The popularity of tennis betting is skyrocketing, with nearly all legal US sportsbooks offering tennis odds on high-profile tournaments and minor events. With the Big 3 era winding down, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer are handing the torch to up-and-comers Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Both WTA and ATP circuits present a fiercer-than-ever competition for Slams and Master tournaments. This opens the doors for finding value in underdog brackets and a legit possibility of hitting big payouts with smaller bets.
We prepared a handy guide to prep you for betting tennis online when legal sports wagering arrives in the Golden State. It will teach rookies how to bet on tennis and provide refresher tips to seasoned bettors.
Best tennis betting sites
As we wait for legal tennis betting in California, here’s a look at some of the best sports betting apps you could expect to open in the state in the future.
FanDuel Sportsbook
Only a few books can match FanDuel’s range of tennis prop bets. From unique tournament and match options like “v the Field” and “Set with Most Games” to various set and game props, there’s plenty to choose from.
The sportsbook also offers alternative lines for set/game totals and spreads and a parlay builder tool for individual tennis matchups. The tournament odds selection runs deep with coverage of both marquee events and lower-tier competitions, namely challengers and futures. Live streaming is also available on select matches on the FanDuel Sportsbook app.
- Bonus bet up to $200 welcome bonus
- Diverse array of ATP/WTA tennis props
- Competitive outright winner odds
- Live streaming for Grand Slam matches
- Top-notch user experience on desktop and mobile apps
BetMGM Sportsbook
Among our recommended ATP/WTA betting sites in California, BetMGM probably has the best no-brainer deals and daily odds boosts. Another aspect the Roar Digital-powered sportsbook has is its versatility when it comes to pre-match tennis betting during major events. All kinds of set betting options are available, from the correct score to race to X games and tiebreak props.
BetMGM’s sports betting app offers early cash outs on most tennis matches, allowing bettors to settle a bet even before the action is complete. The sportsbook offers live streaming along with a handy stats section with head-to-head data, which players should always consider when making online tennis predictions.
- Bonus bet up to $1,500 welcome bonus
- Early cash out, live streaming, and easy parlay feature
- Lots of doubles betting options
- Array of set props
- Responsive live betting platform
DraftKings Sportsbook
Boosted by a huge success in the DFS sector, DraftKings has quickly matured into one of the leading sportsbooks in the US. With odds on a wide selection of events across ATP, WTA, and ITF tours, from ITF Cancun to Challenger in Little Rock and everything in between, it provides superior tournament coverage to its California rivals.
DraftKings’ big attractions are daily tournament specials where the sportsbook lets you bet on pre-made parlays with boosted odds. The DraftKings online sportsbook tends to get creative when it comes to in-play tennis betting, offering all kinds of point-by-point and game-by-game props.
- 20% match up to $1,000 welcome bonus
- Free tennis betting pools
- Exceptional iOS and Android apps for on-the-go tennis betting
- Fantastic selection of in-play tennis betting odds
- Competitive pricing across the board
Caesars Sportsbook
Consider Caesars if you’re not sure where to bet on tennis in California. In addition to offering one of the most competitive intro promos, the Caesars mobile app boasts a comprehensive tennis betting menu, covering competitions of all levels — even including UTR Pro Tennis events. Caesars is also one of the select few betting apps that offer regular odds boosts on tennis matches.
- Bonus first bet up to $1,000 welcome bonus
- Regular odds boosts on major tennis events
- Rewarding loyalty program
- In-depth market coverage
- Smooth navigation
How to start betting on tennis at CA online sportsbooks
Getting started with tennis betting online is a walk in the park. We will guide you through the entire process, from registering to claiming a welcome bonus at your chosen site and placing a bet on ATP/WTA tennis tournaments.
- Pick a sportsbook and follow the link to register. You will need to provide some basic information about your ID and whereabouts (name, address, and last four digits of your SSN).
- Claim the welcome bonus. You might need to enter a sportsbook bonus code in one of the registration boxes. We’ll make sure to include it in our featured tables in case it’s available. If a promo code is not required, you only need to make the qualifying deposit/wager to trigger the offer.
- Make a deposit. Various funding methods are typically available, so you should find one that easily suits your needs. Deposits are processed instantaneously.
- Download app. Most tennis books offer instant-play versions of their platform, but we recommend downloading the native apps for a more customized tennis betting experience. You can often find download links in the footer section of the homepage.
- Get in on the action. Most sportsbooks use the same layout, with an A-Z list of sports on the left, betting options in the middle, and a bet slip on the right. A few betting apps have search bars that can quickly help you find your desired tennis bet.
How do tennis betting odds work?
The tennis betting program features wagers available across other sports and some specific options. If you have some prior experience with betting on team sports like NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL, you’ll easily pick up online tennis betting.
Here’s a rundown of the most popular tennis bets available at legal CA online sportsbooks, and how to read tennis betting lines:
- Outright tournament bets: Akin to futures bets in other sports (the ones related to winning some sort of a championship). You pick one player to win a tournament with odds being listed in a moneyline format. The tennis betting lines for the biggest events are posted months leading up to the tournament and fluctuate during the season based on how the campaign plays out.
- Moneyline/match winner: Moneyline bet in tennis refers to predicting the winners of individual matches. Underdogs have positive odds attached, and the price denotes how big of a payout you’d score for a $100 winning wager. Favorites’ odds show how much you need to bet to win $100. A wide odds discrepancy indicates a potential blowout (which is common in the first few rounds of tournaments in matches that feature top-seeded players).
- Set spread betting: It works like spread betting in basketball and football, where one side is given a set advantage while the other side has a set (or two) deducted from its total to make it a more balanced matchup. If Taylor Fritz is a -1.5 favorite on the set spread in a best-of-three event, he must win his match 2:0 to cover.
