Cricket Spread Betting Guide

With over two billion fans, cricket is one of the most-watched sports in the world. Its passionate fan base loves to throw down a bet or two on their favorite team as well. 

There are a myriad of different ways to bet on cricket. Open up any bookies, and you’ll find dozens, if not hundreds, of markets available for each match.

If you’re looking for a new way to bet on cricket, then you’ve come to the right place. Spread betting is an increasingly popular market that punters are turning to. 

This guide will outline how cricket spread betting works, and show you exactly how to spread bet on cricket games, no matter the format.

A spread bet varies significantly from traditional methods of betting. Betters do not bet on the win or loss outcome of a game, but instead the payout of a bet relies on the accuracy of the bet placed.

Spread bets rely on a range set by a bookmaker for a particular market. In cricket, these markets can be the total runs a team will score, the total runs a player will score, the number of wickets a player will take, and much more.

There are a few factors that you have to understand while spread betting. These factors are crucial to learn in order to properly place your bets.

Spread:

• The range set by the bookmaker for a particular market.
• For example, in a cricket match, a bookmaker might set the spread for total runs scored by a team at 250-270.

Buy and Sell:

• Buy: If you think the actual result will be higher than the upper end of the spread.
• Sell: If you think the actual result will be lower than the lower end of the spread.

Stake:

• The amount you bet per point. Your profit or loss depends on the difference between the actual result and the spread, multiplied by your stake.

The number one rule to spread betting in cricket is having a thorough knowledge of cricket. 

This does not just mean the rules of the game. You must have an understanding of both teams that will be playing a game for the best chance of winning. It is also important to note which players in each team are standouts to have a better spread. 

If you are new to cricket or betting in cricket, we would recommend staying away from spread betting.

As mentioned earlier, spread betting has multiple markets in cricket. Some markets are easier to bet on while others are quite difficult. It is usually easier to bet on particular team win differences or the amount of runs a team will score than an individual player’s achievements. 

Here’s a look through some of the best spread bets in cricket:

Total Runs: Predicting the total runs a team will score in an innings or match.

• Example: If the spread is that Australia will score 250-270 runs, you buy at 270 if you think Australia will score higher or sell at 250 if you think it will be lower.

Player Runs: Similar to the Total Runs, you are predicting the runs a specific player will score.

• Example: If the spread states Glenn Maxwell will score 45-50 runs, you buy at 50 if you think he will score more or sell at 45 if you think he will score less.

Team Wickets: Predicting the total number of wickets a team will lose.

• Example: If the spread is England will lose 8-9 wickets, you buy at 9 if you think they will lose more than 9 wickets or sell at 8 if you think they will lose fewer than 8 wickets.

Innings Runs: Predicting the number of runs scored in a specific innings. This is usually more lucrative in Test Games where the total scores per innings is a lot higher.

• Example: If the spread is India will score 300-320 runs in the first innings, you buy at 320 if you think more than 320 runs will be scored or sell at 300 if you think fewer than 300 runs will be scored.

Match Supremacy: Predicting the margin of victory in terms of runs or wickets. This can be the riskiest bet to make in a particular game because cricket is a very unpredictable game.

• Example: If the spread is Pakistan will win by 10-20 runs, you buy at 20 if you think the team will win by more than 20 runs or sell at 10 if you think they will win by fewer than 10 runs.

To calculate your winnings and losses, you use two general formulae. One is used when you decide to buy a spread, while the other one is used when you sell a spread.

Formula if you Buy:

• (Final Outcome – Buy Price) x Stake
• Example: If you buy a spread for a €5 stake that states Australia will score 250-270 runs and Australia ends up scoring 300 runs, you win:
  (300 – 270) x €5 = €350

Formula if you Sell:

• (Sell Price – Final Outcome) x Stake
• Example: If you sell a spread for a €5 stake that states Australia will score 250-270 runs and Australia ends up scoring 240 runs, you win:
  (250 – 240) x €5 = €50

Cricket spread betting offers an engaging way to leverage your knowledge of the sport to potentially earn significant profits by betting on the accuracy of outcomes rather than just wins or losses. 

Key elements include understanding the spread, knowing when to buy or sell, and calculating your stake based on the difference between the final result and the spread. 

Popular cricket markets include total runs, player runs, team wickets, innings runs, and match supremacy. It takes some time to get used to the format of betting but once you gain enough experience and study teams well enough, you can maximize your earnings.

While spread betting can be more exciting and lucrative than traditional betting, it also carries higher risks, making thorough research and understanding of the game essential. 

To bet safely, set clear limits, use stop-loss measures, and ensure betting remains a form of entertainment rather than a financial strategy.