Live Betting Sites – Best Sites to Bet Live and In-Play

Find the best places to bet on sports in-play. If you’ve ever placed a bet, then started watching the game and quickly realised you’ve already lost that money, then you’ll understand why in-play betting has become so popular. On many sports betting sites this relatively new concept is a key feature, accounting for around 80% of all bets placed online.

In-play puts the customer in control, letting you make predictions about a game or race after viewing it for a while. The ability to predict an outcome whilst the action is still developing adds dynamism to the process of placing a wager, but a host of extra features, like live streaming, up to the minute statistics, and commentary, make the experience even more enjoyable for players. We have ranked the leading live betting sites online in 2023.


Best In-Play Betting Sites in the UK

Expert Rating
Highlights
 
Welcome Offer
  • Best Odds Available
  • Wide range of Betting Markets
95 Payout Ratio
  • Best Odds Available
  • Wide range of Betting Markets
bet365 Review
#ad | T&C Apply | +18 | Please, Gamble Responsibly: Open Account Offer Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.
Payout Ratio
  • Two different Welcome offers
  • New well-designed sportsbook
93 Payout Ratio
  • Two different Welcome offers
  • New well-designed sportsbook
Unibet Review
#ad | T&C Apply | +18 | Please, Gamble Responsibly: 18+ begambleaware.org. New customers only. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus if first sports bet loses. Wagering requirements: sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Unless forfeited the sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in. Visit Unibet.co.uk for full T&C's. #Ad
  • Excellent customer service package
  • Good selection of sports and bets
  • Top Winners section provides a fun element of competition
93 Payout Ratio
  • Excellent customer service package
  • Good selection of sports and bets
  • Top Winners section provides a fun element of competition
Netbet Review
#ad | T&C Apply | +18 | Please, Gamble Responsibly: CUSTOMERS WILL BE AWARDED £15 IN FREE BETS AND £15 IN FREE SPINS FOR CASINO AND VEGAS NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY / FREEBETS VALID FOR 3 DAYS FREE SPINS VALID FOR 30 DAYS /
  • Odds are announced early
  • Match predictions are reliable
  • Neat and functional mobile app
Payout Ratio
  • Odds are announced early
  • Match predictions are reliable
  • Neat and functional mobile app
Mr. Play Review
#ad | T&C Apply | +18 | Please, Gamble Responsibly: T&Cs apply. 18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: £10, max £15 bonus, valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at a min. odds of 1/1 (2.00) or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible. _

Live Betting / In-Play Betting

“The only time you run out of chances is when you stop taking them.”

The gambling industry has come up with a new, better, advanced and instantaneous option called Live Betting. It is often called as In-Play Betting or In-Running Betting. As the name suggests, Live Betting refers to placing bets online once the game has started. Some of the examples of Live betting are Horse race, cricket match or a football match.

unibet streaming inplay
UniBet live streaming service

This has given a new edge to sports gambling. Even though Live Betting is relatively new, but in the past decade, it has gained a considerable amount of fame for itself. It brings you a whole new way of better opportunities. If you are a sports enthusiast and enjoy the thrill of betting, you are going to love the experience it offers.

Fundamentally, the basic remains the same as traditional sports betting. You are provided with a range of wagers and different betting markets to choose from. You consider fixed odds and make a pick. If your pick stands correct, you will be paid and if it isn’t then you lose your stake.

sportsnation inplay
Sportsnation live betting example

The main advantage of In-play betting is that it let the punters assess the situation of the game before placing the bet. Research and statistics can’t compare to this live assessment. Punters can win big in an instant if they place a huge amount on sure-fire outcomes.

Another advantage is that the punters can trade their position. When you get it right, you win on every outcome and at least you don’t lose. Let’s say you bet on Liverpool in the game between Real Madrid and Liverpool and if Liverpool scores a goal, you can lay off your stake at this time at a shorter price.


What is live / In-Play Betting?

