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Top Sports Bookies To Bet On Rugby
In certain pockets of the world, rugby is extremely popular — Australia, England, and New Zealand come to mind. However, it still flies under the radar outside these zones, which can sometimes make it difficult to bet online. Nonetheless, we assure you the online sportsbooks we’re about to name don’t neglect rugby. In fact, these bookies put a high premium on rugby betting for different reasons. Here’s where you should start your online rugby betting journey:
Bovada is Rugby’s Best Betting Site
Bovada is the best bookmaker in the business — for betting on rugby or any other sport for that matter. It’s reliable. It’s trustworthy. It’s loaded with sports bets. It just works like it’s supposed to and that’s why it’s perhaps the most-used offshore bookie in the United States.
Upon first look, Bovada might not “wow” you. The site is rather simply designed (“boring” some would say). The sign-up bonuses aren’t particularly lucrative. But that’s the thing: Bovada doesn’t need these flashy features. It makes up for it with a top-notch betting experience from top to bottom.
For one, Bovada’s actual sportsbook is deep. Sports bets from all over the world, across different leagues, are offered in droves at the bookmaker. That’s super apparent with rugby, which naturally has a spread-out presence. Whereas most top basketball players stay in the NBA, for example, rugby’s best stretch the globe. And no matter where those players are at, there’s a good chance Bovada is following them with betting lines.
And perhaps most important of all, Bovada has a mostly pristine reputation. The site has existed well over 10 years, something that doesn’t just happen unless you’re taking care of customers. That means no scams, timely payouts, and solid customer service — all of which are routine at Bovada. You can trust this bookmaker with your hard-earned money, that’s for sure.
Why MyTopSportsbooks loves Bovada for rugby betting:
- Massive betting market for rugby
- Fair-priced odds
- Top-notch customer service and care
MyBookie’s Betting Lines For Rugby Are Vast
Rugby bettors understand how far and wide this sport stretches. Of course, there are two versions of the game — rugby union and rugby league. There’s a litany of different leagues (Premiership Rugby, Top 14). There are international affairs (where you can bet on rugby for the World Cup). We could go on and on. But the point is, ideally, you want all these rugby options available in one sportsbook and not have to jump around to get lines. Welp, MyBookie is that end-all, be-all sportsbook for rugby odds.
MyBookie’s rugby betting menu is seriously never-ending. And not only that, but MyBookie offers solid pricing on their rugby bets. Sure, you can “line shop” but more times than not, MyBookie is valuing their rugby odds in line with the rest of the industry, if not better. That’s quite the one-two punch for MyBookie. Diversity and value-rich bets, what else do you need?!?
Why MyTopSportsbooks loves MyBookie for rugby betting:
- Carries an abundance of rugby odds from around the globe
- $1000 sign-up bonus
- Clean user interface
Longtime Rugby Bettors Need GTBets Rewards Program
GTBets Game Time Rewards program is tailor-made for diehard rugby bettors, the ones who will be wagering on the sport almost year-round. This is because loyalty programs like this one — that rival Las Vegas comp services — dole out points every time you bet. Points can then be turned in for cashback that’s redeemed straight to player accounts. That can be worth a pretty penny for bettors that will be making a habit out of rugby gambling.
Why MyTopSportsbooks loves GTBets for rugby betting:
- Dedicated rewards program
- Reward points can be swapped for cashback
- Sportsbook that’s gaining ground popularity-wise
XBet Mobile Site Is Perfect For On-The-Go Rugby Wagering
As we’ve pointed out, rugby is played all over the world — and with that, in wildly different time zones. Cause of that, chances are you’ll be in different environments when games are being played. School, work, home, the bar, and so forth. To keep up tabs on the global sport, your phone is going to come in absolutely clutch. It’ll allow you to bet whenever and wherever.
But a phone is only one-half of the equation. The other? A slick mobile betting experience like the one offered at XBet. This bookmaker has engineered its site for small screens and it shows. XBet is fast and simple when browsing from a phone, which goes a long way when betting rugby pregame or in-play.
Why MyTopSportsbooks loves XBet for rugby betting:
- Top-notch mobile betting experience
- Well-developed in-play feature
- Modern-looking website
BetOnline’s Bonuses Pay A Hefty Sum
There’s an abundance of rugby bets available throughout the year. For bettors with limited bankrolls, they’ll likely be squeezed for cash given the sheer amount of options to wager on. But there’s a workaround and no, it’s not “make more money to use on gambling.” No, the better and less risky workaround is to rack up bonuses at bookmakers and accrue the free play that comes from them. BetOnline certainly has ample opportunities to accumulate free play.
The most lucrative bonus is aimed at new sign-ups. At BetOnline, newbies can earn as much as $1000 in free play off their first deposit (which is matched at 50 percent to be exact). This money is credited to players’ accounts off the bat — before they even make a bet. Not a bad way to “juice” your bankroll without taking unnecessary risk on your side.
There are also reload bonuses associated with new deposits (past the first one). On the surface, these aren’t as rich — a 25-percent match up to $250 — as the sign-up bonus, but at the same time, the reload promo is never-ending. In other words, it can be used over and over again so the long-term value is way higher than a one-time sign-up bonus. Pair these bonuses together and you could be betting rugby “on the house” for an extended period of time.
Why MyTopSportsbooks loves BetOnline for rugby betting:
- $1000 welcome bonus
- Reload bonus can be re-used
- Diverse sportsbook menu
How To Bet On Rugby
Rugby is an international sport, with nations from the Southern and Northern Hemisphere taking it very seriously—with many who consider it the main sport in their country. France has the biggest and most popular domestic rugby union league in the world, featuring many of the best players from around the world.
