Top-notch Cricket Wagering Platforms & Applications | US Gambling on Cricket Examined
Cricket betting is positively goldmined for expert bettors, even though it's not as mainstream as sports like basketball and football. The category is often overlooked, but if you explore the best US sportsbooks, you'll find cricket is a regular fixture. With plenty of betting markets, you can form impressive Single Game Parlays (SGPs) and parlay wagers.
So, why would you bet on cricket? A multitude of data and statistics to rely on make it an attractive venture for those on the search for new betting opportunities. With a growing interest in various cricket competitions and leagues around the world, we've rounded up all the different types of bets and cricket variants you should keep an eye on.
Having said that, let's dive into the best US cricket betting sites and apps, along with how to make the most out of your cricket betting.
Top US Cricket Betting Sites & Apps
Even the best US sportsbooks house a handful of "niche sports" - including cricket. But the variety of betting markets and odds can greatly vary depending on your choice of sportsbook.
Our research reveals that even some top cricket betting sites limit prop bets but have no possibilities for SGPs or parlay wagers. We've found that it's common for even some bigger sportsbooks to have this issue, but they compensate by offering numerous preselected SGP wagers with a chance for longer odds.
Here's our pick of the top US cricket betting sites, along with some standout features:
#1. FanDuel Sportsbook
Known for its excellent user-friendliness, FanDuel offers everything you need to bet on cricket like a pro. The odds are exceptionally generous, with the lowest juice in the cricket betting biz. Plus, you'll find loads of game props, player bets, and an array of Totals bets for big matches. Creating parlay wagers is a breeze, but opportunities for custom SGPs may be hard to come by. This is more than made up for by the FanDuel-exclusive preselected SGP wagers featured under the Popular Parlays tab.
Some of the top FanDuel cricket bets include:
- Team to Score Most Sixes
- Top Runscorer
- Fall of 1st Wicket
- Highest Partnership
FanDuel features lots of domestic leagues and ICC test series and occasionally offers live streams on cricket fixtures. Coupled with a great range of generic sports betting bonuses, you'll get ample opportunities to use profit boosts or bonus bets for your cricket wagers.
#2. DraftKings
In terms of props bets, DraftKings is hard to beat. You'll find a bucketload of cricket props bets, and it won't be difficult to find incredibly specific wagers with tremendous returns. Plus, DraftKings boasts one of the lowest minimum deposit limits set at just $5. The batter, bowler, wickets, and match specials categories have quality picks, and we're big fans of the DraftKings parlay features too, allowing you to combine these wagers, though creating SGPs isn't an option. DraftKings also offers preselected SGP bets that combine moneylines, batting props, bowling props, and player feats.
Some of the featured DraftKings cricket bets include:
- Batter H2H Runs
- Batter +50/+100 Totals
- Opening Batter Totals
- Total Runouts
DraftKings covers most major cricket games but doesn't offer as many domestic leagues as FanDuel. The platform also has a fair number of live betting markets, though you won't find live streams on cricket. DraftKings has a decent selection of profit boost offers and bonus bet promos for cricket betting.
#3. BetMGM
BetMGM delivers a fantastic range of cricket bets and value for your staked dollar. The platform offers generous odds on cricket wagers and divides games into innings and overs, granting you full control. With plenty of opportunities available, BetMGM also has a meticulous approach to futures betting. As a result, BetMGM is a solid choice when a significant tournament approaches.
Some of the top BetMGM cricket bets encompass:
- Batter Total Runs
- 1st Innings Totals
- Total Runs in X Over
- Runs in Overs 0-10
BetMGM's loyalty program provides you with everything you need to maximize your cricket bets. You can earn comp points based on your staked wagers, which you can later redeem for profit boosts or bonus bets. Which means you can practically redeem bonus bets whenever you want (as long as you have enough comp points). Though we've rated this sportsbook lower as its SGP creation is limited, and preset SGPs are seldom featured.
#4. bet365
As a UK-based sportsbook, bet365 knows how to cater to cricket bettors. This platform is the ultimate cricket betting destination, boasting an extensive selection of game and player props plus enough match specials to ignite the creative spark. Plus, you can build SGPs at this betting platform, making it a clear winner.