Live Betting or In-Play Betting is a process of gambling on a sporting event after it has started till it ends. After the game kick starts, punters get to place a bet on the current game.

Live Betting site
Live Betting

Before any game, we often have a favoured team and predict their win. But as the game progresses, things might not look good for that team. So In-Play betting allows its punters to hold off the bet before the match and analyse how their favoured team is playing. Are there tactics working effectively? What are the chances of their redeeming themselves? Thus, they get to assess the odds and favours and place bets as a well-informed player.

So want to know how it’s done? Live Betting is very simple to use. Punters can create an account on various bookmakers and exchanges with a minimum balance and get access to all the live games that even TV channels are not broadcasting. Enjoy the live streaming of sports and have fun betting.

When it comes to football, punters can bet on the next team to score a goal or next goal scorer or next corner or the, etc. While in tennis, punters can place a bet on games to deuce, total point, next point, set score, etc.


Types of live betting markets:

Live Betting takes punters in the core of excitement. Nothing can match the thrill of placing a bet as soon as you get the direction of the game. The real-time interface keeps the punters on edge and in action throughout the game.

But before betting, punters must have a good understanding of the different types of the market that the Live betting offers and which market is the most popular & profitable amongst one. For all the punters out there, we are listing the types of Live Betting market here:

  1. Soccer (pre-match):
  • Tournament winner
  • Match-winner
  • Under/ Over 2.5 goals
  • Under/ Over 3.5 goals
  • Draw no bet
  • Double chance
  • Half time result
  1. Soccer (Live):
  • Who wins the rest of the match?
  • Asian Handicap
  • Next goal
  • Goals (home team)
  • Goals (away team)
  • Half time result
  • 1st half goals
  • When will the next goal be scored?
  • Corners (home team)
  • Corners (away team)
  • Total corners
  • Sending off
  1. Tennis (pre-match):
  • Tournament winner
  • Match-winner
  • Set Betting
  • Number of sets
  • Double Result
  • First set winner
  • Second set winner
  1. Tennis (live):
  • Who wins a game x of a set?
  • Total number of games
  • Total number of games in set 1
  • Score of game x of set 1
  • Which player wins games x and y of set n?
  1. Cricket:
  • Tournament winner
  • Match-winner
  • Team to win the toss
  • Team with the highest opening partnership
  • Team with the most match sixes
  • Team with the highest score after first six overs
  • Top team batsman
  • First ball of the innings
  • Total match run outs

When you bet, you bet to win. So here are some examples of popular markets of Live Betting on which you can bet at any time of the game with the best chance of winning:

Which Team Will Score The Next Goal (Football)?

This market lets the punters bet whenever they want in the game. It doesn’t matter what happened previously in the game, this market is always open. Punters can bet on which team will score next or if there would be no more goals in the match.

Before betting on any team for the next goal, assess the more desperate team, time left and chances of draws in the game. Let’s say the home team just scored a goal and is leading by 2-1, and there are just 10 minutes left to the game.

So if the away team is playing well, punters can bet on them because they would try to level the game. If their attacking is looking weak but defending is good, then they can bet on no further goals.

Fall Of Next Wicket in Cricket:

Cricket

This market allows punters to predict and bet on the total score on which the next wicket will fall. Punters get almost 20 chances in a match to bet on this market. Let’s say there is a match going on between England and India in England. England is currently batting and has already lost 3 wickets for 125.

Bookmakers predicted the next fall of wicket around 165-170. Punters can bet at 170 runs if they feel that England is in a strong position and can maintain the partnership. And if England’s side is stuck and is playing bad shots, they can bet on a lower score.

In case of losing or winning stake, the difference between the predicted score and actual score at the time of wicket fall will be multiplied by punter’s stake. So the punters just need to predict if the partnership will fall in between the bookmaker’s prediction or not and can win big.

Total Points in Rugby:

This market allows punters to simply predict and bet on the total number of points that will be scored in a rugby game.

