Celebrities Are Quietly Fueling the Rise of Cricket

If you’ve scrolled through Instagram lately, chances are you’ve seen it: a former cricket star sharing a link to a “sports prediction app,” or a TV actor playing a game during an IPL match. No big promo. No bold claims. Just subtle nudges. And yet, it’s working.

In India, where cricket is practically religion and everyone has a smartphone, online betting apps like 4rabet are growing fast—and celebrity culture is helping them go mainstream.

Cricket’s Rebrand as “Entertainment”

Let’s be clear: this isn’t the underground bookie scene from a decade ago. Today’s apps are glossy, gamified, and mobile-first. 4rabet company, for example, looks more like a fantasy sports app than a betting platform. You log in, make a pick, and within minutes, you’ve won or lost. It’s quick, flashy, and built for short attention spans.

For many users, it’s no longer “gambling.” It’s just another way to engage with the match.

Celebs Aren’t Endorsing – But They’re Definitely Influencing

You won’t see A-listers holding banners saying “Go bet now.” But scroll through reels or tweets, and you’ll catch them name-dropping apps—or reposting brand content in casual ways.

The endorsements are soft:

“Check out this fun IPL game I found.”
“Playing Teen Patti on this app between shoots.”
“Guess who wins this match?”

It’s not technically advertising. But it’s clearly exposure. And in a country where celebrity influence runs deep, that’s more than enough.

Why Cricket Apps Are Booming in India

It’s not just the celeb angle. There’s a perfect storm happening:

Cricket’s always on, from IPL to World Cups.
Mobile data is cheap, and even entry-level phones can run betting apps.
Payments are easy, thanks to UPI and wallets like Paytm.
Cultural attitudes are shifting, especially among Gen Z and millennials.

Apps like 4rabet don’t just offer sports betting. They include casino-style games, crash games like Aviator, and Indian classics like Andar Bahar—all in INR, with 24/7 withdrawals. It’s fast, localized, and frictionless.

Not Quite Legal, Not Quite Illegal

Here’s the gray area: most platforms, are licensed overseas. That means they’re technically operating “offshore,” even if 90% of their audience is Indian.

Some states have banned betting. Others haven’t. As long as the app avoids claiming it’s pure gambling, it stays on the edge of the law. For now, that’s enough.

Final Word

Online betting in India isn’t a niche hobby anymore—it’s becoming part of digital culture. Celebs might not be officially endorsing apps but their influence is pushing it into everyday feeds and conversations.

Whether that’s harmless fun or a sign of something deeper depends on how you see it. Either way, it’s happening. And people are clicking.

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Adnan Zafar: Adnan Zafar, popularly known as Ken Doll, brings a unique perspective to markmeets.com, contributing thought-provoking articles that reflect his keen insights into entertainment and fashion.