Learn all you need to know about cricket betting sites, including the most popular markets and competitions. We’ll also explain how to register with an online bookmaker, as well as revealing some top tips for betting on cricket. But first, here are the best cricket betting sites in the UK.
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Online Cricket Match Betting Types
Before we drill down into betting markets, we should first explain more about the different forms of cricket.
First-Class Cricket
This is the proper name for the longer cricket format, which takes place over a minimum of three days. Both sides bat for two innings and there are no restrictions on the number of overs.
First-class cricket is generally considered to be the purest form of the game. It allows for intense tactical battles and offers a real test of endurance and skill.
Test Match
This is simply the international version of first-class cricket, which takes place over five days. Only 12 nations can boast the elite Test status, the concept of which began with England and Australia in 1877.
Test matches are among the most popular games to watch, and all cricket betting sites offer odds. Like all forms of first-class cricket, a red ball is used, and players wear white or cream-coloured clothing.
One Day Cricket
Dubbed “white ball cricket”, for obvious reasons, the players also wear brightly-coloured uniforms, in sharp contrast to first-class matches. Teams have one innings each in which to bat, which usually lasts for 40 overs, or 50 at international level.
The concept of limited overs cricket began in the 1950s, with a 50-over match in Kerala, India. By 1971, the first official ODI (One Day International) had taken place, between – who else? – England and Australia.
Twenty20
In 2003, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) introduced an even shorter form of the game. The goal of Twenty20 cricket – so called as teams bat for a maximum of 20 overs – was to increase viewership and drive youth participation.
It’s hard to argue that it hasn’t worked, too. Fast forward 20+ years and the most popular competitions – both with television audiences and at online cricket betting sites – all use this format. The most notable example being the Indian Premier League.
Popular Markets at Cricket Betting Sites in the UK
If you don’t already know how to bet on cricket, we’d better start by looking at the different markets.
The best sites offer dozens of possible betting opportunities, but the following are by far the most popular.
Cricket UK Betting Sites Features
Okay, we’ve covered the most common markets, but what other features do the UK’s leading cricket betting sites offer? Let’s find out now.
Cricket Live Betting
Live betting, commonly known as “in-play”, is nothing new any more. For over 20 years now, the best sports betting sites in the UK have permitted bets on events that have already started. That’s true of horse racing, football and many other sports, including cricket.
The continual development of in-play betting has led to some interesting new markets. It’s now possible to bet on the number of runs scored in the upcoming over, for instance, or the next batter to be dismissed.
Cricket Live Streaming
Streaming goes hand in hand with in-play betting. After all, if you’re betting on the action as it unfolds, you need to understand what’s actually going on.
Live statistics and scorecards are certainly helpful, but the best online cricket betting sites actually let you watch the game. Much of the time, you only need to have a fully funded account in order to view the stream. However, some sites require you to bet on the match.
Cash Out
This allows you to sell your cricket bet before all of the selections have been settled. It’s a great way to lock in a guaranteed profit, but you can also salvage something from a bet that seems likely to lose.
Prior to cash out, any form of trading required a separate betting exchange account. But there’s no need for that anymore. The bookmaker crunches the numbers and makes an offer automatically. Simply tap a button to agree and watch the funds hit your account.
Bet Builder
In the last few years, most bookmakers have introduced a bet builder feature of some kind. Originally, it was popular with football fans, but the top betting sites for cricket have also got in on the act.
A bet builder allows you to combine multiple selections from within the same game that wouldn’t have been permitted in the past. As such, you now have more control over your wagering opportunities than ever before.
Bonuses and Offers at Cricket Betting Sites in the UK
All good online cricket betting sites offer signup incentives, as well as promotions for their existing customers. In the following section of our guide, we’ll break down the most popular examples.
Popular Cricket Competitions for Betting in the UK
We’ve already seen the different markets, as well as the four main types of cricket. But what leagues and tournaments are people actually betting on? The following events are the most popular with punters in the United Kingdom.
Cricket World Cup
Held every four years, the ICC Cricket World Cup is one of the sport’s biggest events. A real festival of cricket, the best players descend upon a single host country for a month to represent their respective nations.
Unusually, the women’s edition of the Cricket World Cup is actually older than the men’s. It was first held in 1973, but the gents didn’t start playing until 1975.
Most cricket betting sites allow you to play outright bets on the Cricket World Cup years in advance.
T20 Cricket World Cup
Founded as the ICC World Twenty20 in 2007, the tournament was renamed in 2020 – though that edition was actually held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Held every two years, it’s simply a Twenty20 version of the “real” Cricket World Cup, offering faster-paced action and more explosive scoring.
There’s also a separate tournament for the women’s international teams, which first took place in 2009.
