By Neha A.
Here at StrikeOdds, we are sure that most of you will have a good idea of how to bet on sports in India. If you have ever placed a bet at a physical betting establishment in selected states, or have had a punt on sports online before, you will know exactly what to do. If not, do not worry – we are here to guide you through everything.
Join us as we explain how betting on sports at the best Indian betting sites works. We cover odds, markets, selections, bet types, live betting, exchanges, and much more. We will also showcase top betting sites offering the best odds, and provide tips to get you started on the right foot. Welcome to StrikeOdds’ complete guide to how to bet on sports.
Top Betting Sites to Consider Before Betting Online
Let us begin with the obvious – the best places to wager on sports online in India. Each of the following sportsbooks has earned our seal of approval and represents one of the leading bookmakers catering to Indians today:
How To Bet In India
Getting Started at Online Sportsbooks in India
Before you can get started betting on sports, you must first choose somewhere to play. As you can see from our table above, StrikeOdds has plenty of recommended betting sites for you to choose from. Read our online sportsbook reviews and decide where you want to play, then head over there, sign up, make a deposit as a new player, and claim your bonus.
Do not hesitate to read our other guides to getting started if you need help with that. Once you are signed up, it is time to bet, so let us move on.
How Betting Works at Indian Bookmakers
Betting on sports is best described as a four-part process. It involves finding your event, deciding what to bet, placing your bet, and then seeing the outcome. Here is the exact process explained in detail:
Choose Your Market and Selection
First, choose your market and selection. Betting sites often have their markets (or sports) listed down the left-hand side of the site, or across the top. Begin by selecting the sport you want, then the competition. From there, continue using filters to find the exact match or bet you are looking for.
Do Your Homework
Before placing your bet, look at the odds you are being offered. Compare those with the odds at rival bookmakers (if you are signed up at any) to ensure you are getting the best value. Check the stats centre at your Indian bookmaker and do your research outside the site, checking statistics and recent form to inform your decision.
Once you believe you are well-informed about your chosen bet, you can move on.
Add Your Bet to the Betting Slip
Select the outcome you want to back (a specific team or player, for instance) and it will appear on your betting slip (usually on the right of the page). Enter your stake (the amount you wish to bet) and you will see your potential winnings appear. If you are happy with everything, confirm the bet to place it.
Wait and Win (Hopefully)
Assuming your bet is not cancelled or voided (in which case you will get your money back), sit back and relax. Watch the game via live streams if available, on television, or follow the action in the live stats centre. Once the match concludes, the bet will be settled. If you have won, your winnings will be credited to your account.
How Betting Odds Work for Indian Players
Inside your sports betting account, you can generally change the way you view odds. Options include Decimal, Fractional, American, and several Asian variants. For most sports, Indian players prefer decimal odds.
Decimal odds show you what you will win in relation to a single unit that you bet. For instance, if you see odds of 1.50, this means you will win 1.5 times whatever your stake is if your bet wins. If you stake ₹1,000 at odds of 1.50, you would receive ₹1,500 back (₹500 profit plus your ₹1,000 stake).
When it comes to odds, there are three types you need to understand:
Fixed (Pre-Match) Odds: Also known as “taking the price,” these are the odds determined by the bookmaker before an event begins. You will use them if you place a bet at any point before the start of a game. Your payout is locked in at the odds you accepted when you placed the bet.
Starting Price (SP) Odds: Starting Price odds are the final fixed odds at the moment the match begins. If you select SP odds, you will receive whatever the odds are at kick-off or the first ball – neither the earlier odds nor the in-play odds.
Dynamic (In-Play) Odds: If you choose to bet live, you will receive dynamic odds. These are not fixed and change constantly based on the action occurring in the game. Because you can join at any point during a match, you might get better odds than you would have at the start – or worse. That unpredictability is what makes live betting exciting.
How to Bet on IPL Cricket Step by Step
The Indian Premier League is the single biggest betting event for Indian sports bettors, and most of our recommended sportsbooks offer extensive IPL coverage. Here is how to place an IPL bet step by step:
- Log into your sportsbook account and navigate to Cricket in the sports menu
- Look for the IPL section – at most Indian sportsbooks, this will be prominently displayed during the IPL season
- Select the specific match you want to bet on
- Browse the available markets – common IPL bet types include match winner, top batsman, top bowler, total runs, first wicket method, individual player performance, and session bets
- Click on your chosen selection to add it to your betting slip
- Enter your stake and review your potential winnings
- Confirm your bet
During the IPL season, many sportsbooks also offer enhanced odds, free bets, and special promotions tied to specific matches. Check the promotions page at your bookmaker regularly during the tournament to take advantage of these offers.
