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Few sports captivate a nation in the same way New Zealanders love their rugby. For those who might not be privy as to why, the small island nation is one of the global titans of the sport, regularly holding their own against countries with much bigger populations such as the United Kingdom, South Africa and the Aussies — to name a few. The excitement is palpable when the All Blacks take to the field, intimidate their opponents with a rousing rendition of the Haka, with millions of Kiwis tuning in to watch on the television.
Gambling in New Zealand has entered a new era, but it’s fair to say that this has been the case in multiple countries that allow sports betting on their shores. Although you can find plenty of sports betting markets in New Zealand, given that rugby is by far the nation’s favourite sport, the overall gambling legislation benefits sports betting companies targeting the New Zealand market. Now, so many new rugby markets are coming to fruition due to mobile betting, and it’s resulting in a booming and thriving industry where gamblers can explore the mammoth range of rugby betting markets available and find ones that best suit their gambling strategies.
Rugby betting markets cover individual outcomes, but you can also bet on the outright outcome of tournaments as well. One of the biggest and most popular gambling markets is during the Rugby World Cup. Kiwis up and down the country will bet on who they think will win the tournament outright, the highest point scorers or simply which team will win a specific group game, but today we will point you in the right direction regarding what to do when preparing to place a bet on a rugby game.
Understand the market
If you’re looking at today’s piece, we presume you have at least some passing interest in rugby. However, it’s crucial that you understand the market you’re betting on, and this goes beyond having a basic understanding of the game. For instance, if you’re betting on South Africa, and they’re playing England in the World Cup then you need to understand how the market coincides with certain aspects of the game.
Although South Africa was the favourite going into the final, not many people thought they would hammer the English in the fashion that they did. So, an outright bet would have had much lower odds than a handicap bet, where you bet on South Africa to win +15 by a clear 15 points. This can operate in both directions. Of course, you could have had England -15 in the same bet and would have received similar odds.
As you can see, this is just one example, but it emphasizes that you could have a good grasp on the market, but without knowing the market and understanding exactly how you can tailor your bet to accommodate your hunch, you might place a bet that doesn’t carry as much value. On a positive note, if you understand rugby, and the international or club teams involved, then you shouldn’t have too much difficulty grasping individual markets and the types of bets available.
Common betting markets
Alongside handicap and outright match and tournament markets, there are several other prominent markets that rugby fans utilize when betting on their favourite games., for example, nz casino online. One market that transcends several sports but has serious popularity in rugby in particular, is the over/under market. This is when the bet combines all the points scored in the game. The gambling provider will select an average amount for the bettor to decide whether they think the final score will exceed the total or fall short of it.
This is an active market for basketball and soccer too, but with so much action in rugby and teams often scoring dozens of points per game, it can make it more captivating throughout a match. The first try or kick scorer is another market with plenty of activity, especially during prominent tournaments. However, this type of bet can fall flat within the first few minutes of the game, leaving some bettors feeling short-changed. Some over/under bets can go right to the wire, and if you prefer an even longer stretch, you can choose outright tournament winners, where your bet can last for days or weeks.
Knowledge isn’t everything
If you’ve placed a sports or rugby bet before, you’ll know that your bet could still be unsuccessful even with the greatest preparation and ample knowledge. As with any sports betting market, what might look like an inevitable return on paper can fall foul to the most prominent element of the market that nobody can prepare for — a big slice of luck.
For those Kiwis old enough to remember, the most painful example of this came in the World Cup semi-final at Twickenham in 1999. The formidable All Blacks were at the height of their power, the immortal Jonah Lomu was at his peak, and the sportsbooks had us as the overwhelming favourite to lift the World Cup. However, an incredibly spirited French team decided to spoil the party in what is considered one of the biggest upsets in the latter stages of a World Cup final. Even if you had done all your research beforehand and placed a bet on the Kiwis, the rugby gods just weren’t with the All Blacks that day, and that is something that you can’t prepare for when placing a rugby bet. Any strategy should include the knowledge that nothing is guaranteed when betting on rugby.
Stick to responsible gambling
As with any sports bet, laying the foundations for safe gambling practices is crucial. By ensuring you only use money you can afford to lose and setting time limits you don’t exceed, you can make the most of rugby betting markets and prevent yourself from being dragged into potential problem gambling. If you think you might be developing an issue, it is strongly advised that you consider speaking to a professional.
Keeping it light and adding a little bit of enjoyment to your rugby viewing pleasure is paramount. If you find yourself overthinking your bet or feel it is sucking out the enjoyment from watching the game, the best thing to do is take time out and re-assess how much it’s costing you.
Conclusion
As with any sports bet, a rugby betting market guide follows many of the same principles and rules as any other sports market. While there are nuances with rugby that are specific to the game, any outright or generic markets such as over/under betting all have the same set of rules, which helps you navigate the market more effectively.
Appreciating that international rugby has much more activity during big tournaments than localized domestic rugby is also an essential factor. If you consider some of the components we touched on and ensure that you let your rugby bet complement your viewing and not control your mentality when watching a game, you can make the most of your overall experience.
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