The likes of football, tennis, and cricket betting in the UK have all seen massive surges in popularity in recent times. Out of the three, there's a special place reserved for cricket betting, with the national team of England having excelled in the last few years. In this cricket betting UK guide, we'll be going over the best cricket betting UK sites, the history of cricket in the country, as well as the UK's most popular cricket competitions.
Best Betting Sites for Cricket Betting UK
- Outright markets available a long time in advance
- Array of markets for major competitions
- Minor competitions available to bet on
- Over 100 markets available for bigger matches
- Excellent in-play console
- Impressive range of cricket markets
- Men and women’s cricket markets available
- Stats offering for major games
- Smaller competitions also covered
- Competitive odds on major sports
- Array of competitions supported
- Impressive selection of payment methods
Top 5 Best Betting Sites for Cricket Betting UK
- bet365
- 1BET
- NetBet
- Unibet
- Sportsbet.io
Best Cricket Betting UK Sites Reviewed
bet365
bet365’s cricket section is something to behold. Its impressive range of competitions covered is only bested by the markets they provide odds for. Whether you're looking to bet on the second Test between Sri Lanka and England, Super Smash, or virtual cricket, bet365 provide an all-encompassing experience that can't be beaten.
BetVictor
While bet365 may be the best in cricket betting, BetVictor aren't far behind. Their offerings include ODI matches, big Test matches, and domestic leagues. With close to 100 markets available for many games, including staples like Match Winner and Draw No Bet, to niche markets like a certain player scoring over 2.5 sixes, BetVictor have got you covered.
1BET
With markets for competitions like the Momentum One Day Cup and the McDonald's Super Smash, 1BET demonstrate that they're a very impressive option when it comes to betting on cricket. Their cricket console is stripped back at first glance, but it helps to keep things simple, while their competitive odds mean they're a viable option when it comes to any kind of betting.
NetBet
While NetBet may not offer as many markets for competitions like the three bookies above, they do a great job of providing a lot of value and depth in what they do offer. For example, in any Big Bash game, you can expect to see markets for Match Winner, Top Team Batsman, Top Team Bowler, Highest First Six Overs, and more, down to markets like To Win the Toss. If you're looking for an uncomplicated cricket betting experience, NetBet may be for you!
Unibet
Along with bet365, Unibet probably offers the most impressive range of cricket betting markets online. While big international matches take pride of place on-site, there are often over 100 markets available for certain domestic games, with the match between the Adelaide Strikers and the Brisbane Heat boasting 103 markets at the time of writing.
Alongside offerings for matches in South Africa, New Zealand, and more, Unibet gives their customers the ability to bet on markets that come under tabs like Most Popular, Match Events, Totals, Fifty/Century, Player Runs, along with many others.Â
Sportsbet.io
Sportsbet.io pride themselves on the depth of their markets, something that shines through in their cricket section. An array of games will meet anyone looking for betting options, while the stats packs available for many games could mean the difference between placing a bet that was never going to win and nailing another. With the matches available including big internationals and smaller domestic games, there's a lot to like about Sportsbet.io’s offerings.
888sport
With their unmistakable orange and black theme, 888sport have become a real player in the cricket betting market. Their betting is split up into ‘matches’ and ‘competitions’ tabs, making it easier to get to your ideal market. At the time of writing, the ICC ODI Championship, Big Bash, Women’s Super Smash, and New Zealand T20 Super Smash were all available to bet on.
What's also impressive is the section below the betting markets that display links to other cricket tournaments that you can bet on. This allows you to get to your favoured betting markets quicker, which is invaluable when betting in-play.
Dafabet
Not to be outdone by the rest, Dafabet has impressed with their range of available competitions to bet on. The international matches take pride of place, but there's also room for the majority of domestic competitions, no matter their size. Clicking on any of these matches will show you an impressive array of markets, with options for Match Winner, Highest Opening Partnership, Total Match Sixes, and more.
Novibet
The cricket section at Novibet is one of the best interfaces we've come across. The available competitions to bet on appear on the left, making it easy to filter out any tournaments you don't want to bet on. To the right of the screen are all of the available matches and their markets. While there aren't quite as many markets as those in the operators listed above, we were impressed by the stats offering for each game, as well as their competitive odds.
Betway
Betway’s cricket betting section is an impressive one, with all of the major and minor competitions covered. Competitive odds combined with an easy-to-use site make for smooth betting on cricket with the bookie.
What Is Cricket?
