The ICC World Cup gets underway in India later this month with India clear favourites through betting exchanges. Betting is interesting with more punters keen to lay India than back them despite their favoured status. Sri Linka are second favourites, and here the situation is reversed with punters much preferring to back them than lay them.

For those not familiar with betting exchanges, you can bet on any team winning (backing) or losing (laying). What’s even more interesting is that you can see how much money has been placed on both options. For example, if you check the top three sides:

India – Back at 31/10 £6580.33 – Lay at 33/10 £7676.14

Sri Lanka – Back at 5/1 £11982.28 – Lay at 26/5 £3354.35

South Africa – Back at 26/5 £3420.61 – Lay at 27/5 £2107.36

Based on those odds, Sri Lanka should be pressing for favouritism – they are certainly drawing more bets than most other teams, and they drawing a much lower percentage of lay bets. Betting exchanges bring another dimension to betting, especially in big events like the cricket World Cup.

England’s demoralizing 1-6 loss to Australia in the recent one day series led to their odds drifting dramatically. That hasn’t stopped punters backing them and, at 8/1, there’s over £4000 in the pool compared to only £700 in the Lay pool at 42/5. If you don’t think England can win, then there are plenty of bets, and some good value to be had in the 42/5 Lay options.

Betting exchanges operate on all sporting events. Being able to back a team to lose rather than win is an interesting concept and it’s one that is drawing more punters all the time. If you haven’t visited a betting exchange before, pay them a visit to see what they are all about.