Why Darts is Becoming Big in the US

By Richard Janvrin Contributor Updated: 23 February 2024

Richard Janvrin Contributor

Richard has been writing about sports since he was a teenager. Still, his first professional role came in 2015, covering all things NFL and fantasy football-related. From there, in December 2018, he started in the sports betting industry, covering sportsbook reviews before arriving to where he is today. 

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The Growth of Darts in the United States

Will darts ever reach the popularity of the major sports in the United States? It sounds unlikely but it could happen. We discuss how the sport has grown from obscurity to experiencing the rapid growth in popularity we see today. We’ll also cover the actual playing aspect of it and and reveal why so many love to bet on darts.

History of Darts

Before we dive into why darts are growing in popularity in the United States, let’s first discuss the history of the game briefly. The earliest iterations of the game included stubs of arrows or crossbow bolts. The first manufactured darts were crafted from solid wood, equipped with turkey feathers and strips of lead for additional weight. In 1906, metal barrels were patented, though wood continued to be used into the 1960s. Today, 655 ranked players in the WDF and 679 in the PDPA. Below are the reasons why darts are increasing in popularity in the United States.

Easy To Get Started

For those interested in playing darts, it’s an extremely easy sport to get into. However, it goes by the adage, “easy to start, hard to master.” All you need to play is a board hung on a wall and the darts. You don’t need to get new darts. They’re reusable, and you can do it over and over for hours on end. According to The Guardian, 17 million Americans play the game, indicating darts’ popularity in the USA.

Various Game Types

There are various types of ways you can play darts, which allow for more niche groups of players.

501: In this game, players start with 501 points and take turns throwing three darts. The goal here is to finish with zero points and finish a double or a bullseye.
Cricket: Here, players take turns “closing out” specific numbers. To do so, you must hit them three times. Once it’s closed, it becomes your number, and your opponent cannot score with it. The goal here is to close all of the numbers and the bullseye before your opponent.
Around the Clock: With this version, players take turns throwing just one dart at each number on the board, starting from 1 and going to 20. The goal is to hit each number three times.
Killer: Considered a party game, one player in this version is designated the “killer.” With this version, you’ll secretly choose numbers on the dartboard, and the other players take turns trying to hit the numbers. The killer aims to prevent the players from reaching a point total.
301 Double Out: Similar to 301, which is also similar to 501, with 301 Double Out, players will finish the game with a double. This rule adds more challenge as you must leave that double to win.
Cutthroat: Similar to cricket, you’ll need three or more players. Here, you’ll close numbers like in cricket, but with this version, even if a player closes a number, the other player can still score there until they close it. To win, you must close all numbers before your opponent.
Halve-It: With this game, you and your opponent take turns throwing at different board parts. You’ll start with your score, and each will try to hit a target number. If you succeed, the score is halved, and this continues. The goal is to reach zero points first.
Shanghai: With this version, you’ll take turns targeting a specific number. The goal here is to rack up a “Shanghai,” meaning you hit a single, double, and triple in one turn.

As you can see, there are numerous ways to play the game. There are plenty more than that, too, but those eight are common. These games showcase a range of potential skills, from a part game all the way to the most skilled dart throwers. With these numerous game types, events for friends can consist of specific game types with a new twist on the rules, but it also allows players to learn new ways to play, win, and strategize to take down their opponents, creating a level of complexity that some players will strive to master over others.

Entry Fee Is Inexpensive

As mentioned, you simply need the darts themselves and the board to get started with darts. At various retailers, you can find a board for over $100 USD, and the darts differ in price depending on the brand and type. These types include steel-tip, soft-tip, tungsten, brass, nickel-silver, wood, and custom ones. You can cater these to your budget, and it’s a one-time fee.

Great Social Game

If you’re looking for an easy activity to play with friends at your house or out for a night on the town, it’s simple: You all just grab some dart and start firing while cheering each other on as you hunt for the bullseye shot. It’s a perfect game with enough space in your “man cave” or other home area.

Doesn’t Require A Lot Of Space To Play

While most professional darts in the USA require them to stand just over seven feet from the board, you can mimic that in your own home if you wish, or if you’re closer, that’s fine, too, as it is all for fun. Playing the game requires minimal space, making it an easy activity to set up and play.

No Surprise: Sports Betting

Since 2023, the total sports betting handle in the United States has been more than $61.57 billion. Darts is another sport that you can wager on, including competitor matchups with spreads, moneylines, and totals.

Rounds of darts can last 20-40 minutes, with the final roughly double that. This means the lengths are more on par with an MMA fight than leagues like the NBA, NHL, MLB, and NFL, meaning the results come more often. Is darts America’s most popular indoor sport? Not right now, but it could grow plenty shortly with more competition in the United States.

For example, at DraftKings Sportsbook, you can bet on the Modus Super Series, European Championship, and PDC World Championship. The PDC World Championship is in England this year but could come to Las Vegas, bringing competitive darts to the USA.

When betting on darts, these markets are typically available:

Point Spread
Moneyline
Total
180 Props
Checkouts
Futures

Competitive Leagues

Tying into sports betting, there are numerous darts leagues and associations worldwide, including in the United States. With these leagues and as the sport develops more in the United States, more betting opportunities will become available. Here are some of the more well-known leagues and organizations throughout the world.

American Darts Organization: This organization puts together local, regional, and national tournaments, including the ADO Championship. The ADO also selects the American team for the WDF and PDC World Cup of Darts.
National Darts Federation: This federation oversees various darts leagues, including the NDF National Championship. This championship sees players come from worldwide.
Local and Regional Leagues: For more recreational play, bars and clubs nationwide have various darts leagues for regular players looking to socialize and get better at the game.
Professional Darts Corporation: One of the more well-known organizations worldwide, including events like PDC World Darts Championship, Premier League Darts, and other tournaments. The PDC is perhaps the most high-stakes tournament in the world.
British Darts Organisation: Based in the United Kingdom, the BDC organizes the BDO World Darts Championship and the World Masters.
World Darts Federation: The global governing body of darts, the WDF oversees competitions like the WDF World Cup and the WDF Europe Cup.

Conclusion

It’s unlikely, but it doesn’t mean the popularity isn’t growing or its presence in online betting isn’t there. Darts is an easy game for players to pick up and a play that requires minimal expense. Whether you want to participate in your local bar or club, watch it, or become a hardcore fan where you’re playing and betting on it, various levels of participation can be had with darts. Above, we walked through the various reasons why darts are becoming popular in the United States and covered the prominent organizations for the game.

From here, as sports betting continues to expand and this type of content becomes more accessible, more players will discover the game in different ways, creating an ecosystem of enjoyment from multiple points of view, from the most casual player who has one in his basement, to the players showing up to watch tournaments live or bet at their favorite betting sites. As mentioned, there are numerous ways to play the game, too. There’s more to it than just throwing the darts, reducing your points and hoping to win. These additional game modes provide new ways for players to enjoy it, whereas other sports and games have a rule set and it doesn’t vary away from that often. The future of darts in the United States looks bright as we venture into 2024 and beyond.