Cricket betting – An Introduction
Cricket has been enjoyed around the world for centuries, since it was invented in the UK in the 16th century. Nowadays, people from every corner of the Earth love to play and bet on cricket. And countries that have really made this sport their own include Australia, India, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
Punters from these countries, as well as many others, not only enjoy the sport itself, but also love online cricket betting. And our team of experts carefully review each of these cricket betting sites and cricket betting apps, before bringing you lists of the top sites from around the world.
So what makes a great betting site? What kinds of bets can you place? And which bet sites offer you the best bonuses?
We’re going to go into every point in more detail. But first, let’s see what our expert reviewers say that you should be looking for in a great online cricket bet site.
How to select the best sites for cricket betting
When it comes to online cricket betting, you want access to the top sites and the best online cricket betting apps. Our team of experts carefully screen bookmakers’ sites, and each bookie must meet a strict set of criteria, if they hope to be listed on our site.
So, here’s the inside scoop on what our experts look for. And what you should also be looking for in great cricket betting sites.
✔️ Large selection of cricket events and tournaments
Right off the bat, you want a site that gives you lots of different test matches and tournaments from around the world. While cricket is one of the UK’s most popular sports, it’s also equally as popular in countries like Australia and India. So you want access to all the matches from overseas, as well as at home.
Look for bookies who offer matches and competitions from all over the planet, so that you never miss any of the action. The best sites will have all the major matches, as well as smaller tournaments as well. Plus, if you want to get all matches and bets direct to your phone, look for sites with cricket betting apps, where you can access every game at the touch of a button.
✔️ Mobile cricket betting app
The quickest and easiest way to access all matches and bets is with cricket betting apps. The best online bookies will offer their punters a top class online cricket betting app, so that you can carry all the latest news, odds and matches with you wherever you go.
We recommend looking for bet sites that have modern, cutting-edge cricket betting apps, as you can also get lots of features that may not be available on your computer or laptop. With an easy-to-use platform, complete with live streaming and in-play betting, betting apps are the future of online gambling.
✔️ Offers streaming and In-play betting
The greatest betting sites offer the most modern and exciting ways to bet. And no sports betting site would be complete with in-play betting and live streaming.
Never miss another wicket with matches streamed live to your computer or cricket betting apps. And place bets throughout the test match, as and when you want. It doesn’t get more exciting than that! With live cricket betting, you can add bets at a moment’s notice. And with live streaming direct to your device, you can predict and bet minute to minute, as the action unfolds.
Our experts only recommend the top cricket sites from every corner of the globe. And that means super modern apps, live streaming and in-play betting all in one place. So make sure the site you pick offers it all!
✔️ Offers competitive odds and margins
With strategic betting comes knowing your odds and margins. The best gamblers around will tell you that odds can make the difference between some extra beer money in your pocket and some serious cash prizes.
Shopping around for odds is imperative to giving yourself the best options. Odds on matches will be different at almost every bookmakers, so it’s a good idea to open an account with more than one site. Plus, once you’ve signed up to a bookies, you can log in and check the odds in an instant. So you’ll be able to snap up the best odds and place your bet, without the hassle of creating a new account.
As they say, variety is the spice of life. And that’s true for cricket betting, too! So make sure you sign up to multiple sites, to give yourself the best chance of getting great odds on the top test matches around.
✔️ Payment options
The fact is, if you want to play at an online cricket betting site, then you’re going to have to make a deposit at some point. And you want a site that lets you pay in with the most convenient method for you.
The leading cricket online betting sites and cricket betting apps will offer you a selection of the following payment methods:
- Debit card
- E-wallets like Skrill, Neteller and PayPal
- Pay-by-mobile methods
- Bank transfer, including internet banking transfers
It’s important that a site offers you more than one way to pay, as you may want to switch up your payment method from time to time. With lots of different options, you can make the best decision at the time when you want to deposit or withdraw.
Cricket betting promotions and bonuses
There are tons of great bonuses and promotions available to punters at great cricket online sites. If you’re a new player, or loyal customer, you should be rewarded for your custom. And we recommend looking for sites that have great offers for their new and existing clients.
