How To Bet On KBO?

What Is KBO?

Unless you’ve bet on or followed Korean Baseball for some time, you’ve probably never heard of the KBO, or at least not until the global COVID-19 pandemic, which shut down domestic sports, highlighted those being played abroad. The KBO gained a new audience with its exposure in the US. As such betting on KBO has also become increasingly popular. Check out everything you need to know on betting on the KBO, in this expert KBO betting guide.

The KBO is the most prestigious baseball league in South Korea. The KBO League was founded in 1982 and started with six franchises, which have now expanded to ten. A majority of the franchises have been named after the companies or businesses which currently own them. Every KBO team plays a 144-game season. With a balanced schedule, each team plays the other nine teams 16 times. The KBO season starts in March and runs through September.

What Are The Main Differences Between KBO And MLB 

The biggest difference between the KBO and MLB is the fact that any game can end in a tie. Typically, games will have a maximum of 12 innings played and if the game remains level, it will end in a tie. This rule was altered for the second half of the 2021 season to have no extra inning games. This change was made after the three-week Olympics break.

Another big difference is the playoff system for the KBO. There are only 10 teams in the league and half of them will qualify for the playoffs. However, instead of using a normal bracket format like the MLB, the KBO uses a ladder system. For example, whoever finishes the regular season at the top of the standings, will receive an automatic bye into the championship series. The 5th and 4th seeds will face each other in a Wild-Card series, the winner plays the 3rd seed, etc. This rule makes it crucial to finish as high as you can in the standings because it means you will have to play fewer games to win the title. 

The universal DH is another difference, something the MLB adopted for the 2020 season, due to COVID-19. However, this has always been a rule in the KBO and no pitcher will grab a bat in this league.

The KBO also puts a big emphasis on limiting foreign players. Each team can only have three on their roster and no more than two can be a pitcher. Former MLB pitchers tend to be rostered by KBO teams with one position player.

When following the KBO, note that it has been compared to “somewhere between Double-A and Triple-A” in terms of talent. Typically, the best players are closer to MLB quality rather than Double-A.

Who Are The KBO Teams 

The following are the 10 teams that make up the KBO:

• Doosan Bears
• Hanwha Eagles
• Kia Tigers
• Kiwoom Heroes
• KT Wiz
• LG Twins
• Lotte Giants
• NC Dinos
• Samsung Lions
• SSG Landers

Unlike the MLB, most of these teams are named after franchises instead of cities like we are used to in the MLB. Take the Kia Tigers for example, they are owned by Kia Motors. The Tigers are the most successful team in the KBO, having won the Korean Series 11 times.

Another well-known brand is Samsung. The Lions are owned by Cheil Worldwide (Samsung’s subsidiary) and have won the Korean Series 8 times.

Two others brands most might recognize are LG or Doosan. The LG Twins and Doosan Bears shared a stadium in Seoul and are among the most popular teams in the league.  

Note that the SSG Landers used to be the SK Wyverns, but changed their name for the 2021 season. 

Where Is KBO Betting Legal?

Sports betting in the USA has come a long way since the Supreme Court overturned the PAPSPA in 2018. This ruling made it so states can decide to legalize sports betting or not. Plenty of states have been taking advantage and several more are in the process of doing so.

As of March 2023, The following states all have a legal and regulated sports betting industry, where you can wager on the NBA:

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Tennessee
• Virginia
• Washington DC
• West Virginia

Best Online KBO Betting Sites and Mobile Apps

In sports betting, it is always recommended to shop around for the best lines for any given sport. While the KBO may not be mainstream, finding the best odds available is still something you should do if you have the ability to. For example, there was a game where Team 1 was -1.5 on the run line at -110 odds with one sportsbook, while they were -1.5 at -120 odds at another. Although it may not seen like a big difference, getting the best odds available will have an impact on your returns in the long run.

How To Bet On Korean Baseball (KBO)

When it comes to KBO betting, there are three main options for betting. A money line bet, is who will win the game. A run line bet, which is a bet against the spread, a team will typically start with -1.5 or +1.5. And lastly, the game total, focuses on the combined number of runs scored between both teams. The total bet is placed on whether the game will be under or over the projected line set by sportsbooks.

Besides those three favorite ways to bet on the KBO, there are also prop bets which include: team totals (total runs by a single team), and the first to score a run. KBO games usually last a full nine innings, however, you can bet on the KBO through selective innings. There are the same money line, run line and total bets for three and five innings. For example, a bettor can bet on the money line on who will be leading the game through three or even five innings. Fans can also bet on the futures market, which offers bettors a chance on who will win the championship or league division.

Korean Baseball Betting Trends 

With the KBO not as popular as say the MLB or pretty much any other sport in the United States, finding an edge can sometimes be very difficult. Note that all KBO teams play games from Tuesday-Sunday every week and every team has Monday off. 

Because there are only 10 teams in this league, the gap between the top and bottom is not as big as most might think. Yes, there are a few teams in the KBO that are awful, but upsets happen pretty often. Recently, rain has been a big factor in Korea, which has led to plenty of unders or shortened games. Home field advantage is also a big factor like in any sport, but in the KBO, home teams win about .546 percent of the time. 

Continuing with the home field advantage, research how each team plays in their home park. Look at how they are scoring throughout each week as well, to determine if their lineup has gone cold or is heating up.   

Three Ways To Bet Better On KBO

One way to bet better for the KBO is to make sure you do extensive research on the game you are betting. The information is not readily available like almost every other sport, so taking time to dig is important. This includes finding out who is starting the game you want to wager on. A lot of pitchers have poor earned run averages, so just blind firing on a team that may be a big underdog is probably not the best idea. Take into account how the pitchers have fared against the team they are facing and maybe look at their more recent starts as well.

A second way to be successful is to always consider run lines. Knowing that any game can end in a tie gives the underdog a chance to come back in the later innings and cash your bet with just a tie. Unlike the MLB, where taking the +1.5 run line can be ruined in the extra innings. Especially, this season in the MLB where a man starts on 2nd base in the extra frames and you could lose with a home run. In terms of run line betting, finding trends for this may also be helpful. If a team never covers the run line, this is probably a bet you should avoid. Finding this information can be difficult, but it can be worth the time if you are able to find a valuable trend.

The third way to bet better in the KBO is to pay attention to line movements. Because there is less action on these games, when or if a big bet is placed, it has a greater chance of forcing the sportsbooks to shift their lines. It can be a little tougher to track these line movements, but doing so can help determine where the sharp money is going and what games you might want to jump in on or what games you want to pass on.  

Things To Avoid When Betting On KBO

Do not just bet overs!

While it is true that the KBO is known for their high-scoring games, the under is still a viable option. Teams go days without scoring many runs, while bad weather can also play a crucial role. Plus, games ending in a tie can hurt an over play.

Do not only bet former MLB pitchers!

When betting the KBO, you will run into several former MLB pitchers. These guys tend to be among the best in the league, however, do not sleep on the Korean players. There are plenty of Korean pitchers who can go toe to toe with anyone in the league and who are worth backing on any given day. At the same time, do not avoid the former MLB pitchers, but just be aware that there are plenty of Korean pitchers who are just as good.

Do not only bet favorites!

Just like any sport, the favorites can get pretty pricey. This is true for the KBO as well, as the top teams tend to be huge favorites. Be careful when betting these teams because upsets do happen a lot, even if we are talking about the teams at the bottom of the league. Sometimes the teams at the bottom of the league have a clear pitching advantage, and should be a team you should look to back. Just be aware that every team in the KBO has a few good pitching options, so picking your spots is crucial.