What Is the Cricket Handicap Market? (2025) Last Updated: December 25, 2021 What is the cricket handicap market? In this guide, we will explain how to use this market, the best cricket betting sites for handicap betting as well as our expert tips. Quick links What Is Handicap Betting? Cricket Handicap Betting Tips The Best Sports for Handicap Betting Alternative Betting Markets to Handicap Betting Cricket Handicap Betting FAQs CricketBettingAdvice Final Say What Is Handicap Betting? Handicap betting is a market that has become synonymous with team-based sports, allowing bettors to get longer odds-on picks that would usually have short prices. It also provides more security when betting on the underdog by shortening their odds. Example: If India scored a daunting 400 in their ODI against Zimbabwe, the former would offer short odds to win. You could therefore apply a handicap of -30.5 runs, which will see the odds of India winning drift. However, you will still have a very good chance of your bet winning, even with this handicap. This allows you to lengthen the odds you are betting on whilst still backing your favoured side. You can also apply a handicap in a positive way, too. In football, for example, you can back the underdog with a handicap of +1.5. This means that, if they lost 2-1, your bet will still come in, as your pick was not beaten by two or more goals. Where to Find Cricket Handicap Betting This market can be found available on any number of different sports. First, click on the cricket tab on your bookmaker of choice, which can be found either at the top of the homepage or on the left-hand menu. Next, navigate to the match you want to bet on, and search for the handicap market. This market can be utilised on any of the three formats of the game with many of the top cricket tournaments. Unlike other betting markets, handicap betting works well on Test, ODI and T20 cricket. This market is also very popular when used on a number of other sports too, but that is something we will go into at more depth later. Cricket Handicap Betting Tips This kind of betting needs a good strategy in order to be effective. It is not good enough to simply look at the favourite and back them with any handicap that takes your fancy. If the handicap you choose is too big, you may ruin your chances of seeing your bet win. However, if you your handicap is too small, you could miss out on bigger winnings. Below, we have complied a number of factors you should take into account whenever you look to use the handicap betting market. 1. Do Your Research Researching can help you to understand why the bookmakers have priced teams a certain way. Examine the odds, such as who the favourites and underdogs are, along with which way most bettors are going and the past performances of the teams in question. 2. Know Your Format As with many other cricket betting markets, the format of the game you are betting on will alter the way you should bet. Handicap betting in cricket is no different. While backing the favourite with a -20.5 run handicap in a T20 match can be a pretty good bet, it may not be a big enough handicap in a 50-over game where, for example, you may back a side -51.5. Knowing the format you are betting on will affect how you bet. It can also have a big impact on how much profit you stand to make and how often you win, especially if you are betting on ODI cricket with a T20 mindset. 3. Look at Head-to-Heads As mentioned in the research section, looking at the teams and how they have played in the past will give you a good idea of how the next contest might go. For example, if New Zealand are playing Bangladesh in a five-match ODI series and they have won the first three by 100 runs or more, their current form would indicate yet another victory over their upcoming opponents. With this in mind, backing the Black Caps with a big handicap could be a shrewd bet. However, bear in mind that choosing to back a side based on their current form can be risky, as any number of factors could see a players struggle in an upcoming game. These factors could include a certain stadium, a missing player, the format of the match, whether the game is in a high-pressure tournament event or right at the end of a series that a team has already won. Any of these elements could affect how relevant the head-to-head stats will be. 4. Research the Players Every team has a star player – or players. Betting on the handicap market can often hinge on how these players perform, and which way the match is tilting. Example: If Ben Stokes is at the crease with England five down and still needing 250 to win, everyone will know that the batsman has the ability to lead a comeback. There can therefore be good value in slapping a handicap on England of +20.5 runs, meaning that, if they lose by less than 20 runs or win, then your bet will come in. Knowing that a team still has players that can niftily turn around a situation can be the difference between nailing a bet or otherwise. 5. Use Smaller Leagues This piece of advice is applicable right across the sports betting scene. When you bet on the biggest leagues and tournaments in the world, you can rest assured that bookmakers will have taken up a lot of time and resources into researching the players and the teams. This means that different markets will be fairly well-priced, while the favourites will often offer little real value. In the smaller leagues, though, bookies are less likely to have spent as many of their resources, meaning you can find bigger odds-on games that are a mismatch. For example, the Afghanistan Premier League will not be as well-researched as the IPL, meaning that you are more likely to get better odds on the favourite winning a match or the title than you would for Indian Premier League betting. 6. Play the Percentages Working out what constitutes a good handicap to apply is very important in this market. Backing the favourite with a massive handicap may offer good odds, but you should question whether they will be able to win by enough to see your bet come in. Similarly, while an underdog may offer good value with a smaller handicap, you should ask yourself whether they can keep the match close enough to see your wager come in. Having a good knowledge of both teams can help you predict whether a batting collapse is on the cards, or if a side will keep their opponents on their toes. It can also help you make more enlightened choices when it comes to handicap betting, preventing you from making bets that are very unlikely to pay off.