How does live betting work?

Live betting is the act of placing a bet on an ongoing game. You can find various markets that you can bet on. However, you need to keep an eye on factors that can affect your wager, such as the odds.

Is live betting profitable?

Yes, as long as you can keep winning your predictions.

What is considered a live bet?

A bet is considered a live bet when it's a market for an ongoing match.

What is the most successful betting strategy?

Hedging has proven to be a successful tactic as long as it is executed properly.

What are live betting odds?

These live betting odds are the numbers that determine which outcomes are most or least likely to happen in an ongoing event. Expect these odds to change as well.

Best Bookmakers for Live Betting in South Africa

Last update at 16 December, 2025Reading time: 10 minutes

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Live betting is one of the most exciting types of sports betting because you can place wagers as you watch your favourite team or player in an ongoing match. Look into some of the best bookmakers in South Africa and choose one that can give you a worthwhile betting experience.

List of Betting Sites with Live Betting

Rank	Bookmaker	Rating	Bonus	Get bonus
1	Redracer	4.5/5	Hunting Bonus up to €2000 + a Free Bet up to €100	Read review
2	Roll Casino	4.5/5	100% up to R 2000	Read review
3	888Starz	4.3/5	100% Bonus on First Deposit up to 1,736 ZAR	Read review
4	MegaPari	5/5	Welcome bonus for two deposits of up to 3900 ZAR	Read review
5	Paripesa	4.5/5	100% welcome bonus up to 1715 ZAR	Read review
6	BetBeast	4.5/5	Welcome Bonus up to 18000 ZAR	Read review
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8	1Bet	4.8/5	100% Welcome Bonus up to €150 (approximately 2970.60 ZAR) and 100 FS	Read review
9	20Bet	4.8/5	100% WELCOME BONUS UP TO 100 EUR	Read review
10	ZetBet	4.8/5	100% Welcome Bonus up to €100 (2,000 ZAR)	Read review
11	Melbet	4.8/5	Welcome bonus on your 1st deposit up to 1828 ZAR	Read review
12	Tonybet	4.8/5	100% welcome bonus up to €100	Read review

Important Features for In Play Betting

There are more than one bet in-play sports betting market in most ongoing sports events from the best live betting sites. For instance, you can place wagers on different possibilities and outcomes in a single game between two teams.
Since in-play betting is also a very popular offer in most sportsbooks, most of the best online bookies have top-tier features, as seen below:

Available statistics: This can come from box scores, trackers, or the overall score.
Live streaming: This is only present on a few platforms, but when it is available, expect a top-tier live betting experience because you can see what is happening in the match.
Prop bets: There are many pregame markets for prop bets, like the first goal-scorer of the soccer match, which can also be present in live betting markets.
Flexible range of odds: This is important to know for your in-play bets because the odds can drastically change during a match, which will be helpful for your wagers.

Best Strategies for Live Betting

To succeed in live-in-play betting, you need new tactics for your wagers. Since the events are ongoing, you should always be proactive and go with your instincts as a punter. Here are a few live betting strategies to consider:

Watch out for hedging opportunities
As you watch a game, betting lines can change, leading to a massive shift in the odds and your potential wins. If the odds have skewed so far in one direction, you should consider if betting the other way is worth it. This will be on a case-to-case basis, but if you find the right opportunity, pounce on it and reap the rewards from the best in-play betting sites.
Always scout the bets that you can make during the match
While events and matches differ, online live betting markets are similar. For instance, you can expect the winner bet to be an all-present market in live betting. Getting familiar with the common in-play bets will help you with your research on other events or games.
Maintain your focus on one game at a time
It might be tempting to bet on multiple games at once, but that takes your focus away from the game you're initially betting on. It is not worth it because you might see two potential cash cows, but you can lose on both. Focus on one, and maximise your chances of winning on any betting site.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Live Betting

Live online betting is quite fun, but it has pros and cons. Here are some of the most significant advantages of live betting on sportsbooks.

Pluses

You can watch all of the twists and turns of the match, which can, in turn, become factors in your betting decisions.
The entertainment value is through the roof as you put stakes into an ongoing match.
The eye test might be better for betting compared to statistics.

Minuses

Live matches might be too chaotic for some people, which leads to decision-making struggles.
Maintaining a plan will be challenging, especially since there are many dynamic factors in an ongoing match compared to the bets you can make with the standard legalised format where there are set markets.
The odds are not permanently fixed, which can lead to some struggles with making the bets because most people are used to devising plans and not making bets on the fly.

Popular Sports in Bookmakers with Live Betting

As you progress through this betting type, you will learn about some sports you might not know about. Here are the most popular sports in live sports betting:

1
Football
This is the most popular sport in the world, and it should not be a surprise that it's a top choice in live betting because of its plethora of leagues. With 90+ minutes of runtime, every game offers a fun experience because football has many markets to choose from.
2
Horse racing
A sport intrinsically linked to legal betting, horse racing live betting is quite an experience since this sport can pass by in a flash. You have to be quick on your feet with your bets here because races are fast-paced, and matches are over within a few minutes.
3
Tennis
Tennis is a display of athleticism and endurance, and it's known as the most prolific one-on-one sport. With yearly ATP and WTA tours, punters will almost always have a chance to place in play bets on this sport.
4
Basketball
One of the most fast-paced sports in the world, basketball is fun to make in-play bets on. Mostly it will deal with the score, but make sure that you check out the prop bets because basketball has many fun factors, including the individual players' stats.
5
Esports
The esports industry is not restricted to one game because there is a plethora you can watch and bet on. Games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Dota2, League of Legends, Valorant, and many more are the titles you should be looking for.

FAQ. Frequent Questions

How does live betting work?
Live betting is the act of placing a bet on an ongoing game. You can find various markets that you can bet on. However, you need to keep an eye on factors that can affect your wager, such as the odds.
Is live betting profitable?
Yes, as long as you can keep winning your predictions.
What is considered a live bet?
A bet is considered a live bet when it's a market for an ongoing match.
What is the most successful betting strategy?
Hedging has proven to be a successful tactic as long as it is executed properly.
What are live betting odds?
These live betting odds are the numbers that determine which outcomes are most or least likely to happen in an ongoing event. Expect these odds to change as well.

Best Bookmakers for Live Betting in South Africa

List of Betting Sites with Live Betting

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What is Live Betting?