Water Polo Betting Tips and Rules

Water Polo has been a part of the Olympics since the beginning of the 20th century and is getting increasingly popular. Not only are there a bunch of European leagues for it, but it is also a fan favorite during the Olympics. It’s an energetic and sometimes intense game that provides loads of thrills, thus making it a great option for betting. In this guide, we’ll provide a basic overview of the sport, discuss the most popular betting markets, and explain the kind of research you should conduct before placing bets.

Water Polo Explained

Water Polo is a thrilling aquatic equivalent of handball. Two squads of seven players each enjoy this sport, and the goal is to pitch the ball into the adversaries’ goal, which is placed above the water.

Some mistakenly think it is similar to horseback polo. But the only resemblance lies in passing the ball between competitors. Apart from that, they are absolutely distinct sports.

Water Polo Rules

• Playing water polo requires a minimum pool of 1.8m deep with a goal of 3m wide and 0.9m high. Men and women play on different-sized pools, with men utilizing a 30mx20m pool and women playing in a 25mx17m pool.
• Both pools are marked with two key lines; the 2m lines, two meters away from the goalposts, and only those with the ball can go within this area, and the 5m lines, where penalty shots are taken.
• Water Polo matches consist of four periods of eight minutes each. At the beginning of the game, the ball is placed in the middle of the pool, and teams race from their respective goal lines to gain possession.
• If there is a tie after the four periods, two extra periods of three minutes each are added.
• A sudden-death period will be played if the score is still equal, and the first squad to score a goal will be declared victorious.
• There are other regulations, but comprehending these basics should enable you to start observing water polo matches.

How to Bet on Water Polo

Water polo betting includes anticipating probable occurrences during a water polo game. Bookies offer numerous markets such as Match Winner, Outright Winner, and Correct Score to assist bettors in making predictions.

As with any sport, utilizing water polo betting tips and strategies and conducting thorough research on both teams can enhance the probability of successful bets. As an Olympic sport, water polo receives extensive media attention, with many online resources available for analysis. That being said, here is everything you need to know about betting on water polo:

Betting Odds Explained

Before placing bets on Water Polo matches, it’s important to learn about the odds provided. The format of the odds may appear as 5/1 or 13/1. For the Match Winner market, the underdog will be represented with the highest odds, while the favorites to win will be given the lowest odds. That said, here is a list of water polo betting markets you should consider when placing bets:

Proposition Bets

This type of betting market involves wagering on an occurrence or a particular player’s performance. For instance, someone could bet on an individual to score a goal or be the first or last to do so.

Alternatively, one can bet on whether a game will be tied at a certain point or if a penalty will be given away. The options fluctuate depending on the particular game, so it’s important to take some time to study the available selections thoroughly.

Handicap Betting

If one squad has a greater chance of winning, the odds may not be favorable. Long story short, the gains could be very low, so you will have to put down a sizable sum to obtain a substantial amount back. This is the rationale behind handicap betting.

The concept is straightforward; a points handicap is applied to the preferred team. For instance, Team X may be given a handicap of -2.5 while Team Y would get +2.5. This means that if you wager on Team X to win, they must win by a minimum of 3 goals to surpass the handicap and for you to win the wager.

Match Bets

The most common betting market type in water polo is to bet on a game ending in a draw or a particular team winning. However, draws in water polo are rare. So, the odds of winning are often quite low. But if you back a team, you win the bet when they win, regardless of the score.

Period Betting

Period Betting is a betting market that predicts a specific period’s outcomes within a game. For instance, in a World Cup match featuring Croatia and Australia, one can bet on Australia’s victory in the first phase of the game.

Correct Score Bets

The Correct Score betting type involves predicting the precise outcome of a specific match. To illustrate, for an upcoming European Championship match between Serbia and Netherlands, you may choose to place a bet based on the available options; for instance, the game concludes with a score of 10-6.

Totals Betting

You may come across the Totals betting market when betting on various water polo matches, such as women’s or college water polo. This market permits you to forecast whether the total amount of goals scored during the water polo game will be below or above a specific number decided by the betting site.

For instance, during a Water Polo World League matchup between USA and Australia, you can use this bet to predict that both teams will score more than 13.5 goals.

Water Polo Betting Strategies and Tips

Utilizing effective betting tips and techniques is crucial to enhance your prospects of winning bets in Water Polo. You can amplify your odds of earning substantial payouts by employing appropriate strategies and tips. With that in mind, here is an extensive inventory of invaluable water polo pointers worth acquainting yourself with:

Take the Small Profits and Wins

Aiming for small victories and gains when betting on Water Polo is recommended. Like other sports betting, water polo betting ultimately comes down to chance. Thus, the result and earning potential cannot be guaranteed.

Nevertheless, taking advantage of any opportunity for a small win is advisable to enhance your overall betting experience. Consistent small wins can even be lucrative in the long run.

Follow Water Polo Tipsters

When betting on water polo, seeking guidance from knowledgeable tipsters can be beneficial. In fact, by following their advice and predictions, bettors can increase their chances of success across multiple water polo markets. Also, utilizing these tips can improve one’s ability to form accurate predictions independently.

Take Advantage of Bookmaker Promotions and Bonuses

It’s a good idea to make the most of promotions and bonuses for water polo. Real-money betting can be costly, particularly if you’re an average bettor.