Some of the top bet365 cricket bets comprise:
- Match Spreads (Runs or Wickets)
- Batter +10/+30/+50/+70/+100 Totals
- H2H Batter Matches
- Player to Score Most 4s/6s
That's not all. bet365 often provides odds boosts and featured SGP bets with enhanced prices. In-play betting enthusiasts will be pleased to know that just about every event is live-streamed, and there's also game commentary for your enjoyment.
bet365 has excellent fixed promos, including bet boosts and parlay boosts. These can be applied to cricket betting. The only drawback is bet365's limited state availability. Unlike competitors like FanDuel, which operates in 20+ states, bet365 is quite far behind. But if bet365 is available in your state, get ready for a treat at this sportsbook.
#5. Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars Sportsbook is another solid option for cricket betting, offering ample value for your staked dollar. Regular odds boosts on cricket games ensure generosity in this regard, while the platform covers loads of international events. We also like their betting app, which is optimized for betting on the go, with easy payment methods and a hassle-free navigation experience.
Some of the notable Caesars cricket bets consist of:
- Highest Opening Partnership
- Fall of 1st Wicket
- To Score 50
- Top Bowler
However, Caesars falls short in some areas. While the coverage is pretty broad, there is a noticeable gap between the bigger and smaller games. Domestic leagues or fixtures between lower ranking nations may have fewer betting markets, with only a handful available. SGP creation opportunities are also lacking, as there are scarce preselected SGPs. But Caesars compensates with its fantastic Rewards program, giving you everything you need to get the most out of your cricket bets.
New customers can use the promo code BTOOLS at Caesars Sportsbook to claim a tasty bonus bet when you sign up!
How We Rate Cricket Sportsbooks
We can't compare cricket betting sites to NFL sportsbooks as the criteria are vastly different. However, within the few features and perks provided by cricket betting sites, the experience does differ depending on your choice of sportsbook.
In terms of odds, the discrepancies are huge, depending on which sportsbook you decide to bet with. In football or basketball betting, the difference between the odds may be 2-3 cents, but in cricket betting, you may find aerobic discrepancies of 10 cents or more. Partly due to less attention given to cricket, but mainly because a lot of average sportsbooks crank up the juice on niche sports.
In terms of balanced coverage, FanDuel and bet365 shine. They have bets on loads of leagues and cricket tournaments, giving you SGPs, props bets, and ample parlay opportunities. DraftKings and BetMGM also excel in props but have a limited number of domestic leagues and one-off ICC test series.
What to Know About Betting on Cricket
We can't send novice bettors to the world of cricket betting without educating them about the different leagues and formats of the game. Not many sports have different formats or variants, so it's a little like discussing NFL vs CFL, rugby union vs rugby league, or soccer vs futsal. For betting purposes, each betting strategy would be entirely different for T20 betting vs test series or one-day international cricket betting.
Basics of Cricket
Two teams of 11 players face each other. At the start of the game, there's a coin toss to decide which team bats first in the first innings. Depending on the format, the batting innings may have a fixed number of overs, or continue until a team either loses all its wickets, scores more runs than the other team, or declares.
Each over consists of 6 balls or deliveries. The bowler delivers the ball, and if they can break the stumps behind the batter, they bowl the batter out. The batter must hit the ball and then make runs between the wickets. If the ball goes outside the field without touching the ground, the batter gets 6 runs. If it bounces before leaving the field, the batter gets 4 runs.
Once the innings is over, the other team bats. In most formats of cricket, each team has only one batting inning, and the competitive spirit is to score the most runs at the end of the game. Batters can lose their wicket in various ways. If the ball smashes the stumps, they are bowled out. If the batter hits the ball and it's 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 batter's leg, this is a "leg before wicket," and results in the batter losing their wicket. Batters make runs between the stumps, but if a batter hasn't reached the stumps, bowlers can run them out. The bowler must quickly pick up the ball and throw it at the stumps to make a run out.
