Slots are without question the most popular casino games around, but all players need a break from playing slots every now and then, which is when other types of wagers are often explored. For example, sportsbetting has become increasingly popular with casino players, fueled by the fact that you can now bet on niche sports such as snooker in addition to all mainstream sports of course. If you’re not familiar with snooker, or if you need a bit of a refresh, keep on scrolling to learn more about this game and the betting opportunities that come with it.
Understanding Snooker: A Deep Dive into the Game
Snooker is one of those games that seem simple on the surface, but the more you watch or play, the more layers you uncover. It’s a cue sport played on a large green table with six pockets, 22 balls, and a whole lot of precision. Though it may not be as widely followed as football or basketball, it commands a loyal global fanbase, especially in the UK, China, and parts of Europe.
Where It All Began
The story of snooker starts in the 19th century. British Army officers stationed in India were known for coming up with variations of existing cue sports to pass the time. Around 1875, a game of billiards was being played, and someone added colored balls to the mix. That small tweak led to what we now know as snooker. The name itself came from a military slang term for a rookie soldier — “snooker” — and it just stuck.
It wasn’t until the early 20th century that the game gained proper traction back in England. The first official tournaments started popping up in the 1920s. But it was television in the 1970s that really pushed snooker into the spotlight. Players like Alex Higgins and later Steve Davis made it exciting to watch, and suddenly it became a household name, especially in the UK.
The Table and the Tools
Snooker is played on a massive table: 12 feet long and 6 feet wide. That’s way bigger than a pool table. The surface is covered with green baize (a felt-like material), and there are six pockets — one in each corner and one in the middle of each long side.
The game uses 22 balls in total:
-15 red balls (1 point each)
-1 yellow ball (2 points)
-1 green (3 points)
-1 brown (4 points)
-1 blue (5 points)
-1 pink (6 points)
-1 black (7 points)
-1 white cue ball
Players use a cue stick to strike the white ball, aiming to pot the other balls in a specific sequence to earn points.
How the Game Works
A game of snooker is made up of “frames” somewhat similiar to bowling. Whoever scores more points in a frame wins that round. Matches are played over a set number of frames — best of 7, best of 11, etc.
The game kicks off with the reds arranged in a triangle. The first player breaks off, trying to hit a red ball and ideally not leave an easy shot for the opponent.
The main rule of play is this: you always have to pot a red ball first. Once you sink a red, you’re allowed to go for one of the six colored balls. After potting a color, it goes back to its original spot, and you aim for another red. This red-color-red sequence keeps going until all reds are gone.
After that, you pot the colors in a specific order (yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, black), and once the black is potted, the frame is over.
Scoring and Tactics
Scoring is all about how many balls you can pot in a row. If you pot a red and then a black over and over, you’re racking up 8 points per visit. That’s how players build what’s called a “break.” The best break possible is 147 — all 15 reds with 15 blacks, followed by the six colors.
But potting isn’t everything. A big part of the game is safety play — where you deliberately play a shot that leaves your opponent with no good options. This might mean tucking the cue ball behind a colored ball or making sure no reds are left near a pocket. Strategic safety can win you matches just as much as potting can.
Common Fouls
If you hit the wrong ball, fail to make contact, pot the cue ball, or knock a ball off the table — that’s a foul. Fouls usually result in your opponent getting 4 points (sometimes more, depending on the ball involved).
One of the trickier parts of snooker is the “miss” rule. If a player is snookered (blocked from hitting the right ball) and fails to make a good attempt, the referee can call a miss and let the opponent choose to have the shot replayed.
Betting on Snooker
As we mentioned earlier, although snooker is still somewhat of a niche sport, it’s becoming more and more popular amongst both casual and professional sportsbook enthusiasts. If you don’t believe us, have a quick glance at the snooker odds today and you’ll see that there’s no shortage of matches that you can place a wager on. And these aren’t just any matches, but rather they are matches featuring some of the best to ever play the game, such as Barry Hawkins, Ashley Hugill, and Haydon Pinkey just to name a few. Given snooker’s rise in popularity, we fully expect the interest in betting on snooker matches to continue to rise for the foreseeable future.
Snooker vs. Other Cue Sports
It’s easy to confuse snooker with pool or billiards, but they’re different games with different rules and objectives. Pool tables are smaller, use fewer balls, and generally have simpler rules. Snooker requires more planning, subtlety, and positional control, especially given the size of the table and the scoring system.
The Pro Scene
Professional snooker is structured around the World Snooker Tour. Players compete in tournaments throughout the year, with the biggest ones being:
-The World Championship (held at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield)
-The UK Championship
-The Masters
These three are considered the “Triple Crown” of snooker. Winning all three in a career is a major achievement. Some of the biggest names in the sport include:
-Ronnie O’Sullivan – widely considered the greatest of all time. So much so that he even has his own slot machine named after him! There's also an older slot game called Top Spin Snooker that you may want to check out.
-Stephen Hendry – dominant in the ’90s with seven world titles.
-Steve Davis, John Higgins, Mark Selby, and Judd Trump are also huge names in the sport.
Ronnie O’Sullivan’s 147 break in just over 5 minutes is one of the most talked-about moments in snooker history.
The Global Picture
While snooker has traditionally been big in the UK, it has found a growing audience in Asia — especially China. Players like Ding Junhui have become national heroes, and there are now several high-profile tournaments hosted there each year.
Other countries like India, Thailand, Iran, and even Australia have growing snooker scenes. It’s no longer a “British sport” — it’s genuinely international.
What Makes Snooker Special
Snooker is slow-paced, sure — but that’s part of the appeal. It’s thoughtful, quiet, and often described as a mental game as much as a physical one. You don’t need to be the strongest person in the room; you need to think three shots ahead, stay calm under pressure, and maintain focus for hours.
Whether you’re watching a nail-biting final that goes to a deciding frame or playing a casual game at a local club, snooker has a timeless feel. It’s elegant, demanding, and full of small moments that add up to big drama.
Final Thoughts
Snooker might not have the flash of some other sports, but its depth, strategy, and precision have earned it a dedicated following. From its roots in colonial India to televised battles at the Crucible, the game has come a long way. If you’ve never played, it’s worth trying. And if you’ve never watched, tune in — you might be surprised by how much it draws you in. And once you're familiar with the game, you'll be ready to begin betting on snooker at your favorite sportsbook.
