Why is Luke Littler the betting favourite for the 2024/2025 PDC World Championship, and can anyone upset the odds?

If you’re taking a shot at picking this year’s, you need an answer to that question, which is why I’m here to help. 

Instead of throwing a dart into the latest PDC betting markets and hoping to hit a winner, I’ve cast my expert eye over all the important stats. Throw in some industry insights and a healthy dose of love for darts, and I’ve come up with the ultimate betting guide for this year’s PDC World Championship.

📆World Darts Championship schedule

The 2024/2-25 PDC World Darts Championship runs from December 15, 2024, to January 3, 2025. During that time, 96 players from around the world will compete over multiple rounds in a bid to win the £2.5 million top prize. 

Before we look at the betting markets for this year’s World Darts Championship, here’s how the tournament plays out:

➗World Darts Championship odds

Who will win the PDC World Championships 2024/25? We can’t say for sure, but the current darts betting odds at talkSPORT BET, Paddy Power, and bet365 have these players listed as the 10 most likely candidates to win:

1. Luke Littler – 15/8 with talkSPORT BET
2. Luke Humphries – 3/1 with bet365
3. Gary Anderson – 10/1 with SBK
4. Michael van Gerwen – 11/1 with talkSPORT BET
5. Mike de Decker – 25/1 with Paddy Power
6. Michael Smith – 25/1 with Paddy Power
7. Wessel Nijman – 28/1 with SBK
8. Gerwyn Price – 28/1 – with talkSPORT BET
9. Gian van Veen – 31/1 with SBK
10. Ross Smith – 40/1 with talkSPORT BET

🏆World Darts Championship favourites

I’ve listed the odds for 10 of the top players at this year’s PDC Darts World Championship, but which ones appear to have the best chances of winning? 

As always, it will be a closely fought contest at Alexandra Palace, so I’ve pored over the stats in an effort to find the best bets. 

With this in mind, let’s take a look at the betting favourites and their stats over the last 12 months. 

Luke Littler

• Average: 99.28
• Checkout percentage: 41.4%
• Legs won: 59.58%
• 180’s per leg: 0.40
• PDC World Championship betting odds: 15/8

There’s not much we can say about darts prodigy Luke Littler that hasn’t been said already. Sitting fourth in the world rankings, Littler has the best overall averages over the last 12 months. What’s interesting, however, is that his points average is lower than Gary Anderson’s. 

Despite that, Littler has won more legs and, in turn, matches. That shows he’s capable of grinding out games when he’s not hitting big scores. If we look back through history, Phil Taylor was similar in this regard, and we all know what he went on to achieve. It’s too early to put Littler in that bracket, but it’s easy to see why the bookmakers have him as the 15/8 favourite.

🎯Bet on Luke Littler to win the PDC Championship at bet365🎯

Luke Humphries

• Average: 98.54
• Checkout percentage: 41.29%
• Legs won: 59.22%
• 180’s per leg: 0.34
• PDC World Championship betting odds: 3/1

Luke Humphries has all the pressure on his shoulders heading into this year’s PDC Darts World Championship. The defending champion is also the world number #1 and has rarely finished outside of the top eight in PDC events this year. Another feather in his proverbial cap is a win over Luke Littler in last year’s PDC World Championship final. 

These are all positives, but they could also be negatives for the man from Crewe. Humphries will be hard to beat if he can hold his nerve. However, if the weight of being a champion sits heavy on his shoulders, look for another top pick to upset the odds.

🎯Bet on Luke Humphries to win the PDC Championship at talkSPORT BET🎯

Gary Anderson

• Average: 99.41
• Checkout percentage: 41.30%
• Legs won: 59.18%
• 180’s per leg: 0.40
• PDC World Championship betting odds: 15/2

Two-time world champion Gary Anderson is currently third favourite in the PDC World Championship betting stakes at Paddy Power. Based on his average alone this season, 10/1 seems like a great price. Add to this the fact that he’s won the big one twice before, and the Scottish sensation could be a great bet this year. 

One darts betting market that caught my eye was the total 180s thrown in this year’s World Championship. Anderson has the joint-best average with Luke Littler this season at 0.40 per leg. Compared to the 11/8 Paddy Power is offering on Littler for this bet, Anderson could be a steal at 15/2.

🎯Bet on Gary Anderson to win the PDC Championship at Paddy Power🎯

Michael van Gerwen

• Average: 97.19
• Checkout percentage: 41.01%
• Legs won: 56.48%
• 180’s per leg: 0.28
• PDC World Championship betting odds: 10/1

You can never count out a former champion, especially one as talented as Michael van Gerwen. The Dutch marksman might not be the force he once was, but he can still run away with games when he needs to. You only have to look at his checkout percentage to see that he rarely lets players off the hook when he’s in front. 

