Tennis Betting in Iowa
Legal and regulated sports betting is now a thing in several states across the US, including Iowa. All sports are seeing a surge in interest these days, and there are plenty of options to consider for wagering.
Tennis is among the sports seeing a serious boon of late. While it has always been popular to watch, betting helps take interest to new heights. You can bet on the outcome of tournaments, focus on head-to-head matchups, and even live bets as the action plays out in real-time.
The ATP and WTA circuits stay active nearly year-round, so there’s always betting action. The Grand Slam events are the biggest tennis attractions of the calendar year.
You don’t have to wait for the field to be ready to bet on those either. The futures markets for events, such as Wimbledon and the US Open, are incredibly active. We’ll cover how you can bet on those markets and much more in our complete guide to tennis betting in Iowa.
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How to bet on tennis online in Iowa
To start with betting on tennis, all you need is a sportsbook account with some funds. There’s a slew of online and mobile betting options in Iowa. Here’s the sign-up process, from start to finish.
You first need to find a place to play, and we highly recommend sticking with our featured operators. We’ve reviewed all the available options in full detail, and are showcasing Iowa’s top choices.
Click on our exclusive links to get set up. You’ll get an exclusive sign-up bonus just for doing so. The sportsbook will prompt you to share details such as your name and address on the main registration page. Then it’ll ask you to verify that all your information is correct before you click the submit button.
Before moving along, take a second to download the mobile betting app from the operator’s website. Most Iowa sportsbooks offer a sports betting app. After logging in on your phone for the first time, you’ll have access to a live sportsbook 24/7. Now that your new sportsbook account is all set, it’s time to add some funds and scouting out wagering opportunities. For deposits, leading operators offer several methods. Choices may include wire transfers and debit cards, among others.
Deposits go through instantly. To explore opportunities, click on the “Tennis” link from the list of available sports. You’ll see all of the upcoming matches on the main page. From there, it’s a matter of reviewing your options.
After you find one that looks appealing, click on the odds. The bets you choose will move into a betting slip, which is where you’ll plug in the amount of money you want to wager. The slip will display your potential return. Verify that everything looks good and click on the submit button. Just like that, you’ve placed your first tennis bet.
Betting on Grand Slam tennis tournaments
The four Grand Slam events are the biggest highlights on the yearly tennis calendar. The world’s best players take center stage with lots at stake, squaring off at iconic venues that are chock full of history. Here are some details you need to know about these highly anticipated tournaments.
Australian Open
The first of the four slams comes our way early in the year from over in Australia. While the WTA and ATP tours will be in full swing all season long, this signature event serves as an unofficial kickoff for the year. Here’s the scoop on the next edition:
- Dates: January
- Location: Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Surface: GreenSet hard surface
- Prizes: $49.1 million in 2020
- First Held: 1905
On an all-time basis in the modern era, Novak Djokovic leads the way with eight wins for the men, while Serena Williams leads the women with seven.
French Open
Just before the calendar gets set to turn from spring into summer, the clay courts at Roland-Garros take center stage. This is a grueling event that has gotten the best of many players through the years. Here’s what you need to know about the next edition:
- Dates: May/June
- Location: Roland-Garros in Paris, France
- Surface: Clay court
- Prizes: $44.6 million
- First Held: 1891
In the open era, Rafael Nadal has been the biggest force here with 13 victories. Chris Evert leads the lady’s side over that span with seven French Open wins.
Wimbledon
Futures odds for the next edition are up and running. As arguably the most famous and popular of the four slams, Wimbledon has a special place in the heart of tennis fans and bettors.
- Dates: Late June-Early July
- Location: All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club in London, England
- Surface: Grass court
- Prizes: $48.4 million in 2021
- First Held: 1877
For the modern era, Roger Federer leads the way for the men with eight Wimbledon titles. Martina Navratilova leads the women with nine crowns.
US Open
The final slam of the year helps to wind down the summer. The US Open is a hot ticket in the Big Apple, while fans and bettors from across the nation will also be dialled into every serve and volley. Here’s what we know about next year’s edition:
- Dates: August/September
- Location: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City
- Surface: Hard court
- Prizes: $53.4 million in 2020
- First Held: 1881
Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer are tied for the all-time lead in the open era with five wins apiece. Evert and Williams are tops for the women with six US Open wins each.
When any of the four slams roll around, be on the lookout for some special bets from the leading Iowa online sportsbooks. You may see some odds boosts on matches or props, or there may even be the potential for enhanced returns on the tournament favorites.
