It seems hard to believe but water polo is the oldest team sport at the Summer Olympics. Since 1900, when it was introduced as an Olympic sport, it has been played at every Olympic Games ever held. In the following you will learn more about the sport, which are the main water polo competitions held around the world and how to bet on water polo.
What you should know before placing water polo bets
Originating in England in the mid-19th century, at first as a form of entertainment in training swimmers, polo quickly became a sport in its own right. It was only a matter of time before a set of rules for water polo was established. Here are some of the basic rules by of the game by https://jersey-casinos.com/:
- A water polo match is played between two teams each consisting of 6 field players and a goalkeeper. A maximum of 6 players may sit on the bench.
- Of all the players, only the goalkeeper is allowed to touch the ball with two hands, hit it with a closed fist and touch the bottom of the pool. According to the new rules he is allowed to go beyond the middle of the court.
- The seating of the teams on the pitch is similar to handball. For a major foul, a player can be sent off for 20 seconds, during which time his team is outnumbered.
- In a water polo match, there are 4 halves of 8 minutes each.
- There is a 5-minute break at half time and a 2-minute break between quarters.
- During breaks in the match the stopwatch is stopped, only the actual periods of play count towards the match’s regulation time.
- The length of the pool in which matches are played must be at least 30 metres for men’s matches and 25 metres for women’s matches, and its width must be 25 metres.
- As in handball, substitutions during the game are unlimited.
- The goalkeeper’s swimming helmet must be of a different colour to that of his team-mates.
- If 30 seconds elapse after the start of the attack and no shot is taken at goal during this time, it is considered passive play and possession reverts to the opponents.
- Depending on the format of the competition being played, if the score is tied at the end of normal playing time, extra time may be played, including penalty kicks.
The main competitions where you can bet on polo
World Water Polo Championship
It is an international tournament that takes place every 2 years. Together with the other water sports, swimming, synchronised swimming, diving, it is part of the World Swimming Championships. This major event is attended by the best national women’s and men’s water polo teams from around the world. It represents a good opportunity to try your hand at polo sports betting.
Summer Olympics
Organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), this event takes place every 4 years and brings together the strongest men’s and women’s Olympic teams in the world. The competition is broadcast live on television and is popular with sports fans. You can watch live matches and try your luck at polo betting.
European Water Polo Championship
In both women’s and men’s events, the European Water Polo Championships are organised every two years by the European Swimming League (ESL). While the most successful men’s national team is Hungary, with 13 European titles, the women’s team has so far won the most medals, with the Netherlands, Italy and Hungary.
In addition to these major competitions, interesting water polo championships are organised in Europe. Read on to find out the main types of water polo bets available to you to bet on the sport.
Types of polo bets
Long term water polo betting
These are pre-post bets and can be found in the bookmakers’ offerings long before the start of the events. As every competition has its favourites, you just have to choose the ones you think will win the title and bet on them.
Polo betting on match winner
Gives you the opportunity to bet on the team you see winning at the end of regulation time, with betting options 1 for the hosts and 2 for the guests. For a draw (X), the odds offered are attractive as it happens less often, but with a little inspiration choosing this betting option you can make a significant profit.
Polo betting on win
In this type of bet you have only two options to bet on, the hosts win or the guests win. If at the end of regulation time the score is tied, the event is given odds of 1 and the stake is returned to you.
Polo betting on total goals
This is an under/over bet and allows you to place a bet on the total number of goals that will be scored in the match. Before placing this type of bet it is a good idea to find out the goal difference between the teams that are about to meet and also look at the scores of previous head-to-head matches.
Conclusions
If you watch a live broadcast of a polo match, you’re sure to be captivated by this particularly spectacular game. Now that you know how to bet on polo, feel free to bet on your favourites!
