How to Choose the Best In-Play Betting Sites for You
The best in-play betting sites offer a host of advanced features to make your game-watching experience better. They also give you multiple wagering options so that you can place bets the way you want to.
Before you jump into the top features that these live betting sites offer, it’s important to do your due diligence and check for these key factors:
- Is the site licensed?
- How strict is the licensing authority?
- Is the platform available in my region?
- Can I set up two-factor authentication?
- Is the site encrypted with SSL or TLS?
These security features cannot be stressed enough. The last thing you want is for the bet you make to disappear into the ether because the site wasn’t real. Similarly, you don’t want your information stolen by a hacker. Though there are no guarantees that your information will 100% be locked down (cybercriminals are good at what they do), ensuring the platform you use has those key security features is step one.
From there, relax, because choosing the best live sports betting sites for you boils down to your experience. The best of the best platforms, for example, all offer these key features:
Live streaming at betting sites is becoming increasingly common, and for good reason. If you are placing bets on multiple events that are airing at the same time, the ability to watch one game on the betting platform and one on your big screen can change your experience entirely.
At a minimum, the in-play betting sites you use should update the in-play statistics and even events for you at all times. This means you should see the odds and statistics changing regularly throughout the game to reflect the events happening before your eyes.
The best in-play betting sites let you cash out most bets during the game. If the team you’ve wagered on isn’t doing well, and their odds of winning have dropped, you can cash out to minimize your losses, for example. A top cash out betting site will give you multiple cash out options, so check in advance what their terms and conditions are so you can expand your betting options.
Why Should I Place Live Bets As Opposed to Pre-Game Bets?
There are many reasons why you may want to start placing in-play bets, as opposed to just pre-game bets:
| Live Bets | Pre-Game Bets | |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | Placed during the game. | Placed before the game begins. |
| Odds | Constantly changing. | Fixed until the game begins. |
| Information | Can react to real-time events. | Limited to pre-game information. |
| Risk | Higher risk due to changing odds, but do come with more information, such as injuries, so you can make more informed betting decisions. | Since you can bet with a cooler head, there may be less risk. There is, however, less information to make your decisions. |
| Skill | Needs you to be fully informed on the rules of the game, the team, and the player. | Without the time crunch, you can do more research if it’s part of your bet style. Otherwise, you can make intuitive bets if you’re a casual player. |
| Example | Betting on a team to score in the next quarter after they have just scored a touchdown. | Betting on a team to win the game outright before the game begins. |
Top Tips When Using the Best Live Betting Sites
There are several tips to consider when using top live betting strategies. These tips will help enhance your wagering experience and help you keep a cool head during the game.
In-play bets can come with high adrenaline as you race to make a wager before the odds change. Therefore, knowing the game well means you can make better in-play betting decisions without so much stress. Wait to make a live bet until you know the teams, the sport’s rules, and even the players well enough.
A cardinal rule when using live betting sites is to stick to a budget. You can create two budgets, one for pre-game bets and the other for in-play wagers. By creating this budget ahead of time, you can play responsibly and with a cooler head.
Another reason to use the best in-play betting sites over in-person bookies is the bonuses. The best betting bonuses can include free bets, bet matches, and, in rare cases, cash back on your losses.
Occasionally, odds will differ among the live betting sites. This means you can go from one popular platform to another and see slightly different figures. Rest easy, as the best live betting sites all offer competitive odds. The reason why the odds may be different is that the bookmaker used a different formula. Baseball can take several hours, for example, allowing ample time to check the odds and select the best potential payouts.
Don’t expect a big odds difference between the best live sports betting sites, but know you may just be able to find one with slightly more favorable odds if you win.
Types of In-Play Betting
The top betting sites online will offer multiple types of in-play bets. These live betting sites will usually offer:
- Match Betting – betting on teams to either win or lose.
- Goalscorer Betting – you bet on players to make a score or goal.
- Cards Betting – betting on how many red or yellow cards are handed out during a game.
- Player Prop Betting – you can bet on individual players.