The fact the sport is so international means that it’s easy to find ways to wager on many of the big competitions. We’d strongly advise taking a look at the Rugby World Cup odds, as well as moneyline odds for the big games and tournaments as they come around.
Over/Under Odds
Over/under odds rugby betting lines are based on the total combined score of a rugby game. Odds are created on whether both teams will score a combined total of points over or under a predetermined amount. This figure is set by the oddsmakers and will vary depending on the matchup of teams. Take for example England vs New Zealand playing at the world cup. A bookmaker may determine that the combined score of the game will be 43.5 points. This means that if you bet over the combined score must be 44 or more for you to be paid out, or under 43 or less.
Rugby Union betting
The sport is divided into two main sports disciplines. While they are quite similar, there are distinct differences between rugby union and league. Rugby world cup odds are based on rugby union, which is by far and away from the most popular of the two types of this unique sport.
The main on-field differences are that League is played with 13 players, whereas Union is played with 15 players. Just to be clear, the name rugby league has nothing to do with the fact it’s played in a league, it’s purely the name used for this discipline of rugby. Another difference is that rugby union is played on a bigger pitch, which makes sense as there are more players.
The Six Nations is second to the world cup in terms of importance and size in the sport, with six nations rugby betting odds gathering interest from the participating nations; which are Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, France and Italy. Rugby six nations’ odds are extremely popular in Europe and during the tournament, there are as many markets as you’d see for major US sports markets like the NBA and NFL.
Rugby League betting
Rugby league is generally considered to be a slower game, as each time a player is tackled they must then stop and roll the ball back to another player. The way tackling is handled in rugby league means that there are no rucks, nor is there scrimmaging which is a key part of what is seen as rugby in the eyes of many, especially the purists.
Rugby league is very popular in Australia, while there is also a huge following for this rugby discipline within the UK. Rugby league betting tips are readily available for some of the top teams and most of the top-tier sportsbook providers offer rugby league odds for the major tournaments, as well as the week-by-week games.
How to Read Rugby Odds
Rugby betting odds are easy to read, as they don’t offer anything different than what bettors have already seen for other sports betting markets. We’ll go into detail about specific betting lines below and provide all rugby betting lines clearly explained. One thing to note is that if you’re looking for specific rugby betting lines, be sure to check they’re available at your preferred sportsbook before depositing.
Moneyline
Whether it’s Rugby World cup odds you’re wagering on domestic rugby betting markets, the moneyline is always the most popular market. A rugby moneyline bet consists of picking one of the two teams to win. If we take for example a game between Wales and France using rugby world cup betting lines, you might stake on New Zealand to win, and if they do, then you will get the payout from your moneyline bet.
Parlay
Parlay bets are a form of multiple bet, which involve wagering on two or more events on the same ticket. This might mean that a bettor plays the moneyline and top scorer prop for a particular game. This could be if a rugby fan is betting on the rugby world cup final betting odds and wants South Africa to win against Scotland, with Bryan Habana to score two tries. If this occurs, then the parlay bet will pay out. Parlays are favorable for the bettor as they have higher odds than singles bets, but come with a higher risk.
Futures
Futures bets are as common as moneyline wagers, with world cup rugby odds and league winners as some of the most popular markets. Futures are simply being able to wager on the outcome of a tournament, cup, or league. These are long-term bets, meaning that bettors will wager on things that are coming a long way away. For example, if you’re looking at world cup rugby odds, you’ll find futures markets for the tournament’s winner, even years before it takes place. You’ll also find futures for the Gram Slam and in major leagues across the globe.
Props
As always, props are one of the most interesting betting markets. Bettors will find there is a broad range of betting markets available when it comes to rugby props, these can include player points props, entertainment props, and scoring specials. Rugby betting tips normally focus on the moneyline and futures, but it’s worth checking out props. Also, if you get bored of rugby league handicap betting and parlays, whether it’s league or union, try something new and take a look at what your rugby betting sites offers in terms of props markets.
Rugby World Cup betting
Given that international rugby is the focus of the sport, it means that to bet on rugby world cup, which comes around once every four years, is the pinnacle of the sport. It’s the one prize all players want to get their hands on more than anything else. Players relish the opportunity to play for their country and give their all at the world cup.
There are a wealth of rugby betting tips that become available leading up to the world cup. When it comes to wagering on the big event, we’d advise taking a look at past performances, recent form, player injuries, and the quality of the coaching and management. It’s quite common for the coaching staff to move around, with foreign coaches managing teams leading up to international tournaments. So, take into account these various factors before wagering on the world cup futures.
Betting on Rugby Games FAQ
Everything you need to know to make fun Rugby bets in the US
The major tournaments are the international ones, which include the World Cup, Six Nations, British and Lions Tour, and the Rugby Championship.
Many countries play rugby, but most countries are affected by British colonialism. These include; the British isles, France, Italy, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, and Argentina.
This is a difficult question, as there are so many top-tier sportsbooks available. We’d advise taking a look through our list of providers and try to find one that suits you based on your rugby betting interests.
They are absolutely available. Depending on what competition you’re wagering on of course, but, generally speaking, bettors are able to access the prop betting odds via various sportsbooks available to US players.
The rugby world cup was won by South Africa back in 2019, beating England in the final.
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Trent is a professional sports journalist specializing in UFC, MMA, and esports coverage. His work has been featured in prestigious publications such as USA Today Sports, Vice, Bloody Elbow, Fight! Magazine, UFC 360, and Narratively. Trent's connection to MMA dates back to the early days when he and his friends pooled their resources to purchase the pay-per-...
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