- Game spread: Similar to the previous bet, only considers games, not sets. Imagine Coco Gauff is assigned a 4.5 game spread line for her US Open quarterfinal matchup. In this hypothetical, she is the underdog, meaning that she would have to either lose by less than 5 games or win straight up to cover.
- Over/Under: Revolve around the total number of games played in a given match. If the line is at 21.5 (which is often the case in Masters 1000 events), you’ll need 20 total games to cash out your under bet. A 6:4 6:4 win from either side would do the trick in this case. Clay court tournaments typically have smaller odds for under bets than matches played on grass (because grass is harder to break serve on).
- Props: Prop bets offer a different perspective on tennis betting, focusing on factors that don’t directly affect the match’s outcome. You’ll find tennis prop odds on whether a set will end in a tiebreak, race to X games, the total number of breaks in a match, and more. Both DraftKings and FanDuel excel when it comes to tennis prop betting.
Live tennis betting
As tennis is a fast-paced sport, with fast momentum swings and frequent scoring changes, it’s ideal for live betting. Generally, in-play betting has gained tremendous popularity recently as placing bets on ongoing matches draws huge interest from bettors. The in-play betting format also offers the opportunity for hedging — protecting your pre-match wager by betting on the opposing side.
With live tennis betting, odds and lines fluctuate between points, so you need to be vigilant at all times. If you don’t act quickly, the opportunity might be gone for good by the next serve.
In-play tennis betting offerings vary between sportsbooks. Some sites will allow betting on every aspect of the match in real-time, while others will post odds for standard bets only — match-winner and totals. The betting selection also depends on the type of tournament in question. If it’s a Grand Slam, there are typically many in-play betting options available.
Bet on Grand Slams
Tennis is a year-round sport that provides tons of betting opportunities. You’ll find ATP and WTA tournaments held weekly worldwide, except for the mini New Year break. However, the majors, the four Grand Slams, generate the most betting volume.
As the Slams approach, sportsbooks add unique specials that wouldn’t normally be available for other events. A couple of examples are ATP/WTA player odds props like “Total Number of Aces Served in a Tournament” and “To Reach Quarterfinals/Semifinals/Finals.”
As soon as the last Grand Slam of the year, the US Open, wraps up, sportsbooks release tennis tournament odds for next year’s majors. These odds will be available throughout the season but will fluctuate widely, mainly based on how the players perform in other tournaments and injuries. It’s usually a good idea to place your tennis bets online early before the sportsbooks come down on your picks.
Australian Open odds
Traditionally held from late January to early February, the Australian Open is the first Grand Slam in a calendar year. It is no coincidence that Novak Djokovic has been such a dominant force in Melbourne, given that the surface favors baseline players.
- Prize pool: $54 million in 2022
- Surface: GreenSet hard courts
- Defending champs: Rafael Nadal and Ashleigh Barty
- Date: January 16–29, 2023
- Location: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
- First played: 1905
French Open odds
The French Open, also known as Roland Garros, is the only Grand Slam played on clay, the most physically demanding surface. Rafael Nadal is the undisputed record holder at the French Open with 13 titles, and counting.
- Prize pool: $46.7 million in 2022
- Surface: Clay
- Defending champs: Novak Djokovic and Barbora Krejčíková
- Date: May 22–June 5, 2022
- Location: Stade Roland-Garros, Paris, France
- First played: 1891
Wimbledon odds
Wimbledon is known for its history, tradition, and of course, gripping tennis action on the grass courts. The surface properties and weather conditions heavily favor big servers, power hitters, and great volley players like Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, and Serena Williams.
- Prize pool: $37 million in 2022
- Surface: Grass
- Defending champs: Novak Djokovic and Ashleigh Barty
- Date: Jun 27–Jul 10, 2022
- Location: All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, London, England
- First played: 1877
US Open odds
The US Open is one of the most exuberant sporting events in North America and a tournament that has produced epic clashes throughout its 120-year+ history. This is traditionally the least predictable Grand Slam of the year, with at least five players having a legitimate shot at winning. This is part of what makes betting on the US Open so exciting.
- Prize pool: $57.5 million in 2021
- Surface: Laykold hardcourts
- Defending champs: Daniil Medvedev and Emma Raducanu
- Date: Aug 29–Sep 11, 2022
- Location: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York City
- First played: 1881
Bet on ATP/WTA events in CA
The Golden State hosts a few upper-level tournaments, making it one of the tennis hotbeds in the country. California ATP/WTA tour event odds are available every year on the BNP Paribas Open — the largest two-week combined tournament outside of the Majors and a fantastic option for Masters betting.
The Indian Wells tournament takes place every year in March at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden and is widely regarded as the “fifth Grand Slam” due to its prestige.
You can also find odds for the San Diego Open — an ATP 250 event in late September on outdoor hard courts.
Bet on Davis Cup/Fed Cup/Olympics
When it comes to international tennis betting, the Olympics is the most anticipated event. You’ll find tons of betting action on Davis Cup — the most elite international team competition in men’s tennis — and Fed Cup, its female counterpart.
Sportsbook rules for betting tennis
Tennis betting is handled differently by each sportsbook, with specific rules regarding how to handle online tennis bets in cases of postponements, delays, disqualifications, and withdrawals. Before making any commitments, you should check the tennis betting house rules (which are outlined in the terms and conditions).
Top tennis pros from California
California is the birthplace of many all-time greats, including Tracy Austin, Lindsay Davenport, Venus Williams, Don Budge, and the great Billie Jean King. From active players, Sam Querry and Taylor Fritz are native Californians and have both achieved impressive results at Slams, especially at Wimbledon and the US Open.