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UKHow Live Betting Works: Tips & Strategies
Live betting is an exciting version of sports betting that allows you to bet on real-time odds that update as the action unfolds.
Our guide looks at how live betting works, what sports you can place live bets on, and how it compares to pre-match wagering. We also cover tips and strategies, as well as some of the pros and cons of live betting.
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What is Live Betting?
Live betting allows you to place wagers on sports games after the game has already started. Rather than locking in odds before the game begins, live sports betting provides odds in real time as scoring, injuries, and other events take place.
This style of betting lets you react to what you see on the field, court, or ice, and wager accordingly. If a team gets off to a slow/fast start, or suddenly gains/loses momentum, you can quickly place a bet to take advantage of your intuition.
Odds for live betting are constantly being updated by oddsmakers and can quickly disappear as more events happen.
How Do Live Betting Odds Work?
Live betting odds change in real time. Oddsmakers use algorithms, real-time data, and the events that happen during the game to continually adjust the odds. When events like scoring, turnovers, and injuries occur, the odds are updated accordingly.
For example: let’s say a football team’s moneyline opened at +300, but if they’re the first to score a touchdown, then they intercept the ball, and then immediately score another touchdown, their moneyline may change to -200. Conversely, their opponent may have opened as -200 favorites, but find themselves as +300 underdogs.
It’s worth mentioning that it is common for sportsbooks to suspend live betting to adjust the odds, and these suspensions usually only last a few minutes at most.
What Sports Offer Live Betting?
Sportsbooks offer live betting options on most major sports, and the most popular sports for live in-game betting include football, basketball, baseball, and soccer.
Football
Football is a popular live betting sport because every play can significantly shift the momentum of a game with scoring, turnovers, and big hits. Live football betting’s most popular wagers include live spreads, totals, and moneylines, as well as micro-wagers like whether the next drive results in a touchdown, field goal, punt, or turnover.
Basketball
Basketball’s fast pace lends itself to live betting action, especially since momentum plays such a pivotal part in the sport. Common live bets in basketball include live spreads, totals, moneylines, player props like points and rebounds, and whether the game goes to OT or not.
Baseball
Baseball games move at a relatively slow pace, which gives sportsbooks time to continually update live betting odds. Typical live baseball bets include inning-by-inning results, at-bat outcomes, and how long starting pitchers last, among traditional bets like spreads, totals, and moneylines.
Soccer
Soccer is a natural sport for live betting, as a single goal can dramatically shift the course of a match. Next goal live bets are popular in soccer, as are corner kick and yellow/red card props. Sustained pressure in a game can also drive live betting action, as many goals are the result of extended periods of one team pressing another back into their own end.
Tennis
Tennis’s game-by-game, set-by-set format lends itself to live betting wagers. Bettors enjoy placing live bets on game winners, set winners, number of sets played, and performance props like longest rally. Live betting in tennis also tends to surge when players face set, break, and match points as well.
Hockey
Like basketball, hockey’s fast pace makes it a popular sport for live betting. Power plays are particularly popular for live bets, and teams on the power play often see their moneyline odds shortened during the man advantage. Common wagers include moneylines and totals, next goal scored, and power play outcomes.
Pros & Cons of Live Betting
Live sports betting offers more flexibility than fixed pre-match betting, as you can continue wagering as you watch the entire game. It does come with some added risks, however. Here are a few positives and negatives about live betting.
Pros
- Bettors can react to what’s happening in the game, as opposed to guessing what happens before it starts.
- You can choose specific moments to bet on, like red-zone drives, power plays, and match points.
- Live odds reflect actual events in the game.
- Allows you to capitalize on events like coaching decisions, timeouts, hot streaks, etc.
- You can stay engaged with the action throughout the whole game.
Cons
- Can be hazardous for people that get upset and bet with their emotions.
- Odds move quickly and can pressure players into making impulsive bets.
- Some players may overspend their gambling budget by rapidly placing many bets at once.
- Internet or broadcast delays can cause betting issues.
- Live odds can be harder to track since they move so quickly.
Live Betting vs. Pre-Match Betting
Live betting and pre-match betting both take different approaches to the same activity — betting on sports. Pre-match betting involves research and predictions, and once the game starts you just sit back and hope your wagers are successful. Live bets allow you to react to the game’s events in real time. Both ways of wagering appeal to different kinds of bettors.
Bettors that enjoy a fast-paced betting experience based on watching and understanding the flow of a game may prefer live betting. It gives flexible odds that update as the game unfolds, so you can potentially wait for better odds before placing a bet you feel strongly about. Live bets also allow you to capitalize on momentum swings in real time.
Pre-match betting may be better suited to players that prefer a more controlled, research-driven betting experience. You have more time to compare odds and to research stats, and you can take your time placing your wagers without the pressure of continuously changing and fluctuating odds.
Live Betting Strategies & Tips
No gambling strategy is ever guaranteed, but you can help mitigate losses and potentially win some money by following these live betting tips:
Watch the Game You're Betting On
By watching the actual game you’re betting on you can read factors that betting odds alone can’t provide. You can see if a team looks tired, if a player looks like they’re playing through an injury, if bad weather is coming in, and all sorts of conditions that simple numbers don’t describe. If you’re not watching the game you’re betting on, you may miss some of these key factors and potentially leave money on the table.
Stick to a Clear Budget
It’s best to set a pre-determined gambling budget and stick to it. Think of gambling as spending money, not wagering it. Decide how much money you can spend on live betting, and never go over that number — especially when the action picks up. By strictly sticking to your budget, you can also help prevent emotional or impulsive wagers.
Don’t Chase Losses
Under no circumstances should you ever place extra wagers to try and make up for live betting losses. Doing so lends itself to making rushed, emotional bets that can quickly drain your bankroll. If you find yourself angry at losing a bet, don’t place any more wagers until you’ve composed yourself.
Look For Overreactions in Odds
Sometimes oddsmakers overreact and adjust their odds too much when certain events happen, like when a team scores early in a game. Watch for times when odds shift dramatically, especially when you don’t think the game situation calls for it. Doing so can create betting value if you think the occurrence was just a one-off event and not a game-changing scenario.
Bet on Short Markets
Shorter markets like quarter or next-drive bets give you a smaller scope of the game to analyze. Rather than predicting what happens in the whole game (or even half a game), short markets can be easier to gauge since they involve the current momentum of the game. These short bets can also help live betting newcomers ease into the wagering action without feeling overwhelmed.
Use Pre-Game Research
Even though live betting happens as a game unfolds, you can still use pre-match betting research to your advantage. You can read analysis before the game on aspects including player injuries, match-up strengths, and tactical tendencies that can help you make more informed live betting decisions.
How to Place Live Bets
Live betting adds an entertaining and fast-paced layer to the sports betting experience. Understanding how odds fluctuate, and why, can help you capitalize on in-game moments and momentum shifts to potentially win big.
You can visit Lucky Rebel to place live wagers on football, basketball, soccer, baseball, and more; plus new players can also claim up to $1,250 in free sports bets with their first deposit.
80% 80% This score goes to the highest rated sites by experts. Only sites that hold an expert rating of above 85% are given this status.
A green Jackpot Certified score is awarded when at least 60% of expert reviews are positive.
A red Bust score is displayed when less than 60% of expert reviews are positive.
A grayed-out gem means there are not enough expert ratings to produce a score. The gambling site could be new.
A green Jackpot Certified score means that at least 60% of player reviews are positive.
A red Bust score means that less that 59% or less of player reviews are positive.
A grayed-out face means there are not enough player reviews to produce a score.