Cricket betting, though not nearly as mainstream as betting on the major US sports, is a goldmine for expert bettors. The category is often overlooked, but if you browse all the best US sportsbooks, you will find cricket is not only covered but there are plenty of betting markets to form lengthy SGPs and parlay wagers.
But why would you bet on cricket at all? Well, if you are on the lookout for new betting opportunities, with tons of data and statistics to rely on, then cricket betting is the venture for you. The sport has taken off in recent years, with a great interest in the various competitions and leagues around the world. Here, we will go through all the various types of bets and variants of cricket you should look out for. We have also shortlisted the best cricket betting sites in the US, and how you can get the most out of your cricket betting.
Best US Cricket Betting Sites & Apps
The best US sportsbooks have a handful of “niche sports”, including darts, rugby, cycling, powerslap, and eSports. Cricket is practically always there, among the niche sports, but the variety of betting markets and odds can vary greatly depending on which sportsbook you pick. Many mid-range cricket betting sites will offer you prop bets, but have no possibilities to form SGPs or parlay wagers.
We have found that even some of the bigger sportsbooks have this same problem, but they make up for it by providing numerous preselected SGPs and special features through which you can pitch for longer odds. As one of these niche sports, the cricket betting odds vary drastically between betting sites, with juice ranging from around 4% and going up to nearly 10%.
But another area in which you can find a gulf of difference in quality is in the provided coverage. Average betting sites will offer betting markets on top events such as the T20 World Cup, Ashes, or the ICC World Cup. But there are sites with better resources, that extend this coverage to include various domestic leagues around the world, international test series, and other important clashes. Another thing to consider is betting bonuses.
Practically none of the betting sites in the US have bonuses that specifically relate to cricket. So instead, you have to consider general bonus bets or profit boosts, that are not tied to an event or sport, which can be put towards your cricket betting. Here are the most impressive cricket betting sites we have tested, and their standout features.
#1. FanDuel
FanDuel is one of the most accessible and user-friendly betting sites, something that translates well on its mobile betting app. The sportsbook has everything you can possibly need to bet on cricket like a pro. The odds are extremely generous, with the lowest juice that we have seen for cricket betting. For big matches, you will find no shortage of game props, player bets, and a variety of Totals bets. Forming parlay wagers is very easy, but the opportunities to form custom SGPs are scarce. This is more than made up for through the FanDuel preselected SGP wagers, found under the Popular Parlays tab.
Featured FanDuel Cricket Bets:
- Team to Score Most Sixes
- Top Runscorer
- Fall of 1st Wicket
- Highest Partnership
Another thing we really like is that FanDuel covers lots of domestic leagues and ICC test series, so you aren’t stuck just betting on the major international tournaments. Plus, FanDuel occasionally offers live streams on cricket fixtures. Combine that with the great volume of live betting markets, and you can take your cricket betting to a whole new level. FanDuel has a great range of generic sports betting bonuses, so you will get ample opportunities to use profit boosts or bonus bets to stake your cricket wagers.
#2. DraftKings
In terms of props bets, there aren’t many sportsbooks that do it better than DraftKings. The sportsbook has bucketloads of cricket props bets, and you won’t struggle to find very specific wagers that with tremendous returns. Plus, DraftKings has one of the lowest minimum deposit limits, set at just $5. There are quality picks to be had in the batter, bowler, wickets, and match specials categories. We like the DraftKings parlay features too, allowing you to combine these wagers, but you won’t be able to make any SGPs. Once again, just like FanDuel, DraftKings has SGP bettors covered with a good handful of premade SGP bets that combine moneylines, batting props, bowling props, and player feats.
Featured DraftKings Cricket Bets:
- Batter H2H Runs
- Batter +50/+100 Totals
- Opening Batter Totals
- Total Runouts
DraftKings doesn’t cover as many domestic leagues as FanDuel, but it does all the games in the biggest leagues and competitions. The platform is well stocked with live betting markets, though you don’t have live streams on cricket. DraftKings has a fair few profit boost offers and bonus bet promos that can be used for cricket betting.
#3. BetMGM
BetMGM has a fantastic array of cricket bets and coverage and gives you great value for your wagered dollar. The platform has lengthy odds on cricket wagers, and breaks up games into innings and overs, giving you full flexibility. The opportunities are rife, and BetMGM also has a meticulous approach to futures betting. Whenever a big tournament comes around, you can be sure BetMGM will provide futures related to players, nations, and more.
Featured BetMGM Cricket Bets:
- Batter Total Runs
- 1st Innings Totals
- Total Runs in X Over
- Runs in Overs 0-10
BetMGM’s loyalty program gives you everything you need to get the most out of your cricket bets. You can earn comp points through your staked wagers, and then redeem these points for profit boosts or bonus bets. This gives BetMGM a great advantage over its competitors, as you can practically redeem bonus bets whenever you want (so long as you have enough comp points). Though we didn’t rate this sportsbook higher because it doesn’t have great SGP opportunities, and rarely offers preselected SGPs.
New customers can use the promo code BTOOLS at BetMGM to get a tasty $1,500 bonus bet when you join too!
