Cricket is a sport which is growing in popularity all over the world but attitudes towards betting are very different depending on the country in question. Here, then, is a guide to the different rules related to cricket betting.
Table of Contents
Cricket Playing Countries
This part of the guide relates specifically to countries that are full members of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
England / Ireland
England is one of the most accessible countries for anyone looking to bet on cricket. The UK Betting and Gaming Act of 1960 was passed at the end of that year and it led to the establishment of a number of physical betting shops across the country.
Betting at present is governed by the legislation set down in the Gambling Act of 2005 which has updated those rules from the 1960s. The rise in online betting led to the change and the new law includes those digital operators.
Stakeholders in the game are governed by rules laid down by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Legal, licensed operators abide by the 2005 Act but there is an element of illegal gambling taking place under the radar of this legislation.
The Republic of Ireland is governed separately but the laws here are very similar to the UK. Betting on cricket is generally permitted and the practise is governed by the Betting Act of 2015.
India
They are a cricket mad nation and the IPL is one of the biggest tournaments in the world but betting on the sport is heavily regulated in India. Within the country, it’s generally only allowed to stake on horse racing at the track.
There are some casinos and sports betting halls based in Goa which are an exception to a very strict rule.
As we have found in other countries, it is possible for Indian players to sign up with online casinos and sportsbooks that are based overseas.
Australia
Is Cricket Betting Legal in Australia?
Statistics show that betting is more popular in Australia than in any other country in the world so it’s obvious that there should be a thriving gambling industry here. However, there are some clear and strict regulations for every operator to adhere to.
In such a vast country, the rules are largely governed by each individual region but the practise of betting on cricket is largely legal across the whole of Australia. Bettors do not pay any tax on winnings with revenue entirely made by the Australian licensed betting sites themselves who pay taxes to the government in turn.
There are additional rules put in place by Cricket Australia (CA) to ensure that fair play is observed at all times.
South Africa
Is Cricket Betting Legal in South Africa?
The Gambling Act of 2004 is the law defining and governing any form of sports betting within South Africa. Prior to these rulings being brought in, there was a ban on gambling which was strictly enforced across the country.
With the rise in online betting being hard to ignore, that 2004 act lifted the restrictions and it is now a legal practise to stake on cricket and on other sports. However, there are rules in place and operators who open here will have to follow strict regulations in order to obtain a license. The act of 2004 also makes clear distinctions between legal and illegal gambling.
New Zealand
Betting on cricket and on sport in general is allowed in New Zealand and is currently covered by a number of different government acts. The Gambling Act of 2003 is the most relevant in this respect and it enables operators to open up here subject to some very strict terms.
Overall, the practise is regulated by the Department of Internal Affairs and, while betting on cricket is allowed in New Zealand, the market is very small when compared to certain other countries on this list.
Sri Lanka
Is Cricket Betting Legal in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka is one of the countries where cricket betting has been made legal more recently. In fact, it was outlawed here right up until 2010 when restrictions were finally lifted.
Cricket betting is now legal but the practise is still very new and there isn’t a great deal of choice here. The markets that are available are generally attached to the Indian Premier League and to matches involving the Sri Lankan national teams.
Pakistan
Is Cricket Betting Legal in Pakistan?
Cricket and sports betting have been effectively outlawed across Pakistan. The only exceptions to this strict rule are a handful of tourist destinations where services are available to foreigners only.
Otherwise, the Prevention of Gambling Act 1977 has outlawed the practise. As an Islamist Republic, this is not a pastime to be encouraged and that’s why sports and cricket betting has a blanket ban.
Non Cricket Playing Countries
While cricket is played in most countries around the world, the following are not full members of the ICC. As large sporting nations, however, they are worth looking at individually.
Is Cricket Betting Legal in Canada?
Betting in Canada is highly regulated but it is possible to stake on cricket here. Operators that are based within the country have to pass rigorous checks and they must adhere to strict rules in terms of providing gambling services.
There are, however, no such issues with offshore providers who can offer accounts to eligible Canadian residents. Both international and domestic matches are covered by many providers who have opened up to Canadian players.
There are other rules that are quite specific to Canada: Here, players are only allowed to make parlay bets which are multiples of two selections or more. The possibility of allowing single bets has been discussed but that has yet to come in at the time of writing in October 2021.
Is Cricket Betting Legal in the USA?
Cricket betting is legal across much of the United States but the definitive answer depends on the State in question. Back in 2018, the US Supreme Court overturned earlier legislation which had previously outlawed sports betting as a whole.
The decisions on whether to fully legalise sports and cricket betting was handed over to individual state governments and, as a result, there are very different rules across America. In some cases, offline and online betting are legalised and it’s easy to find a sportsbook to sign up with.
In other states, either offline or online betting is allowed while certain other states continue to ban sports betting. In those states where online betting is legalised, it’s easy to find an operator and to start staking on cricket.
Conclusion
As we’ve seen, the attitudes towards betting on cricket are very different, depending on where you happen to be in the world. In some countries, such as England, the practise is very open while, at the other end of the spectrum, nations like Pakistan have largely outlawed all forms of sports betting.
The conclusion that we can draw from this is that there is a mixed global picture. Just because a country is fanatical about cricket, it doesn’t mean that they are open to betting on the sport. It’s a case of keeping this guide handy and studying any updates to existing legislation as and when they come in.
