Legal “live” in-play betting (live betting) has become an essential aspect of American sports betting culture.
The success of live in-game sports wagering has recently skyrocketed, mainly due to mobile technology developments. In some global markets, in-play betting can account for up to 80% of total sports betting revenue.
Table of Contents
What Exactly Is In-Play Betting?
Despite their similar names, live betting (in-play betting) differs from in-game betting and provides a lot more to offer sports bettors. In-game betting is simply betting on a game as it is taking place. In-game sportsbook odds are usually only updated during a timeout or advertisement break.
The critical distinction between the two forms of gambling is that live betting occurs throughout the game. Throughout the game, the odds change nearly every single play or possession. For game-specific wagering opportunities, live wagering is currently available. Individual in-play wagers for particular player propositions are not available. The different types of live bets may and should change shortly.
Simply put, in-play betting is betting on a match already in progress. Several of the most popular pregame stakes will transform into in-play bets once the bell rings. Point spreads, moneylines, totals, and derivatives are examples of these. Players may also combine multiple live bets or mix and match live and pregame bets as they consider fit. The possibilities aren’t infinite, but they can feel that way.
Because of the nature of live in-play betting, the odds change all the time, and bettors often have only seconds to put an in-play wager before the odds change again.
In-play betting is a technological innovation, with modern computers capable of running algorithms that produce up-to-the-minute odds in seconds.
In-play betting is primarily a technological innovation, with modern computers capable of running algorithms that produce up-to-the-minute odds in seconds. But are the outcomes as accurate as the pregame lines? Unfortunately, no, and as a byproduct, the competition between betting companies and players seems to be higher.
Live Betting Odds
Besides traditional pregame odds, each sportsbook might have different live betting odds. It is because the odds of the in-play event occurrence are determined by a proprietary algorithm developed by the sports betting app software developer.
So every top online sportsbook keeps adding their preferred edge to the probability of the algorithm, and odds are calculated and provided to the customer. Even if sportsbooks employ the same mobile betting app and method for their in-play odds, live betting odds may differ.
Individual bookmakers would have to make a lot of effort to accomplish this. However, thanks to technological advances, computers can process all this data in seconds.
Real-Time Live Betting Odds at MI Sportsbooks
rank
Website
BONUS
TURNOVER
RATING
PROMO / SIGN UP
How to Place an In-Play Bet?
Mobile sportsbook apps are used to place live bets. When placing in-play wagers, bettors must keep their eyes on both the game and the odds screen. Some live wagers may be available for only a few seconds. It is because the odds change after nearly every single play, depending on the sport. If a particular number is available for betting, the opportunity may last only 10 to 20 seconds.
Live betting is only suitable for some. Concerning understanding the purpose of each wager, the gambler should be quick on the draw. It usually implies that the gambler must be using a mobile device and able to log into an account or logins. Users must fund the accounts to place a stake as quickly as the numbers take account for a bet.
What Are the Drawbacks of Live Betting?
The main barrier to in-play betting is time. Whereas players have hours, if not days, to plan their strategy for a game that hasn’t yet begun, they’ll be lucky to have still 10-20 seconds between those plays to grab an in-play line of one’s choice.
Because time is so essential, in-play betting is significantly less common at retail sportsbooks. Instead, in-game betting reigns supreme, with gamblers limited primarily to placing wagers during extended downtimes such as advertisements. That’s understandable, given how difficult it would be for bettors to locate a line they like during a game and get to a betting booth or cashier in time to place a wager.
As a result, most in-play wagers will be placed via mobile or desktop.
Moreover, in-play bet types are less common than pregame bet types. For example, while a site like BetRivers Sportsbook may offer 200 different pregame bets for an NFL game, in-play wagering may be limited to 70 or 80 bets. In-play wagers on game outcomes are also far more widespread than individual player outcomes. So it is unless we’re talking about such a sport as tennis, where individual and game outcomes are synonymous.
In-play betting markets are often more limited than pregame betting markets. It makes sense because covering every single play for every single game would necessitate a massive amount of computing power and staffing. But don’t worry; all major US markets, such as:
- NFL
- NBA
- NHL
- MLB
- Soccer
- Tennis
In-play wagering is available in a variety of popular sports.
Why is Live Betting Suitable for Bettors?
Live betting can help a bettor remember to place a bet well before games start. In contrast to game betting, there are numerous betting alternatives open during the game. Because the data is refreshed in real-time, the odds should be realistic. Because each sportsbook operator includes an advantage in the price of the wager, some odds may be fairer than others.
These betting choices are provided throughout the game and allow a bettor to gamble on the opposite side of a potentially losing wager. Allows a bettor to bet on both sides of a point spread and potentially ensure a maximum win if the final score falls between the two bets.