Cricket has evolved a lot in recent decades, with three formats currently available to play or bet on, while a fourth, known as The Hundred, is also on the cusp of being added to this roster. Below, we'll be going over a short history of cricket, its three formats, and how all of this impacts cricket betting in the UK.
A Brief History of Cricket in the UK
With roots that can be traced back to the 16th century, cricket has always had a special place in the UK; more prominently in England after its origins in the south-east of the country. As a founding nation, it's a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC), as well as having Test, One Day International (ODI), and Twenty20 (T20) status. Players from Wales also play for England, and, up until the 1990s, Irish and Scottish players could also play for the country, until becoming ICC members themselves.
England and Australia played their very first Test match in 1877, and their first ODI match in 1971. These two nations would also go head-to-head against each other in their first T20 match in 2005, further enhancing the rivalry between them. As such, England have been at the top of each of the Test, ODI, and T20 cricket rankings at some point in their history. They have also lifted the Cricket World Cup trophy in both the ODI and T20 formats, with their ODI success returning in 2019, making them the reigning champions of the world.
At a domestic level, cricket betting in the UK can focus on the County Championship in the longest format, the Royal London One-Day Cup at ODI level, and the T20 Blast in the shortest format.
Test Cricket
Test cricket is the oldest format of the game, and the one that cricket purists claim is the best. Maligned by some for taking too long to end, often without a result, Test cricket is usually played over five days with 90 overs possible in a day, resulting in a total of 450 overs in a match. Unlike the other two formats of the game, Test cricket is a much longer battle of wills, with big scores happening often, though generally taking a long time for teams to get there.
Some of the greatest players to ever take to the field have made their name on the Test stage, and it's still seen as the pinnacle of cricket by most. The biggest competition in English domestic cricket is the County Championship, with the best cricket betting sites and the best cricket betting apps all allowing you to bet on the competition.
Best cricket betting UK site for Test cricket: bet365
One Day International Cricket
One Day International (ODI) cricket incorporates a longer format than T20 cricket, while still being nowhere near as long as Test cricket. ODI matches are played over a single day, with 100 overs being possible. 50 overs (300 deliveries) are allocated to each team to bat and bowl in the match.
ODI cricket is unique. When the chasing team is battling to reach a low target but the pitch is making scoring shots difficult, it can often feel like a mini-Test match. It can also feel closer to a T20 game when the batsmen are cutting loose and trying to smash the bowlers out of the park, especially in the latter stages of the game. The biggest English ODI domestic competition is the Royal London One-Day Cup, which is viewed as one of the top cricket tournaments in the world today.
Best cricket betting UK site for ODI cricket: bet365
Twenty20 Cricket
The shortest format of the game, Twenty20 (T20) cricket is played over a single day with a total of 40 overs in a match. Typically taking around five hours to complete a match, both sides are allocated 20 overs (120 deliveries) to bat, and 20 overs to field. With so little time for the batting side to build a total, players will often look to smash the ball out of the park from the very first over, rather than spending time getting themselves in. This can see the ball sent soaring over the boundary rope one delivery, and the stumps shattered the next.
T20 cricket can undoubtedly be the most exciting and fast-paced format of the game, with twists and turns guaranteed. The T20 Blast is the biggest T20 competition in English domestic cricket, although it still has some way to go to match the popularity of IPL betting.
Best cricket betting UK site for T20 cricket: 1BET
What Are the Most Popular Betting Markets for Cricket Betting in the UK?
Cricket betting in the UK brings with it a glut of different markets for bettors. However, it's important to remember that, while a market may be the most popular, it doesn't mean you have to utilise that over any other. Instead, you should do your research into the different markets available and see which ones you're most comfortable with. Whether it's an Outright Tournament or Match Winner market, or a player bet, you'll be spoiled for choice.
We've listed three of the most popular markets for cricket betting in the UK below:
Cricket Betting UK: Outright Tournament/Series Winner
Here, you'll be betting on the winner of a particular tournament or series. This market can provide very good value if used at the right time. For the Tournament Winner market, if you were to bet well in advance of the beginning of a hotly contested competition, you'll likely find good odds.
For example, the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India sees the hosts earmarked as the favourites. However, while they still offer some value, they're not particularly attractive when it comes to betting. Instead, the favourites away from India would seem to be better shots, with England, Australia, and New Zealand all likely to see considerable betting interest. If you were to back Australia, you'd be better served doing it before the tournament. For instance, if they were 6.00 before the tournament begins, and they go on a real hot streak and make it to the semi-finals, they'll offer shorter odds if you went to bet on them then.
