Indian Gambling Empire, Cricket

Cricket, a sport originating from 16th century England, has now become a national faith in India, not just as a sport but also as the fuel for a gambling empire. As of 2023, the global cricket betting market is valued at $76.5 billion, expected to reach $151.2 billion by 2032, with India accounting for nearly 40%, making it the core of the global market.

The rise of the T20 league has reshaped the cricket ecosystem. By 2024, the number of international T20I matches will reach 166, surpassing the 132 ODI matches and 105 Test matches; moreover, local leagues like the IPL are in constant rotation throughout the year, forming a normalized betting entry point. Audience preferences have also shifted, with 64% of fans favoring the fast-paced, simple format of T20 leagues, and 70% of young people favoring players over countries, rapidly diminishing the status of traditional bilateral matches.

Revenue structures confirm this trend: in 2003, league revenues accounted for less than 10%, expected to exceed 50% by 2028; whereas national team events have dropped from nearly 80% to less than 20%. ICC-hosted events (such as the World Cup) are growing steadily, expected to reach a 25% share, but the commercial focus has completely shifted towards professional leagues.

India not only has numerous events and a large audience but also dominates the global cricket business lifeline. In ICC revenues, India alone accounts for 38%, far higher than the UK's 6.5% and Australia's 6%. At the same time, India's illegal cricket betting transactions are estimated to exceed $150 billion, twice the legal market. Betting has become an important component of the cricket ecosystem.

The main legal cricket betting platforms in the Indian market include Rajabets, 22Bet, and 10CRIC.

Rajabets focuses on India, offering bets from T20 to women's leagues, and integrates AI-simulated cricket matches operating around the clock. New users can get a 150% bonus on their first deposit, up to ₹100,000.

22Bet caters to both India and Bangladesh, with a highly localized Bengali interface, offering light betting derivatives like Cricket War, covering international and local matches.

10CRIC focuses entirely on India, supporting IPL, Ranji, and other domestic and women's events. Although there is no live broadcast, real-time odds updates are swift, and new users can get a bonus up to ₹15,000, making it one of the preferred platforms for local users.

Beyond traditional betting, casinos like Casino Days and Big Boost, although not offering sports betting, attract users with cricket slots and local Indian card games, converting them into real money traffic. Casino Days offers a first deposit bonus of up to ₹100,000, and Big Boost has a ₹50 million jackpot event, which is very attractive.

The real magic of cricket betting lies in its "pan-entertainment" nature. Platforms like Rajabets are not just betting tools but also integrate information, social networking, and payments into a cricket super app, becoming the center for young people to bet, discuss, and participate.

As India's number one sport, cricket is not just a sport; it has become the core entry point of the Indian gambling empire. With payment solutions in place in India, the next big opportunity may just be here.