How to Choose the Best Betting Site
As we mentioned earlier, there are several betting sites in India. However, not all these betting sites offer high-quality services to players. As a matter of fact, there are some that are designed by unscrupulous entities just to swindle unsuspecting Indian players.
Thus, before you choose an online betting site, there are numerous factors you should consider. We have outlined these factors and explained them on this page so you can have a good understanding of how to spot the best online betting sites.
Licensing
The first and probably most important factor to check before you decide to register with any online betting site in India is the license that the operator holds. It is expected that every betting site operates with one or more licenses issued by a well-known and reputable regulatory authority.
The regulatory authority is responsible for enforcing the law that governs the license, and every licensee must abide by it.
One advantage of playing at a licensed betting site in India is that you can always report it to its regulatory authority if it fails to deliver promised services or breaks the terms of the agreement in any way. To know if a betting site is licensed, follow these steps:
- Check the footer of the bookmaker for license information or ask customer support.
- Visit the website of the regulatory body and check the license number to see if it is valid.
- Some of the best betting sites in India provide a direct link to their license certificate on their sites.
Sports Featured
After checking and confirming the license of a sports betting website, the next thing that should be on your list of factors to check is the sports featured. After all, the main reason for wanting to join the best online betting site is to bet on your favourite sports.
Usually, you can see the different sports, leagues, and competitions that a bookmaker features on its main page. Here are some of the common sports you will find at our recommended top betting sites in India.
Cricket
Cricket is by far the most popular sport in India and many punters enjoy betting on it. It is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams, usually consisting of 11 players each. There are several best cricket betting sites in India that cover a wide range of major and minor competitions in India and other parts of the world.
At these sportsbooks, you can bet on the Indian Premier League, which is by far the greatest cricket tournament, as well as T20 and ICC World Cup.
There are numerous betting options and markets available for the sport. Among the types of bets you can place in a cricket betting site are:
- Match Betting: This involves predicting which team will win the game after the regular period.
- Tied Match Betting: This refers to betting on a game's outcome to be a tie. You can also bet that a team will either win or draw (double chance betting).
- Series Winner: In this type of bet, you are wagering on a team to win a cricket series and not just a single match.
- Outright Winner: This is similar to a series winner bet, but it is a bet on a particular team to win an entire competition or tournament.
- Proposition Bets: These are special bets that have nothing to do with the overall outcome of the game. Examples include the man of the match bet or most sixes wager.
Horse Racing
The best online betting sites in India also offer horse racing betting. They feature several horse racing events that are hosted inside and outside of India. This includes the Indian Oaks, Indian Derby, Saudi Cup, Cheltenham Cup, Melbourne Cup, and so on.
A good thing about this sport is that there are several betting markets available for Indian punters to place. The best online horse racing betting sites in India offer bet types such as:
- Straight Bets: Straight bets in horse racing include win bets, place bets, and show bets.
- Exotic Bets: This includes exacta bets, trifecta bets, superfectas, Quinella, Pick 3, and so on.
Pro Kabaddi
Kabaddi is another popular sport featured by the best online betting sites in India. It is a contact team sport that is entertaining to watch and specific to India and the Indian subcontinent. The major kabaddi league in the country feature is the Pro Kabaddi League and it currently has a total of 12 teams.
Because the sport is not yet popular throughout Europe and in most parts of the world, the betting markets available may be somewhat limited. However, it is a fun sport to bet on, just as with cricket and horse racing.
Football
Football is probably the most common sport that punters bet on across the globe. Indian players at the best betting sites also enjoy wagering their money on this sport. When you check the sports section of a top betting site in India, you will see different football leagues that you can bet on, including the Indian Super League, Shillong Premier League, UEFA Champions League, English Premier League, German Bundesliga, and many others.
Impressively, there are several betting markets available in football betting, such as:
- Match Betting/ 3-way Betting: This is a kind of football betting where you are wagering on a specific team to win the game in the regular period. You can also bet that the outcome of the match will be a tie.
- Under/Over Goals: This refers to betting on the total number of goals scored in a football match to be under or over a specific value. Some Indian players prefer this football betting because it does not totally depend on the outcome of the game.
- Handicap Betting: In this type of football betting, the teams are handicapped based on their form. The stronger team must win by more goals in order for a punter that bets on them to win.
- Prop Bets: As with cricket, Indian players can place proposition bets in football as well. These are unique bets that do not depend on the final outcome of the match. Examples are bets on the highest goal scorer of a competition, man of the match, the first team to score and so on.
- Both Teams to Score: This is a bet on the two teams laying against each other to score goals.
Other Sports
Apart from the different sports that we have mentioned so far, there are others you can also bet on at the best online bookies in India. These include basketball, volleyball, tennis, golf, boxing, e-sports, MMA, ice hockey, handball, and so on. Some cricket betting sites even go as far as offering casino games that Indian players can enjoy.
Bonuses and Promotions
So far, we've talked about the different kinds of sports featured by betting sites in India. But that's not the only thing you need to consider when choosing a bookie to join. You also need to check the different bonuses offered by the operator to know what you stand to gain.