That being said, if you were betting on a Test series winner, you could make some real money if you delayed your bet. Let's imagine a scenario where England travels to face Australia in the Ashes. Here, Australia would be the favourites. However, if you were to back them to win the series after they lose the first Test, you'd likely see far more generous odds. Of course, this is predicated on the teams and their performances, but it's all about picking the right time to make your bet.
Best cricket betting UK site for Outright Tournament/Series Winner betting: bet365
Cricket Betting UK: Match Winner
This market is very popular, but it won't always offer the most value. In this cricket betting UK market, you'll need to select the right option for the result of the game. The options are usually Team A to Win, Team B to Win, or a Draw. The reason this market is difficult to use is because backing the favourites in a game won't usually offer much value, while wagering on the underdogs will mean you're putting a lot of risk on your bet. Similarly, if you bet on a game where two sides are fairly well-matched, you'd likely see fairly good odds, though it means there's a good chance your bet may lose whichever way you choose to wager.
As far as in-play markets go for match betting, there can be good value in backing the team on the backfoot if you think they're about to mount a comeback. Of course, this is a risky bet, as the side that's struggling could go from bad to worse, so it isn't always advisable to utilise this as your betting strategy.
Best cricket betting UK site for Match Winner betting: BetVictor
Cricket Betting UK: Top Batsman
The final of the three markets, this cricket betting UK market will see you betting on which batsman you think will score the most runs in the match. There are two ways to do this. Top Batsman will see you betting on one batsman to outscore the other 21 players in the game, while Top Team Batsman will allow you to bet on the top-scoring batsman for one particular side, meaning he must outscore his 10 teammates. The former offers more value, as there are 21 other players that could outscore him, while the latter offers more security, as he must only outscore 10 other teammates.
For this cricket betting UK market, it's very important to do your research, such as looking at the bowling options and how the pitch will impact the match. If your choice of batsman to top score for Australia on their tour of England is a player that struggles against swing, your bet will immediately be at risk. This is because England have one of the best swing bowlers of all time in James Anderson, playing for them on pitches that are conducive to swing bowling.
Best cricket betting UK site for Top Batsman betting: Unibet
FAQs
Which are the best betting sites for cricket betting UK?
Often, this is down to personal preference. If you want a betting site that offers live streaming and fast deposits over features like in-play betting and cash out, then this may see you signing up with a bookie others might move away from.
However, if you sign up with any of the bookies we've mentioned above, you'll certainly get a great cricket betting UK experience. We'd recommend bet365 and BetVictor, as their competitive odds, range of markets, and generous promotions make them a top choice for cricket betting in the UK.
What are the most popular types of cricket?
The most popular format of the game depends on what you want to watch. T20 cricket is the quickest and most explosive of the three, while Test cricket is a slower game that often feels like a chess match. ODI incorporates a bit of both these formats, with massive sixes being the norm, alongside teams grinding out wins. Test cricket is the oldest format of the game, and so has a big following, but for outright excitement and games that can turn on their head in an instant, nothing beats T20 cricket, with Dream11 Fantasy cricket proving to be very popular.
Is there live streaming available for cricket?
Yes, you can live stream certain cricket matches. Before signing up to any bookmaker, you should make sure it's one of our recommended live cricket streaming sites, so you'll be able to watch certain cricket matches if you don't have the relevant subscriptions to watch it on TV.
Do bookmakers offer live betting for cricket?
Yes, they do. Live betting, also known as in-play betting, is when you place bets during the match. The odds will consistently be updated by the bookmaker, meaning that, for example, the odds on England beating Pakistan in the first Test will fluctuate due to real-life events. This could result in there being good value in betting online if you wager at the right time, which could be determined by using the best cricket tips and match predictions in the world.
Geo-restrictions apply. You must have a funded account or placed a bet in the last 24 hours.
CricketBettingAdvice Final Say
When looking to get started with cricket betting in the UK, you'll be spoiled for choice. The array of markets and features that you can make the most out of, along with the depth of cricket competitions, means you won't get bored anytime soon.
While certain elements of the game can seem confusing, betting on the sport is very straightforward. If you do your research into how to bet on cricket online, then there's a lot of value to be made by placing intelligent wagers.
If you were to begin betting on cricket in any capacity, then UK-based cricket betting wouldn't be a bad place to start. With lots of fantastic betting sites and markets making it easier than ever to get involved with betting on your favourite teams and players, you're sure to be in for a treat!
The Cricket Betting Advice team of writers are all defined by one goal: to provide you with the best online betting content on the web.