So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at these bonuses and offers in a little more detail.
Welcome bonuses
As a new customer at a betting site, you can snap up some incredible bonuses, to boost your betting balance. And with cricket betting apps, these offers can also be used to bet from your phone or tablet.
Be on the look-out for one or more of the following offers:
- Free bets: pick up your chance to do some free cricket betting with a wager on the house
- Matched deposit bonuses: get bonus to play with, on top of your initial deposit
- Enhanced odds: get better odds on specific matches for a limited time
- Free spins: to be used at an affiliated casino site
These offers can all be used to your advantage. And they give you a better chance of snatching a big win. However, as with any bonus offer, they will all be subject to some T&Cs. It’s important that you read and understand these terms, so that you can make the most of your bonus as a new client.
Bonuses for active players
Luckily, it’s not only new bettors that get offered fantastic bonuses. Regular and loyal punters can also enjoy some very generous offers from online cricket betting sites.
If you deposit more than once on the same sites, or cricket betting apps, you can look forward to one of more of the following perks:
- Bet clubs: even more chances for free cricket betting, bet clubs offer their regular clients free bets as a reward for making regular wagers
- Cashback bonuses: recoup a percentage of your losses if your luck doesn’t come in
- Reload bonuses: get an extra bonus as a reward for depositing regularly at the same site
- Refer a friend: some sites will give you an extra bonus for recommending a friend who makes a deposit
So, always make sure the site you’re on rewards its loyal customers, not just the new ones!
Popular cricket events
You can place bets on pretty much anything these days and top cricket events are obviously no exception. Cricket betting sites present a wealth of different ways to have a flutter. The variety of bets is huge and the amount of games being played is growing every year as well.
You might think that British punters only tune in to watch UK county cricket, but in fact, the Indian subcontinent is now providing just as much top-class action. There has been some big investment in the game in that part of the world over the last few years. As a result, top players from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK often make their way to that region.
The wages far exceed anything they can expect in their own countries so it’s naturally a very tempting option.
ICC World Cup
Regardless of where the top stars play their regular cricket, getting into their respective national squads is the main aim. There’s no higher cricket honour than playing for your country, and there’s no bigger contest than the World Cup.
All of the biggest cricketing nations, along with some lesser-known entries, come together every four years. The aim is to see who’s the best team in the world.
You can catch up with all the action on your favourite cricket betting apps and possibly make a few quid on the side if you’re lucky!
Indian Premier League
The Indian Premier League, as we said before, is a financial powerhouse in the sport. Top players head out there and get involved in the exciting T20 league and are rewarded handsomely.
It’s not uncommon for the best batsmen and bowlers to earn well over a million pounds per season. When you consider that it only lasts for three months; that’s not bad!
The whole league is a massive investment game with teams acting as franchises. Big businesses front the cost and the players are auctioned to the team with the highest bid. It’s no surprise then that online betting in India has boomed off the back of this game.
Big Bash League
The Aussies are firm favourites of online cricket betting; they love it almost as much as the pokies!
Their own version of the T20 league is called the Big Bash and it has become a national obsession since it started ten years ago.
There are teams from each of the 6 main cities with Sydney and Melbourne host two teams. This makes for some heated rivalry on derby day. The Perth Scorchers and the Sydney Sixers have both won three times with the latter being the current champions.
Vitality T20 Blast
Heading back to the UK, you’ll find the Vitality Blast league. Named after its sponsor, Vitality Insurance, it’s the oldest of the T20 leagues in the world.
The title for ‘national champ’ is contested by 18 county cricket teams. They are either split into 2 or 3 groups with the top teams progressing to knockout phases. This leads to a final where the two most successful teams that season battle it out for the cup.
There is also a women’s T20 Blast league as well as a second men’s league on the way. The faster T20 style matches have definitely rekindled the popularity of the sport.
Pakistan Super League
Every February sees the start of the much-loved Pakistan Super League. It may not be as big and popular as the IPL but it still has a decent fan base.
