What to Consider When Choosing a Cricket Betting Site

While cricket has yet to fully shed its image as the gentleman’s game, its popularity has increased leaps and bounds in recent years, proving that it can be enjoyed by everyone, not just the upper-middle classes. Like the game’s image, cricket betting has grown from just gambling on the result of a match to a wide market filled with main bets and side bets.

A Brief History of Cricket

The bat-and-ball game has a history that dates back 500 years, and possibly even further, with the very name steeped in Old English dialect, meaning stick or club. It was not until the mid-18th century that the game took the form it retains to this day, with the ball being pitched at a batsman.

The rise of the British Empire saw the game spread to all corners of the known world, planting the seeds to make it one of the most popular sports in modern times. It is also seen as a having a great influence in the development of other sports such as baseball and Aussie rules football.

Best Cricket Betting Sites

Why Bet on Cricket?

Like football or basketball, the opportunity to bet on the activities of a specific player means that gambling on cricket can be very lucrative, especially for fans who keep abreast of player statistics. Not only that, but with many leagues spread all across the world, as well as many international matches and test series, cricket fans will struggle to find a time of year when they are not able to bet on their favourite sport.

What Types of Bet Can be Made?

There was a time when betting on cricket was limited to the winner of a specific match, but since the advent of online gambling sportsbooks have expanded the scope of cricket betting, finding inspiration in other types of sport betting.

The main betting type is still the outcome of a specific match or series. However, punters can also single out players to bet upon. For example, gamblers can put money on which batsman will make the highest amount of runs, or try to pick who the best bowler will be, judged by the amount of wickets they manage to demolish. Likewise, they can choose to bet on which player has performed the best overall, winning if their choice is awarded "man of the match".

Here are the main types of bets that can be made on cricket:

• Match Winner - This is a straightforward bet on which team will win the match. In test matches, there's also the option to bet on a draw.
• Top Batsman - This bet is about predicting which batsman will score the most runs in a match or an innings. You can bet on the top batsman from either team or the overall top batsman in the match.
• Top Bowler - Similar to the top batsman bet, but in this case, you're predicting which bowler will take the most wickets in a match or an innings.
• Toss Winner - This is a bet on which team will win the coin toss at the beginning of the match. It's a 50/50 bet, as there are only two possible outcomes.
• Player of the Match - This is a bet on which player will be declared the "Player of the Match" or "Man of the Match." This award is usually given to the most outstanding player in the game, considering both batting and bowling performances.
• Dismissal Method - This bet involves predicting the method by which a batsman will be dismissed. The options typically include caught, bowled, run out, LBW (leg before wicket), stumped, and others.
• Series Winner - In cricket, teams often play a series of matches against each other (like a 3-match or 5-match series). This bet is on which team will win the majority of the matches and hence, the series.
• Future - This type of bet involves predicting outcomes that will happen in the distant future. For instance, you could place a bet on which team will win the next World Cup, even if it's years away. It's a longer-term bet as opposed to betting on immediate or individual matches.

Top Cricket Competitions to Bet On

• Cricket World Cup
• Ashes Series
• Champions League Twenty20
• Indian Premier League
• NatWest Series
• Border-Gavaskar Trophy
• Asia Cup
• Australian Tri Series

Also check out: The best online betting apps and get in on the betting action.

What to Consider When Searching for Cricket Betting Site

What you are looking for in a cricket sportsbook may depend on what types of bets you are looking to make. Those who have yet to be initiated into the world of cricket may wish only the most basic of wagers to begin with, while die-hard cricket statisticians will probably be seeking an online portal that offers betting on every conceivable aspect of the game. Take this into account when considering your cricket betting strategy.

Some of the Canadian best betting sites may offer a far more extensive selection of cricket bets than others, which may largely be down to where they're based. Most sportsbooks will offer a wide array of bets, while countries, where the game is not so established, may offer only the most basic options to wager upon.

Online gambling sites will often compete for player’s money by offering very generous introductory bonuses or even free bets. Shop around and see which ones offer the most amount for joining, but remember to check how these bonuses can be used and if they generate any winnings, if they can be withdrawn.

Where to Bet on Cricket in Canada

You can bet on cricket in Canada with the vast majority of operators in the country. The sites available to you will depend on your location as each province has its own set of laws surrounding online gambling. Be sure to check out what's available to you in advance of signing up, for example, a whole host of new Ontario Sportsbooks have come online due to a recent change in the law in that province.  

Related Betting Guides:

The Ashes

Cricket World Cup