Live Betting

Live betting is the latest and greatest achievement in sports betting. Also known as in-play betting, it does exactly what it says, allowing bettors to wager on events that are already in play.

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Live betting differs from regular betting on sports events where bettors are only able to place bets before a match starts.

Although not all bookies provide live betting, the majority of online sites do, often with live coverage of the events as well.

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Live Betting Guide

What is Live Betting?

Before you start betting on live matches, you need to learn a few things about live betting first. Unlike betting on fixed odds, the odds in live betting are constantly changing depending on the course of the match. For example, if you’re betting on a soccer match, the odds for the favorite may go even lower if that team manages to score a goal first. This gives bettors a chance to change their mind, but it also makes things harder to predict.

Using the new information from the match, bettors can place opposing bets to what looked like a certain bet before the match started. Live betting works best for football matches, horse races, basketball, and other sports.

Now, although it may look simple, live betting is a bit more complicated than other types of betting. It’s generally not recommended for beginners as all the options may be a lot more confusing. Like with any type of online gambling, there’s no certain way to win, but at least you get the chance to adjust your bets.

How Does Live Betting Work?

Most online bookies use a complex computer algorithm which updates the odds as the match progresses. When something happens in the match, for example, a goal is scored or there’s a red card, the system suspends the betting until the odds are worked out. That happens pretty fast, though, so you won’t have a lot of time to react. This happens several times during a match, and once the odds are available, you can place your bets.

The algorithm doesn’t rely on the event changes only. It calculates the odds by using information from past events as well. This is exactly what makes live betting the greatest achievement in sports betting and the most complex type of betting.

Types of Bets and Markets

There are many live markets you can bet in during a match. Although the odds differ from one bookie to the other, most offer live betting in markets such as next team to score, time of next booking or goal, next yellow or red card, next team to get a corner, total goals scored, etc. Of course, all the markets change as the match moves forward. When you place a bet, you will do so at fixed odds and get paid accordingly.

When it comes to the types of live bets offered, they can either be traditional, prop bets or parlays. Traditional bets, for example, will be available before and after the match starts. Of course, the odds will differ as soon as the game begins. If something happens, the favorite can quickly become an underdog, giving you a chance to earn a nice sum. Of course, besides the full-time winner bets, you’ll still be able to bet on totals, over\under, and other markets.

Prop bets, on the other hand, allow you to place bets in special markets such as goals, yellow and red cards, and individual (player) markets as well. They shouldn’t be overlooked as statistics and deep pre-game analysis can help you determine the number of goals in total or how many yellow cards the referee will show. The odds for prop bets tend to be higher than the usual, which means they’re less likely to be won. However, the risk will definitely be worth it when you triple your investment or get even more.

Finally, some online bookies give you a chance to turn your single bets to parlays. If you’ve ever tried a parlay with live bets, you know how much fun and exciting it can be. It’s the ultimate rush for some bettors, yet we wouldn’t recommend to beginners.

What are the Pros and Cons of Live Betting?

There are many advantages and disadvantages of live betting. When it comes to the pros, having more ways to win is the main reason why most bettors love to bet on live matches. It puts them in a position of power and gives them another option when fixed odds for a match simply don’t work. Live betting also gives you the option to turn a loss into a win, and that’s what makes it so exciting. Plus, betting on a live match definitely makes you feel like a part of it, which is fun.

On the other hand, live betting requires swift action and thinking as things change often. There’s not much time for deep analysis of the match. This means it’s more emotional and betting and emotions don’t go hand in hand. Acting on instinct in betting may work sometimes, but more often leads to bad decisions that will only make you lose money.

When betting on live matches, it’s best to watch the game unfold instead of only following the result. Predicting a live bet when you’re not watching the game can be hard, but luckily, most online bookies have live streaming in their offer.

How Can You Win in Live Betting?

There’s no sure way to win in live betting – just like fixed odds betting, luck plays a major part. A perfect strategy for live betting doesn’t exist. You just need to focus on the matches and do your research before placing your bets and hope for the best outcome. There’s no way of knowing who will score next or get the next yellow card as sports matches rarely have patterns. With that being said, deep research and analysis of certain matches and teams can help you get a general idea of what to bet on.

Your objective should be to limit your losses, not to optimize your profits. Due to the ever-changing odds and markets, most experienced bettors like to start with a pre-game bet which will give you a clear idea of what you can expect. This will give you the opportunity to salvage at least something if the game doesn’t go like you hoped it would. Starting with a pre-game bet will give you more flexibility and help you earn at least something. Of course, it’s not required, but it’s definitely recommended.

Live betting is most profitable for close matches. When the odds simply don’t work, don’t turn to other markets. Turn to live betting instead and you may end up earning a lot more than you’ve hoped for. When the game starts, pay attention to the odds. As soon as you see something that catches your eye, bet on it reasonably. Act fast as things may change pretty soon. Don’t bet with the assumption that you’re going to win – it’s a dangerous strategy that can harm your chances.

As we already mentioned, watching the game unfold in real time is best for live betting. In this way, you’ll be able to see the action firsthand and learn what to expect. Whenever one team presses hard, it’s most likely to score the next goal. If a team plays rough, it’s more likely that one of their players will get a yellow or red card. You can predict these kinds of things only by watching the game, not following the result online.

Paying attention to the momentum swings may make or break your chances of winning. These momentum swings move pretty fast in live betting, so you need to act just as quickly. As you bet and learn more about live betting, you’ll learn more about momentum swings as well and possibly use them to your advantage.

Paying close attention to those special bets (corners, red cards, yellow card) may be profitable when you’re watching the game live. So, whenever you see attractive odds in such a market, you should capitalize on the chances. After all, the odds will probably be bigger and your payout obviously larger.

Backing the favorite when they’re losing has been a goldmine for many experienced bettors. Whenever a favorite goes down a goal or two, their odds for winning will surely go up. This is a momentum swing strategy that might work for you too. The odds for the favorite that’s currently on the losing side will definitely be better than the fixed pre-match odds, and that’s your cue to place a reasonable bet.

Conclusion

Live betting is the ultimate betting experience. It’s a thrilling ride for those who like to have some fun rather than betting in the often-unimpressive pre-match markets. If you’re an experienced bettor who likes to try new things, then you should definitely go for it. Unfortunately, live betting is not recommended for inexperienced bettors. Don’t be fooled by the odds – it’s quite a complex type of sports betting to understand and requires deep knowledge of sports before you start. We suggest starting with traditional betting first. Learn more about betting in general and you’ll eventually experience all the excitement live betting offers.

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