The format is very similar with large organisations buying teams in the hope that they will prove profitable. TV rights, merchandise and ticket sales generate large revenues for the top clubs.
The PSL is yet another fantastic way to have a flutter on the game of cricket. And the T20 format makes it even more exciting to watch!
What betting markets are available in cricket?
As with any top sport, there are loads of ways you can bet on cricket. Every section of the field has different possible outcomes while the game is being played. This makes it the perfect event for a varied range of wagers.
Cricket betting apps will have all the latest odds and markets with some games even opening up to live cricket betting during the match as well. The possibilities are almost endless!
Outright Winner
Online cricket betting doesn’t come much more straightforward than this. You simply need to decide who you think will be the victor on the day.
Naturally, the favourites will have lower odds as they are expected to win. You might not see huge returns from this kind of bet if you only back the best teams. But winning a little each time is many punter’s preferred method, while others like things a little more risky.
Maximum Sixes
If you’re going to bet on the number of sixes in a game, then you’ll want to know your player stats. Guessing at this kind of wager is pointless unless there are some big hitters in the field.
Hitting the ball for six takes great technique and a fair amount of strength too. Not every player can manage it so studying the individual players will give you a much better chance of winning a bet like this.
First Dismissal Method
There are several ways that you can get a batsman out in cricket.
- Firstly, you can bowl them out, which is where the bowler hits the wicket.
- Secondly, we have LBW. This is where the ball hits the players pads that would have otherwise hit the wicket.
- After that, there’s catching them out, which is pretty easy to understand.
- Then there’s a ‘hit wicket’ when the batsman hits his own wicket with his bat or foot etc.
- Finally, we have run-outs. Which are when the players are running between the wickets and the fielders throw the ball back to hit the wicket before the batsman arrives in their crease.
So it might not be obvious how the first dismal, or any for that matter, will occur. All of these are a possibility and come with their own set of odds.
Top Team Batsman
If you know your players in any given team, then you’ll know who the best batsmen are. A little bit of knowledge in this area can help you decide which player you think will score the most runs for their side. You can often find some excellent odds for this type of bet, especially if a team has several decent batsmen.
Top Team Bowler
This bet, as you might imagine, is extremely similar to the last. The only difference here is that you are betting on the player that takes the most wickets in a game. Again, the odds can be very varied depending on the strength of each team’s players.
Deposit and withdrawals at cricket betting websites
To enjoy cricket online betting, you need to be able to get your money in and out of your account. It sounds fairly obvious, but people don’t always consider that some methods are perhaps better than others.
It will depend on your personal circumstances and you should make use of the option that works best for you.
Decent cricket betting apps will allow for several different ways to make you transactions. These are a few of the most popular.
E-wallets
Over the last 20 years, e-wallets have seen their popularity grow exponentially. They are fast, secure and super convenient.
PayPal is perhaps the most well-known brand across the world, but Neteller and Skrill have large followings too.
It’s easy to set up an account and you should be up and running the same day. You may need to verify bank details but this is fairly straightforward. It used to take several days or weeks of waiting for your bank statement to arrive. However, online banking has made this much simpler.
You can deposit and withdraw online cricket betting funds almost instantly but be aware of the bonus caveat. In the UK, you won’t be able to claim a welcome bonus when depositing with Skrill or Neteller. Sometimes, PayPal isn’t an option either.
Debit/credit cards
Credit cards aren’t an option for UK players anymore. In the spring of 2020, the UK changed its laws to prohibit the use of these when gambling. However, customers from other countries may still be able to use them in their own territories.
Debit cards are perfectly fine to use in the UK and the rest of the world so there’s no problem on that front. These cards are rapid and safe and shouldn’t incur any fees. Moreover, you can use them to both deposit and withdraw funds.
Bank Transfers
You might think that bank transfers are seldom used these days, but that’s not quite true. While their use for everyday purchase may be dwindling, they are still used for transferring larger amounts of money.
It’s a very safe option but it can prove to be a little slow. Moving money to and from your betting account will often take a number of days.
FAQ
Still have questions about cricket bet sites? Check out some of our most-asked questions.