There are four cricket formats. In the US, the most popular is T20 cricket, although in the world, test and ODI are arguably more popular. The fourth type, Hundred, is a new type of cricket, only played in one English league and, as a result, rare to find bets on.
T20 Cricket
In T20 cricket, games are fixed to 20 overs, and each team plays 20 overs. The team with the most runs wins. If you're new to cricket, this is the most exciting format to watch, as games are a few hours long, 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 internationally.
- Top T20 Cricket Tournaments to Bet On:
- ICC T20 World Cup
- Indian Premier League (IPL)
- Big Bash League (Australia)
- Vitality Blast (England)
ODI (One-Day Internationals)
ODI games (One-Day Internationals) are games that last around 7-9 hours, with each team playing fixed 50 overs of batting. This format is played strictly at an international level, and nations compete in the ICC ODI rankings. There are numerous historic matchups and iconic ODI international competitions to keep an eye on. In terms of betting, T20 and ODI offer the most betting markets, with plenty of props and player bets.
As these games take most of the day, you can expect plenty of live betting opportunities. However, we will warn newcomers that ODIs can be quite slow. Batters are more conservative than in T20 games. Just to compare, in T20 games, batters hit around 8-9 runs per over, whereas in ODIs, batters hit only around 5 runs per over. ODIs may also see around 100+ runs scored in an hour, whereas T20 matches might only see around 70+ runs scored.
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 prestigious form of cricket. Each series consists of 5 test matches, each lasting 5 days. In each test, the teams have 2 batting innings, and the team that scores the most runs wins. Test matches can sometimes drag on over 7 days if rain interferes. Some test matches take a week or more to complete.
After 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" (finish their innings before losing all wickets). Then, the opposing team bats, and must try to catch up or score 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's the twist. If the team that bats second doesn't have enough time to finish its second batting innings, the test is a draw, provided the weather allowed the game to go on for long enough. Therefore, the teams need to leave ample time for their opponents to bat if they are to win. Any team that has a lead must declare if necessary to let the other team bat. A trailing team can go for the draw if they are too far behind. Plus, if it starts raining (especially in England), the gameplay is delayed until the rain passes.
The run rate for test series is the slowest because teams must be extra careful not to get bowled out too quickly. The run rate is generally around 3 to 3.5 runs per over. Meaning, you could watch an hour and see only around 40+ runs. Test matches are the most difficult for newcomers to get into, as they are very slow-paced, and games last days.
However, there are many exceptional rivalries and historic clashes in test cricket worth watching. Sportsbooks have plenty of bets on test series cricket, and test matches often have double-chance wagers, giving you the opportunity to back the draw as well.
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 form of cricket played only in the English competitive league called "The Hundred". It consists of games with fixed 100 overs. The action is much faster, and at the start of games, a Powerplay rule is introduced. This limits the number of outfield players, making it easier for batters to quickly score plenty of runs from the beginning.
The Hundred is not as popular as other formats of cricket, and since it's played only in one English competition, betting on it is scarce. However, it was specifically designed to attract wider audiences, and as its popularity grows, we may see more Hundred cricket competitions pop up.
Sources:
[1] "Betting Sites Offering Cricket Live Streaming in 2023." Bookmakers Review. N.d. https://bookmakers-review.com/library/article/cricket/cricket-live-streaming.
[2] "Online Gambling in the USA." BonusFinder. N.d. https://www.bonusfinder.com/us/
Author
Daniel Craymer is a sports editor and avid bettor at our site. He constantly tests new and existing betting platforms using his betting predictions and is always on the lookout for good deals. His cautious approach to sports betting and tentative use of betting tools is valuable for anyone seeking to refine their sports betting strategy.
- The top US cricket betting sites, including FanDuel Sportsbook and DraftKings, offer a wide range of betting markets for cricket, making it an attractive venture for those seeking new betting opportunities.
- A major US sportsbook like bet365 can be ideal for cricket betting enthusiasts as it offers an extensive selection of game and player props, a meticulous approach to futures betting, and the ability to build parlay wagers.
- When declaring your wagers on a cricket match, it's crucial to understand the various leagues and formats of the game, such as T20, ODI, and test cricket, as each format presents different betting strategies.