You should also be given bet options unique to the sport itself. Check ahead of time to see what the best in-play betting sites offer in terms of bet types and compare them, so you know which platform offers you the most options for your sport of choice.
What are the Top Live Betting Sites?
With so many great live betting platforms out there, it can be hard to pick which one to use. To help you get the best experience, try out the top options below.
Bet365 – The Go-To Destination for Live Sports
- Custom Build Your Pre-Game Bets
- Multiple Betting Types
- Live Commentary for Selected Matches
- User Friendly Platform
- Some Geographical Restrictions
- Occasional Glitches Due to High User Volume
Bet365 is one of the largest and most well-known live betting sites out there. It’s also one of the oldest, having launched way back in 2000. Today, it caters to over 90 million customers around the world and covers most sports, from your big-league favorites to niche options like darts or handball. It’s available in most countries in the world, including the UK, Australia, and Canada.
The only thing that Bet365 doesn’t offer is cryptocurrency support, so if you were hoping to place those in-play bets in Bitcoin, you may want to pick BC.Game instead.
BC.Game – A Cryptocurrency Sportsbook
- Traditional and eSports Coverage
- Accepts Cryptocurrencies
- Wide Range of Bet Types
- Live Event Updates
- Not As Established
- Limited Options for Non-Crypto Users
If you are a crypto-user and are hoping to place bets with Bitcoin or Ethereum instead of dollars, BC.Game may be one of the best live sports betting sites for you. This sportsbook and casino was only launched in 2017, but in the few years it’s been live, it’s become a popular option due to its security and extensive sports coverage. Here, you can place bets on eSports, table tennis, and martial arts, as well as the more popular sports of basketball or football.
Of course, while its sports range is extensive, BC.Game may not be ideal if you’re an avid fan of more niche sports, like eSports. In that case, you’d want to swap over to Betway to place your wagers on live video game tournaments.
Betway – Large Coverage of Major and Niche Sports
- Covers Most Sports
- Cash Out Feature
- Multiple Live Betting Options
- Live Event Updates
- Some Geographical Restrictions
- Occasional Technical Glitches
Betway covers a wide range of major leagues all the way to niche options like darts or snooker. You can place live bets during almost all live events, giving you the ability to make in-the-moment bets based on the real-life factors you see playing out on screen (or in person). As a plus, you can even watch sports live on Betway’s platform, so you don’t need to split your viewing experience across screens.
Get Off to the Right Start with In-Play Betting
In-play betting sites let you take advantage of real-time updates. If the player you bet on to score gets sent off, you can make another wager on a different player to score. Just remember to stick to your predetermined budget when playing.
You’ll also want to take advantage of the multiple betting options to diversify your wager profile in a way that captures the game best. Keep your betting experience responsible and know the game inside and out to further improve your strategy. You can bet on your favorite team or against them, thanks to the cash out and multiple bet types.Either way, you’ll enjoy betting in real time on games that matter to you.
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Live Betting Sites FAQs
⛹️ What’s the difference between in-play betting and live betting?
Nothing! Some of the best in-play betting sites refer to the process of placing bets during the event as live betting or in-play betting. They all mean the same thing and allow you to place bets at almost any point during the game.
🤓 How can I find the live betting odds?
The biggest in-play betting sites update the odds throughout the game, right on the screen. This way, you don’t need to hunt down the odds as they change to make an informed bet.
💰What are odds in live betting?
Odds in live betting are the probability of a particular outcome. Though a lot of research and data goes into making those odds, they are not a guarantee. The underdog can rise up and win over the fan favorite, for example. The player that always scores during a game can get injured in the first half. What this means is you can’t just place bets on the most likely event to happen (the odds would be lowest).
🖐️Why are some odds higher and some lower?
Odds that are higher are statistically less likely to occur. Odds that are lower have been deemed more likely to occur. There will be lower odds on the top-tier team winning against a bottom-tier team, for example. On the other hand, you can expect far higher odds (like 10/1) for the underdog to win.