#4. bet365
As a UK-based sportsbook, bet365 knows how to entertain cricket bettors. This platform is really the ultimate destination for cricket bettors, with the most extensive selection of game and player props. bet365 has props relating to practically every over of the game, like BetMGM, and enough match specials, like DraftKings, to get the creative juices flowing. Plus, you can combine SGPs at this betting platform, making it an easy winner.
Featured bet365 Cricket Bets:
- Match Spreads (Runs or Wickets)
- Batter +10/+30/+50/+70/+100 Totals
- H2H Batter Matches
- Player to Score Most 4s/6s
That is not all. bet365 also has regular odds boosts and featured SGP bets with enhanced prices. Should you want to bet during cricket games, you will find the majority of events are broadcast on the bet365 app, and the platform provides bucketloads of live betting markets. Or, you can listen to game commentary – the choice is yours.
bet365 has excellent fixed promos, including bet boosts and parlay boosts. These can be used in your cricket betting. The only reason we don’t have bet365 as the top choice is because it has limited state availability. Unlike the likes of FanDuel, that operates in 20+ states, bet365 is quite far behind. But if bet365 is available in your state, you are in for a treat at this sportsbook.
#5. Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars Sportsbook has lots of strengths when it comes to cricket betting. The platform has regular odds boosts on cricket games, generous odds and covers lots of international events. We also like the betting app, which is optimized for betting on the go, with easy payment methods and hassle-free navigation.
Featured Caesars Cricket Bets:
- Highest Opening Partnership
- Fall of 1st Wicket
- To Score 50+
- Top Bowler
But Caesars has a few shortcomings too. While the coverage is quite broad, there is a big difference between the “bigger” and “smaller” games. Domestic leagues, or fixtures between lower ranking nations have fewer betting markets, often just a handful. There are little to no SGP possibilities, so you won’t really get your chance to hit longer odds. On the plus side, Caesars has a fantastic Rewards program that can gift you regular monthly bonus bets. And you can redeem your comp points for more bonus bets, meaning lots of bonuses for cricket bettors.
How We Rate Cricket Sportsbooks
We can’t really compare cricket betting sites with, say NFL sportsbooks. The criteria are different and sportsbooks will not provide the same volume of special features. However, even within the few features and perks cricket betting sites offer, the experience is quite different depending on which site you pick.
In terms of odds, the discrepancies are great depending on which site you are signed up at. Just consider this. In football or basketball betting, the difference between the odds may be 2 or 3 cents, but in cricket betting, you may find discrepancies of 10 cents or more. This is partially because cricket receives less attention, but mainly because a lot of average sportsbooks crank up the juice on niche sports.
In terms of balanced coverage, FanDuel and bet365 are our favorites. They have bets on loads of leagues and cricket tournaments, giving you SGPs, props bets, and ample parlay opportunities. DraftKings and BetMGM are also good for props, but they don’t have the same scope of domestic leagues and one-off ICC test series.
What To Know About Betting on Cricket
We can’t really send off novice bettors into the world of cricket betting without talking about the different leagues and formats of the game. Not many sports have different formats or variants, it is a bit like talking about NFL vs CFL, or rugby union vs rugby league, or soccer vs futsal. For betting purposes, your betting strategy will be completely different for T20 betting versus test series or one day international cricket betting.
Basics of Cricket
Two teams of 11 players face each other in a game. At the beginning of the game, there is a coin toss to decide which team bats first, in the first innings. Depending on the format, the batting innings either has a fixed number of overs or keeps going until a team either: is bowled out, makes more runs than the other team, or declares.
Each over consists of 6 bowls, or deliveries. The bowler delivers the ball, and if they can break the stumps behind the batter, they bowl them out. The batter has to hit the ball, and then can make runs between the wickets. If the ball leaves the field without touching the ground, the batter wins 6 runs. If the ball bounces before leaving the field, the batter gets 4 runs.
After the innings is over, the other team will bat. In most formats of cricket, each team gets 1 batting inning, and at the end of the game the team with the most runs made wins. Batters can lose their wicket in various ways. When the ball smashes the stumps, they are bowled out. If they hit the ball and it is caught in mid air by one of the outfield players, they are caught out.
If the ball is heading towards the stumps but hits the batters leg, this is a “leg before wicket”, and results in the batter losing their wicket. Batters make runs between stumps, but if a batter has not reached the stumps, bowlers can run them out. The bowler needs to quickly get the ball and throw it at the stumps to make a run out.
There are 4 cricket formats. In the US, the most popular is T20 cricket, though in the world Test and ODI are arguably more renowned. The fourth type, Hundred, is a relatively new type of cricket that is only played in 1 English league, and therefore extremely rare to find bets on.
T20 Cricket
T20 cricket is when games are fixed to 20 overs. Games last around 2.5 hours, with both teams getting twenty overs, and the team that scores the most runs wins. If you are new to cricket, this is perhaps the most exciting format to watch, as it is around the same length as a MLB game and batters tend to be more aggressive. The action is more condensed than other formats of cricket, and the format is played in both domestic leagues and at international level.
