Best In-Play Betting Sites

Compare the Best In-Play Betting Sites 

Bettors have different criteria when it comes to picking the best in-play betting sites. Some think that the sites offering hefty bonuses are the best, others prefer good odds, while others want a wide range of sports betting options available for placing in-play bets. 

Whatever is the most important factor for you, you should still look into other ones as well and compare your favourite betting sites to choose the best one for in game betting. These are the factors we deem are worth looking into when comparing the best in-play betting sites:

• Sports and market selection: If you only bet on one sport, this might not be the most important factor for you, but it’s still important to have a choice. Offering a variety of sports, markets and sporting events to bet on in-play should be a characteristic of the best sportsbooks.
• Odds offering and the speed of odds updates: Most bettors appreciate competitive odds as a chance to win a bit more money from their bets. When talking about in-play betting, it is also important to note if a bookie takes long to update the odds after major changes during the game or event, as all betting is blocked until new odds are released.
• Bonus offers and promotions: Even though they are probably not the most important factor when picking a sportsbook for in-play betting, a nice promotion or bonus offer is always welcome.
• User experience: A slick experience while using the website or app could attract bettors, whereas a poor experience will most likely put people off. 
• Cash-out options: Whether a bookie allows bettors to cash out while the game is still in progress could also be vital when picking a live betting site. Sometimes, bettors risk losing their winnings if they can’t cash out on time, but not all sportsbooks allow that for bets that were placed in play.
• Live streaming: Having an option to watch a live stream of the game could be very useful, and it completes the excitement of waiting for the outcome of your bet.
• Payment methods and payment processing: A sportsbook that accepts your preferred payment methods and quickly processes your deposits has an advantage over those that don’t.
• Security and trustworthiness: A sportsbook’s reputation as trustworthy and secure is essential. All sportsbooks must have a valid licence and top encryption and security measures to protect their clients’ personal information.

How In-Play Betting Actually Works

Live or in-play betting means placing your bets after the match or event has started, at any point while it’s still ongoing, as long as the odds are available. An interesting fact about in-game betting is that the odds constantly change depending on the developments during the match or event.

Live in-play betting is more dynamic than pre-event because it requires that you follow the situation and act quickly. When you spot an odd you’d like to take and place your bet on, you must react fast before it changes, and you lose your opportunity.

How Is In-Play Sports Betting Regulated?

Regulatory bodies that are in charge of online gambling and sports betting are also responsible for regulating their licensees’ in-play betting operations. Licence providers ensure that operators do everything by the book and comply with all the requirements they set, and the requirements are slightly different for in-play betting operators.

For example, the operator should inform the bettor that there could be a slight delay when following a match live on TV, which is why the odds could change or freeze at a point when the bettor doesn’t expect.

Regulatory bodies consider in-play betting to be more prone to potential illegal betting activities. That’s why they focus on preserving the integrity of sports when it comes to live betting activities and require betting operators to have strict policies for managing risks connected with in-play betting.

Authorities that regulate in-play betting include the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), Curaçao eGaming and others. Online in-play betting is illegal in some countries that allow online betting, but in some of them, live bets can be placed at land-based venues.

Main Challenges of In-Running Betting

In-play betting is more dynamic and even more exciting to some punters than pre-match betting because they follow the action and place live bets as the situation in the field changes. Bettors can also take advantage of the odds that are constantly changing and often increasing during the game to make new bets and potentially score bigger wins.

In-play betting allows bettors to change their minds if something happens early in the game, and they can place a different bet while the game is ongoing.

But live betting is not without disadvantages for the bettors. Here are some challenges related to in-running betting:

• Short time for making decisions: Bettors need to make swift decisions when betting live because odds fluctuate while the event is ongoing. That leaves very little time to think about the bet and requires that bettors make their decisions fast.
• Frequent odds change: Odds change with every major development in the game to match the new circumstances. For example, if you are betting live on a football match and you wish to bet on the underdogs, the odds could decrease further along in the match, especially if the team is in the lead.
• Lack of live streaming and potential information delay: If you don’t have a live stream to watch the game, you could face a delay from the actual action and, therefore, have wrong information when looking to make a live bet.

Sports Available for Live In-Play Betting

Sports betting sites offer plenty of options when it comes to in play sports betting, of course, starting with the most popular ones, such as football, American football, tennis, or basketball. Even if your favourite live betting entertainment isn’t betting on one of the most popular sports, you should be able to find a sportsbook offering “niche” sports among the best in-play betting sites.

Punters who enjoy placing live bets on horse racing or dog racing have a very limited window of opportunity to submit their bets, as these races are rather brief, and they only have a few seconds to react before odds get suspended. Auto racing sports and combat sports, on the other hand, don’t require such a swift reaction, so they are also convenient for in-play betting.

Let’s look into some of the most popular sports for live in-game betting:

Football

Football is among the most popular sports for betting pre-match and in-game. If you place a pre-match bet, and something major happens early in the game, like a goal or a red card, you will have a chance to place a new bet live if you like the odds the bookie offers. Football matches are long enough to have plenty of live betting options, and if you are a knowledgeable football fan, you will have plenty of information to make an informed decision.

Tennis

Tennis is also a popular sport for in-play betting because it offers plenty of options to bet on, especially when a huge event, like a grand slam tournament, is taking place. Bettors have the opportunity to follow a few matches simultaneously, but when placing a bet on a short-term outcome, you should be aware that there could be a broadcast delay, so you should tread carefully.

Golf

Golf is a less dynamic sport than football, tennis, or basketball, with plenty of time between two shots. That gives both sportsbooks and bettors a chance to set new odds and place bets during the breaks. Punters can bet on how the player will do on a hole or their performance in the tournament in general. 

Horse Racing

Horse racing is very dynamic, with races ending in a matter of minutes. You can bet on the outcome of the race, so you have a few options to choose from, but you’ve got to act quickly. The odds will be available for a brief window only, and that’s why you should probably do your due diligence before the race.

Cricket

Cricket is not as widely popular as football or basketball, but it has a few major markets, like the UK, Australia, and India, for example. Major cricket events draw a lot of attention from people familiar with the sport, and they offer many in-play betting options. For example, bettors can bet on who they think will be the highest scorer of the match or which player will take the most wickets.

Basketball 

NBA, Euroleague, Basketball World Championships, national leagues, and even the Olympics offer major basketball games you can bet on pre-game or live. Basketball is a fast-paced game with many turnarounds, giving bettors plenty of opportunities for in-play betting. You can bet on the match winner, the top scorer, the number of points you predict a player will score, and so on.

Is In-Play Betting Possible for All Sports Events? 

Licenced sportsbooks are required to offer the possibility to place in-play bets on sports and events that are available only in the countries and provinces where that is legal. If you would like to bet on a sporting event and you are not sure if you can, we advise you to look for trustworthy bookies and check if they offer the possibility of live betting on the said event.

In-Play Bonuses and Offers

Best in-play betting sites offer bonuses and promotions to their players all the time, either to attract them or to reward and thank them for their loyalty. Bonuses extend to in-play sports betting as well, so you can use your bonus funds or free bets to wager in-play bets on sports events.

Make sure to read the terms and conditions of the bonus, as the betting site could limit the offer to specific sports and events only. Many bonuses also include the minimum deposit and playthrough requirements, which should be clearly stated in the T&Cs. Another attractive offer to bettors is the possibility of cashing out before the event ends.

When looking for the best in-play bonus offer for yourself, pick those that suit your betting preferences. Welcome bonuses are an excellent way to try a new sportsbook, and you can compare offers to pick the one you like best.