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What is live betting?- An expert guide on how to do it.
In the article, we will cover what live betting is, also commonly referred to as in-play betting. We shall explain what it means and how it differs from pre-match betting. We shall cover the advantages and disadvantages, show you examples of live betting markets and explain the various promotions you could take part in when live betting. By reading this article, you should be able to judge whether live betting is for you or whether you stick to the more traditional pre-match betting
What is a live bet?
A live bet is a wager placed after the event you are betting on has already begun. Also commonly known as in-play betting. Live betting is increasing in popularity, and therefore, you will find most sites now offer the opportunity to bet in-play. It allows bettors to react as events unfold during the game and place bets throughout, in some cases right up to the final whistle. Designed to keep your interest in the game far longer as no matter how late into the game a match is there will be markets available to bet on.
Live betting vs Pre-match betting
Pre-match betting is suited more to someone who likes to take their time and conduct thorough research on any match, and isn’t keen on being rushed or pressured into placing a bet. Depending on the bet, you might have days, weeks or months to consider what you wish to bet on.
Live betting, however, is very different; the odds are constantly changing, not just when a team scores, but throughout the match as the time remaining in the game decreases. This involves making quick decisions and analysing what's happening in the game quickly, then judging the correct bet and placing it as quickly before the odds change.
Advantages of live betting
Being able to bet while the game is ongoing keeps you engaged in the game for longer, increasing your enjoyment. Although there are typically fewer markets to bet on, as not all pre-match markets go in-play, a range of extra markets are only available in-play. Such as which player will score the next goal or win the next set. Or betting on which team will score the next goal.
Disadvantages of live betting
The constant changing of odds can be very frustrating. Some sites can be worse than others, with odds changing every few seconds; always check to make sure your bet has been placed. Typically, it takes a few seconds longer for the bet to be accepted compared with pre-match bets. The fast pace of live betting means quick decisions are needed, which can lead to impulsive bets, so you should approach live betting with a set strategy and budget that you can afford to lose. The other rather obvious disadvantage to live betting is that you have to be available while the match is taking place whereas a pre-match bet can be placed at any time before the game starts.
Live betting and Pre-match betting compared
| Pre-Match Betting | Live Betting |
|---|---|
| Plenty of time to consider your bet | Very limited time, quick decisions are needed |
| Good for accumulator betting | Not good as odds will often get suspended, making it hard to get the full bet on. |
| More Markets | Fewer Markets |
Live betting sports streaming
Many sites, as well as live betting, have some version of live streaming to help you keep up to date with what's happening in the game. Importantly, though, like most live streams, there is always at least a few seconds delay. This is sometimes a live video feed of the event or a graphical display showing you what's happening. The sport you're betting on and the country you live in will affect what events will be available with a video feed. Any decent site, however, will always have a graphical display at the very least. There are sometimes requirements for watching live feeds, which vary from site to site. Some will require you to have deposited recently, others will only let you view a video feed if you have placed a bet on the game itself.
Are there bets unique to live betting?
Yes, there certainly are, some markets are available pre-match only. Most markets are available both pre-match and live but there are also a number of markets which are exclusively available to bet on in play.
Some examples are shown in the table below.
| Sport | Market Name | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| ⚽ Football | Next Team to Score | Which team will score the next goal |
| 🎾 Tennis | Set Winner | Which player will win the next set |
| 🎾 Tennis | Game Betting | You can often bet on not only who will win the next game, but the game after and game after etc up to the end of the set. |
| 🎱 Snooker | Next frame | Which player will win the next frame |
| 🏈 American Football | Next TD scorer | Which player will score the next Touchdown |
| ⚾ Baseball | Inning Total Runs | How many runs will there be in the current innings. |
Live betting Bonuses
Sites often offer bonuses that include in-play bets within their terms and conditions. In fact, many welcome offers will accept live bets as a qualifying bet when participating in their offer. Some sites will have existing offers which include live bets, and some offers are designed to only include live betting. For example, you might get an offer like place a live bet on the semi-final of a specific tournament to qualify for a Free Bet during the final. There are also offers along the lines of placing a pre-match bet on a particular game to qualify for an in-play bet on the same game. With any offer, don't assume you understand it fully just from the headline. Ensure you thoroughly read the terms and conditions of the offer to find out if live bets are included in the offer.
Remember always to gamble responsibly
Sites typically have a "safer gambling" section with advice on how to gamble responsibly. There may be a questionnaire to assess your gambling habits, and most sites have tools which you can activate on your account to help you. We strongly suggest you activate them.
If gambling no longer becomes fun, stop immediately and seek help.
Conclusion
Live betting certainly has its place, being able to counter a pre-match bet or bet based on in-game events is a relatively new experience. It certainly can be exciting, and it will keep you engaged in the game far longer.
Live betting, however, is not for everyone. If you are the sort of person who likes to take your time making decisions, doing research on an event, and then likes to place a bet, sit back and relax, and you enjoy the game a little more as you have a bet on it, then live betting is probably not for you.
However, if you like the thrill of quick decision making and are happy to spend a lot of the game looking at odds rather than the game incase you spot an opportunity to place a bet. Then live betting is likely for you. For many its the thrill of trying to beat the sportsbook. By spotting a bet.
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Yes, most sites will offer you the opportunity to bet on a game live. This type of betting has never been more popular and any decent site will now offer this type of betting. This is referred to as live betting or in-play betting. The number of betting options varies from site to site and sport to sport.
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Yes, in-play or live betting is perfectly legal in most countries. There are, however, some countries where gambling is illegal or certain types of betting are illegal. Be sure to check the laws for the country you live in.
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Logically, In-play betting is just as risky as any form of betting. As any bet you place could lose or win. However, with live betting due to high pressure and quick decision-making that's needed, this can lead to emotional decision-making, which could lead to placing the wrong bet and potentially chasing losses.
