Unbeknownst to most fans who don’t live in any of the countries that are participating in a certain international sports tournament that’s currently on-going as we speak, the 2015 Cricket World Cup is playing. It’s a pretty big deal for participating nations, but for the rest of the world, not so much. The issue surrounding the lack of worldwide popularity of the Cricket World Cup and the sport of cricket for that matter is a topic for a different day.
What’s important is that those who love cricket are fully invested in the tournament, more so for those whose national team is currently competing in it. One such country is India, and it would be the understatement of understatements if I said that our friends in India love cricket. Actually, obsession might be a better word to describe it, akin to how Filipinos are obsessed with basketball.
Go anywhere in India these days and you’re likely to hear more conversations about the Cricket World Cup than any other available topic that’s relevant in the country these days. Such is the love Indians have for the sport and that love has even extended to the realm of gambling where mock betting sites – sports betting is illegal in India – have been bombarded with Indian sports fans playing for a chance to win non-cash prizes.
According to the Economic Times India, local sites like Betmockers, India Bet, and Lagai Khai, are all experiencing unprecedented levels of site visits, most of whom coming from cricket supporters rooting for their beloved national team.
These sites, according to IndiaBet.com managing director George Oborne told the newspaper that these sites (and apps) “provide a safe alternative to unregulated forms of gambling on offer in India.”
The surge in visits is largely attributed to general interest from residents of India, but Betmockers CEO Tabrez Sheikh pointed out that even Indians living abroad are getting in on the action too. “Where during IPL (Indian Premier League) we clocked 13,000 visitors a month, with World Cup, even before it began, we started clocking around 22,000 visitors a month.”
Those numbers are expected to increase even more as India continues its run in the tournament. The national team currently sits atop Group B with a 2-0 record and if their recent form is any indication, India could have an extended run in the tournament that might even end up with a run to the title. It would at least make for a great story considering that India entered the tournament as fourth favorites with its odds at 6/1 to win the tourney.