Let us take an example. In the match between Chiefs and Sale Sharks, bookmakers predict total points to be 56-59. If punters feel that it will be a high scoring game, they can bet on 59 and if they feel that it will be relatively low scoring, they can bet on 56.

If you win or lose, the difference from the actual will be multiplied by the punter’s stakes. So just a little bit of reading in the game can earn punters, 15-20 times of their stakes.


The Advantages of Using Live / In-Play Betting:

  • Allows the assessment of the twists and turns of the game and punters can take their time to place a bet at the right time.
  • It offers different types of market for taking the excitement deep and punters can bet throughout the game right to the end.
  • Bookmakers often fail to change the odds according to the quick changes in the game which allows punters to earn more and multiple times of the stake.
  • It allows to trade bets in between games. If the punters feel that their team had done well till now but is not sure about the upcoming, then they can lay off their wagers to avoid huge losses.
  • Hedging can be done easily and allows the punters to win from both sides. Live betting offers some legal opportunities to do smart hedging and locks the profit.

Best live betting sites recommendations:

There is a whole world of sportsbooks on the internet offering different benefits to attract punters. But there are some which stand out and offers a convenient platform to start and enjoy the action of Live Betting. Some of the recommended are:

Bet 365 – UK:

The UK has the biggest market of Live Betting. There are many options such as Bet365, William Hill, Paddy Power, and NetBet are available to choose from.

Expert Rating
Highlights
 
Welcome Offer
  • Best Odds Available
  • Wide range of Betting Markets
95 Payout Ratio
  • Best Odds Available
  • Wide range of Betting Markets
bet365 Review
#ad | T&C Apply | +18 | Please, Gamble Responsibly: Open Account Offer Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

Bet365 streams almost all of the sports events and claims to live to stream almost 70,000 events. Punters watch as well as bet and enjoy the games that are not even broadcasted. Its interface is user-friendly and easier to bet.

Bovada – USA:

Bovada offers an easier interface and is considered trustworthy amongst punters. It also offers an excellent mobile platform to bet on all the popular sports around the world. Bovada is a great option when it comes to great odds and a variety of live betting products.

The real-time interface works well and updates play by play so that the punters can get in action on time and not miss a single chance. It allows its players to make minimum bets of $1 and maximum bets of $100.


Why do you live bet?

The trend of live betting is on great heights these days. People now have switched from pre-match betting to live to bet. But what is the reason for this switching of choices? Here are the reasons for the same:

Take advantage of seeing a match unfold:

One of the reasons for people switching to live betting is that it gives more accurate and precise options to bet on. You can witness events of fall and rise and then can choose wisely. You can analyse the match carefully and can make choices accordingly; this is a big reason behind this transformation.

Allowing Punters Change Their View Compared to Pre-Match if Uncertain About the Outcome:

Earlier it was possible for the punters to change the odds as soon as he saw any big change in the game. This is something a punter can’t do in live betting. It is not possible to change the odds immediately after the change which gives advantages to the people putting their money on a bet.

Waiting for The Odds to Raise:

In case of live betting, you can easily trace the course of the game and analyse the odds efficiently. Thus you can wait for the odds to rise. This can be explained with an example i.e. if a good player of the team suffers injury, it can be assumed that the fame ahead won’t be in the favour of that team and hence you can make your bet accordingly.


Live Betting Pros/Cons:

Pros of Live Betting:

  • Live betting gives you a chance to turn the table upside down. Suppose if, in the beginning, you made a bet on a team that played its last matches well. But the game is not in their favour on that day. Then you got the chance to change your decision (although it cost a bit!).
  • Live betting is more about observations than a number. This means no matter if the stats or numbers don’t work while the game. If you are a keen observer, you have high chances of winning
  • Live betting is less of a risk than the pre-match betting. It often saves you from a huge loss of money.