Tennis betting basics
There are a lot of different options to consider for the average tennis tournament. Each event has a set of favorites who look poised to make some noise, while the sports daily schedule will be filled with head-to-head matches. Here’s a look at the top wagering types, along with how the odds work.
Outright winners
For each ATP and WTA event, you can place your bets on the outright winner of the tournament. Sportsbooks will release tennis odds for all players on the field. On the men’s side, numbers for a few favorites at DraftKings Iowa might look like this:
| Novak Djokovic +250 |
| Rafael Nadal +350 |
| Dominic Thiem +450 |
Over at the WTA, it’ll be the same story with odds for all scheduled competitors. Here’s what the top of the odds board might look like at Fanduel Sportsbook Iowa for the ladies:
| Naomi Osaka +325 |
| Ashleigh Barty +425 |
| Serena Williams +525 |
Individual matches
From the opening round through to the finals of the average tournament, there are lots of head-to-head matches happening. You can bet on every one of them. Oddsmakers will post odds for each one, and they’ll look just like the moneyline odds you may be familiar with from betting on other sports. Here’s an example:
| Stefanos Tsitsipas +120 |
| Roger Federer -110 |
Game and set spread betting
You can also bet on the individual matches with a point spread element. As opposed to points, the spread can be based on sets or games. Like other spread bets, the side you choose has to cover the number for the bet to be a winner. Here’s a fictional example:
| Karolina Pliskova | +5.5 games (-110) |
| Sofia Kenin | -5.5 games (-110) |
Tennis over/under bets
Totals betting is a popular attraction at the betting window, and you can find a form of it for tennis. It works like other over/under bets in that oddsmakers will set a benchmark number. However, the total is based on games or sets as opposed to points. Let’s look at an example:
| Over | 4.5 sets (-110) |
| Under | 4.5 sets (-110) |
The good news is that you’ll have plenty of choices to consider for each tournament. On the downside, the number of opportunities can seem overwhelming when new to betting on tennis. Let’s take a look at some solid areas to focus on those new to the game.
What are the best tennis bets?
If you’re new to tennis betting, there’s a good chance you’re wondering where is the best place to start. As with any new endeavor, it’s a good idea to keep it simple at the start. To that end, two bet types make for an ideal starting point.
For each tournament, there are odds listed for the outright winner. The odds board generally goes in descending order, with favorites on top, long-shots on the bottom and everyone else in the middle. This is a simple bet to start with, and one that can pay off nicely to boot.
While simple to understand, that doesn’t mean it’s easy to win. You’re picking the winner of the whole thing. That’s seven matches, so everything will have to break right for your selection. One strategy you can employ calls for multiple selections. You could choose a couple of favorites, a midrange selection or two, and maybe even a dark horse or long-shot. By doing so, you’ve spread out the risk and opened up even more chances to win, not to mention gained additional rooting interest.
The second best spot to begin is with head-to-head matches. They work just like your standard moneyline bet, so all you need to do is pick the winner. When tournament pairings are announced, you can make a note of the players you like the most. From there, you can pay closest attention to their matches while looking for some edges. Between the outright winners and head-to-heads, you can get up to speed with tennis betting and hopefully build out some consistency quickly.
How do you bet on live tennis?
A good part of the explosive interest in tennis these days has to do with live betting. Also known as in-play, these are wagers you can place in real-time as the action is playing out on the court. Things move incredibly fast, but that only enhances the appeal for many bettors.
Odds and opportunities are constantly popping up as the match goes on. Staying on top of things and making your selections is a piece of cake when you stick to apps from leading operators. Here are some examples of what you might see:
- Updated moneyline, spread and totals odds for the match
- Odds for the winner of the next game or set
- Bet on the winner of each point
The last one on the list is the fastest-moving, but the apps are up to the task, with many providing shot-by-shot coverage as the games play out. If you like making decisions on the fly, this may be a great bet type for you.
Those who prefer action slowed down a bit more, you can check out live betting on the games and sets. If you have a great feel for momentum and when the tide may be turning, this can be a chance to pounce on some potentially profitable opportunities.
Sportsbook tennis betting rules and regulations
All legal and regulated sportsbooks have house rules in place for betting on tennis and other sports. The rules cover all the bases on situations that may or may not come up and give users clarity on how it’ll be handled. There is a lot of crossover and standard practices across the industry, but there can also be some minor differences. Here are the main points to know:
- The majority of books require at least one set of a match to be completed before a result is considered official for betting purposes. Anything shorter than that would be treated as a “push,” while delays and postponements are handled differently.
