Simulated Cricket Leagues Explained

Credit: Pixabay License – Free for commercial use

On May 4th, the Indian Premier League Governing Council and the Board of Control for Cricket in India held a meeting to discuss the future of the Indian Premier League (IPL) amidst the current health crisis in the country. Both parties agreed that the best course of action is to immediately and indefinitely postpone the remainder of the 2021 IPL season. Per schedule, it should have concluded with the final happening on May 30th. However, now ideas are getting thrown around for the IPL to resume action before or after the T20 World Cup.

Given the no one can predict the future, some officials are adamant that all the remaining games should occur in another country. Australia and UK being the leading candidates. Other experts think that it is best to put this season to rest right now and that there is a decent chance that we have seen the last set of IPL matches for this calendar year.  

In these unprecedented circumstances, many sports betting brands have decided to add a simulated cricket league to their slew of wagering options in hopes of keeping patrons happy. Not surprising, as it is the only option available for cricket enthusiasts who still want to indulge in their hobby during the ongoing pandemic. 

What Is a Simulated Cricket League?

International gambling operators use AI technology paired with world-class cricket analysts to make simulated leagues a reality. These companies utilize comprehensive historical data that reflects real-world team form and match play to replicate the sports betting experience as close to real-life as possible. Meaning, AI-driven virtual representations of actual games occur at online sportsbooks, on which patrons can bet and win real money. 

As mentioned, an algorithm decides the results of these matches using data that factors player statistics, form, weather, pitch conditions, and so much more to produce a credible result as if the event had taken place in reality. Some sportsbooks feature simulated games where the outcome instantly pops up along with a slew of accompanying statistics, while 3D games that happen in real-time are the more common variation. Note that sportsbooks acquire the data used from an external stats provider such as BetRadar. Thus, they cannot directly affect the outcomes of these matches. The betting process itself is identical to the real thing in both types, except live betting is an option in real-time 3D virtual games. 

Advantages of Simulated Cricket Leagues

Naturally, the most massive positive regarding simulated leagues is that they are not affected by real-world events. No political, environmental, or health crisis will stop AI-driven matches from taking place. They can also happen with a far greater frequency than real ones, as virtual players do not get tired and are ready to go again as soon as the game ends. 

Accessibility is another massive plus. Some players may not have the funds necessary to stream the events on which they wagered. Sportsbooks provide free feeds to all their simulated matches, which have advanced graphics and the same unpredictability as the real thing. Therefore, the thrill level that they provide is identical to watching actual IPL games. That is why many believe that simulated leagues may be the future of the sports betting industry.