Toss winner betting explained

Toss winner betting is a two-way bet on which team wins the coin toss before a match. It is settled seconds after the coin lands, usually priced between 1.85 and 1.95 for each side, and the market closes shortly before the scheduled toss time.

Updated 1 October 2026 By Rohan Mehta

Formats: T20, ODI, Test
Skill needed: Low
Settles: Before the first ball
Best for: A quick side bet, not a long-term strategy

Quick overview

How does the toss market work? You pick one of the two captains to win the coin toss.
Does the venue change who wins the toss? No.
Is there a smart way to bet on the toss? Not on the coin itself.
Toss takes place as normal: Settled on the captain who wins the call
Common mistake: Backing the stronger team to win the toss.

How does the toss market work?

You pick one of the two captains to win the coin toss. Most sites open the market a day or two before the game and close it a few minutes before the toss. Because the coin has no favourite, both sides are priced almost the same.

If both sides are 1.90, the implied chances add up to 105%. The extra 5% is the bookmaker's margin.
At 1.90 you need to be right 52.6% of the time just to break even. No one can call a coin that often.
Most sites don't offer cash out on the toss, because the market settles too fast.

Does the venue change who wins the toss?

No. The coin is 50/50 at every ground. What the venue changes is the captain's choice after the toss, and that choice can move the match odds. At grounds where heavy evening dew is expected, captains who win the toss usually choose to bowl first and chase.

Watch match winner odds right after the toss. They often move more than people expect.
Pitch, dew and boundary size explain most toss decisions in T20 cricket.

Is there a smart way to bet on the toss?

Not on the coin itself. The useful work happens on the next market: once you know who won the toss and what they chose, you can judge whether the match winner price has moved too far or not far enough.

Keep toss stakes small. Over a season the margin is the only thing that's certain.
Treat the toss as entertainment and put your analysis into the markets that reward it.

Settlement

How does toss winner betting settle?

These are the usual rules at the sites we review. Each operator writes its own house rules, so check the market rules before you bet.

How toss winner betting settles in common situations
Situation	Usual outcome
Toss takes place as normal	Settled on the captain who wins the call
Match abandoned before the toss	All bets void, stakes returned
Toss happens, match then abandoned	Usually settled, because the toss result stands
Captain changed before the toss	Bet stands on the team, not the player

What mistakes do bettors make with toss winner markets?

Backing the stronger team to win the toss. Team quality has no effect on a coin.
Doubling stakes after a lost toss bet to win it back.
Ignoring the margin. Over 100 bets at 1.90 you expect to lose about 5% of everything staked.

FAQ · 4

Toss winner betting: common questions

Quick answers about the toss winner market.

What are normal odds for toss winner betting?

Usually between 1.85 and 1.95 on each side. The gap below 2.00 is the bookmaker's margin.

Can you predict the toss in cricket?

No. The coin is a 50/50 event at every venue. You can only predict what the captain chooses after winning it.

Is toss betting available for IPL matches?

Yes. Most sites that cover the IPL list a toss market for every game, along with T20 internationals and ODIs.

When does the toss betting market close?

A few minutes before the scheduled toss. Each site sets its own cut-off, so place the bet early.

Still unsure? Ask our team

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