Cricket betting: formats, markets and weather rules

Cricket is three sports in one. A five-day Test match, a one-day international and a three-hour T20 game share rules but produce very different betting markets. This guide explains the main markets in each format and the settlement rules that matter when a bet is part of a promotion.

Common cricket markets

Match result — in Tests a draw is a real outcome; in limited-overs cricket a tie is rare and handled by special rules.
Top batter and top bowler — the leading player for a team, with dead-heat rules for ties.
Total runs — runs in an innings or in a set number of overs.
Method of dismissal — how the next wicket falls.
Series and tournament winner — long-term markets.

Cricket bets and promotion rules

Weather is the special factor. Rain can shorten a limited-overs game, with targets recalculated, or wash out a match entirely, in which case most bets are void. Void bets usually do not count towards promotion turnover. Test matches also run for days, so a bet placed early may settle after an offer's deadline. As an illustrative example, not a Kabaler term, a free bet that must be settled within 7 days fits a T20 game far more easily than a series outright.

Live betting on cricket

In-play prices move with every event in the game, and the bet slip may reject a price that changed while you were confirming. Live bets often count for promotions on the same terms as pre-match bets, but cash-out during play usually removes the bet from qualifying turnover. Watching a stream and betting at the same time is also the quickest way to lose track of spending.

Keeping it a hobby

Sports betting feels like a skill game, and that feeling is exactly what makes it easy to overspend: a run of losses looks like bad luck that the next pick will fix. Decide a budget per week rather than per bet, and use the deposit limit in your account. See our responsible gambling page.

More: bet types explained · betting hub.

FAQ

Can a cricket match end in a draw?

In Test cricket, yes, and the draw is a normal betting outcome. In one-day and T20 cricket, a tie is rare and is often decided by a super over; market rules explain how bets settle.

What happens to bets when rain stops play?

If a result is reached under the revised rules, bets are usually settled. If the match is abandoned without a result, most markets are void.

How do dead-heat rules work for top batter?

If two players tie, the stake is divided and paid at the odds on the share, so the return is lower than a clear win.