Australians Rush to Make Sports Bets on Big Bash Cricket League

Australians bet $47.6 million on the match between Hobart Hurricanes and Perth Scorchers.

Online sportsbooks in Australia are making big profits from the Big Bash cricket League, as the sports event seems to be a huge success among local bettors. According to bookmaker Betfair, Australian punters have wagered a jaw-dropping $28.1 million per match so far.

These figures show cricket is a top favorite among players who bet on sports in Australia, as total amount wagered has reached $590.6 million during the first 32 games. In comparison, Australians only bet a total of $6 million on the 2013 Melbourne Cup.

Cashing in on in-play betting

Australia’s Twenty20 cricket league is currently at its third and most successful season. Betfair spokesman Daniel Bevan believes it’s the intrigue that makes the event so popular. “Momentum can shift so quickly, so it’s encouraging people to stay and watch to the end. People can bet right up until the last ball and they do when it’s so close,” he explained.

So far, the game between the Hobart Hurricanes and Perth Scorchers has attracted the most clients. The total amount wagered on this game alone reached $47.6 million. A closer look to player behavior shows that the biggest part of the amount comes from “in-play” betting.

Betfair is not the only one benefiting from the popularity of the cricket league. The television network broadcasting the sports event had 629,000 viewers for the first 16 matches.