Snooker Betting: bet on snooker at VivatBet Ireland
Snooker is a game where players compete against each other to score the highest possible number of points. It is a sport that is both mentally and physically demanding, and it is played on a green baize table. It's a game of millimetres, where you have to concentrate really hard and be a tactical genius, because if you miss a shot, it can completely change the whole game. Betting on snooker means thinking like a player: looking at the table, understanding safety play, and judging how good your competitor is under the bright lights of the Crucible Theatre.
From Ronnie O'Sullivan's careful skill to the determined play of new talent, it's a sport of pure skill and nerve, offering a betting experience that's been carefully planned.
How to Bet on Snooker
The process of placing a bet is straightforward. Please go to the VivatBet website, log in and go to the Snooker section. The full list of major tournaments, including the World Championship, UK Championship, and Masters, is available for reference. By clicking on any match, you will be able to access the available markets, including the match result, the handicap for each player, and the number of breaks in a frame. Please select your preferred odds, specify the amount you wish to wager, and then confirm your selection. The way matches are set up means there are lots of opportunities to place live bets as the game progresses.
Snooker Offers and Promotions at VivatBet
Place your first bet wisely by taking advantage of special offers on major snooker events. Check our Promotions page for better odds on World Championship finals, early payouts for big leads, and welcome bonuses. These promotions add value to long matches. Always read the full terms and conditions.
Key Terms to Know:
Frame: The individual game within a match, won by scoring more points than the opponent.
Century Break: A score of 100 or more points in a single visit to the table.
Safety Play: A defensive shot intended to leave no clear pot for the opponent, a critical tactical weapon.
Maximum Break (147): The highest possible break, potting all 15 reds with 15 blacks followed by all colours.
Session: Matches, especially in longer formats, are divided into sessions of multiple frames played at different times of the day.
Pros & Cons of Snooker Betting
Pros:
Skill-Dominated & Predictable: The results are mostly based on skill and form, with less "luck" than in many other sports, which makes analysis very effective.
Clear Hierarchies: The world rankings are a good way to see who is the best, with a clear top tier of players who are the best in the sport.
Great for Handicap Betting: When a top player is up against someone who is good but not in the top rankings, a handicap of +3.5 can be useful.
Deep In-Play Markets: The way it is shown, frame by frame, means you can place live bets on who will win the next frame, session or total centuries.
Cons:
Dominant Favourites: In early rounds, elite players can have extremely short odds, pushing value to less intuitive markets.
Long Match Formats: Best-of-19 or best-of-25 frame matches can be long, so you need to be patient and watch how much money you spend.
Unexpected Lapses: Even the best players can have a bad day with their cue action or concentration, which can lead to surprising early exits.
Betting Markets for Snooker
Match Winner: I'm going to bet on this player to win the match.
Frame Handicap (Spread): The most important market. For example, if Underdog is +4.5 frames and Favourite is -3.5 frames, then Underdog has a better chance of winning.
Total Frames (Over/Under): Will the match last more or less than a certain number of frames (for example, will it be more than 15.5 in a best-of-19)?
Correct Score: Try to guess the exact final score in frames (for example, 10-6, 13-11).
Session Winner: You can bet on which player will win a certain number of frames.
Century Breaks (Over/Under): Will there be more than 1.5 or 2.5 century breaks in the match
The person who won the tournament is: Bet on this player to win the whole competition.
Top Competitions in Snooker
World Snooker Championship: The holy grail, held at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. The most prestigious and gruelling event.
UK Championship: The second-most prestigious ranking tournament, a major test.
The Masters: An elite, invitational tournament for the top 16 players in the world.
Tour Championship: Featuring the season's top performers on the one-year ranking list.
World Grand Prix & Players Championship: Other key events in the sport's Triple Crown series.
How do snooker odds work?
Snooker odds show how well a player is currently doing, how they've done against that player in the past, and how good they think they are compared to other players. A player like Ronnie O'Sullivan will have very short odds against most opponents, so it's better to look for value in the frame handicap or correct score markets. The format is very important: a best-of-7 in a minor event is much more unpredictable than a best-of-25 at the World Championship, where the better player usually wins. The odds for a player to win a frame change a lot after they win that frame. If a player is 3 or 4 frames behind at the start of a short match, the odds for them to win get a lot better.
Betting tips for snooker
Head-to-Head Records Matter Deeply: Some players have psychological edges over others, regardless of ranking. Always check the H2H history.
Form is Everything: Snooker is a game of confidence. A player arriving at a tournament after a deep run or a title win is a different prospect to one in a slump.
Analyse the Playing Style Matchup: Does a slow, methodical player disrupt a fast, fluid opponent? Does a poor safety player struggle against a tactical grinder?
Consider the Venue & Conditions: The Crucible Theatre, for example, has unique conditions and immense pressure that some players handle better than others.
Use Dedicated Resources: Follow World Snooker Tour (WST) news and statistics, and consult expert analysis from sites like SnookerHQ or Pro Snooker Blog for insights beyond the odds.
Snooker betting types
Pre-Match Betting: Analysing form, match-ups, and tournament context before the first break-off shot.
Live Betting (In-Play): Highly effective. Bet on the winner of the next frame, the session, or whether a player can claw back a deficit as the match unfolds.
Outright Betting: Placing a future bet on a player to win a tournament, often before it begins or during the early rounds.
Proposition Bets (Props): Betting on specific in-match occurrences, such as the highest break of the match or a player to score a century.
Gambling can be safer if you know how to play it
Snooker is a sport that requires a lot of concentration, so it makes sense that the betting should be calm and controlled too. Set a budget for gambling and stick to it. Use the tools to set a deposit limit and time limit for each session in your account. Think of betting as a way to have fun and get more interested in the sport, not as a way to make money. If you think you are gambling too much, please use our responsible gambling tools to take a break. Make sure you play responsibly.
Popular events and sports news
Snooker betting FAQ
How do Frame Handicap bets work?
Its a points spread with frames: If a player is a -2.5 frame favourite, they have to win by 3 frames for you to win the bet. The opponent at +2.5 will win or lose if they win or lose by 2 frames or less
Can I bet on things during a frame?
With in-play betting, you can bet on the current frame, the next ball potted, or if there'll be a 50+ break. These markets update after every shot, so it's important to time it right
How important is the match format for betting?
A shorter match (best-of-7) is more unpredictable, while longer matches (best-of-19 or 35) favour the stronger player. Always check the format before betting
What happens if a match is delayed or a player cant play?
If a match is postponed, it will still happen in the end, but if a player withdraws, the bet will be void. If a player stops playing during a match, it depends on the site's rules
How does in-play betting work during a frame?
If a player is building a break, their odds will get better, so it's important to watch the match to spot changes in the player's performance