Indian Premier League (IPL)
One of the most popular cricket betting events with all UK sports betting apps and websites, the Indian Premier League was formed in 2008.
Initially met with cynicism, this Twenty20 competition is now one of the most popular competitions in the world of cricket. It’s held every summer for 2 months, usually between March and May.
Each franchise acquires players through an auction system, or by trading contracted players with each other. All of the world’s best limited overs cricketers appear, and stars like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle dominate the IPL record books.
County Championship
The roots of England’s historic County Championship date way back to 1709, though the first official competition was held in 1890.
18 counties take part in a two-tier system with promotion and relegation. Teams play the others in their league twice a season; once at home and once away. The format is first-class cricket, with games lasting four days each.
All of the best cricket betting sites in the UK, and indeed the world, accept bets on the County Championship.
Big Bash League
Established in 2011, the Big Bash League is Australia’s premier Twenty20 cricket tournament. Eight city-based teams take part, in contrast to the country’s state-centred first-class cricket competition.
It takes place during the Australian summer, with each team contesting ten matches prior to a four-team knockout.
The women’s Big Bash League launched in 2015.
Sheffield Shield
Australia’s first-class cricket league, whose trophy is named after Lord Sheffield, uses a similar system to that of England’s County Championship.
However, with just six states taking part, there are far fewer games in a season. Each team plays a total of ten four-day matches, before the top two battle it out in a five-day final.
The inaugural season of this historical competition was held in 1892.
The Hundred
A fairly recent innovation, having launched in 2021, The Hundred features eight city-based teams playing a new form of limited overs cricket.
Even shorter than a T20 game, matches involve 20 overs of just five balls. Each innings, therefore, lasts for a maximum of 100 balls.
Teams play each other once, plus an extra match against their nearest regional rivals. A semi-final is then contested between the teams placing second and third, with the winner facing the league leader in the final.
Top Cricket Competitions Summary
Competition | Location | Format | Level | Dates |
ICC Cricket World Cup | Various | One Day | International | Men: Every four years (Next: 2027)
Women: Every four years (Next: 2025) |
ICC T20 World Cup | Various | Twenty20 | International | Men: Every two years (Next: 2026)
Women: Every two years (Next: 2026) |
Indian Premier League | India | Twenty20 | Domestic | Annual: March to May |
County Championship | England & Wales | First Class | Domestic | Annual: April to December |
Big Bash League | Australia | Twenty20 | Domestic | Annual: December to January |
Sheffield Shield | Australia | First Class | Domestic | Annual: October to March |
The Hundred | England & Wales | 100-Ball | Domestic | Annual: July to August |
How to Sign Up to a Cricket Betting Site in the UK and Place Your First Bet
If the thought of joining cricket betting websites has got you “stumped”, check out the following step-by-step guide. We’ll run you through the process of registering and placing your first bet with a few expert tips.
- Choose a betting brand – Select any of our best cricket betting apps and mobile websites to get started.
- Grab your ID – Before trying to register, you’d better prepare your passport or driver’s licence and a utility bill. You may not be able to register with a UK bookmaker without it.
- Register an account – After installing the app or loading the website, complete the registration form to create an account.
- Additional verification – Your initial registration will be checked against credit reference agencies and the electoral roll. If you cannot be automatically identified, you’ll need to submit proof of address.
- Age verification – If you’re accepted automatically, many betting sites in the UK still require you to undergo age verification checks. This requires you to upload a copy of an official identity document.
- Think about bonuses – Make sure you read the terms and conditions of the site’s welcome bonus before depositing. You may be required to deposit a specific amount in order to qualify. There may also be a special promo code or an opt-in required.
- Make a deposit – Once the verification process is complete, which may take anything from a couple of hours to a few days, you can deposit. Visit the cashier, choose your payment method and follow the instructions on screen.
- Place a bet – All that remains is to browse the various cricket betting online markets and add some selections to your bet slip. Enter the stake when you’re finished and strike your first bet.
How We Choose the Best Cricket Betting Sites
There’s plenty to think about when choosing a good online bookmaker. Here are the key factors that we consider when rating the leading sites for cricket betting in the UK.
- Security & Licensing – Does the sports betting site hold a Gambling licence? We only recommend properly-licensed bookmakers, as this ensures fair play and a secure environment for all.
- Cricket Betting Markets – Naturally, if you’re interested in betting on cricket, you’ll want to see a wide variety of wagering opportunities. The best sites and apps offer all of the world’s biggest competitions, with dozens of markets per game.
- Cricket Odds and Lines – We’re also looking for bookies that consistently offer the biggest odds on cricket matches. When a site usually offers the best price on your favourite teams, it makes shopping around much less important.
- Live Cricket Betting Features in the UK – The ability to bet in-play is obviously important, especially in first-class cricket matches. But we also expect to be able to stream the game and check live statistics, as well as cashing out early.