Cons

  • Live betting can lead to addiction. Since it has higher chances of winning, it is obvious that you are obliged to bet often. And this can turn into addiction at any time.
  • Live betting does not have any plans. Thus you may develop the habit of betting without any guidelines which can cause you problems in the long run.
  • Live betting gives more pressure onto the better. It is all about watching, analysing and then shooting immediately. If the better can’t be quick enough, it can turn out wrong.
Bookmakers use betting odds to determine the probability of a given outcome in a sporting event. They quote odds that tell the punters of the probability of the predetermined outcome in any sporting event. Betting odds allow the punters to analyse the expected return on their stake if they win the bet.

Odds can be explained as the predictions of a sporting event by the bookmakers. The outcomes at shorter odds have a higher probability of becoming true whereas longer odds have a very less probability of turning true. Live betting is more fun because it can outdo the odds and punters can win huge while betting at long odds.


Live betting offers and promotions:

Offers and promotions are bonuses in a live event that are designed to be used by punters during the event.

Rather than offering regular promotions, your live betting site sportsbooks may offer you risk-free options for bets or other bonuses like higher odds for example. You can even be qualified to claim the promotion or bonus regardless of the qualification of your bet. There are many ways to claim these offers and bonuses. But remember to read the terms and conditions to avoid getting scammed.


What makes a live betting site good?

From regulators to platform providers to casino games suppliers to players, any party/ company is directly responsible for its activities and should always make sure they follow principles of responsible gambling that are understood and respected by every party involved.

Live betting is a rapidly developing means of entertainment among sports fans nowadays. Live betting online sites have become so popular that they are now common with more and more audience.

Ethical and responsible marketing is the ultimate asset that establishes or breaks the reputation of a live betting site.

Site management must advertise relevant information that is true and should not target vulnerable or underage people that might easily get exploited by live betting.

Permission of the customer should also be requested by the operators before involving the customer’s details in direct marketing.


Live Betting / In-Play Betting FAQ

Does it cost to register an account on Bookmakers?

Not a penny.

 

Can I create more than one account?

No. Bookmakers’ sites only allow one account per individual.

What is FICA?

FICA is an acronym for the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, which acts as a preventative measure by the government. It helps fight crime, terror financing, and money laundering.

Can I withdraw my money anytime from Bookmarkers?

You can withdraw money from as long as you don’t have any pending bonus turnover.

What are the markets?

Markets are those possible outcomes of a sports event that punters can place bets on. The markets such as Win-Lose or Win-Draw-Win are which punters have to choose an outcome to place their bets.

What is Double Chance?

Double chance is a bet where punters have two chances to win. One can take a double chance on a team, and if the team wins or if it draws, then it is a win and if it lost the game, then it is a lost stake.

What is Draw no bet?

Draw no bet means that your stakes would be refunded if the game ends up in a draw.


Responsible gambling:

Protection of vulnerable:

When it comes to Responsible Gambling, the most concerned issue is that some players get addicted to online gambling and starts spending too much of their money which negatively affects their daily life. So it is important for punters to keep themselves in check.

No-No to underage gambling:

It must be emphasized again and again to the underage individuals that it is illegal to gamble with real money before reaching a legal age of 18 or 21.

Against online criminal activities:

Gambling websites can equally prone to online criminals’ activities like any other site dealing with financial transactions. So punters should make sure that the bookmakers they are opting, is offering secured transactions.

Offering a secure environment:

For gambling online, punters have to provide a lot of information about their identity and credit/debit card details. Responsible gambling ensures that operators are creating secured frameworks so that any information is not leaked in any manner. 


Recap of live betting:

In comparison to the sports gambling of the past, modern Live Betting is enhanced and exciting. From here onwards, it will only get smarter and broader. One can bet live from anywhere in the world on any game and enjoy the evolving experience. It is a great time to start learning Live Betting as the technology will only improve and make it even more outstanding.

Gamble responsibly | Remember that winning is never guaranteed or easy.