For IPL accumulators, consider combining match winners across different fixtures on the same day. This can offer substantially higher returns, though remember that all legs must win for the accumulator to pay out.
The Most Common Types of Sports Bets Explained
While there are dozens of bet types, many of which are unique to specific sports, here are the six most common types you will find at Indian sportsbooks:
Match Winner / Result (Moneyline): A simple bet on a player or team to win the match they are scheduled to play. This is the most straightforward bet type and the best starting point for beginners.
Handicap (Point Spread): To even out the difference between favourites and underdogs, handicap bets require underdogs not to lose by a certain amount, or favourites to win by a certain margin. This creates more competitive odds on both sides of a lopsided match.
Accumulator / ACCA (Parlay): A series of bets on one ticket. The winnings from one selection fund the stake for the next, allowing wins to be magnified significantly. However, unless your accumulator is subject to insurance or special full cover rules, just one incorrect result will ruin the entire bet.
Over/Under (Totals): A bet on whether a specific statistic will be over or under a number set by the bookmaker. For example, you might bet on whether a cricket match will have over or under 320 total runs, or whether a football match will have over or under 2.5 goals.
Ante-Post (Futures): These are wagers on outcomes that will not be decided for some time, such as tournament winners, MVP awards, or league champions. They are placed before a competition begins and typically offer longer odds because the outcome is further away.
Specials (Props): Props are often bets on specific player performances – such as a batsman to score a century, a bowler to take three or more wickets, a footballer to score first, or a player to receive a card. These add excitement to individual player performances.
How Accumulator Bets Work in India
Accumulators (also called ACCAs or parlays) are among the most popular bet types at Indian sportsbooks because they offer the potential for large returns from small stakes. Here is how they work:
An accumulator combines multiple selections into a single bet. Each selection must win for the accumulator to pay out. The odds of each selection are multiplied together, creating combined odds that are much higher than any individual bet.
For example, if you place a 3-leg accumulator with selections at odds of 1.50, 2.00, and 1.80, the combined odds would be 1.50 × 2.00 × 1.80 = 5.40. A ₹500 stake at those combined odds would return ₹2,700 if all three selections win.
The risk, of course, is that just one losing selection will cause the entire accumulator to lose. This is why accumulators are considered high-risk, high-reward bets. To manage that risk:
- Stick to sports and markets you know well, rather than adding selections from unfamiliar competitions just to boost odds
- Keep your accumulators short (2 to 4 legs) rather than going for 10-leg “dream tickets”
- Consider ACCA insurance offers at your sportsbook, which refund your stake if just one leg loses
Other Ways to Bet at Indian Betting Sites
Live, In-Play Bets
You do not have to place bets before the match begins. With live, in-play bets, you receive whatever the odds happen to be when you decide to join the action, and those odds constantly adjust based on what is happening in the game. This means you might get better odds for a favourite if they are currently losing.
Bet Builders
Bet Builders are specific types of accumulators that let you combine multiple selections from the same match into one bet. Unlike traditional accumulators, which require selections from different matches, bet builders let you create combinations like “Team A to win + Player X to score + Over 2.5 goals” – all within one game. This opens up creative and personalised betting options.
Boosted Odds
Boosted Odds are promotions at Indian betting sites where the sportsbook offers improved odds on selected events. These might be tied to high-profile matches, popular markets, or specific sports. You may need to check the promotions page to find these offers, and they may have specific terms around maximum stakes and eligibility.
Early Cashout Betting
Some live, in-play bets offer early cashout options. If you are currently winning your bet, you can choose to cash out your winnings early, locking in a profit before the event concludes. Doing so protects your winnings from late changes, but you will receive less than you would if you let the bet run to completion. Some bookmakers also offer partial cashout, allowing you to withdraw part of your winnings while leaving the rest riding on the outcome.
