The PDC’s summer showpiece begins in Blackpool this week as the World Matchplay sees the sport’s top names return to the iconic Winter Gardens from July 19th-27th for a feast of darts.
Here are our latest betting tips, as well as the best free bets and betting sites available for you to use ahead of this big darts event.
World Matchplay Darts Free bets & Betting Offers
The Newmarket July Festival is a great time to sign up with betting sites as it means that you can have free bets for three days of big races. Here are some of our recommended betting sites and the free bets they have available.
| UK Betting Sites | World Matchplay Darts Free Bets |
| William Hill | Get £40 in free bets when you deposit £10 |
| Tote | Bet £10 get £30 in free bets & 20 free spins |
| Highbet | Bet £10 get £20 in free bets |
| Unibet | Bet £10 get £40 in bonuses |
World Matchplay Darts betting offers & free bets – Key T&Cs
- William Hill: 18+. Play Safe. Online only. For new UK register customers using promo code G40. Deposit & place £10 cash single bet (min odds 1/2) on sportsbook (excl. Virtuals). Get £40 in Free Bets (4x£10), valid for sportsbook (excl. Virtuals), 7 days expiry, must use in full (£10 each). Not valid with deposits via PayPal, Neosurf, Paysafe, Apple Pay, NETELLER, Skrill, ecoPayz, Kalibra/Postpay or WH PLUS Card. One per customer. Full T&Cs apply.. www.begambleaware.org #ad
- Tote: New customers online only. Eligibility restrictions apply. One welcome offer per customer. Bet a minimum of £10 at odds of 1/1 (2.0) or greater across sports or racing (if EW then min £10 Win + £10 Place) within 7 days of registration to qualify. Receive £20 Tote Credit, £10 sports Free Bet and 20 Free Spins on Big Bass Bonanza within 48 hours of qualifying bet settlement. Qualifying bet is the first racing pool or sports bet added to the bet slip. 7-day expiry. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org.
- Highbet: 18+. New verified customers. UK residents. Customers must first opt-in to this promotion before making the qualifying bet within 7 days of registration. Min. stake amount: £10 with real money with you first ever bet within 7 days of your registration. Free bets must be claimed within the promotion section of the website. Free bets are non-withdrawable. Free bet amount: £20 (1x£20). Min. odds: 3/2 (2.5). Maximum withdrawable winnings from free bet per player: £100. Period to activate: 7 days after the qualifying bet is placed. Full TC’s Apply. GambleAware.org
- Unibet: 18+. GambleAware.org. New GB customers only. Min £10 debit card deposit. Place a £10+ bet on sportsbook at min odds 1/1 (2.0) each leg. Receive 2 x £10 free bets within 24 hours of bet settlement, and further 2 x £10 casino bonus the next day. T&C’s apply.
World Matchplay Darts 2025 Betting Tips
The top 16 players on the Werner Rankings Ladder are joined by 16 qualifiers from the one-year ProTour rankings.
Reigning champion Luke Humphries will be the top seed in the £800,000 event, as he bids to join Rod Harrington, Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen and become only the fourth player in history to retain the title.
The other Luke, Littler, is the current world champion and No.2 seed for Blackpool. The Nuke debuted last year but was unseeded and lost a heavyweight opener to Michael van Gerwen.
This time, Littler has the potentially sticky Ryan Searle in round one, while Humphries tackles Gian van Veen.
Perhaps the most glamorous opening round tie once more features Van Gerwen, as the Green Machine faces fellow Dutch icon Raymond van Barneveld.
- Gerwyn Price to win @ 8/1 with Highbet
- Martin Schindler to beat Jonny Clayton @ 11/10 with Sky Bet
- Name the Finalists: Luke Littler & Luke Humphries @ 5/1 with bet365
Gerwyn Price to win @ 8/1
Welsh ace Gerwyn Price arrives in Blackpool arguably in his best form. The Iceman won the Poland Darts Masters two weeks ago and added a ninth European Tour title in Kiel on Sunday, seeing off Gary Anderson 8-3 to triumph at the Baltic Sea Darts Open.
The Welshman was without a European Tour title since his International Darts Open success in April 2023, but should turn up in Blackpool in a confident mood.
The runner-up to Van Gerwen back in 2022 at the PDC’s summer major, the 2021 world champion was a semi-finalist in the Premier League this season and had been displaying glimpses of his best form prior to landing those back-to-back European Tour wins.
He’s got a perfect opener against Daryl Gurney as Price bids to avenge Wales’ recent World Cup of Darts final loss to the Northern Ireland pair of Gurney and Josh Rock.
A possible semi-final against Littler will hold no fears, Price having straddled 2024 into 2025 with six straight wins over the current world champ.
- World Matchplay Darts Tip 1: Gerwyn Price to win @ 8/1 with Highbet
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Martin Schindler to beat Jonny Clayton @ 11/10
Jonny Clayton is seeded fifth for Blackpool, but the Welshman could be in line for a shock.
The Ferret reached the final in 2023 but has failed to bypass round two in his other six starts at the Winter Gardens.
He took out Martin Schindler at the UK Open in March, winning 10-4, but Germany’s top arrowsmith has won two of their three meetings since.
Schindler had 6-1 wins in a pair of European Tour clashes, including their most recent tussle in May, and was edged 6-5 at the Players Championship event in Rosmalen in between.
He’s more than capable of giving Clayton his marching orders and on recent head-to-heads, he makes appeal for a shock first round win.
- World Matchplay Darts Tips 2: Martin Schindler to beat Jonny Clayton @ 11/10 with Sky Bet
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Name the Finalists: Luke Littler & Luke Humphries @ 5/1
A small interest in the two Lukes being the last men standing at the Winter Gardens is worthwhile, rather than an outright bet on either the world number one or world champion to win the tournament.
The pair dominated the Premier League season, with Littler bagging six nightly wins and three more runner-up finishes, while Humphries had three wins and five runner-ups.
Come finals night at the O2, it was Humphries that claimed the silverware, edging out Littler 11-8 after they had both averaged over 104 in their semi-final wins.
Humphries’ biggest barrier on seeding is Stephen Bunting and he could make short work of the top half.
Littler has the likes of van Gerwen, Chris Dobey and Price – though only one can survive to the semi-finals. A showdown between the Lukes in the Winter Garden is a strong possibility.
- World Matchplay Darts Tip 3: Name the Finalists: Luke Littler & Luke Humphries @ 5/1 with bet365
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