- Bets on a match or tournament that’s delayed will still be considered live if it’s expected to be completed in a reasonable timeframe. The bet may still be considered active even if there’s a venue change, i.e., outdoor to indoor.
- If a player retires before a match or tournament gets underway, bets will be considered void and refunded. For player disqualifications, exits due to injury or retirement, and other situations in which he or she can’t continue, bets will be considered final if at least one set has been completed in the match.
- All bets are considered live once the first ball is served. The settlement will be based on official tour data and statistics.
- When a match tiebreaker is needed, additional games played will be scored as one single game regardless of how many it may take.
That covers the bulk of what you need to know, but we have to stress the importance of reviewing the house rules at each sportsbook before you play. There may be some quirks here and there, so it’s better to have a handle on the rules from the get-go before receiving any unwelcome surprises.
Bet on ATP, WTA tennis tours
Top men’s and women’s tennis players in the world can be found on two circuits. For the men, it’s the ATP, which stands for the Association of Tennis Professionals. The Women’s Tennis Association, or WTA, is where the top ladies square off.
Each year, the calendar is jam-packed with events for both tours. If you take a look at the overall tennis schedule on a month-by-month basis, you’ll find an intriguing tournament to bet on nearly year round. Here are some of the top 2021 highlights for the men’s tour:
- February: Dubai Tennis Championships – Hard court
- March: Indian Wells Masters – Hard court
- April: Barcelona Open – Clay court
- July: German Open – Clay court
- August: Canadian Open – Hard court
- September: St. Petersburg Open – Hard court
- October: European Open – Hard court
- November: Paris Masters – Hard court
The women’s tour is just as busy. There are regular events to zero in on, many of which are held in exotic locales around the globe. Here are some of the biggest events for the coming year:
- February: Qatar Open – Hard court
- March: Lyon Open – Hard court
- April: Stuttgart Open – Clay court
- July: Bucharest Open – Clay court
- August: Canadian Open – Hard court
- September: Pan Pacific Open – Hard court
- October: Kremlin Cup – Hard court
- November: WTA Finals – Hard court
When you add in the four Grand Slam events, there are plenty of tennis to zero in on all year. This is a small snippet, as there are plenty of other tour stops. In short, you won’t be lacking for options when it comes to betting on tennis.
Bet on Davis Cup and international events
While the ATP and WTA are the biggest drivers of tennis betting action here in the US, there are other options to explore. Some books will provide odds for other circuits, including the ITF and UTR. Research for the lesser events can be challenging, but those who are willing to put in the work could walk away with quite an edge.
Additionally, you’ll find tennis betting odds and lines for other top international dates, including the Davis Cup, the premier team event in the sport. You can place your bets on the winning nation in advance and also get your wagers in on the individual matches as it all plays out. Once you have a good handle on tennis betting, you’ll find that there are lots of different avenues to explore.
Bet on Olympic tennis
There could be tennis betting lines available during the Olympics as long as the book follows Iowa regulations. The Iowa law states:
“… no wagers on the performance of athletes in an individual international sporting event governed by the international Olympic committee in which any participant in the international sporting event is under eighteen years of age.”
Check your local sportsbook to find any current Olympic tennis odds.
Tennis betting tips and strategy
It can take a little time to get where you want to be with tennis betting, but there’s a bright light at the end of the tunnel for those who put in the effort. Research is your friend, and you can look for spots to translate any other handicapping skills you have obtained from following other sports. Here are three tips you can use to help flatten the learning curve.
1. Lean on outright winner odds for research
In advance of tournaments, sportsbooks will release odds for the outright winner. You can use this as a free piece of research as well. If you take a step back and look at the board, you have a real-time market interpretation of which players are expected to perform the best. While there’s no guarantee that things will shake out exactly as laid out, this still makes for a fantastic starting point for your research.
2. Zero in on a handful of players for head-to-head
After you’ve examined the field, there’s a good chance you’ll walk away with a list of intriguing contenders. You can place these players on your list of ones to watch and then zero in on each of their head-to-head matches. If you can learn a few players inside and out, then you’ll gain a great sense of what to expect when they step on the court. Before too long, you might be able to translate that into a betting edge.
3. Study player performance by surface and venue
The ATP and WTA are bouncing around all over the place. There are different venues to visit, and not all events are held on the same surface. As part of your research, be mindful of how players have performed at this tour stop in the past, as well as on this particular surface type. It’s a helpful clue on what this player may be bringing to the table for the event at hand.