Do you know TATA IPL 2025 has broken the record of viewership during its initial matches? The first eight matches attracted 288 million television viewers across India. Imagine that among 288 million viewers, you are one who placed a bet on your favorite team and are waiting for your reward.
IPL is not a cricket match; it is like a festival in which millions of people place bets on their favorite team and make their prediction into the real result.
For iGaming operators and brands, IPL is a big chance for business growth. Every year, over 600 million people watch the IPL, and billions are spent on betting, making it a fast-growing market. But success in this field isn’t just about giving people betting options. It also needs a good understanding of rules, the right technology, ways to keep users engaged, and strong platform security.
In this article, you will explore the key considerations and essential features for operators and brands looking to thrive in the IPL betting space.
Impact of IPL betting on the iGaming industry
According to the report by Statista, the IPL is one of the most-watched sports leagues globally. The league’s total brand value was estimated at $10.7 billion in 2023, highlighting its immense economic impact.
If we talk about India, the sports betting market has grown rapidly due to the expansion of digital platforms. In 2024, the Indian online gambling market is projected to reach $2.8 billion, with a significant portion driven by cricket betting.
What is IPL betting?
IPL betting refers to the act of placing wagers on various outcomes related to the matches in the Indian Premier League, a professional Twenty20 cricket league in India. Bettors can place bets on aspects such as match results, individual player performances, and even specific events within a game, like the number of sixes in an over and other aspects:
- Match Winners – Betting on which team will win the match.
- Top Batsman/Bowler – Wagering on which player will score the most runs or take the most wickets.
- Live/In-Play Betting – Placing bets while the match is in progress.
- Over/Under Bets – Predicting whether a particular statistic (e.g., total runs scored) will be over or under a set number.
- Player Performance Bets – Predicting individual player milestones like runs, sixes, or wickets.
Key Considerations for Brands & Operators
- Regulatory Compliance: Understanding the legal rules of online sports betting in India is very crucial, as they vary from state to state. Some states allow it, while others have strict restrictions. Betting operators must follow the laws in each state they operate in to avoid any legal trouble.
Operators have to create an actionable strategy to obtain the proper licensing from reputable regulatory bodies, and they also have to implement KYC and AML policies to prevent illegal activities. - User Acquisition & Retention: As the popularity of online sports betting is increasing, attracting and retaining users is important. If the iGaming operators offer a wide range of sports and betting options, features like live streaming and in-play betting can enhance user engagement and loyalty.
- Responsible Gambling Measures: Operators must implement tools and resources to promote responsible gambling. This includes setting deposit limits, offering self-exclusion options, and providing access to support resources to prevent addiction and ensure fair play.
- Security & Fraud Prevention: Protecting user data and preventing fraudulent activities is crucial for brands and operators. Utilizing advanced encryption technologies and robust verification processes can help safeguard users’ information and maintain the platform’s integrity.
- Scalability & Performance: It is critical to ensure the platform can handle high traffic volumes, especially during peak IPL seasons. Investing in scalable infrastructure and optimizing performance can provide a seamless betting experience for users.
Essential features in an IPL Betting Platform
IPL offers a huge opportunity for betting platforms to engage users like never before. But if you have to stand out alone in a competitive space, you have to offer a seamless, secure, and exciting user experience. Here are the essential features every IPL betting platform must include to attract more users.
1. Live Betting & Real-Time Updates
Live betting allows users to place bets while the match is going on. This keeps users engaged throughout the games. This feature helps to add more excitement and increases the time spent on the platform. With the help of real-time updates such as ball-by-ball scores, players’ stats help better to make quick decisions.
2. Mobile-Friendly Interface
Most IPL fans prefer betting through their mobile phones. A mobile responsive platforms or application ensure that users can place a bet anytime, anywhere, without facing any lag. A smooth mobile interface creates a new experience, improves user satisfaction, increases engagement, and reduces drop-offs.
3. Multiple Payment Options
Payment options play a crucial role in IPL betting. It allows users to deposit or withdraw money through any platform, like UPI, Paytm, Google Pay, or even through cryptocurrencies.
Offering easy, smooth, and fast payment options helps to build trust and encourages more suers to bet comfortably.
4. Secure and Verified System
While placing a bet, users share their sensitive information like bank details and ID proofs. A betting platform must use strong encryption(like SSL certificates) and proper verification (KYC)to keep the data safe. Strong security helps to build credibility and ensures compliance with regulations and prevents fraud or misuse.
5. Affiliate & Referral Programs
An iGaming affiliate program allows influencers, bloggers, YouTubers, and website owners to promote your IPL betting platform in exchange for a commission. They get paid based on many metrics, like bets placed, sign-ups, or deposits.
A referral program works similarly but is aimed at regular users. It lets your existing users invite friends to join the platform. In return, both the referrer and the new user get rewards like bonus money, free bets, or cashback.
For example – During IPL season, you can offer a special referral bonus like:
Refer a friend and get ₹500 when they place their first bet during any IPL match!
6. AI-Powered Odds & Insights
By implementing artificial intelligence in betting platforms to offer dynamic odds on the basis of match situations. It helps users to get insights like player form, head-to-head stats, weather conditions, and more, which help them to place smarter bets.
AI technology helps users feel more confident in their decisions, and it makes your platform look more advanced and trustworthy.
IPL Betting Promotion tips for operators
The IPL season is like a festival for cricket lovers. It is a golden opportunity for betting operators to grow their brands, attract new audiences, and boost engagement. But in the betting space, competition is very high. The right mix of marketing and branding can help your platform stand out. Here are some most effective strategies to drive more conversions and create long-term loyalty during the IPL season.
1. Influencer and Sports Creator Partnerships
Collaborate with cricket influencers, fantasy sports content creators, and sports YouTubers to promote your betting platform through reels, stories, and engaging posts. These creators already have loyal and engaging audiences. Their recommendations feel authentic and can drive high-quality traffic, especially among young, mobile-first users.
2. IPL-Themed Promotions and Campaigns
To attract more audiences, you have to create special offers campaigns like ‘Free bet Friday’, ‘Double Your Winnings on Final day’.Run match-specific or team-based promotions that align with ongoing games.
IPL is a short and high-energy season. These campaigns capitalise on real-time excitement and drive more user participation during peak matches.
3. Real-Time Push Notifications & In-App Engagement
Sending personalised push notifications during match moments like toss updates, odds changes, or flash offers. Include match insights, last-minute betting tips, or “bet now” buttons in-app.
Real-time engagement keeps your platform top-of-mind and encourages immediate action, increasing session time and bet volume.
4. Responsible Betting Messaging
While promoting your product, always spread awareness about responsible betting, like deposit limits, taking breaks, or self-exclusion options. So that betting should be in control.
Conclusion
As we read above that IPL is just not a cricket game, it is like a festival for million of fans. So, it is a great opportunity for brands and iGaming operators to refine their businesses and streamline their platforms with the essential features to attract and engage new audiences.
Getting into the IPL betting market is not just about giving people options to place bets. To really succeed, operators need to focus on the right mix of technology, safety, easy-to-use platforms, and smart marketing. Features like live betting, AI-based insights, influencer tie-ups, and following legal rules all play a big role. The better you bring all these things together, the more successful your platform will be.
