Darts betting covers match bets, correct scores in sets or legs, and stat markets such as most 180s and highest checkout. The bet you can make depends on the format: the PDC World Championship is played in sets, 128 players need seven straight wins to take the title, and the next edition starts on December 11, 2026, at Alexandra Palace in London.
Luke Littler is the world champion. He beat Gian van Veen 7-1 in sets in the final on January 3, 2026, averaging 106 with 16 maximums and 46% of his attempts at a double, according to the PDC’s report of the match.
The main PDC events
The PDC, the Professional Darts Corporation, runs the events below. The details are from the PDC’s own event pages:
| Event | Where | Field | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Championship | Alexandra Palace, London | 128 players | Starts December 11, 2026 |
| Premier League | Arenas across the UK and Europe, finals at the O2 in London | 8 players | February to May, 16 nights |
| World Matchplay | Winter Gardens, Blackpool | 32 players | July 18 to 26 in 2026 |
| Grand Slam of Darts | WV Active Aldersley, Wolverhampton | 48 players | November 14 to 22, 2026 |
The Grand Slam goes to a 48-player field for the first time in 2026, and it opens with a group stage. Littler goes in as the champion two years running. The top four in the Premier League table go through to the finals night at the O2.
Who qualifies for the World Championship
The top 40 on the PDC World Rankings qualify, then the next 40 on the ProTour Rankings who are outside that top 40. The remaining 48 places go to international qualifiers and the PDC’s secondary tours.
The rankings are counted in prize money. The top five on the PDC’s list read on September 24, 2026:
| Rank | Player | Prize money |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luke Littler | £3,139,000 |
| 2 | Luke Humphries | £1,014,500 |
| 3 | Gian van Veen | £1,005,750 |
| 4 | Gerwyn Price | £728,000 |
| 5 | Jonny Clayton | £677,000 |
Littler’s total is more than three times the second-placed Humphries, and Humphries and Van Veen are £8,750 apart.
The main darts bets
The match bet is on who wins. Read each price as a chance: a player at -300 is priced at 75%, and one at +250 at 28.6%. Those prices are illustrations; our moneyline guide shows the working.
A correct score bet names the final score in sets or legs. Littler’s 7-1 in the world final is a score in sets, because the PDC’s World Championship page says the event is played in a set format; check the format of any other event before you pick a number.
Stat markets price one part of the match. Most 180s asks which player hits more maximums, highest checkout asks who finishes a leg with the bigger score, and a three-dart average market is an over/under on a player’s scoring. Littler’s 106 average in the world final, and his 170 checkout in the third set, are the kind of numbers these markets are set on.
How darts bets are settled
These are FanDuel’s darts rules, approved by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission on March 27, 2025:
- Unfinished match: the player who goes through to the next round is the winner for match bets only. Set, correct score, next leg and handicap bets are void unless already settled.
- Postponed match: void if it does not take place within 48 hours.
- Changed format: if the number of legs or sets changes, match bets stand as long as the match was decided by play, and anything already settled stands. Other bets are void.
- Averages: a bet on a player’s average is void if the match is not completed.
- Stat parlays: a parlay of highest checkout, most 180s and the match result needs all three to win outright. A tie on 180s or on the highest checkout loses the bet.
- Futures: void on a player who does not take part at any stage.
The parlay rule is the strict one. If your player hits the same number of 180s as the opponent, the whole bet loses, even if he wins the match.
Before you bet on darts
The PDC listed ESPN as the broadcaster in the USA for the 2026 World Matchplay. Compare prices across books in our sportsbook reviews, because a -300 favorite at one book and -250 at another is 75% against 71.4%.
Read our handicapper site reviews before you pay for darts picks, and the best handicappers page lists the paid services. The World Championship’s 128-player field is the largest of the four events above, and it opens on December 11.