How to Bet on Table Tennis for Beginners: Markets Explained

How to bet on table tennis for beginners starts with one simple truth: every rally scores a point. In fact, a match is a race to four games in singles, and each game is a race to 11 points. In short, this guide covers the rules, the markets, the odds, and how to check a match.

Last updated: November 2026

Quick Answer

• Men’s singles: best of seven games. Women’s singles: best of five.
• Games to 11; a game must be won by two points.
• Serve changes every two points; deuce serve every point.
• Doubles: four players, diagonal service.
• Start with the match winner.

How to Bet on Table Tennis for Beginners: How the Game Works

The ITTF introduced a 40+ millimetre ball in 2014. It was white celluloid, so each side can see it against any background. A 40 millimetre ball had been in use since October 2000, after the ITTF dropped the 38 millimetre ball.

Two players stand at opposite ends of a 2.74-metre by 1.525-metre table, divided by a 15.25-centimetre high net. Players hold a racquet with red on one side and black on the other, and use it to hit the ball back over the net. Strokes that send the ball past the opponent win the point.

Table tennis uses rally scoring. In other words, every rally ends with a point for one player, no matter who served. Players serve two points each in turn, from the right half of the table, diagonally across the net.

Games go to 11 points, and every game must be won by at least two points, with no cap. In contrast, men’s singles matches are best of seven games, and women’s singles matches are best of five games.

Secondly, the ball must be tossed at least 16 centimetres straight up, with the palm open and the ball at rest before the toss. The umpire is told to warn a player who breaks a service rule.

Doubles: Four Players on Two Sides

Firstly, each side alternates between the two players, taking turns to hit the ball within a rally, in sequence.

Secondly, the serve must go diagonally across the net, from the server’s right side to the receiver’s right side. In other words, it is the only shot in table tennis that must go to a set area; it cannot be hit straight.

Thirdly, the receiver in doubles is the opponent of the serving player who is not the server.

After this, the rally proceeds from the same hand as the server.

Table Tennis vs Lawn Tennis: Three Key Differences

Above all, table tennis is usually compared to lawn tennis, but the two are popular for different reasons. Here are three of them.

Firstly, table tennis takes place on a table and is played with a racquet. Lawn tennis takes place on a court and is played with a racquet.

Secondly, table tennis balls are hit over a net with a racquet. Lawn tennis balls are also hit over a net with a racquet, but the court is far wider and longer, so the ball travels further.

Thirdly, table tennis scoring is based on the 11-point game and no caps, while tennis scoring uses a completely different system: games, sets, and a match.

Feature	Table tennis	Lawn tennis
Court	2.74 m × 1.525 m table	23.77 m × 8.23 m court
Players	2 (singles) / 4 (doubles)	2 (singles) / 4 (doubles)
Scoring	Games to 11, no cap	Games, sets, tie-break
Match length	Best of 5 / 7 games	Best of 3 / 5 sets
Serve	Alternating every 2 points	One player serves a full game

The Main Tournaments

Above all, the Olympic Games are the biggest stage in table tennis. The event has been held since 1988.

Next, the World Table Tennis Championships are the sport’s world title. They are contested by men and women, introduced in 1926 as the first World Championships.

Finally, the ITTF World Tour is the sport’s annual ranking series. It is the sport’s annual ranking series, held in cities around the world. As of November 2026, it is run by World Table Tennis (WTT).

How to Bet on Table Tennis for Beginners: The Main Markets

When you learn how to bet on table tennis for beginners, start with the match winner. It is a simple two-way market. However, some bookmakers offer all of them, while some offer only a few.

Market	What it means	Beginner note
Match winner	Which player wins the match	The simplest market; two-way, no draw
Game handicap	A head start in games, e.g. −1.5	−1.5 needs a 2-game win
Point handicap	A head start in points, e.g. −4.5	Settles on points, not games
Total games over/under	Over or under a line, e.g. 5.5	Over 5.5 needs 6 or 7 games
Total points over/under	The combined points over or under a line	Games can run past 11
Game winner	Which player wins a specific game	Useful live
First game winner	Which player wins the opening game	A shorter, faster-settling market
Correct score	The exact match score (4–0, 4–1…)	Longer odds than match winner
Outrights	Which player wins a tournament	Longer odds; open for weeks
Live betting	The same markets in play	Odds move after every rally

The two markets of most interest to beginners are game handicap and point handicap. If you are used to football then read what a handicap is in football first.

