldwide, but the four major events are the French Open, Australian Open, US Open and Wimbledon, which are known as the Grand Slams. The French Open is the second Grand Slam of the season, as the Australian Open takes place in the middle of January. Unlike the other Grand Slams, the French Open is famously played on clay courts. That gives certain players an immediate advantage.

Gambling on tennis in the United States is relatively new. In 2018, the Supreme Court repealed the federal ban on sports betting. That allowed individual states to legalize sports betting and enabled their residents to bet on sports like tennis. Since then, betting on tennis has been allowed in all states that have passed sports betting legislation.

Tennis betting controversies and scandals

Over 180 tennis players involved in illegal gambling ring

The story begins a decade ago in Belgium with a man named Grigor Sargsyan. Sargsyan was no stranger to sports gambling, and it started when he wondered if there was a way to bet on tennis and be guaranteed to win. After a few months of research, Sargsyan learned that professional tennis players at a low level were not making a lot of money, and more importantly, were corruptible. 

Over the next year or so, Sargsyan recruited more than 180 professional tennis players into his match-fixing ring (NPR). The plan was simple: have players purposely lose a game or set. The players didn’t even need to lose the match because Sargsyan wanted to remain as cautious as possible. Players made a few thousand dollars by match-fixing for Sargsyan, but four years after his plan had begun, Sargsyan was caught and his illegal gambling ring was uncovered.

Tennis umpire banned for 10 years for betting

Last Fall, Slovenian tennis umpire Marko Ducman was found to be betting on matches and manipulating data to his advantage. The bronze-level umpire had previously been involved in ITF, ATP, and WTA tournaments. Due to his breaches in the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program, he was fined $75,000 and banned for 10 years (ESPN).

How popular is betting on tennis? Worldwide & U.S.

Betting on the Grand Slams does see some major action in the United States, but it’s not at the level of other top sports. According to Statista, basketball, football, and soccer were more popular among Americans than tennis in the first half of 2023. In the findings, only 21.1% of respondents preferred to bet on tennis.

Across the pond, tennis is a popular sport to bet on in the United Kingdom, but there are still a few sports with higher popularity. In a study conducted in the UK, tennis came in 5th place on the most popular sports to bet on. About 8% of respondents had placed a bet on tennis in the last year (Square Mile). Above tennis on the list was soccer, horse racing, golf and boxing. 

One main reason for tennis being a popular sport to bet on worldwide is the amount of opportunities it provides. In addition to the four Grand Slams, there are hundreds of matches throughout the year in other tournaments around the globe. 

Is it legal to bet on the 2024 French Open in the U.S.?

Yes, it is legal to bet on the French Open in some states in the U.S. Tennis is one of the many sports that is legal to bet on, as long as you are in one of the 38 states that offer some form of legalized sports betting. In the 30 states that have online betting options, people can bet on any of the Grand Slams at sportsbooks like FanDuel, DraftKings, and more.

As of the time of writing, Carlos Alcaraz (+200) and Iga Świątek (-150) are the favorites at DraftKings to win the French Open.

How to bet on tennis responsibly

Whether it’s a small tournament or a Grand Slam, it’s important to bet on tennis responsibly. Here are a few tips to remember if you intend on gambling on the French Open.

  • Perceive gambling as paid entertainment. That means only gamble what you are willing to spend on a ticket to a sporting event or concert.

  • Only gamble what you can afford to lose. That means choosing a reasonable betting budget and sticking to it.

  • Never chase your losses. Betting just to try and break even on the day is a fast way to lose more than you expected.

  • Set a limit for yourself on a daily, weekly, monthly basis. For the French Open, that applies more for daily and weekly limits since the tournament lasts for only two weeks.

  • Avoid gambling under the influence of drugs or alcohol. These substances can affect your decision-making.

Gambling Addiction treatment and resources

Help is available if you or someone you know is struggling with a gambling addiction. One option is Birches Health, which is a completely virtual resource. Birches offers gambling addiction treatment from a team of trained professionals with years of experience. All meetings are 100% confidential, and the best part is that many patients have a $0 out-of-pocket cost.

Sources:

Over 180 professional tennis players participated in a global match-fixing ring : NPR

Tennis umpire gets 10-year ban for betting, data manipulation - ESPN

Most popular sports to bet on US 2023 | Statista

The most popular sports for betting in the UK | Square Mile

With qualifiers underway at the 2024 French Open – one of the four Grand Slams in tennis – top players from across the globe are en route to Paris. Last year, superstars Novak Djokovic and Iga Świątek captured the men’s and women’s titles at Roland Garros. Both will be looking to defend their crowns and are serious contenders to win again, according to sportsbooks’ odds across the world. But is it legal to bet on tennis? Let’s get into the good, the bad, and everything else regarding tennis gambling.

