India Super League Betting: Everything You Need To Know
Established in October 2013, The Indian Super League (ISL) is the top-level professional football league in India. However, the league, also known as the Hero Indian Super League, officially took off in 2014. The league’s main objective is to nurture talent and promote the sport in a predominantly cricket nation and elevate the sport to the international level.
For the fans who love sports betting, ISL makes a good league to set your sights on. In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about the league as well as expert-backed tips on betting on Indian football.
Brief History
ISL cricket features ten teams and its season runs between October and March. The league’s current champion is the ATK, which was also the first club to win the championship when the league started six years ago.
It would be a great injustice to ATK if we failed to mention that they have won the most titles – three since the league began. Notably, each team contesting for the title plays 18 matches, but only four qualify for the playoffs.
Hero Motocor, the league whose main sponsor, kicked off with eight teams. But it is only after the number of teams increased to ten that the league was recognized by the Asian Football Federation that governs the sport in Asia.
The league operates a bit differently from other leagues across the globe in that there are not relegations or promotions. Clubs easily qualify for the continental cups such as the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup.
Teams are ranked according to the number of points they earn during the matches with a team getting three points for winning, one for a draw and non for loss. The league has recorded laudable growth since it began, and the fans haven’t let both the players and the organizers down. The growing love for football in the country is a testament to this.
Popular Teams
- Kerala Blasters
- Chennaiyin FC
- Atletico de Kolkata
- FC Goa
- Bengaluru FC
- Mumbai City FC
- Delhi Dynamos
- NorthEast United FC
- Jamshedpur FC
- FC Pune City
Popular Players In the League and Countries of Origin
France David Trezeguet, Florent Malouda, Nicolas Anelka, Robert Pires
Brazil: Elano, Lúcio, Roberto Carlos
Spain: Carlos Marchena, Joan Capdevila, Luis García
Portugal: Hélder Postiga, Simão Sabrosa
England: David James
Iceland: Eiður Guðjohnsen
Italy: Alessandro Del Piero
Ivory Coast: Didier Zokora
Mali: Mohamed Sissoko
Northern Ireland: Aaron Hughes
Norway: John Arne Riise
Romania: Adrian Mutu
Sweden: Freddie Ljungberg
Uruguay: Diego Forlán
Top Five Best Players In the 2019/2020 Season
- Bartholomew Ogbeche of Kerala Blasters
- Coro of FC Goa
- Roy Krishna of ATK
- Nerijus Valskis of Chennaiyin FC
- Hugo Boumous of FC Goa
Betting Tips
One of the advantages of cricket betting in ISL is the league’s simple nature compared to other dominant leagues that have been in existence for a long period. Punters should pay attention to the league’s developments and follow up on each team’s performance during every single match. This is all you need to do to improve their chances of placing a winning bet.
Notably, many betting sites offer live streaming in addition to their sportsbook, which presents punters with a great chance to place the correct bet as they stand a higher chance of beating the bookies when betting on live matches.
However, the league is only a few years old, which is also a challenge when it comes to the options available for betting. The list of bets is not as rich compared with the other leagues. The sites offering these betting markets are also not as many, and some won’t accept Indian punters.
Deposits and Withdrawals
Most sites will accept cards such as Mastercard or Visacard when making a deposit, but this depends on the site. Some bookies won’t accept cards as a form of deposit by Indian players. The other option is to use an e-wallet such as Skrill or Neteller, which are also quite safe.
However, always do your due diligence before making a deposit to avoid being scammed. In a country like India, where football betting is still fresh, some bookies can take advantage to reap where they didn’t sow.
How To Pick the Right Bookmaker
This is the first crucial step in online betting. Your success or failure will largely depend on the bookie you pick. If you are new in betting, here are some tips that could help you choose the right betting site.
- Always ensure a site is licensed and operating legally
- Look out for feedback and reviews by other punters
- Reasonable payouts
- Clear rules and conditions on the first deposit bonus
- Other betting promotions
- Clear deposit and withdrawal methods
- Easy navigation and user-friendliness
- Active customer care support
- Sportsbook depth
Betting Options In ISL
- 1X2 Full-Time Result
- Anytime Goalscorer
- Asian Handicap
- First Goalscorer
- Half-Time / Full-Time
- Total Goals
- Correct Score
- Over / Under
- Double Chance
- Both Teams to Score
- Win to Nil
Botton Line
Betting in the ISL is not as hard as it is with other leagues across the globe. Do your research well and ensure you have the statistics on the different clubs and the best player before placing a bet.