Cricket is one of the most popular sports around the world; people in the U.K. watch more cricket than any other sport, and there are more than 300 million fans of the sport globally. With such global interest, it’s no wonder that bookmakers want to cash in on the action! Here’s how to bet on cricket and where to find the best deals.
Types of Cricket
As well as being one of the most popular sports around the world, cricket is also legally recognized as a sport in many countries. It is played throughout the world by male members of the community, although nearly all of the games are between two teams of eleven players each. The exception is the Women’s World Cup, which is played between eight teams, comprising of either female members of the community or an all-female team.
The game can be divided into two categories: Twenty20 and traditional cricket. The former is a brief format that was first played in the U.K. in 2003 and subsequently, other regions around the world adopted it, particularly in Australia, where it’s known as ‘Big Bash’ cricket.
Traditional cricket is considered to be the ‘senior’ game of the two, and is played between two teams of eleven players each. It is legally recognized in all parts of the world, though in some countries such as India, matches can last many hours, sometimes even days! The two teams are tasked with scoring as many runs as possible within the stipulated time-period. This is typically achieved through a combination of batting and bowling, with the exception of the Cricket World Cup, where there are only seven bowling innings in the whole tournament! Batsmen must also ensure they stay in position throughout the innings, as they are only given out if they step out of the crease.
Where Can I Bet On Cricket?
You’ll probably want to bet on cricket wherever you are, as there are numerous tournaments and matches happening throughout the year. The key thing to note is that you’ll need a betting slip for any sporting events that you want to bet on; this is typically given out at the start of the event, and you’ll have to fill it in by the end. In some places, you might not be able to legally bet on certain sports; check the local rules before you place a wager!
Bookmakers And Odds-makers
The majority of the sportsbooks’ and casinos’ attention is focused on offering odds and betting lines for major sporting events, such as the World Cups and NBA Finals. However, if you’re looking for bookmakers who offer odds on individual league fixtures and tournaments, you’ll need to search diligently for them. The majority of the odds available for cricket are produced by a small number of prestigious bookmakers, such as Bet365, Paddy Power, and Coral.
These bookmakers do not offer betting lines for individual games, but they will provide you with a complete overview of the odds for all the major competitions and tournaments. This type of information is readily available online, which means you don’t necessarily need to be subscribed to a betting newsletter in order to find it!
It is important to remember that the odds provided by bookmakers often vary from region to region, and can change at any time, so you should check before you bet.
Betting On Cricket
Many sportsbooks will only allow you to make wagers on sporting events that are being played in England, Wales, and Scotland; if the event is being held in a country that is not part of ‘The Three’ then you’ll have to search diligently for a British bookmaker who’s willing to take your wager. Overseas wagering is also available, but you’ll have to search for the best rates offered by individual bookmakers rather than the vast majority of sportsbooks, who only offer betting on major sporting events. For example, Paddy Power is one of the longest standing sportsbooks in the world, and yet, they only offer odds on major events and competitions, such as the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League.
Cricket Is Popular, But Is It Profitable To Bet On It?
With such global interest in cricket, it’s no wonder that bookmakers want to cash in on the action! The truth is that cricket is incredibly popular, but quite frankly, not that profitable for bookmakers. As we’ve established above, there are numerous matches and festivals throughout the year, which is great for audience engagement, but it doesn’t translate to large profits for the sportsbooks. The bookmaking industry in England and Wales takes in around £2 billion per year, and the amount of money wagered on cricket in England and Wales is around £30 million per year. This breaks down to just under £20,000 per week on average, which is considerably less than the average weekly wage.
The truth is that cricket isn’t all that profitable for bookmakers, with the exception of certain leagues and competitions where huge audiences turn up and spend a lot of money. For example, the Indian Premier League is the most lucrative of the cricket tournaments, while the English Premier League is relatively unprofitable. This is because most of the Indian crowd are either immigrants to the country or Indians living abroad, and therefore, don’t have much interest in the outcome of specific matches. The same goes for Pakistanis, who live abroad rather than in Pakistan, so the matches between the two countries are also not that significant to them.
Cricket And Social Media
Cricket has been around for hundreds of years, and yet, it’s only in recent times that the sport has become so prominent and accessible through social media. The game is often talked about on social media platforms, which in turn, leads to more engagement with audiences and potential fans. The more a sport is talked about on social media, the more people will know about it and the greater the odds of it becoming a mainstream sport.
Given the amount of social media interaction that goes on around cricket, it’s a perfect fit for advertising on social media platforms. This is likely why over the past year, we’ve seen more and more brands getting involved with cricket, promoting products through social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook.
Gambling Addiction
For decades, cricket was considered to be a ‘male dominated’ sport. While that might be true of the general public, those who partake in the game are actually very much a part of society. It is accepted that there is a significant percentage of people who are plagued by gambling addiction, particularly in the U.K., and yet, this is still widely misunderstood as being a ‘sporting addiction’.
The fact is that cricket is often played for high stakes, and this can lead to serious issues, particularly where there are organized matches or festivals. In the 2014/2015 season, there were 37 cases of people arrested for gambling-related offenses. That’s more than one a week, and it’s the tip of the iceberg as far as gambling addiction in relation to cricket goes. This is why it’s so important to keep your gambling to a minimum, as this is certainly something which can influence your life adversely.
The Bottom Line
Cricket isn’t exactly ‘easy money’ for bookmakers, but it’s a sport that has immense popularity globally, and it’s also accepted that there is a significant percentage of the population who are obsessed with it. This makes it a perfect sport for advertising and marketing, as well as a great way for brands to engage with their audience, whether that’s via social media or through traditional print and online media channels. This is likely why so many brands have jumped on board, promoting products through cricket, and yet, not all of them will be profitable for the sport’s official members. For instance, the Indian Premier League is one of the most lucrative tournaments in cricket, but it’s also one of the most rigged. The fact is that cricket isn’t for everyone, particularly given the significant amount of gambling that goes on; if you’re new to the game or if you have a penchant for gaming then this certainly isn’t the sport for you.