One of the most popular ways to bet on sporting events these days is to place a wager in real-time as the action unfolds. On most sites, it’s called live betting, but it’s also commonly referred to as in-play betting.
Here is a closer look at how to place live bets and stay ahead of the action.
What exactly is live betting?
Live betting, aka in-play betting, is a hugely popular betting service available on the vast majority of today’s safest online sportsbooks.
As opposed to pre-match betting or futures betting, where you can place a bet long before an event has started, live betting markets enable sports bettors to place wagers on live events as soon as they get underway.
The odds are always adjusted in real-time to reflect what’s actually happening in the game, meaning people have access to more accurate odds compared to the odds that were set before the event started.
An example of one of the most trusted live betting sites that’s known for having some of the iGaming industry’s most highly competitive live/in-play betting odds is the official 1Bet online sportsbook. This fully licensed and regulated sports betting platform accepts real cash wagers from anyone aged 18 or above.
Top tips for live betting
Many people who take advantage of live betting services also like to watch the event as it unfolds, which helps improve their betting strategy and make more informed decisions.
However, before placing a live bet, it’s also good practice to understand key metrics and read the latest news for that event. For example, if you want to place a football bet on, say, Manchester United vs Manchester City in the English Premier League (EPL), gather as many stats as possible, such as:
- Recent form
- Injury news
- Importance of the match
- Historical results between the two sides
- Team data/formations/playstyles/expected starting line-up
Live betting odds are constantly changing to correspond with how the game is panning out, and markets have a tendency to close quickly, so you must try to keep your finger on the pulse and place bets before it’s too late to get the best possible price before the market is no longer available.
Here are a few tips that can help you place more strategic live bets:
- Consider watching the event live, listening to the commentary, or at least watching the live scores/live timelines of events of the match, so you can react quickly and place more tactical wagers
- It helps to know about the sport you are betting on, plus it also helps to understand the teams and the players that you’re placing live bets on
- Some sites offer the ‘cash out early’ option, meaning you don’t have to wait for the market to end to cash out if your bet is winning (albeit at a reduced price)
- Try to avoid placing bets with long odds, as they are less likely to return a profit. However, if the underdog is performing much better than expected, then they might be worth betting on
Final thoughts
Live betting has provided a more engaging, interactive, and dynamic betting experience. It has also made online betting more appealing, so you must always remember to gamble responsibly and stick to betting on legally permitted sites when placing live bets as the action unfolds.
Pay close attention to the odds and try to understand the implied probability rates attached to those odds. Also, never bet while tired or intoxicated. Never treat sports betting as a job, and consider devising a sensible spending budget before betting.
