How Live Betting Works in Sports
Live betting or “in-play” betting is one of the newest betting options available in the sports betting industry. Not only is live betting one of the newest forms, but it is also one of the most popular betting options.
Several reasons live betting has become extremely popular, and we will touch on some of these in this article. We will also explain how live betting works and what sports betting sites offer live betting odds.
If you have yet to try live betting, now would be a great time to find where it is offered and get in on the action.
What Is Live Bet On Sports?
Live betting can be traced back to the 1930s when bookmakers started to take live-action on sporting events. This was all done in person, but live betting options have expanded and improved since that time.
Online betting sites became popular in the 1990s, but live betting options were not readily available when they first launched. The technology was simply not there to offer live betting, but new improvements have made that a reality.
A live bet is a wager that is made in real-time during a sporting event or game. These odds are continually updated based on what has taken place up to that point, and the odds are changing quickly.
Mobile betting apps make live betting more efficient as it can be quick and easy to place a bet on a mobile device instead of logging in to a computer. Retail sportsbooks will also offer live betting options, but that is not common for most sporting events.
Benefits of Live Sports Betting
The biggest benefit of live sports betting is that you can win money before the sporting event or game ends. Placing a live bet on third-quarter results in an NFL game will have a payout available to you before the fourth quarter begins.
Another benefit of live betting is that this will allow you to hedge your bets during a game. If you don’t like how your pre-game wager is going, simply make a live bet to hedge and save yourself some of the loss.
Live betting also opens up new betting opportunities as some top sports betting sites now wait until the game starts before releasing some odds. More and more sportsbooks are now offering live betting, which is another great benefit.
Cons of Live Betting
Even though live betting has become a trendy betting option, there are still some negatives with this form of betting. Live betting is not for everyone, and it’s usually for the few brief reasons listed below.
The biggest drawback is that live betting is not an option in every state or country, and it is also not available on every sport betting app. This can become extremely frustrating if you enjoy live betting and it is not available for you.
Another negative of live betting is that there can sometimes be issues when looking to make this type of bet. Live betting odds are constantly changing, and you have to be extremely quick, or you might miss out on the offer.
Sports That Allow Live Betting
As live betting grows and becomes more popular, more markets are available when looking to make a live bet. All major professional sports in the United States have live betting options, and most of the top international markets do.
Basketball and football are the two most popular live betting markets in the US, while soccer is a popular market worldwide. Here is a quick list of some of the league/sports that will offer live betting:
- NBA
- NFL
- MLB
- NHL
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Division I Sports
- Cricket
- Auto Racing
- MMA
Some sites like Safest Betting Sites have a very complete and straightforward live betting guide so you can learn all the basics of live sports betting.
How Do Live Odds Work?
Live odds work in real-time, and that is why you will see such a huge swing when viewing the odds. One single play can cause a huge change in the odds, and you have to be able to react quickly if you are successful when live betting.
Sportsbooks use a formula to create all of the betting odds, which is no different from live odds. Technology makes all of this possible for sports betting sites, and the odds are simply updated automatically based on the score and time of the game.
Live Sports Betting Strategies and Tips
Even though live sports betting is extremely popular, that doesn’t mean that everyone will succeed. You will need to use some strategies and tips if you plan on turning a profit.
One of the best strategies or tips to use is to watch the games that you plan on live betting. This will give you a much better idea of how the games will allow you to make smart decisions when betting.
Another tip is to watch for line movements, as these will be happening extremely fast in live betting. You want to be ready to jump on the odds when there is plenty of value, and it’s never really clear when the best opportunity will be.
The final tip is to continue using your same betting unit even when making live bets. You don’t want to start betting with a larger unit just because you have a good feel for a game, as it could end up costing you in the long run.
Best Live Betting Sites for Beginners
Beginners looking to find the best betting sites should look no further than our site for these options. We review all of the top sports betting sites and will provide you with the safest options and with the sites that have the top bonuses or promotions.
BetNow offers a 100% first deposit bonus of up to $500 for new customers. This can put plenty of extra cash into your account before you start looking for live betting markets.
MyBookie has one of the top welcome offers in the industry, giving new customers a 100% first deposit match of up to $1,000. MyBookie accepts cryptocurrency as a form of payment, which is another huge advantage.
Bovada offers a 50% first deposit match of up to $250, which is slightly smaller than some of the other top betting sites. Bovada does have some of the best betting lines in the industry and is a popular brand.
Wrapping It Up
Live betting has become the latest craze in sports betting, but unfortunately, it is not an option for every sport or everyone. If live betting is an option for you, then this is something that you should try.
Live betting allows you to win some money in real-time, and you don’t have to wait for the conclusion of a game to cash in. You can also make several different live bets on the same game to stack up against your winnings.
The sites listed above have great live betting options, and they also offer some terrific promotional opportunities. If you are looking to begin placing live bets, be sure to check out those sites.
In the coming years, live betting will only continue to improve, making it an even better sports betting experience for customers.