The United Kingdom is one country where cricket is widely popular with millions of fans. Hence, it’s no surprise that there are several cricket betting sites UK punters can join. In this review, my interest is in the best ones.
Pretty much every British bookmaker promises quality cricket betting, but not all keep their word. Hence, I took my time to analyse the market, and my findings highlighted BetMGM, Matchbook, and Bwin as the best betting sites. Continue reading as I explain what makes these bookmakers stand out, plus other essential details about cricket betting.
I initially had a list of 15 UK bookmakers that feature cricket events. After days of signing up and testing each one, I settled on the best three below:
With BetMGM, you can bet on cricket matches from around the world. While reviewing the UK bookmaker, I found games from New Zealand, India, Australia, Pakistan, South Africa, and, of course, England. Plus, there were international tournaments such as the ICC Champions, test cricket, and one-day series.
BetMGM further impressed me with its range of markets. I placed bets on main outcomes, player runs, totals, match events, 1st ball/1st over, and a lot more. I must also commend the betting bonus UK punters get — a Bet £10 and Get £40 in bonus bets promotion. All of these made my experience satisfying.
As a betting exchange, Matchbook works differently from traditional bookmakers in the UK. The site allowed me to bet on cricket games against other users, with the option to back or lay. If I back, it means I want the pick to win while laying indicates I expect it to lose. The highlight is that I can select whatever odds I want for both options.
After clicking on an odd, you’ll find a - and + button to adjust the rate. Thanks to the flexible betting pattern, I was able to maximise my wagers for higher potential profits. If it sounds complex, you can rest easy, as Matchbook has a detailed walkthrough guide for all new users. Upon registering, you can also get £50 in bonus bets when you bet £50.
For UK punters who wish to wager on ongoing games, Bwin is the best choice from my cricket betting sites list. On the site, you’ll find the in-play option on the main menu. Click on it, select cricket, and you can start betting.
I rank Bwin highly for live betting because the section supports all top markets. While reviewing, I placed in-play bets on main outcomes, innings, player props, and 2nd innings. For highly popular events, Bwin also offered live video streams. It’s free, provided you have a registered account. Talking about registration, Bwin gave me a £20 backup bet as a welcome bonus.
You can select one of the three top cricket bookmakers on my list and sign up right now. That said, you may also be interested in how I selected them. To keep everything transparent, here are the factors I considered:
A top betting site will roll out hundreds of cricket betting markets. That way, you’re sure the bookmaker can accommodate your predictions. I start by looking out for popular options like match winners, top batsman, total runs, and player props.
Next, I confirm that the cricket betting UK site covers international tournaments like The Ashes, ICC World Cup, and IPL. Domestic leagues such as the County Championship or The Hundred are also importan
The odds on a cricket betting site determine how much you can win for correct predictions. As such, I don’t skip comparing them across different platforms to find those with higher payouts. Specifically, I calculate the margin for top markers, and my standard is for it not to be higher than 7%. That way, payouts will be at least 93%, which is favourable.
Since cricket games sometimes take several days, it’s essential to select a British bookmaker with quality live betting options. From my experience, the bat-and-ball sport is quite dynamic, and outcomes can change quickly. Therefore, bookmakers that provide real-time updates and a variety of markets are the best.
I look beyond the basics as well. My highest rating goes to UK cricket betting sites with advanced features like live stats and streaming. The end goal is to have helpful tools to make informed picks.
I must say not many betting sites have regular cricket-specific bonuses and promotions. Most UK bookmakers have them for football instead. Nevertheless, general offers are still ideal, provided they fully support cricket.
Cricket-specific bonuses will likely be available in the build-up to popular events like the Ashes and ICC. During these periods, I come across cashback, enhanced odds, and reloads. While looking out for these promotions, I’m not just carried away by the promised amount. I also carefully read the terms and conditions to ensure the offers are fair.
Wagering on well-designed cricket betting sites in the UK is always an advantage. The entire experience is more convenient, as I can pick and submit my bets in seconds. Of course, I’m sure you also want this, so evaluating the user experience is crucial.
Personally, I consider the site design, speed, and responsiveness. If the bookmaker has a mobile app, it scores extra points for betting on the go.
Regarding payments, the best bookmakers for cricket are not exactly those with a long list of banking methods. To me, transaction security and speed are more important. Hence, while selecting, focus on betting sites with renowned payment processors. Also, deposits must be instant, while withdrawals take 24 to 48 hours. Only traditional bank transfers should take longer.
I left this for last to stress its importance. As a punter in Great Britain, you should know that the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is the sole regulatory body. Therefore, you must only use cricket bookmakers that hold a license from the body. Betting with unlicensed sites will put your funds and personal information at risk.
Many people consider cricket to be a complex sport. I understand it since there are varied formats, detailed rules, and various fielding positions. This also means you may need some time to get familiar with it all if you’re new to cricket betting sites UK. Well, you can always start from the basics.
To get you started on the right food, here are the top markets to consider for cricket betting:
Here’s the best to pick for beginners. All you have to do is place your money on the team you believe will win the match. Even as an expert, I still pick the match-winner option regularly. You’ll find it for all formats, including Test matches, ODIs, and T20s.