Top T20 Cricket Tournaments to Bet On:
- ICC T20 World Cup
- Indian Premier League (IPL)
- Big Bask League (Australia)
- Vitality Blast (England)
ODI (One-Day Internationals)
One day internationals are games that last around 7-9 hours, with the teams playing fixed 50 overs innings. This format is strictly played on an international level, and nations compete in the ICC ODI rankings. There are lots of historic matchups and iconic ODI international competitions to keep an eye on. In terms of betting, T20 and ODI have the majority of cricket betting markets, with loads of props and player bets.
As these games last the most part of a day, you can expect tons of live betting opportunities and can continuously bet on any in-play games. However, we will warn the uninitiated that ODIs can be quite slow. Batters are more conservative than in T20 games. Just to compare, in T20 there are about 8-9 runs per over whereas in ODI it is about 5. Teams are expected to make around 14-15 overs per hour, meaning in T20 you are getting about 110+ runs per hour whereas in ODI you can expect around 70+ runs per hour.
Top ODI Cricket Tournaments to Bet On:
- ICC Cricket World Cup
- ICC Champions Trophy (Mini-World Cup)
- Asia Cup
- Bilateral ODI Series (International High Profile ICC Series)
Test Cricket
Test cricket is the oldest and most renowned form of cricket. Each series has 5 test matches, each of which is played across 5 days. In each test, the teams have 2 batting innings, which are not fixed to a max number of overs.
When a test starts, the teams make a coin toss to decide who bats first. The batting team keeps going until they run out of wickets, or they decide to declare (in which they finish their innings before losing all wickets). Then, the opponents bat, and must try to catch up or gain more runs than the first batting team. Once they have finished (by getting bowled out or declaring), the first team then has their final batting innings. This is followed by the second team getting their final batting innings.
Now here is the kicker. If the team that bats second doesn’t have enough time to finish their second batting innings, the test ends in a draw. Therefore, the teams need to leave ample time for their opponents to bat if they are to win. Any team that takes the advantage must keep an eye on the time, and declare if necessary to let the other team bat. A team that is behind can therefore “play for the draw” if they are too far behind. Plus, if it starts raining (in England, who knew?) then the gameplay is postponed until the rain clears.
The run rate for test series is the lowest, as the teams have to be extra careful not to get bowled out early. The run rate is generally around 3 to 3.5 runs per over. Meaning, you could watch for an hour and only see around 40+ runs. Test series cricket is the most difficult for newcomers to get into, as it is very slow paced and games are long.
However, there are loads of exceptional rivalries and historic clashes in test cricket that are worth checking out. Sportsbooks have tons of bets on test series cricket, plus, as tests or series can end in ties, you will also have double chance wagers and the opportunity to back the draw.
Top Test Cricket Tournaments to Bet On:
- The Ashes (Australia vs England)
- ICC World Test Championship
- Pataudi Trophy (England vs India)
- Frank Worrell Trophy (Australia vs West Indies)
- Wisden Trophy (England vs West Indies)
- Border-Gavaskar Trophy (Australia vs India)
Hundred
The Hundred is a format of cricket just played in 1 competition, called “The Hundred”. It is played between English clubs, and features games with fixed 100 overs. The action is a lot more fast paced, and at the beginning of games, a Powerplay rule is introduced. This limits the number of outfield players, making it easier for batters to rack up loads of runs nice and early.
The Hundred is not nearly as popular as the other formats of cricket, and because there is only 1 tournament that plays this format, betting opportunities are very limited. However, it was specifically designed to attract broader audiences, and as the game becomes more widespread, we may see more Hundred cricket competitions crop up.
Types of Cricket Betting Markets
There are loads of cricket betting markets to be had, and keeping a wide net is key to finding quality cricket betting opportunities. The most basic markets are moneylines and Total runs.
Spread bets in cricket are extremely uncommon, and this is because the scoring can be measured in either runs or wickets. For example, a trailing team can go on to win a game by a solitary run but with 3 wickets left on the field. Or, a team ahead may finish off their opponents with a 50 run lead. But bet365 has been known to offer the occasional spread, only it does so with a “either X runs or X wickets” approach. Otherwise, you can pretty much forget cricket spread bets.
In totals, there are loads of game props and player bets to check out. In the batting department, you can expect totals relating to made runs, total boundaries (4s or 6s), or even batting partnerships. Sportsbooks such as BetMGM let you bet on the number of runs in specific overs – a good way to make fast returns. You can also find plenty of bowling props, such as total wickets, or allowed runs. FanDuel and DraftKings make good use of props and even provide some preselected SGP bets that combine batting, bowling and game props.
Some betting sites also offer H2H props, in which you can bet on which player will make more runs between two batters. Or, which bowler will allow fewer runs during a game. Sure, cricket games may last quite long, but you can bet on individual overs, or on groups of overs (1-10, 11-20, and so on), meaning you don’t need to wait for a day for your bet to win.
And if you are betting at one of the top cricket betting sites, like the ones we have shortlisted, you will have no shortage of opportunities to seize a piece of the action. Don’t forget, that with generic boosts and bonus bet offers, you can also extend your funds and dare to go a little bolder with your cricket bets.