- Bonuses and Promotions – A generous welcome bonus could be the sole difference between two top quality cricket betting sites. Which one are you going to join? Look out for ongoing loyalty rewards and promotions, too.
- Payment Options – There can be no real money betting without the ability to quickly, easily and securely move funds in and out of your account. Convenient, fast and reliable payment methods are vital to a bookie’s success.
- Customer Service – An underrated element of the country’s top cricket betting sites, most people fail to consider customer support until they need it. A well-trained support team that’s knowledgeable, friendly and accessible 24/7 is a must.
- Overall User Experience – The devil is in the detail. It’s the little things that add up to a positive experience for punters. A quick and easy registration process, for instance. Quick page loading times. A well-designed app. We only recommend the best.
Cricket Betting Sites vs Cricket Betting Apps
Although it’s nice to have the option, there’s a debate among bettors about whether apps or mobile sites are better.
Apps tend to offer a slightly more polished experience, as the software is specifically tailored to your device for optimal performance. There are some other minor advantages too, like not needing to enter passwords as often, or saving mobile data. But they also take up space on your smartphone or tablet.
Any bookie offering cricket betting online these days designs their website with mobile users in mind. They’re dynamic and will automatically adjust to your device’s screen size. All of the same features are present – even the best cricket betting app won’t offer anything that a responsive mobile site doesn’t.
Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference, and there’s very little to choose between the two.
Cricket Betting Tips
We’re nearing the end of our guide to the UK’s top cricket betting sites. But we can’t let you go without sharing some expert advice.
Build the following tips into your cricket betting strategy and you’ll be racking up the wins faster than a Brendon McCullum century.
- Check the weather – The weather matters more in cricket than any other sport. It affects the way a pitch will play, with spinners favouring drier, dustier wickets and seamers enjoying moisture in the air.
- Understand the format – In Test cricket, the pitch breaks up as the days pass. Conditions become treacherous and batting last is a major disadvantage. However, in limited overs cricket, data shows that teams betting second actually have a statistical advantage.
- Learn about middling – Cricket run lines are the perfect markets to carry out the “middling” trick. Here, you exploit the difference between two bookmakers and their run lines by betting at both sites. It creates an unusual situation where you either lose a small amount or make a sizable profit.
- Investigate arbitrage betting too – Although these situations are much harder to find, cricket is also a great sport to find arbitrage opportunities. These arise when two different sites take a different view on a closely matched line. By betting both sides of the market, you can lock in a small but guaranteed profit.
- ODI first innings wickets – A 2015 study showed that in-play betting markets tend to overreact to the fall of a wicket in the first innings. In the study, betting on the team that just lost the wicket immediately after the event showed a profit of 20.80%
Responsible Gambling For UK Players
Whether you’re playing at an online casino, or using cricket betting sites, it’s important to gamble responsibly. All of our featured bookmakers offer a number of tools to help you stay in control, and we recommend you check them out.
In addition to reality checks, bet limits and temporary timeouts, look into the National Online Self Exclusion Scheme, better known as GAMSTOP. If things really get out of hand for you or a loved one, this program allows you to self-exclude from all gambling websites in the country.
The Best Cricket Betting Sites in UK – Our Verdict
Hopefully we bowled you over with our informative guide to the country’s best cricket betting sites. Here are the key points to take back to the pavilion with you.
- Cricket is a fantastic sport for betting – With so many different forms of the game, not to mention popular tournaments around the world, cricket is a rich source of betting opportunities.
- Good sites have much in common – The UK’s best cricket betting sites share a lot of similar features. They offer a wide variety of competitions and markets, as well as innovating sportsbook features and rewarding bonuses.
- Follow our expert tips – The advice in this guide will help you to choose the right site and start placing cricket bets. In addition, our betting tips should get you off to the best possible start.
How We Test and Review Gambling Websites
150+ Gambling Platforms Reviewed
1,100+ Games Software Tested
200+ Monthly Hours of Research
375+ Gambling Promotions Verified
While betting options and promotions are the main attractions at gambling websites, it’s also important that the gambling software you’re using is safe and secure.
That’s why, here at Techopedia, we have an in-house review process that covers every aspect of a gambling website.
This includes:
- Games and betting markets
- Payment methods
- Bonuses and promotions
- Customer support
- Security protocols
- Licensing
…and more.
You can take a look at our detailed guide on how we test gambling platforms featured on Techopedia.
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References
- https://www.thehundred.com/ (The Hundred)
- https://www.iplt20.com/ (IPL)
- https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/cricketworldcup (ICC Cricket World Cup)
- https://www.bigbash.com.au/ (Big Bash)
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378426615002538 (ODI cricket trading strategies)