Betting with Exchanges at Selected Sportsbooks
Some of the larger Indian online betting sites, such as Dafabet, also house betting exchanges. Exchanges work differently from sportsbooks:
- You are not betting against the bookmaker – you are betting against other players
- You can “back” a selection (betting that it will win) or “lay” a selection (betting that it will not win)
- When you lay a bet, you are effectively acting as the bookmaker for that bet
- If the selection you have laid wins, you are responsible for paying out the winnings to the person who backed it
Because of the complexity involved with backing and laying bets, as well as the liability of paying profits to winners, StrikeOdds does not recommend exchange betting for beginners. If you are interested, take time to understand the mechanics fully before getting involved.
Betting with Free Bets and Match Deposit Bonuses
Many of our recommended Indian betting sites offer free bets and match deposit bonuses. Placing bets with these bonuses is not much different from betting with your own funds, but there are a few things to know:
How Do Free Bets Work? With a money-back free bet, you make a deposit and place a bet. If you win, you receive your winnings as normal. If you lose, you receive your stake back as a free bet to use on another wager. With no-deposit free bets, you are simply given a free bet to use – if you win, you keep the winnings, and if you lose, you have not risked any of your own money.
Betting with Match Deposit Bonuses: When placing bets using match deposit bonus funds, you may find that your bets have maximum stake limits and possibly win caps. You will also need to meet wagering requirements before you can withdraw bonus-derived winnings. Always check the terms before claiming.
Our Top Tips for Betting on Sports at Indian Bookmakers
- Do not place speculative bets on extreme underdogs without a good reason – underdog bets are exciting but lose far more often than they win
- Do your homework and stick to sports you know. Betting on favourites and informed selections might yield smaller wins, but they add up over time
- Bear in mind that Boosted Odds bets may not count towards clearing wagering requirements
- Some bet types (ACCAs, early cash-out bets, very short odds bets) may not count towards playthrough rates – always check the terms
- Whenever you claim bonus funds or use free bets, read the terms and conditions thoroughly, paying special attention to maximum win caps and eligible markets
Join the Best Betting Sites in India Today with StrikeOdds
Hopefully, you are now ready to have that first punt on your favourite sports at online bookmakers in India. Whether you are a cricket fan or a football enthusiast, we have you covered at StrikeOdds, with top online sportsbook reviews, guides to betting, welcome bonus comparisons, and much more. Take a look around before joining your new Indian online sports betting site today.
FAQs
Are live, in-play bets and live streaming the same thing?
No. Live streaming is a feature some Indian sportsbooks offer that lets you watch games live. Live, in-play bets are wagers on sports matches with dynamic, adjustable odds that change in real-time based on the action in the game. You can use both together – watching a live stream while placing in-play bets – but they are separate features.
Can I bet on sports with cryptocurrencies in India?
Yes. Several Indian bookmakers reviewed at StrikeOdds support cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Tether (USDT), Ethereum, and others. It is possible to both deposit and withdraw in crypto at these sites. Check our individual reviews for details on which cryptocurrencies each site accepts.
Do Indian bookmakers offer international betting options?
Yes. Indian betting sites are not limited to cricket and kabaddi. They also feature major international sports and competitions, including football (Premier League, Champions League, La Liga), tennis (Grand Slams), basketball (NBA), and many more. Read our reviews to learn about the specific sports coverage at each site.
How do I bet on cricket in India?
To bet on cricket in India, sign up at one of our recommended sportsbooks, make a deposit, navigate to the cricket section, and select the match you want to bet on. You can place bets on match winners, top batsman, top bowler, total runs, and many other markets. Our recommended sites all offer extensive cricket coverage, especially during the IPL season.
How do accumulator bets work?
An accumulator (or parlay) combines multiple selections into one bet. All selections must win for the bet to pay out. The odds of each selection are multiplied together, creating the potential for high returns from small stakes. The risk is that one losing selection costs you the entire bet. Most Indian sportsbooks allow accumulators of 2 to 20+ selections.
What is the safest way to deposit at Indian betting sites?
UPI is generally considered the safest and most convenient deposit method for Indian players, as it uses your existing bank authentication and processes instantly. Cryptocurrencies offer additional privacy. E-wallets like Skrill and Neteller provide a buffer between your bank account and the betting site. We recommend starting with a small deposit via your preferred method to test the process.