Live Betting Explained: How In-Play Wagers Work & Where to Bet

Live betting is now one of the core staples of online sports gambling. There are more sports betting sites with live betting that arrive every day, but what is live betting, also known as in-play betting?

In this guide, we’re going to explore everything you need to know about wagering on games that are underway. We’ll explore the top sites for in-play gambling, the key strategies, and much more. Ready? Then let’s get started!

Live betting, also referred to as in-play betting, is when gamblers place wagers on a sporting event that has already gotten underway. Just about all major betting sites offer live betting as a core functionality, with most sportsbooks having a live betting page where gamblers can see current sporting events where live odds are offered.

The live betting odds are unique in that they update throughout the game. Betting sites use an algorithm that manages to change the odds according to what is happening live. For example, if you are watching a 0-0 soccer game in the 70th minute, and a team scores a goal, their odds of winning are going to shift dramatically up.

It is a way of wagering that ensures bettors are locked in, and in-the-moment. You can bet on events nearly from start to finish, although some sportsbooks will shut off their live odds in certain circumstances. Still, it is an immersive, can’t-miss experience that is highly popular amongst gamblers of all experience levels.

The world of sports betting is a complicated one, and nothing is ever straightforward. Sportsbooks provide features that are designed to give bettors fun and exciting options, but there are always upsides and downsides. Live betting is no different.

The best live sports betting sites still have some pros and cons that it is important to be aware of. Let’s look at these differing pros and cons that you’ll find even when betting on a top live betting site.

There are numerous betting sites that offer live betting features for users. However, not all of these live betting operators are created equal. Certain betting sites specialize in this area, providing users with excellent pages for live wagering that separate themselves from the pack.

Below, we’ll look at five sportsbooks that offer bettors incredible in-play betting options.

Bettors have the option to bet live on just about every sport. Whether you’re looking to get in on the action by live betting on NFL games, UFC bouts, NHL matchups, or NBA contests, you're going to have plenty of options. Every sport is great for live betting, but some are considered better than others.

Other popular live betting sports include tennis, golf, and more. There really are no limits to the sports that you can wager on live. Just about every sport that is available on a betting site will have live markets.

There are numerous markets available for live gambling, as well. Every sport will have different markets to pick from, as it is largely dependent on what you are wagering on. Below are some of the most popular live markets that are commonly wagered on.

• Live Moneyline → This market offers updated odds on the Moneyline for the game in question based on the action that's already taken place.
• Live Total → This market offers updated odds on the over/under for any given game, which allows for those actually watching the action to get a solid handicap on where the game might go.
• Live Spread → The live spread is related to the projected score differential in the game. For example, in football, a spread might be set at -7.5 in favour of Team A. But if team B is keeping it close, that line might shift live to -3.5. Bettors can wager for the spread, meaning Team A exceeds that line, or against it.
• Live Double Chance → Double chance is a market that is not available for most sports, but is highly popular for soccer. Double chance is when bettors wager on two of the three potential outcomes in a game. The three outcomes are that: Team A wins, Team B wins, or there’s a tie. A live bet on double chance is possible on most sportsbooks.
• Next Team to Score → This market concerns which team is most likely to score the next goal/touchdown/run/point in the game.
• Next Player to Score → This market concerns which player is most likely to score the next goal/touchdown/run/point in the game.

Bettors who have yet to wager on live sporting events before may be slightly confused about how this is all supposed to play out. We’ve given you the rundown on how live betting works, but we have yet to cover how gamblers can place these live bets.

The answer is that it is very straightforward, and extremely easy and fast. To make things all the more simple, we’re here to help. Below is a quick step-by-step guide to placing live bets.

1. Visit a live betting site and log on. We have recommended you five great live wagering sportsbooks, but there are plenty of other options that will meet your needs.
   
   
2. Click on the live betting page. This will show you all the current sporting events that are being played live at the moment. There should typically be dozens of events going on at once. Select one that appeals to you, and click on it.
   
   
3. Find the market within the game that you want to wager on. There are a number of odds in different markets for every game. Click on the market you feel confident in live betting with.
   
   
4. When you click on the market you want to bet, a live bet slip will pop up. Enter how much you want to wager into the live bet slip. It will show you the potential payout. Click Place Bet to wager, and you are now live betting!
   
   

Breaking down what live betting is will help you understand the basics. But there’s much more to this popular form of betting, and we can help you get started with strategies and in-play betting tips that will help you find success.

Below is a breakdown of some useful strategies to get the best live betting results.

• Pay Very Close Attention → With pre-game bets; you don't have to be paying much attention to a game to make smart bets. You can research and figure out your options beforehand. But with live betting, things are happening in real time without the chance for bettors to do research. So pay close attention to the game, and really consider every move that you make.
• Bet on Losing Favorites → One live betting strategy that many bettors utilize is that they will bet on favorites that have fallen behind in the game. They can then place a bet on the favorite with better, more favorable odds. We would recommend only doing this if the favorite is down by certain margins and if the game isn't too late. While big margins and late deficits lead to the biggest live payouts, they are also the least likely bets to hit.
• Branch Out → The three most common types of bets, even for live bets, are Moneyline, point spread, and points total bets. These are a blast, but they are not your only option. There are also plenty of live betting options for player props and game props, and these can provide an edge to the informed bettor. Look at the different markets a sportsbook provides and try some new, exciting live bets rather than just the standard options.
• Momentum Is Real (Or Is It?) → Our last live betting tip concerns momentum. While the existence of momentum remains up for debate, there’s no question that oddsmakers find a way to incorporate it into their live odds, so watching a game live and being able to find a feel for how the momentum is swinging can be a huge asset for a live bettor.

If you’ve still got questions about live betting, that is more than understandable. We are here to assist with answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about in-play wagers.