Bonuses are free gifts and can help boost your bankroll, thus giving you a chance to win more. In fact, the best cricket betting sites offer bonuses and promotions to lure in new players and keep existing players. Therefore, you should ensure you are getting the most from it.
Generally, sports betting bonuses can be categorised into two types - deposit bonuses and no deposit bonuses. A deposit bonus refers to any bonus that you can claim only after funding your betting account. A deposit bonus, on the other hand, is offered for free without any deposit requirement. The following are some of the bonuses you can claim at good betting sites in India.
Welcome Bonus
A welcome bonus is a bonus offered by a sports betting website to new players when they join their platform. It is a welcome offer, and the purpose is to help new players kickstart their betting adventure. In addition, it can take different forms depending on the betting site. Some may offer it as a free bet on sign-up, while others may offer a match bet.
For example, a cricket betting site may offer a 200% match bonus on the first deposit made. So if you deposit ₹1,000, you will get an extra ₹2,000 as your welcome bonus. Here on StarPick, we list the top betting sites with the best welcome bonuses.
Free Bet
Free bets are another type of bonus that Indian players can claim. It is offered by a bookmaker as money credited to your betting account which you can use to wager in part or full on a sporting event. It is a great way to profit without you having to take any risk.
For example, a sportsbook may reward you with up to ₹2,000 free bets, which you can use to bet on different sports. If you win and fulfill the conditions of the bonus, you get to keep your winnings. If you lose, however, then at least you didn't lose your hard-earned money.
Depending on the betting site, you may only be able to use a free bet on a particular sport or match. We recommend that you should always check the bonus terms and conditions to know the sports a free bet offer applies to.
Enhanced Odds
To give players a chance to win more money, some top betting sites in India offer enhanced odds on certain events. For example, if the odds assigned to a particular cricket game outcome is 2.3, a bookie can enhance it to 3.5, thus increasing the potential return. This kind of bonus is periodic and usually offered in big games.
Cashback Bonuses
Cashback bonuses give punters a percentage of the amount they've lost over a period of time as a bonus. For instance, a sports betting operator can offer players a 5% cashback bonus on all the amount they lost in the previous week. As with other bonuses, the percentage of cashback you can get depends on how generous the betting site is.
Loyalty Rewards
These are bonuses that top betting sites in India offer their loyal players. It is a way of rewarding them for their continuous patronage and it can take different forms depending on the betting site. One of the common ways online gambling sites that offer sports betting services reward their loyal players is to award them points every time they place a bet. These points can then be accumulated and traded for different kinds of bonuses.
How Can I Check a Bookmaker's Bonuses?
To check the bonuses offered by a betting site in India, visit its promotions section. Here, you will see a full list of the current offers as well as their requirements. Many top cricket betting sites also allow players to sign up for their promotional newsletters. By doing so, you will receive notifications from the operator every time new offers are available.
Bonus Terms and Conditions at the Best Cricket Betting Sites
Before you claim any bonus or promotional offer at a betting site, make sure you consider the terms and conditions that the operator has set for them. One of the common bonus T&Cs is the wagering requirement. It refers to the number of times that you are required to bet the bonus to withdraw winnings made from it.
For example, a welcome offer free bet of ₹1,000 with a 25x wagering requirement means that you must bet it 25 times (₹1,000 x 25 = ₹25,000) to withdraw winnings.
Other bonus terms and conditions to check include:
- The minimum odds to bet with the offer
- The validity period, and
- Payment method restrictions.
Features of Top Betting Sites
Odds
The best betting sites in India offer great odds for their sporting events, thus giving players a chance to win more money. You can always compare the odds of multiple bookies to know which one is the best to choose from.
Game selection
At top betting sites, you will have access to a wide range of game selections such as cricket, football, kabaddi, horse racing, and even virtual sports. These gambling sites cover both major and minor leagues, competitions, and tournaments.
Banking methods
There are numerous banking methods available for Indian bettors to use at the top bookies. These payment methods make it easy for them to fund their betting account and withdraw winnings. You can gamble at online betting sites in Indian rupees.
Betting App
Many top cricket betting sites, as well as other bookmakers, have a betting app that India players can download on their devices to access their platform and bet on sports. In some cases, players who use the betting app are offered exclusive bonuses.
UX/ UI
The design of a betting site is vital as it determines how easy it is to navigate. First-rate bookmakers usually design their websites to be classy and responsive on desktop computers, smartphones, and tablets.
Customer Service at Top Betting Sites
Customer service is a vital factor to consider when selecting which betting site to join, and the reason is simple. The customer support that a bookie offers determines how easily you can get help whenever you need it. There are several ways the best cricket betting sites offer players support.
They often have a live chat feature on their site where players can chat with a customer service representative to make an inquiry or log a complaint. In addition, many betting sites offer email support, which allows you to send your questions or comments to the customer support team. Some even have an online ticket system embedded on their site as well as toll-free telephone lines to call for assistance.
In fact, many of these sportsbooks also have a comprehensive FAQ section where common questions related to their services are answered. They may even partner with an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) agency to handle disputes that arise between them and players.
Our recommended betting sites offer 24/7 customer support in different languages, including Hindi and English. They attend to and resolve complaints quickly to ensure that players have a great betting experience.