A brief history of betting in cricket

From the first flutters of the rich and powerful to the more normalised, low-stakes gambling of the average fan, cricket has a wealth of gambling history within it

Though cricket has an unclear past when it comes to pinpointing its origins, there’s no question over when it became a sport to be bet on. From the first flutters of the rich and powerful to the more normalised, low-stakes gambling of the average fan, cricket has a wealth of gambling history within it.

With new technology, modern day betting fans in the midst of playing online slots better can bet on cricket in play, with instant odds changing based on each bowl, and of course an instant payout. But it wasn’t always that way…

Early betting

In its infancy, cricket was held up by the patronage of the rich who gambled on the various county teams. Betting on cricket was made even more popular by the British press who preferred to report odds rather than game coverage.

It’s believed that in the 17th and 18th century, wealthy lords from across the UK funded their own teams in order to strengthen their bets – with many of those teams still around today. As the sport became more popular, however, the average spectator would try their hand at betting on a cricket match, democratising the act of wagering with smaller bets.

This became more commonplace as new, more accessible types of cricket were introduced over the ages, including Twenty20 and Big Bash competitions.

A rocky past

As it is with a lot of sports across history, cricket does sadly have its fair share of scandals when it comes to betting with the game.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t until the turn of the century with worldwide TV coverage and industrial expansion that cricket fell victim to betting scandals and corruption. Most famously, in a match between India and South Africa in 2000, it was revealed that South African captain Hansie Cronje had accepted money for match fixing.

Though these instances are the exception and not the rule, there are cases in modern day games that exemplify how betting can create a dark underbelly to the sport. With major tournaments, it’s still possible to hear about players being approached for match-fixing and not reporting it.

The internet effect

The rapid development of technology in the modern age, especially within sport, has indeed affected cricket like it has many other games.

Online betting became the number one way to bet on cricket, with mobile apps and sites replacing the real-life bookies of old. Cricket fans can place bets on games anytime and anywhere, meaning the industry is the biggest it's ever been despite recent regulation on advertising being introduced.

Technology has changed how people approach betting on cricket too, with real-time data and in-play betting allowing for punters to get instant gratification for the bets they place. With this, options such as next man out top batsmen, top bowler, total runs and highest opening partnership are available odds to the audience.

With its long history, cricket’s relationship with betting is an interesting case study. A lot of modern developments have shaped how people look at the sport as a spectacle and will surely have a lasting effect going forward.