8www IPL Betting Guide: which market is right for you before the match starts

What kind of tournament the IPL actually is

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a franchise-based T20 cricket competition. Teams built around city names play each other, and each innings is 20 overs. A match usually finishes in one evening, so there is play almost every day during the season.

In the league stage every team faces the others more than once, and the sides at the top of the points table go through to the play-offs. The play-off stage has the Qualifier, the Eliminator and the Final. Those closing matches usually draw the biggest crowds and the most markets.

The season normally runs between March and May, and matches start in the evening. A player auction is held beforehand to build the squads, so each season the teams look a little different. That change is exactly why you should look at the sides fresh before you bet.

The big advantage for Bangladesh viewers is the small time difference. An evening match in Kolkata or Mumbai is roughly the same evening here, so finishing work, watching the game and betting live all fit together easily.

The IPL is not just cricket, it is two months of talk. Knowing who is in form, who is coming back from injury and which side is playing consistently makes market prices easier to read. So before you bet, it is worth a quick look at the team's recent matches.

How to tell the IPL betting markets apart on 8www

On 8www there are several markets for an IPL match. The problem is that many new players assume every market works the same way. In reality each market settles differently and carries a different risk. The comparison below is set out in plain language so you can choose with your eyes open.

Besides the markets above, you'll also find many others such as wickets per bowler and team top score. Each market's terms are written inside the market itself.

Match Winner: the simplest market

Here you answer just one question: which team wins. What happens on a tie or a rain abandonment is set out in the match terms beforehand. This is the easiest market for newcomers to start with, since the calculation ties straight to the match result.

Total Runs Over/Under: an edge if you read the scoring

You estimate whether the two teams' combined runs finish above or below a set line. Small ground, strong batting line-up and a dry pitch mean more runs. Checking those three first makes the market line easier to read.

Runs in a Specific Over: a small market with fast-moving odds.

Gauging how many runs come in a single over is tough. One bowler can go for 20 in an over, then bowl a maiden. This market suits those who watch bowling changes and batsmen's shot selection closely.

Man of the Match: decide on form

You have to pick the performer announced after the match. Usually the award goes to the top-scoring batsman or the highest wicket-taker, so keep an eye on recent scorecards.

Champion Bet: the season-long patience market

Before or midway through the season you can pick which team wins the trophy. The wait is long, but the odds are usually decent too. Base this bet on team injuries, auction results and form.

Live or Rolling Bets: the fastest market

Odds move after every ball while the match is on. They swing quickly on a wide, a boundary or a wicket. There's opportunity here, but also pressure to decide fast. So fix in advance how much you'll stake and at what loss you stop.

What comes back on a ৳1,000 bet: a worked example

Many new players see odds and think that's the profit rate. In fact, decimal odds show the total return, stake included. At 1.85 odds, a ৳1,000 bet returns ৳1,850 if it wins, and that includes your own ৳1,000. Lose, and the whole stake goes.

Add a bonus and one more figure enters the calculation. The first deposit gets a 230% bonus, up to ৳23,500, with a minimum deposit of ৳100. To withdraw bonus money you must meet an 18x wagering requirement; the full rules are on the Terms & Conditions page.

How rolling bets help while the match is on

Pre-match markets set the odds in advance. In rolling markets the odds change at every moment of the match, because the probability shifts too. If two wickets fall in the first over, the team everyone saw as the easy favourite suddenly drifts. That swing is the real draw of live betting.

Speed brings risk with it, though. Raise your stake on emotion while watching the score and the numbers can turn on you in a single over. Before you go live, decide what you'll see before placing a bet and what will make you stop. That one small rule does the most work.

• If no wicket falls in the powerplay, the score climbs quickly, so watch how the over-runs line moves.
• In the death overs, watch the finishers' shot selection — total runs rise fast in the last five overs.
• When dew sets in, batting gets easier in the second innings and the ball grips less for the spinners.
• The required run rate changes every over; a big gap means risky shots, so the chance of wickets goes up.
• After a big partnership breaks, wait at least one over and read how the new batter is settling in.

Reading decimal odds: the simple rule

Decimal odds tell you one thing: for ১ taka staked, how much you get back in total if the bet wins. ১.৮৫ means ১.৮৫ taka for every ১ taka, stake included. So to work out your profit, just subtract ১ from the odds.

To turn odds into a probability, divide ১ by the odds. Divide ১ by ১.৮৫ and you get roughly ০.৫৪ — in other words the market is pricing about ৫৪% probability. Once you know this easy sum, you get a fair idea of which side the market is pricing short and which side it's pricing long.

The odds above are examples to show how the maths works, not markets for any particular match.

The bonuses that actually help during the tournament

We don't announce a separate special offer for the IPL. What helps during the season is the set of bonuses that runs all year. Read the terms first and you won't be rushing at the toss.

The first deposit gets a ২৩০% bonus, up to ৳২৩,৫০০. After that come ১৯% on reloads, ১.১% daily cashback and ৳৫২৫ for referring a friend. Every offer has its own terms, so it's worth reading the details on the Bonus & VIP page.

Remember before you bet: bonus money can't be withdrawn until the playthrough conditions are met. There are plenty of matches in a season, so even with time on your side, think each bet through.