Most Popular Sports for Betting in Pakistan

Sports betting in Pakistan centers around a few key disciplines, each with its own seasonality, fanbase, and market depth. Mobile platforms make it easy to place bets on a variety of sports, both local and international, offering hundreds of markets for each event — from match winners to player-specific statistics.

This page outlines the most popular sports among Pakistani bettors and highlights key features of each one when it comes to mobile betting.

Cricket: The King of Betting

Cricket dominates sports culture in Pakistan. Whether it’s local T20 leagues or international Test matches, betting activity remains highest around major cricket events. Mobile platforms usually offer detailed coverage of:

• Pakistan Super League (PSL)

• ICC World Cup, T20, Champions Trophy

• India Premier League (IPL)

• Test and ODI Series

• Big Bash, Caribbean Premier League

Betting markets include:

Football (Soccer): Global Reach, Local Fans

Football is the second-most popular betting market in Pakistan. Most users focus on top-tier international leagues, with mobile betting platforms offering a wide array of tournaments including:

• English Premier League

• Champions League & Europa League

• FIFA World Cup

• La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga

Key betting categories include:

• Full-time result (1X2)

• Goalscorer bets (first, anytime, last)

• Over/Under goals (2.5 goals, 3.5 goals, etc.)

• Both teams to score (BTTS)

• Corners, bookings, and VAR markets

Apps allow multi-bets, accumulators, and live streams (when available) with real-time betting odds that update every few seconds during a match.

Kabaddi: Regional Demand

Kabaddi is deeply rooted in Punjabi culture and has seen a surge in betting interest due to leagues like the Pro Kabaddi League (India) and Circle Kabaddi events in Pakistan.

Betting options include:

• Match result

• Winning margin

• First team to reach 15 points

• Total raids and tackles

• Individual performance metrics

While kabaddi markets are not available on all platforms, some apps dedicated to South Asian audiences include regular coverage.

Horse Racing

Horse racing is legal in select areas and traditionally linked with betting through physical agents. Now, mobile apps offer virtual access to both:

• Pakistani turf events (Lahore Race Club)

• International tracks (UK, UAE, Hong Kong)

Markets are usually simple:

• Win/Place/Show

• Exacta/Trifecta

• Race matchups

• Jockey vs. Jockey bets

Tennis, Basketball, and Others

Smaller yet active markets exist for:

Tennis:

• ATP and WTA tournaments

• Match winner, set scores, total games

• In-play bets like “next point winner”

Basketball:

• NBA, EuroLeague, and FIBA events

• Handicap spreads, total points, player stats

Others:

• Boxing, MMA (UFC), and eSports (CS:GO, Dota 2)

• Motorsports: Formula 1 and MotoGP

Betting apps often feature search filters, so users can quickly navigate to these sports and set favorite leagues for faster access.

In-Play Betting and Cash-Out

In-play betting has become an essential part of mobile platforms. Users can place bets after the event starts and watch the odds shift based on momentum.

Key features:

• Real-time market updates

• Dynamic cash-out options

• Bet builders for live combinations

• Delay in acceptance (usually 3–5 seconds)

This is especially popular in cricket and football, where momentum changes rapidly.

Weekly Popularity Breakdown (Estimated)

These ratios often shift depending on the season, with cricket dominating during international tournaments and football spiking during Premier League weekends.