Live Betting Guide
Sports betting is an ever-evolving market, with bookmakers inventing new ways for players to bet all the time. One of the biggest advancements in sports betting was the introduction of live betting, also known as in-play betting.
This type of betting proved to be extremely popular and is one of the most common ways for people to bet on sporting events.
If you’re looking to expand your repertoire to include live betting but want to know a bit more about it first, you’re in the right place!
What Is Live Betting?
Live betting is the act of making a wager on a sporting event while the event is in progress. In the past, punters could only make sports bets before the event had begun, but with the introduction of live betting, people can now make bets at any time during the event.
This opens up a range of opportunities for sports bettors, as events that happen during the game will change the odds in real time.
You can take advantage of a goal that happens against the run of play -to get better odds of the favorite- or bet on a team to win that’s been dominating the game.
There are lots of different options when it comes to living betting, but it’s important to note that not every game has the same market options. Bigger events will have more in-play options, whereas more obscure events will likely have limited options.
Types of Live Betting
Depending on the sporting event, there are lots of different live betting options available.
Let’s take a look at them
| Traditional Bets | Prop Bets | Parlays |
|---|---|---|
| These are the standard types of bets that you would expect to see before the game starts, but the odds change in real time based on events that happen during the game. These types of bets include moneyline bets, over/under bets, and handicap bets. | These types of bets are often only available for the biggest sporting events, as it takes a lot of computer power to calculate these odds in real time. Examples of prop bets include the number of goals a player will score during a game, the number of touchdowns a player makes, or how many assists a player makes. | Yes, even in live betting, you can still make parlays! You can create parlays within the same event (as long as the selections don’t conflict,) or you can develop parlays across multiple in-play events. |
Also learn about Point Spreads Betting Types
Tips for Live Betting
Due to the fluid nature of most sports, live betting can create the potential for profit, but bookmakers aren’t in the business of giving away free money. This means you still need to work hard to consistently profit from live betting. However, here are some helpful tips that you should use when live betting.
| Watch the Games Closely | Take Advantage of Bad Lines | Learn the Interface |
|---|---|---|
| An important part of live betting is watching the games closely, so you can better understand what’s likely to happen next. Don’t just have it on screen in the background while you scroll through Twitter. Pay close attention to what’s happening and to what you think is likely to happen next. You never know when a profitable bet might become apparent. | Live betting lines are much harder for bookmakers to price accurately due to the large number of variables that they have to consider in a short space of time. This creates opportunities for sports bettors to take advantage of bad lines, especially if recreational bettors push a weak line even further. | One of the most important aspects of being a profitable live bettor is the ability to get your bets down quickly. Odds are changing all the time, so if you spot a profitable bet, you need to be able to take it as soon as possible. If you’re unfamiliar with a betting platform, getting your bets down in time can be tricky, so be sure to learn where everything is before you try to make live bets. |
What Are the Pros and Cons of Live Betting?
While live betting is a fun and exciting way to gamble enjoyed by many, there are some drawbacks to this method. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons.
Pros
🔹 The possibility of getting great odds on a bet due to the difficulty of accurately pricing certain markets in-game.
🔹 Making bets while the game is in progress is a lot of fun and makes you feel more involved in the game.
🔹 Live betting is a good way to hedge a bet you’ve already made. For example, if you bet on the Miami Heat to beat the Golden State Warriors and Miami is leading, you can bet on the Golden State Warriors at a high price, giving you a cheap way to hedge your bet.
Cons
🔸 The speed at which the odds change makes it hard to get your bets down, even if you find a profitable one.
🔸 There is little time for reflection when making an in-play bet, which makes people more susceptible to making emotional decisions rather than logical ones.
🔸 You’ll often find that live betting limits are much lower than in pre-game markets. This is because bookmakers aren’t as sure of their odds and want to limit their exposure.
Why You Should Use Live Betting
Live sports betting is a great way to find profitable bets, as the fast-paced nature of sporting events makes it hard for bookmakers to accurately price betting lines. It is also a fun and exciting way to bet, as the ever-changing landscape of odds means that no two games are ever the same.
However, it’s very difficult to be a profitable live bettor, as it takes a good eye for odds, a quick trigger finger, and exceptional emotional control.
