How to bet on table tennis

In the midst of a pandemic that has forced the largest sports leagues in the world to temporarily suspend play, table tennis has emerged as a popular option for bettors to wager on.

Here's everything you need to know about betting on table tennis at TwinSpires Sports. 

Table tennis rules

Unlike the fast-and-loose ping pong games played in your rec room, international table tennis games are played under a strict set of rules and regulations. To begin with, each match is the best of five games, meaning one player must win three games in order to win the match.

Each player gets to serve for two points in a row. Points are awarded to the serving player when his opponent is unable to return his shot, either by missing the ball entirely, hitting it into the net, or missing the opponent’s side of the table with their return. A serve that hits the net and does not go over results in a point for the receiving player. 

The games are played to 11 points and players must win by 2 points in the event the game is tied at 10-10.

Table tennis equipment

International table tennis is played on a table that is precisely 9 feet long by 5 feet wide by 2.5 feet high. Players use rackets that are black on one side and red on the reverse, and use a 40mm+ plastic ball. 

Markets available to wager on at TwinSpires Sports

You can currently wager on just the moneyline for select table tennis matches at TwinSpires Sports. That means you select the player you think will win. You can make your selection before the match begins, or during the match, through TwinSpires Sports' live betting option. 

Be forewarned that you have to be quick when wagering on table tennis games, as matches are typically 10 minutes or less in duration.

Leagues available to wager on at TwinSpires Sports

Table tennis is one of the many sports on the Summer Olympic program. However, the best players in the world will have to wait until at least 2021 to play in Tokyo, following the postponement of the Olympics due to COVID-19. 

In the meantime, there are a number of leagues in Europe and Russia that are still operating with matches being held daily. Leagues available at TwinSpires Sports include the Setka Cup in Ukraine, Moscow Liga Pro, Masters League A, Masters League B, Armenia ITT Cup, and the Czech Republic TT Star Series.

If you’re looking at Live Betting on table tennis, it’s best to watch the matches live in order to make the best pick possible. Some leagues available at TwinSpires Sports, such as the Setka Cup, live stream their matches on various digital channels, including YouTube.