So, you forgot to bet on your favorite sporting event only to find it’s already underway. 30 years ago, that’d have been a train smash, but thanks to live betting, you can catch up. In this guide, you’ll have everything you need to know about in play betting explained.
This type of betting allows you to place your wagers way after events begin. I’ll provide some expert tips on how you can get this right within your first few tries. But first, let’s walk through the basics of in play betting.
So, how does in play betting work? Let’s just say you no longer have to break a sweat if you miss placing a sports bet before the game starts. Whenever in play betting is explained, the running theme is bettors get in on the action while the contest is in progress.
But forgetting to place a wager is just but one reason to opt for in-play wagers. Seasoned bettors wager in-play if they think it’ll give them an edge and the best winning chances. The odds and betting lines change quickly, so you must be able to decide and place your bets in an instant.
For newbies, live betting can be a tricky concept to wrap your head around. To make it easier to comprehend, in play betting is explained better illustrated with an NFL example below.
| Team | Starting odds | Odds during the game |
|---|---|---|
| New York Jets | +180 | +150 |
| Cleveland Browns | -220 | -170 |
With this example, the Cleveland Browns started as a clear favorite. But let’s say the Jets hit an early touchdown, causing the odds to shift. While the Browns still have the upper hand, they have their work cut out for them, and placing a mid-game moneyline wager, in this case will pay more than when the game kicked off.
The blow-by-blow account of in play betting is explained in the steps below:
Anytime in play betting is explained, you'll quickly discover it has its good and bad sides every bettor must be aware of. Here are some of the main ones.
Part of grasping what in play betting is comes with understanding the different bet types you can place. They cover typical wagers like moneylines and totals but can get more detailed like betting on scoring plays in the NBA. The major difference is unlike with pre-match bets, odds change as soon as the game kicks off.
As I mentioned in my live betting guide, good old moneyline wagers can be placed in real time. This bet type keeps things pretty simple. All you do is put your money on the team or player you think will win. That’s it.
If you go through enough in play betting explained articles, you’ll spot spread bets every so often. It’s the perfect bet type for the savvy bettor because it evens the playing field for contestants. The underdog team must win or lose by a specific handicap within the spread.
Things get a lot more interesting with prop bets, where you basically wager on different aspects of the game with no bearing on the outcome. A good example is betting on the first player to score in an NBA game.
Not too sure about which team will take the cup, but feel confident about the number of laps your favorite NASCAR driver will lead by? Then you'll like Totals—also known as over/under bets. Here, you predict if the event outcome will go over or above what the sportsbook states. What I like about this bet type is how it applies to almost anything. For example, you can bet on the winning time in a marathon.
You can switch things up with half time full time bets explained here. This bet type lets you bet on both halves of a sports game by predicting the outcome at half-time and then at full-time.
If you have a keen eye and even quicker fingers, then parlay wagers fall right up your alley. This is a tricky bet type where you must combine multiple wagers into a single bet. The potential winnings are large, but the catch is all your selections must be correct for your bet to win. If even one is off the mark, your entire wager is thrown out.
Placing live wagers is undoubtedly fun but can be a tricky endeavor if you go about it the wrong way. I’ve put together a few pointers to help you place more accurate in-play betting predictions.
A lot of research and expertise goes into our betting guides. You'll get insight and free advice from an array of experts to help improve your in-play betting decisions.
To manage risks with in play bets, you may need to learn how to hedge a bet. In this instance, you place a second bet against the original wager if you’re unsure whether the outcome of a bet will be a winner.
If you snooze, you lose. Quick and decisive action is necessary for you to fully take advantage of any opportunities that pop up during the match.
Since in play betting odds shift rapidly in response to what's happening on the pitch, keep a close eye on them. Monitoring odds closely will help you know when to strike.
A good idea would be to join a betting exchange. As you’ll find in this betting exchanges explained article, you wager against other players and get better odds than you’d find at traditional bookies.
Live betting is a fascinating betting strategy with a lot of depth. There are plenty of options when it comes to the bet you can place well after the event has begun. The more you understand these bet types, the more you're in a position to place informed wagers.
Remember, live betting is fast-paced, with odds that fluctuate rapidly as the game progresses, making quick thinking kind of a prerequisite. SportsGambler offers free advice and guides on how to gain an edge with every live wager you place.
I’ll put this point across using a simple in play betting definition. It’s when you place a sports bet after the game or match has started.
In play odds shift because of several reasons, including goals scored. This often shortens the odds for the scoring side. Moreover, injuries can cause odds to shift as they impact a team's ability to win.
You can choose from a variety of live betting options, including moneyline, totals, props, spreads, and parlays, depending on your skill set.
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