What are the odds?

Betting on rugby has completely opened up in the last few years.

Fans now enjoy larger selection of betting options and competitions to wager on thanks to online betting groups like Leo Vegas. Leo Vegas’ betting options cover all rugby 2017 tournaments and leagues as well as other major sports.

Expansion in the betting options available is mainly due to rugby’s increasing popularity worldwide. The biggest boost to rugby’s profile came after its inclusion in the Rio Olympics 2016. Fans looking to get in on all the action can read our guide on rugby betting below. Guide covers all the major 2017 competitions and most popular types of bets in rugby.

Competitions:

There are plenty of opportunities for fans to try and win big on rugby. Popular competitions and leagues to bet on via Leo Vegas include:  Rugby League, Rugby Union, Super Rugby, The Rugby Championship and more. The biggest of Rugby Union being: The 6 Nations and The Autumn Internationals (which are between teams from the Northern and Southern Hemisphere). Lastly, like a leap year (every four years) there is a Rugby World Cup as well as The British & Irish Lions Tour.

Betting options:

Match Odds:  Match odds simply refers to the odds given for a single match. Fans just have to look at both teams and place a wager on how they think will win that match. Example: odds for the upcoming All Blacks Vs Lions match on June 24^th are: Lions (43/10) or All Blacks (17/100) – Leo Vegas

Advantages:

• Widely available
• More information available as teams are often named in advance

Disadvantages:

• Odds are subject to frequent changes as the match date draws closer
• Low return if backing the favourite to win

 Half Time/Full Time Betting: Is exactly what it says on the tin. Half Time/Full Time betting provided punters a chance to wager on who will lead after half time and who will win at full time.  Very similar to match odds as essentially you as you are placing a bet on who you think will win.

Advantages:

• Improved odds are available if you back a team at half and full time
• Allows you to play both sides if you fancy one team for half time and the other for a full time win

Disadvantages:

• To win both of your selections must come in i.e. the team you choose at half time and full time.
• Bets are voided if the match is cancelled

Outright Betting: Outright betting or an outright bet is when a punter places a bet on the outcome of an entire competition/series rather than a single game. Example Leo Vegas odds offered for The British & Irish Lions series 2017 are 1/5 (NZ) and 73/20 (Lions). Outright bets can be made both before and during a series/competition. Outright betting allows covers bets such as who the top point scorer will be for that series/competition.

Advantages:

• Allows more time to gauge form of teams
• Better odds available

Disadvantages:

• Odds will change and possibly lower as more information becomes available
• Not widely available

Handicap Betting: One of the more interesting forms of rugby betting. Handicap betting is especially popular in international rugby (group/pool stages) where outcomes are very predictable. Example a group stage match between NZ and Japan. In this case as the outcome is highly predictable match odds won’t be attractive. Therefore, handicap betting allows you to bet on how much the underdog will lose by.

Advantages:

• Creates more betting opportunities
• Makes on sided games more exciting

Disadvantages:

• Results must be exactly what you have bet
• Can be confusing

Many other betting options not listed here can also be made, some of these include: who will score first? Time of first score and which team will score the most? Live betting is also becoming hugely popular among rugby fans and is widely available on sites such as Leo Vegas.

2017 has been another great year for rugby with plenty to cheer about. Fans still hungry for action are invited to take a look at the remaining British & Irish Lions matches. Still to come are the three big tests against The All Blacks. Will The Lion’s roar be enough to upset the Kiwi’s? Are The All Blacks just too good? Join in on the action as both teams try and secure victory in 2017’s toughest competition.