How Table Tennis Odds Work

In general, table tennis odds are decimal. Implied probability is 1 divided by decimal odds, so odds of 2.50 imply 40 percent. The match winner is two-way, so the two odds add up to more than 100 percent: the gap is the bookmaker’s margin.

However, table tennis has no draws, so there is no 1X2 market on a table tennis match. If the term is new to you, read what 1X2 means in betting first.

How to Bet on Table Tennis for Beginners: Worked Examples

Example 1 — match winner. Stake ₦1,000 at odds of 2.50. Your return is ₦1,000 × 2.50 = ₦2,500, which includes your stake. Your profit is ₦1,500, and the implied probability is 40 percent.

Example 2 — game handicap. For example, Player A at −1.5 games wins only on 4–0, 4–1 or 4–2. A 4–3 win loses, because 4 − 1.5 = 2.5, which is less than 3.

Example 3 — total games. Over 5.5 games wins on scores 4–2 and 4–3, while under 5.5 games wins on 4–0 and 4–1.

Example 4 — correct score. Betting 4–0 wins only on a 4–0 win and loses on 4–1, 4–2 or 4–3.

Example 5 — point handicap. Player A at −4.5 points must finish the match at least five total points ahead of the opponent.

What to Check Before You Bet

Firstly, check form and head-to-head results. Overall, past wins over the same opponent do not guarantee future wins.

Secondly, weigh the draw. A tough draw can drag a favourite into tie-break and long matches. Work out which players a draw favours.

Thirdly, check playing style and venue. Aggressive players take more risks, while defensive players wait for errors. Some players struggle against left-handed opponents. Local players benefit from home support.

Next, think about the format length. Longer matches favour the better player. In short tournaments, a single bad game can cost a match.

Finally, check motivation and stakes. Players with nothing to play for often lose focus.

Common Mistakes When You Bet on Table Tennis

1. Not checking the format. A best-of-seven match is a different race from best-of-five. Check how long the match is before you bet, especially with totals and correct scores.

2. Overrating a favourite. Do not bet on the favourite at very short odds without checking the handicap. A 1.15 match-winner price returns little, and a 4–3 win loses a −1.5 game handicap.

3. Ignoring the win-by-two rule. A game tied at 10–10 runs to 12–10, 14–12 or beyond. It can break a total-points bet, just as extra time can break a football acca.

4. Chasing losses. A live bet moves fast in table tennis, because the odds change after every rally. Chasing losses can wipe out a bankroll in a single session.

How to Bet on Table Tennis for Beginners: Betting in Nigeria

In fact, betting in Nigeria is regulated at state level. The Supreme Court nullified the National Lottery Act 2005 on 22 November 2024. A site should not be described as “licensed by the NLRC” as a general rule. Betting is for adults aged 18 and over only.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to bet on table tennis for beginners: what is the simplest market?

In short, the match winner is the simplest market. There are no draws, so you pick one of two players to win the match.

How to bet on table tennis for beginners: what does −1.5 games mean?

In other words, the player must win by at least two games, so 4–0, 4–1 or 4–2. A 4–3 win loses, because 4 − 1.5 = 2.5, which is less than 3.

How many games are in a table tennis match?

Overall, men’s singles matches are best of seven games and women’s singles matches are best of five games.

What is the difference between table tennis and ping pong?

The two are the same sport. “Ping pong” is the informal name, while “table tennis” is the formal name used by the ITTF and the Olympics.

Conclusion

That is how to bet on table tennis for beginners: learn the games, start with the match winner, and check a match first. In fact, table tennis rewards patience, because every rally scores a point. Above all, keep your stakes small, check the maths on every bet, and treat it as entertainment. Table tennis sits in the same beginners series as our guide on how to bet on tennis for beginners. For a different racket sport, try our guide on how to bet on darts for beginners.

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