For this market, the bet on which player will score the most runs in a match or for a specific team. To correctly predict it, I always research players’ recent performances and their strengths against certain bowling attacks. Also, form in specific formats can help a great deal. For instance, if I find a player excelling in T20s, they might not perform too well in Test matches.
Both established and new betting sites in the UK have the top bowler option. It’s quite similar to the top batsman, except that you’re betting on the bowler that’ll take the most wickets in a match or innings. If you understand bowling strategies and pitch conditions, you’ll find this market quite easy to predict. When betting, I also look at bowlers’ records against specific batting lineups.
When it’s T20 or ODI season, the Total runs in an over market is one of the best to pick. That’s because there’s a higher scoring pace in the matches. The bet involves predicting how many runs will occur in a particular over. I must say that this market requires quick decision-making. Therefore, you must understand the game’s momentum before wagering.
The best cricket betting sites offer this market where you bet on the total number of runs scored by a team or a player. It’s just like totals in football, as the UK bookmaker will set a benchmark. Then, you wager whether the runs will be over or under that number. I mainly bet on total runs during big tournaments like the IPL or The Ashes because I find it easier to predict team and player performances.
Betting on this market means predicting how the first wicket of the match will fall. The main options I usually come across are caught, bowled, LBW, run-out, or stumped. Note that this is a niche market, but it’s suitable if you have deep knowledge of bowlers’ and how they approach batsmen early in the game.
This option is only available for Test series and multi-match tournaments. As the description says, you wager on which team will win the series overall. It’s a long-term betting option, so the odds are bigger than single matches.
Similar to the previous, the outright winner market involves picking the overall winner of a tournament or league. Hence, it’s common for competitions like the ICC World Cup or IPL. I don’t skip it on IPL cricket betting sites UK because I follow the events from start to finish.
Signing up on the best cricket betting UK sites is only one step towards getting a quality experience. If you don’t nail your predictions, you still won’t appreciate the bookmaker. I’ve tested several cricket betting strategies over the years, and these are the five that help the most:
In cricket, it’s easy for pitch and weather to significantly impact the game. I’ve observed that dry pitches often favour spinners, while fast bowlers perform best on green pitches. Likewise, most bowlers swing the ball way better in overcast conditions. You’ll benefit from these if you analyse the pitch report and weather forecast before betting.
This tip is quite regular, but it’s still highly important. When I look at a team’s recent performance and player form, I identify trends to know what might happen next. This is particularly true for batsmen’s consistency and bowlers’ wicket-taking streak. Notably, I merge the trends with head-to-head records since some teams or players perform better against specific opponents.
The toss can turn things around in a cricket game, especially in formats like Test cricket or T20s. For strategic teams, winning the toss allows them to bat first on a flat pitch or bowl under favourable conditions. Each time I track the toss results, I make better predictions for the match winner and total run markets.
It may not be evident, but each cricket venue has unique characteristics. In some stadiums, players score more due to smaller boundaries. Meanwhile, I’ve noticed bowlers recording better performances because of slow pitches. With such patterns, you can identify and place your money on the most successful teams in a particular location.
My last thought is to not focus only on match winners. It’s the simplest, but it’s ideal to explore others, such as top batsmen and top bowlers. I mainly find value bets in these specialised markets.
Most cricket fans in the UK want to bet on The Ashes and IPL. Indeed, these are the most popular, but there are more that offer value as well. Myself, I wager more on IPL cricket betting sites but I don’t skip any other exciting competitions. Here’s a full list of what to look out for:
| League | Country |
|---|---|
| Indian Premier League (IPL) | India |
| The Ashes | England and Australia |
| ICC Cricket World Cup | International |
| ICC T20 World Cup | International |
| Pakistan Super League (PSL) | Pakistan |
| Big Bash League (BBL) | Australia |
| Caribbean Premier League (CPL) | West Indies |
| County Championship | England |
| Asia Cup | Asian nations |
| Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) | Bangladesh |
I find cricket betting quite profitable due to the many markets available. Plus, there are lots of statistics out there to guide you in making informed picks. Add that to the fact that there are regular events from the UK and around the world, and you’ll agree cricket is a comprehensive sport for betting. My only worry is that the entire setup may be challenging for newbies. To round it all up, these are the key upsides and downsides of cricket betting in the UK:
My explanations so far have covered the ins and outs of cricket betting. You now know the best cricket betting sites UK, how to choose them, the top markets, and the most popular leagues. I didn’t leave out expert tips to help you make better picks.
What next? Well, I recommend you sign up with any of my top bookmakers that meet your interests. It’ll only take a few minutes, after which you get your welcome bonus, and you’re set to start betting.
Yes, cricket betting is legal in the UK, as well as gambling on other sports. Simply make sure you’re wagering with a bookmaker with a license from the UK Gambling Commission.
You can get cricket betting predictions from several websites online. However, note that no prediction can be 100% accurate, and it’s best if you also research on your own.
The best app for cricket betting in the UK is BetMGM. With the bookmaker, you can bet on the go using iOS or Android. Other quality cricket betting apps in the UK include Matchbook and Bwin.
Cricket betting odds in the UK are usually in fractional format, like 5/3, for instance. The first number is your potential winnings, while the second is your bet. With 5/3, it means you can potentially win £5 for every £3 you wager.
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
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