In India, Cricket isn’t just a mere sport, but a great passion that brings together millions of people in the country. This passion extends to sports betting, where cricket dominates compared to other sports. In this article we’ll explore this popularity.
The popularity of cricket in online betting
Cricket is the most popular sport in India, and this is clearly reflected on sports betting sites. Events such as the Indian Premier League (IPL), the ICC Cricket World Cup and the T20 World Cup attract a huge volume of bets, much higher than those on sports such as football, tennis or basketball. There are many reasons for this popularity.
- Familiarity with the sport: Most Indians grow up watching and playing cricket, which translates into an in-depth knowledge of the sport. This understanding increases bettors’ confidence in participating in cricket betting.
- Extensive media coverage: Cricket receives a lot of coverage in the Indian media, which keeps the sport constantly on bettors’ radar.
- Frequency and magnitude of events: The annual cricket calendar is packed with national and international leagues, providing numerous betting opportunities throughout the year.
Comparison with other sports on betting sites
While football and basketball betting are popular globally, in India these sports don’t come close to cricket in terms of betting volume. However, major international events such as the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games are starting to gain more attention among Indian bettors, although they are still far from cricket’s popularity.
Availability of betting markets
For cricket, the betting options are very varied, including bets on the outcome of the match, best players, number of runs and many other more specialised and complex options. In contrast, other sports may not offer the same variety of options or depth of statistical analysis.
Promotions and offers
Betting sites often offer specific promotions for cricket matches due to their high demand, which may be less common in other sports. Cricket events, however small, attract many fans in the country. Specific offers for championships and matches in other sports are usually only for big events, while in cricket, even small national matches have special promotions.
Live Betting
Live betting, or in-play betting, is another attraction of cricket compared to other sports. Unlike many sports, cricket has a duration that varies greatly, from quick T20 matches that last just a few hours, to Test matches that can stretch for five days. This variety allows bettors plenty of opportunities and moments to place bets based on the events of the game. Strategic moves, such as changing batsmen or weather conditions altering the playing conditions, open the door to strategic and immediate betting decisions.
Cricket is the national passion even on sports betting sites
Cricket betting is an intrinsic part of the sports betting scene in India, greatly surpassing other sports in terms of popularity and betting volume. Familiarity with the sport, extensive media coverage and the magnitude of cricket events in the country explain cricket’s dominant position in the Indian online betting market.