India taking a gamble on cricket

Increasing internet usage may be prompting more Indians to bet online. However, the addition of so many gambling games themed on such a popular sport is undoubtedly playing its part, too

Cricket gambling is on the rise in India. As the nation’s favourite sport, this is hardly surprising. What has been a bit of a shock are the figures which show that internet gambling is also on the rise in the Asian country.

Over 66% of so-called regular gamers are thought to be aged 24 or younger, and reports circulating in March this year claimed that the Indian online gambling sector is currently worth $60 billion. Some attribute the rise in online gambling being down to increasing internet users in the country. In 2018, there were 566 million internet users in India. This figure rose to 627 in 2019 and is predicted to hit 730 million by later this year. However, the rise of gambling online in India could be explained by another factor – the popularity of cricket.

The Cricket Factor

India is home to many online sportsbooks which specialise in cricket. The sport is naturally responsible for a large chunk of the bets wagered online in India. However, cricket betting does not constitute a $60 billion market, not even in India where cricket is more popular than any other sport. Indians are, therefore, spending their money on other games.

Reports show that casino games and lottery games are also popular with players in India. How did they jump from cricket betting to casino and lottery gaming? Loopholes in the Indian gambling laws facilitate the switch, but do not explain it. To explain it, we need to again look at cricket.

Making the Jump to Casino and Lotto Games

Many leading sportsbooks which offer cricket betting in India also provide casino games. It is not difficult to see why a cricket-mad Indian sports bettor might make the jump over to casino gaming. There are cricket-themed casino games and lottery games aplenty on the sites at luckydice.in. When there is a lull in the cricket season, it is not impossible to imagine some bettors fancying their chances of cricket-themed casino games.

Cricket-Themed Slots

Pop into any reputable Indian online casino, and you will likely find a variety of cricket-themed slots which you can play online for real money. One of the most popular games you can play is called Cricket Star, and Microgaming has developed it.

This cricket-themed slot is played over 5 reels and 243 paylines and offers players reasonably good stakes in exchange for a theoretical return rate of 96-97% and low volatility action. The game comes with a few nifty features, including stacked wilds, randomly triggered Wild Wickets features and a free spin bonus which offers Microgaming’s customary Rolling Reels feature.

Other cricket-themed slots have tended to do well in Indian online casinos, too. Genii Gaming’s Cricket Fever, Microgaming’s classic slot, The Umpire, and independently developed slots such as Premier League Cricket, Lord’s Balcony, Cricket Kings, and God of Cricket are also playable. Throw in cricket-themed scratch cards, instant win games, e-sports and virtual sports offerings, and there is plenty which might appeal to an avid cricket fan.

Cricket Lotto Games

If online slots were not tempting enough for cricket fans, successful lottery betting sites such as Lottoland have also produced cricket-inspired lottery games. The simply titled Cricket Lotto is played every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. With a minimum prize pool of ₹3.6 Crores (the biggest ever prize won was ₹73 Crores) and tickets costing as little as ₹80, it is not surprising to see Indians lured by this game.

The lottery game involves selecting six numbers from 1 to 49, and players who match all six will walk away with the jackpot. What could be simpler? The game even comes with an Extra Innings (extra draw) which has a guaranteed prize of ₹1.8 Crores.

Aside from its name, the Cricket Lotto does not have a whole lot in common with the game of the same name. However, the name alone, it seems, is more than enough to see Indian players hurry along to sites such as Lottoland to participate in this lottery.

Indian Internet Gambling Is on the Rise

Increasing internet usage may be prompting more Indians to bet online. However, the addition of so many gambling games themed on such a popular sport is undoubtedly playing its part, too. With India’s loophole-friendly gambling laws, many Indians are now enjoying betting online for the first time, and one would expect to see that figure continue to rise over the coming years, especially where cricket-betting and casino gameplay are concerned.