If you’ve spent any time at a local sports pub during the Kenya Cup or a World Rugby Sevens weekend, you’ll know that rugby is a second home to many Kenyans – and you also know that amidst all the shouting at the screen, a clever group of punters are raking it in.
Most people stick to football because they think rugby is too complicated to get their heads around. The truth is, though, that rugby is often more predictable and really offers better value for your money if you know where to look. Whether you’re trying to find a new site that handles M-Pesa fast or you’re brand new to online betting, we did the hard yards for you so you don’t have to.
Why Do People Bet on Rugby?
In football, a single lucky goal can come out of nowhere and ruin your whole day. In rugby, the stronger team almost always comes out on top. Because points get scored in 5, 3, or 2-point increments, and the result’s far less likely to be a big upset. If the All Blacks are playing a smaller nation, they’ll most likely end up dominating. And this makes Handicap Betting a real goldmine for Kenyan punters.
What’s this handicap we’re talking about?
Think of a handicap as a bit of a “head start” given to the underdog to make a pretty dull one-sided game a bit more exciting again. Imagine Kabras RFC is playing a team at the bottom of the Kenya Cup table – they’re probably going to win easily, which means the odds for Kabras to win are laughably small, like 1.05. You’d have to put down KES 1,000 just to potentially win a measly KES 50. Not even worth the annoyance.
But with a Handicap (the “Spread”), the bookie levels the playing field. Here’s an example:
- Kabras RFC (-24.5)
- Underdog (+24.5)
So if you back Kabras at -24.5, they’re essentially starting the game with a minus 24.5 point deficit. For your bet to win, they have to win the actual game by a margin of 25 points or more. And if you bet on the underdog at +24.5, they start with a 24.5-point lead. Even if they get beat by 20 points in the real game, your bet still wins because, with the handicap added, they are technically still “in front”.
You can back a team you know is weaker, like the Shujaa during a rebuilding phase, as long as you think they’ll keep the score close. And instead of taking those laughable 1.05 odds, you can get 1.90 or higher by betting that a powerhouse like South Africa will “cover the spread” and win big time.
You’ll notice most handicaps finish on .5. This is just to make sure there’s no draw, a “push”, as it’s known. Since you can’t score half a point in rugby, one team has to win the bet – there’s no getting away with a draw.
We’ve looked at the first market. Now let’s take a closer look at the other two.
1×2 Betting in Rugby
You’ve probably come across this before in football, but in the world of rugby, it has a bit of a twist. In rugby, the 1 represents the home win, the 2 is the away win, and X is the draw – or so you’d think. The thing is, rugby matches almost never end in a draw. Scoring is so crazy high, the chances of both teams somehow ending up on the exact same score after 80 minutes are minute to non-existent.
So what does this mean for you? Well, it means the odds for the draw – or “X” – are usually totally bonkers – often 20.0 all the way up to 40.0 or more. It’s a long shot, but catch one of these draws and the payout is enormous – probably more than you’ve ever seen. For a lot of Kenyan punters, 1×2 is the go-to market when two pretty evenly matched teams like KCB and Kabras are going head to head; you just pick your side and hope for the best.
Over/Under
If you don’t want to pick a winner because you’re worried about getting your heart broken with a last minute twist, the Over/Under is just what you need. This time around you’re betting on the total number of points scored by both teams – easy peasy.
The bookie sets a line – for example, 42.5 points.
- If you pick Over 42.5: you’re hoping for at least 43 points in total – e.g. a high-scoring match like 24-20.
- If you pick Under 42.5: you’re praying for a low-scoring match, with the total points coming in at 42 or less – say a dull 15-10 game.
Here in Kenya, this is a great market for the Sevens (7s). The matches are only 14 minutes long, and if you see two fast-paced teams like Fiji and Kenya on a dry pitch, the “Over” is usually a tempting bet. But if it’s a soggy afternoon at the RFUEA Grounds, the “Under” starts to look like a much smarter bet as the players struggle to grip the ball.
Best Rugby Betting Sites
ALT text: Banner for Best Rugby Betting Sites featuring a rugby player and responsible gambling logos.
1xbet
If you want to bet on more than just the winner, 1xBet has it all – they’ve got over 100 different ways to bet on a single rugby match. You can even try and guess the first try scorer or the highest scoring half. Their 200% bonus is pretty massive, but be sure to check out the rules – you’ll need to put the bonus on accumulators to get the full benefit.
22bet
Whether it’s the Six Nations, Super Rugby, or the English Premiership, 22Bet usually has the highest odds in the market here in Kenya. Plus, their app is really stable even on older Android phones, and their M-Pesa withdrawals are almost instant.
Mozzartbet
For newcomers to the world of online betting, Mozzartbet is a great choice. They’re well known for their Monday cash bonus, where they drop a surprise amount of cash into your account based on how well you did that week – no complicated maths required.
Best Betting App for Rugby
For the serious rugby fan in Kenya, looking for a seamless experience to keep you on the edge of your seat during those nail-biting matches – there are a couple of top picks to consider. 1xBet and Betwinner are at the top of the list – both are super user-friendly for Kenyan punters, and you won’t have to worry about data running out while keeping an eye on that live Sevens match. 1xBet really stands out with a vast selection of rugby markets – often over a hundred for each game – while Betwinner gets a nod for their “Multi-Live” feature which lets you watch multiple matches while they’re on – including those hard-to-stay-awake 3:00 AM matches. Crucially though, both of these apps seamlessly integrate with M-pesa, so making deposits and withdrawals is fast and hassle-free
Free Rugby Betting Tips
If you want to get an edge without spending a lot of money, then Oddspedia and BettingExpert are the way to go. These platforms are all about hosting a community of expert tipsters who take a close look at teams for territorial dominance and scrum performance – and break it all down for you. They offer free daily tips for the big tournaments like the Six Nations and the Kenya Cup. For something a bit more local flavour, you might want to check out AfricaPicks – they offer sharp data-led insights that are all about the African market, with a focus on team news and weather which can make all the difference in shifting the odds.
FAQs
What does -14.5 mean in rugby betting?
You’re probably familiar with rugby betting’s point handicaps by now – but just in case – this is an example where the favourite team is starting out 14.5 points behind, so for your bet to win, they have to win the actual match by at least 15 points – else you’ll be left feeling a bit flat
What does handicap mean in rugby betting?
Okay – so handicap in rugby betting is basically a way for the bookies to level the playing field when one team is looking way more likely to win than the other. They give the underdog a bit of a push by giving them extra points (plus 10.5 let’s say) and the favourite a bit of a drag by taking away a few points (minus 10.5) sort of thing
What is handicap betting in rugby
It’s simple – you’re betting on whether a team will be able to win after their handicap has been taken into account when they get their final score. It’s the most popular way to bet in rugby because it makes even one-sided matches worth watching.
Also see how to bet on Tennis
I’m Kanyi Muturi and am from Tabuga, a small village in Nakuru. I have been following all sports since I was a kid and have been interested in the gambling side of sports since I was in high school. It took me a little while to get a grasp on all of the different gambling terminology and understand how confusing and complicated it can all seem when you first start.
Are you a professional gambler?
I am a successful gambler. But make no mistake about it: I’m a long-time recreational sports bettor. I’m not a professional gambler. I’m not claiming to be a professional gambler. I’ve never, to my recollection, even been acquainted with a professional gambler. And far be it from me to make the preposterous claim that following my advice will turn you into a professional gambler. It ain’t about that. Not here it ain’t. I just want to teach you a new form of recreation, a fun new pastime in what can sometimes be an unfun life.
