IPL betting: GR8 Tech powering ‘the biggest betting event of the year’

Sports betting operators are constantly keeping their eyes on the sporting calendar for key events to capitalise on, and the past weekend brought a mammoth moment in global betting. 

On Saturday, umpires called play on the first matches of the current year’s Indian Premier League, marking the beginning of “the biggest betting event of the year” according to GR8 Tech’s Head of Sport Product, Vlad Andrusenko. 

In conversation with SBC News, Andrusenko details how GR8 Tech’s operator partners can utilise the firm’s sports betting offering to truly take advantage of the competition’s “immense popularity”.

Placing an emphasis on the importance of the IPL on the sports betting calendar, Andrusenko explains that “the IPL is the world’s largest cricket tournament”.

He continues: “With cricket’s massive global following – second only to football – and India’s huge fanbase, the IPL naturally stands as the biggest betting event of the year. 

“Its fast-paced T20 format, unpredictable match outcomes and star-studded teams create the perfect environment for in-play betting, accounting for an overwhelming turnover share. The shorter, in comparison to test cricket, match duration keeps bettors hooked, driving constant action and high bet volumes.”

The Head of Sports Product reiterates the importance of operators placing themselves in a position to capitalise on IPL betting by revealing that GR8 Tech’s platform attracted over 21.5 million bets on the competition last year, with engagement “off the charts”. 

“…personalised margin technology ensures long-term profitability by enabling operators to adjust margins at a micro-segment level”

This very platform will be key for GR8 Tech’s partners to make the most of the behemoth of cricket betting, with Andrusenko lauding the firm’s “work to maximise IPL-related profits for our clients”. 

Looking into ways GR8 Tech’s platform will enable clients to exceed expectations throughout the competition, he states: “Our research shows that IPL fans strongly prefer in-play bets over traditional multi-bets, so we’ve made it easier for them to build in-play multi-bets. 

“By offering features like one-click bet recommendations, our multi-bet hub, and flexible bonuses, we make multi-bet adoption more intuitive and attractive. 

“Also, our exclusive bet builder for in-play cricket allows players to create custom bets within the same match – a feature only a few operators worldwide provide.”

Bringing “increased engagement” to GR8 Tech’s cricket offering, the firm also boasts a proprietary odds engine specific to the sport. This engine allows GR8 Tech to offer more than twice as many real cricket (not virtual cricket or e-cricket) events than global feed providers every month, ensuring 24/7 in-play cricket coverage with additional access to mid-and low-tier events often overlooked by global feed providers.

“The vast coverage drives increased engagement,” suggests Andrusenko. “And leads to a 30-40% increase in revenue for our clients, even beyond the major events like the IPL.”

“Meanwhile, personalised margin technology ensures long-term profitability by enabling operators to adjust margins at a micro-segment level. It has proven to boost revenue by over 30% in certain regions, without compromising player retention.

“The biggest traffic spikes usually happen during matches involving Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians”

“With the immense popularity of the IPL, sportsbook platforms often experience crashes due to the high traffic load. Our platform, however, is designed to handle this pressure, boasting a 99.96% uptime, even during peak periods.”

Further emphasising GR8 Tech’s ability to help partners take advantage of wider sports betting markets as well as cricket betting, Andrusenko praises the firm’s research team. 

“Our ability to maintain such consistent coverage is backed by our in-house trading department, which consists of over 200 mathematicians and technical experts,” he explains. “Our large team allows us to redistribute resources across sports and tournaments to maximise revenue while maintaining player satisfaction.”

Aiding the firm’s ability to cross-sell between cricket-focused offerings is GR8 Tech’s E-Cricket game. The virtual sports product “keeps players active and engaged by providing continuous betting opportunities” while “creating a reliable, always-on revenue stream”. 

As with any popular global sports competition, specific match-ups can attract increased attention from customers. 

Andrusenko highlights key teams to look out for, suggesting: “The biggest traffic spikes usually happen during matches involving Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians, especially when they face off against each other. 

“These teams have massive fanbases, so any match between them generates a lot of buzz,” he continues. “Also, the playoff matches leading up to the final are key moments to watch out for – there’s always a surge in traffic as the tournament gets closer to the finish.”

“…success in India depends on offering a fast, lightweight and mobile-optimised experience”

The sheer size of India as the most-populated country in the world explains the vast potential of this market. 

“What sets India apart from others is its mobile-first nature – over 75% of all traffic comes from mobile devices,” Andrusenko says.

“For a big share of the Indian audience mobile is the only medium where they consume Internet, and it always was this way. So while a lot of European-focused businesses are still shifting from desktop-first to mobile-first, catching up with the audience, the online mass market in India was mobile in the first place.

“This means success in India depends on offering a fast, lightweight and mobile-optimised experience that works well even with poor internet connectivity.”

Looking at what Indian bettors show most interest in, Andrusenko explains that “cricket dominates Indian sports betting, accounting for over 90% of betting turnover”.

However, the sport should not be the only point of interest for operators looking at Indian engagement, as several other betting markets could gain a keen eye from the market’s players. 

Andrusenko says: “Other sports like kabaddi are also on the rise. Badminton, football, and field hockey are popular too. To truly succeed, operators need to go beyond major cricket tournaments and cover local and lower-tier events, as well as niche sports that attract loyal audiences.

“Localisation is also critical. India is a mix of languages, cultures and betting behaviours. Providing local language support, culturally relevant promotions and gamification features like cricket-themed rewards or kabaddi challenges can boost retention by up to 80%.”

“The IPL’s reach extends well beyond India, touching cricket-loving nations across the globe”

Andrusenko also points out other nations where operators can find success with IPL betting, naming Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Canada, the UAE, Malaysia and Singapore as top geos with appreciation for this sport. 

“The IPL’s reach extends well beyond India, touching cricket-loving nations across the globe,” adds Andrusenko.

Rounding out the conversation, Andrusenko notes that GR8 Tech’s iFrame solution will be a key asset to its partners across the IPL calendar as a “fast, hassle-free way to integrate a top-tier sportsbook”. 

He concludes: “It’s a solid bet. The IPL brings in huge traffic spikes, and operators need a quick, scalable solution that delivers a smooth experience without months of development work.

“One of the standout features is the system’s ability to support high-speed operations. The platform can handle up to 30,000 bets per second and settle as many as one million bets per minute. 

“This is crucial during peak times like the IPL, where betting activity surges, and operators need a solution that ensures uninterrupted service without any slowdowns. The ability to scale in real-time and process this volume of bets efficiently can make a significant difference in handling the increased traffic.

“With GR8 Tech’s iFrame, partners get instant access to a fully optimised sportsbook, complete with in-play betting, real-time odds, robust risk management, and a cricket-focused UX. The iFrame is built to perform smoothly on any device, even in areas with inconsistent internet speeds.”