As a solution, use Google search to find which bookmakers provide bookmakers with interesting bonuses that can be used for accumulator or handicap bets. By utilizing these bonuses, you can comfortably bet on numerous water polo events while spending less money.

Grab the Best Available Betting Odds

If you plan to make water polo bets, it is advisable not to hurry. Instead, it is recommended that you invest time in researching various bookmakers and identify the one offering the best odds. Then, all you need to do is choose the option that suits you the most.

Top Water Polo Players

• Dušan Mandić
• Filip Filipović
• Madeline Musselman
• Nikola Jakšić
• Maggie Steffens
• Angelos Vlachopoulos
• Rita Keszthelyi
• Stylianos Argyropoulos
• Aleksandar Ivovic
• Duško Pijetlović

Top European Water Polo Club Teams

• Pro Recco
• AN Brescia
• FTC Budapest
• CN Atletic Barceloneta
• VK JUG Croatia Dubrovnik
• CN Marseille
• Ortigia Siragusa
• Olympiacos Piraeus
• Waspo Hannover 1898
• Szolnoki Vizilabda Sportclub

Top Water Polo Tournaments

Here is a list of the top water polo tournaments you can bet on:

• FINA Water Polo World Cup

The 2023 Men’s FINA Water Polo World Cup was a major international water polo tournament held from 8 March to 2 July 2023. It was the 17th edition of the tournament, and the first to be held in the United States. The Super Final took place in Los Angeles, California, from 30 June to 2 July.

The tournament replaced the FINA Water Polo World League, which had been held every year since 2002. The 2023 World Cup featured eight teams, with the top four teams from the 2022 World League qualifying automatically. The remaining four teams were determined through qualifying tournaments.

Spain won the tournament, defeating Italy in the final. It was Spain’s first title in the tournament and their first major water polo title since 2001. The next tournament will take place in 2024.

• FINA Water Polo World Championships

The 2023 World Aquatics Championships men’s water polo tournament was a thrilling event, with Hungary claiming their fourth title by defeating Greece in the final. The third place was Spain and Serbia stood in fourth place. The tournament was held in Fukuoka, Japan, from 17 to 29 July 2023. It was the 20th time that the men’s water polo tournament had been played since the first edition in 1973. The 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, was the first qualifying tournament for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. The top two teams in the men’s and women’s water polo tournaments will earn their Olympic berths.

The 2023 tournament featured 16 teams, divided into two groups of eight. The top four teams from each group advanced to the quarterfinals. Hungary and Greece both finished top of their groups, and they met in the final.

The final was a close-fought contest, with neither team able to break the deadlock in the first half. However, Hungary came out on top in the second half, winning by a score of 11-9.

This was Hungary’s fourth title in the men’s water polo tournament, and their first since 2005. They are now one of only three teams to have won the tournament four times.

The other two teams to have won the tournament four times are Yugoslavia (1973, 1975, 1979, and 1981) and Italy (1978, 1982, 1994, and 2001).

• Water Polo Continental Championships

The annual FINA Water Polo World League, organized by FINA, is an international water polo league from winter to June. Men’s and women’s continental championships are conducted within the league play, and top-performing teams compete in the championship tournament for the league champion title.

In addition to the World Championships, three continental championships will be held in 2023 to qualify teams for the Paris Olympics. The top team in each continental championship will earn a quota place. If any of these teams have already qualified for the Olympics through the World Championships, the quota place will be awarded to the next highest-ranked team in the continental championship.

The continental championships are:

• Pan American Games (Santiago, Chile): October 20-November 5, 2023
• European Championships (Netanya, Israel): January 3-16, 2024
• Asian Championships (TBA): TBA

The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris will feature 12 men’s and 10 women’s water polo teams. The qualification process is still ongoing, but the World Championships and the continental championships will be two of the most important tournaments in determining which teams will qualify.

• LEN Under 15 and 17 Championships(Age-Group Championships)

The LEN junior water polo championship is a water polo tournament held after every two years. The 2023 European Junior Swimming Championships were a major international swimming competition for junior swimmers (ages 14-17 for girls and 15-18 for boys) held in Belgrade, Serbia from 4 to 9 July 2023 and was organized by the Ligue Européenne de Natation (LEN). The competition featured 480 swimmers from 44 countries competing in 42 events. Italy was crowned as the champ with 21 total gold medals.

The Serbian water polo team won the 2022 tournament, with Greece coming in second and Hungary finishing third.

What Are The Best 3 Online Sportsbooks To Bet On Water Polo?

When it comes to betting on the exhilarating sport of Water Polo, you want to make sure you’re placing your wagers with the best online sportsbooks out there. These top-notch platforms offer an array of betting options, competitive odds, and a seamless user experience that will have you hooked from the get-go.

From the comfort of your own home, you can dive into the world of Water Polo betting and experience the thrill of the game like never before. Whether you’re a seasoned bettor or a newbie to the scene, these online sportsbooks cater to all levels of expertise and provide a safe and secure environment for you to place your bets.

• Betonline: $1,000 Welcome Bonus
• Bovada: 50% match bonus up to $250
• BetMGM: Up to $1,000 match bonus

Final Thoughts

Water polo betting is not as popular as other sports, such as basketball and football. This is because water polo is a less well-known sport, which lends itself to fewer opportunities for betting. However, with the emergence of online sports bookies and markets, access to water polo betting has become more available. Because of this, it is now easier for avid fans of the sport to get involved in betting and enjoy the excitement of the game even more.

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