The current PDC World Championship betting odds have van Gerwen at 10/1. That’s a generous price for someone with three world championships. Indeed, if the iconic Phil Taylor taught me anything, it’s that former multi-time winners are always a threat. 

🎯Bet on Michael van Gerwen to win the PDC Championship at talkSPORT BET🎯

Wessel Nijman

• Average: 95.44
• Checkout percentage: 43.24%
• Legs won: 63.29%
• 180’s per leg: 0.33
• PDC World Championship betting odds: 28/1

Wessel Nijman is the outsider in my line-up of PDC betting favourites. The bookmakers at talkSPORT BET have the Dutchman at 28/1 to win the Darts World Championship. That’s understandable, given that he only came through the PDC Development Tour system in 2018. Controversy has stalled Nijman’s career, but he won his first PDC Tour title in 2024, thanks, in part, to his finishing abilities. 

Although he has a smaller sample size at the elite level than his peers, Nijman’s checkout and legs won percentages are the best on my list. If he gets a sniff at doubles, he usually hits them, which is why he could be a worthwhile outside wager for the 2024/2025 PDC World Championship title.

🎯 Bet on Wessel Nijman to win the PDC Championship at SBK 🎯

🤓Tips for betting on the World Darts Championship 2024/25

Sports betting is fun, but there are no guarantees that your picks will yield a profit. I’ve highlighted some of the best bets for the 2024/2025 PDC World Darts Championship, but none of them are certain to win. 

Naturally, I used my knowledge of the betting markets and the latest darts statistics to come up with wagers we think have potential. But, as I’ve said before, nothing is guaranteed. That’s why you need to take a sensible and logical approach to betting on sports like darts. 

Below are four darts betting tips you should incorporate into your thinking ahead of this year’s PDC World Championship. 

1️⃣Back favourites with match trebles

High-ranking darts players like Luke Humphries and Luke Littler rarely have long odds. That doesn’t mean they’re not worth betting on. However, if you’re someone who wants to squeeze more value out of the top-ranked pros, we suggest looking at match trebles. 

A match treble bet in darts covers three outcomes:

• The player must win the match
• The player must hit the most 180s in the match
• The player must have the highest checkout

The odds on match trebles are attractive because your pick must hit all three outcomes. In this regard, match trebles are the same as multi-pick parlays, aka accumulator bets. We recommend making them sparingly and only risking small amounts because they’re hard to win. However, if they come in, they can be lucrative. 

2️⃣Use bonuses and free bets

Bonuses are the backbone of any smart betting strategy because they provide guaranteed returns. Welcome bonuses provide the biggest returns, so take a look at my recommended UK online sports betting sites to see what offers are available right now. 

Beyond sign-up offers and first deposit bonuses, UK bookmakers such as talkSPORT BET, Paddy Power, and Betfred run regular promotions for existing customers. Some deals to look out for are:

3️⃣Look at alternative betting options

Outright betting markets are great if you like making general predictions, but they often have the shortest odds when you’re picking favourites such as Gary Anderson. That’s why it can be worth looking at alternative betting options. 

I’ve already given you an alternative bet in the form of Gary Anderson hitting the most 180s in the 2024/2025 PDC World Championship. Other alternative darts betting markets to consider are:

• 9-dart finishes
• 180 checkouts
• Winning nationality
• Highest checkout
• Over/under highest checkout
• Over/under total 180s
• Over/under total sets 

If you’re going to wager money on any of these markets, make sure you study the stats. Looking at each player’s recent form and throwing averages will give you a better idea of who has the most potential. 

4️⃣ Bet responsibly

Our final darts betting tip for the PDC World Championship 2024/2025 is to gamble responsibly. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of the sport’s biggest tournament, but don’t let that cloud your judgement. 

Every bet you make should be a small percentage of your bankroll. As a general rule, we stick to 3%. You could go a little bit higher if the wager is worth it, but not too much because you’re taking on too much risk. 

Get this right, and you’ll have plenty of potential when it comes to betting on the PDC World Championship. 

📺How to watch the World Darts Championship 2024/25

• Event: World Darts Championship 2024/25
• Venue: Alexandra Palace, London
• Dates: December 5, 2024, to January 3, 2025
• TV & Streaming: Sky Sports and NOW TV

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• GambleAware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.