History of tennis and sports betting

Tennis is an incredibly popular sport around the globe. Hundreds of tournaments are held throughout the year worldwide, but the four major events are the French Open, Australian Open, US Open and Wimbledon, which are known as the Grand Slams. The French Open is the second Grand Slam of the season, as the Australian Open takes place in the middle of January. Unlike the other Grand Slams, the French Open is famously played on clay courts. That gives certain players an immediate advantage.

Gambling on tennis in the United States is relatively new. In 2018, the Supreme Court repealed the federal ban on sports betting. That allowed individual states to legalize sports betting and enabled their residents to bet on sports like tennis. Since then, betting on tennis has been allowed in all states that have passed sports betting legislation.

Tennis betting controversies and scandals

Over 180 tennis players involved in illegal gambling ring

The story begins a decade ago in Belgium with a man named Grigor Sargsyan. Sargsyan was no stranger to sports gambling, and it started when he wondered if there was a way to bet on tennis and be guaranteed to win. After a few months of research, Sargsyan learned that professional tennis players at a low level were not making a lot of money, and more importantly, were corruptible. 

Over the next year or so, Sargsyan recruited more than 180 professional tennis players into his match-fixing ring (NPR). The plan was simple: have players purposely lose a game or set. The players didn’t even need to lose the match because Sargsyan wanted to remain as cautious as possible. Players made a few thousand dollars by match-fixing for Sargsyan, but four years after his plan had begun, Sargsyan was caught and his illegal gambling ring was uncovered.

Tennis umpire banned for 10 years for betting

Last Fall, Slovenian tennis umpire Marko Ducman was found to be betting on matches and manipulating data to his advantage. The bronze-level umpire had previously been involved in ITF, ATP, and WTA tournaments. Due to his breaches in the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program, he was fined $75,000 and banned for 10 years (ESPN).

How popular is betting on tennis? Worldwide & U.S.

Betting on the Grand Slams does see some major action in the United States, but it’s not at the level of other top sports. According to Statista, basketball, football, and soccer were more popular among Americans than tennis in the first half of 2023. In the findings, only 21.1% of respondents preferred to bet on tennis.

Across the pond, tennis is a popular sport to bet on in the United Kingdom, but there are still a few sports with higher popularity. In a study conducted in the UK, tennis came in 5th place on the most popular sports to bet on. About 8% of respondents had placed a bet on tennis in the last year (Square Mile). Above tennis on the list was soccer, horse racing, golf and boxing. 

One main reason for tennis being a popular sport to bet on worldwide is the amount of opportunities it provides. In addition to the four Grand Slams, there are hundreds of matches throughout the year in other tournaments around the globe. 

Is it legal to bet on the 2024 French Open in the U.S.?

Yes, it is legal to bet on the French Open in some states in the U.S. Tennis is one of the many sports that is legal to bet on, as long as you are in one of the 38 states that offer some form of legalized sports betting. In the 30 states that have online betting options, people can bet on any of the Grand Slams at sportsbooks like FanDuel, DraftKings, and more.

As of the time of writing, Carlos Alcaraz (+200) and Iga Świątek (-150) are the favorites at DraftKings to win the French Open.

How to bet on tennis responsibly

Whether it’s a small tournament or a Grand Slam, it’s important to bet on tennis responsibly. Here are a few tips to remember if you intend on gambling on the French Open.

  • Perceive gambling as paid entertainment. That means only gamble what you are willing to spend on a ticket to a sporting event or concert.

  • Only gamble what you can afford to lose. That means choosing a reasonable betting budget and sticking to it.

  • Never chase your losses. Betting just to try and break even on the day is a fast way to lose more than you expected.

  • Set a limit for yourself on a daily, weekly, monthly basis. For the French Open, that applies more for daily and weekly limits since the tournament lasts for only two weeks.

  • Avoid gambling under the influence of drugs or alcohol. These substances can affect your decision-making.

Gambling Addiction treatment and resources

Help is available if you or someone you know is struggling with a gambling addiction. One option is Birches Health, which is a completely virtual resource. Birches offers gambling addiction treatment from a team of trained professionals with years of experience. All meetings are 100% confidential, and the best part is that many patients have a $0 out-of-pocket cost.

Sources:

Over 180 professional tennis players participated in a global match-fixing ring : NPR

Tennis umpire gets 10-year ban for betting, data manipulation - ESPN

Most popular sports to bet on US 2023 | Statista

The most popular sports for betting in the UK | Square Mile