The Future of Online Cricket Betting in India: Trends and Predictions

Sports betting is India’s favorite INVISIBLE GIANT. India loves sports. Sporting events such as cricket, horse racing, tennis, and football dominate the country, but there are millions who enjoy a wide array of sports.

This research piece aims to describe, quantify and qualify the online cricket market in India in its various forms — offline and online, legal and underground, traditional and new-generation kinds.

KEY FINDINGS:

• Online cricket betting in India is mostly illegal and cash-based.
• Annual market size is estimated anywhere between USD 40 and 150 billion.
• Regulation is justified by economic and social benefits, yet public sentiment remains uncommitted.
• Online cricket betting is not prosecuted and almost exclusively served by offshore sites.
• Cricket is still the industry cash cow but other sports and global leagues are gaining modest shares.
• Despite relatively small current revenues, fantasy sports looks like the future of online betting, and the segment keeps investing consistently.

Cricket betting is the largest real-money gaming market and possibly the biggest entertainment segment in the Union. While global brand names ensure online visibility, the average desi consumer expects more local content, an immersive experience, and more possibilities to freely bet on their passion.

The Pandemic Asked For It:

With the ever-increasing COVID-19 cases worldwide, people cannot help but decide to follow their long-drawn love for diverse activities. Amidst the growing financial instability, the collapse of work-life, babbling children in the background, and performing daily chores, Indians feel compelled to find a means to refresh themselves.

Cricket betting has become a calming influencer for more than thousands of Indians muddled between the things to do during the monotonous lockdown sessions. Watching the team engage in working hard to win the game and help the bettors have a leisurely experience is an ace of all. That is why the rise in this activity seems to be improving at a quick pace daily.

3 MAIN REASONS:

1. Sports betting is most likely to become more legalized:

Online cricket betting is in fact not illegal in India, but cricket betting exists in some sort of a gray area. There are no specific laws that prohibit Indians from using online cricket id & sites that are based in countries where online cricket betting is legal. India views betting on sports as unlawful and therefore the betting sites have to be located outside of India in order for it to be legal. But judging by the rise in the number of Indian citizens who bet on sports online, it is possible that India might be on its way to a legalization of online sports betting in the near future.

2. Indians use their smartphone more:

Another possible reason for the rise of online cricket betting in India is the fact that, since 2020, Indians are now spending one-third of their waking hours on their phones. Many cricket betting sites have apps or websites that are convenient to use on the smartphone and that attracts many people. It is safe to say that Indian citizens spend more time on their mobile devices than they do using their computers and laptops. This is definitely one of the main reasons why online cricket betting is on the rise in India.

3. The popularity of cricket and football contributes to the rise of sports betting:

The two most popular sports in India are probably cricket and football. The Indian love for these two sports has definitely given a huge boost to the online sports betting industry in India. It is unclear if the sports betting industry would exist without cricket and football but it would definitely not be as popular as it is today if it weren’t for the two sports.

The prominent market attracts the international betting industry:

• Post lockdown using the internet from home for work or leisure has increased significantly.
• The Indian internet infrastructure has also strengthened, allowing millions of Indians to use fast-speed internet services with ease at home.
• India is now considered the second-largest internet access country. With around 744 million people simultaneously using the internet, the international betting industry considers it a sizable prospective market.
• Bettors are now moving to online sports betting, looking at the ease and soaring profit.
• Moreover, it is less time-consuming as moving from one particular bookie to another is done in seconds. It also allows them to try multiple bets in a single match.

The Bottom Line:

Today, many bettors have found their solace in these exceptional online betting sites that provide an easy escape and an experience to cherish for a lifetime. If you are also interested in online cricket betting, do not hesitate to try your hand at it. You will earn it.