Live betting is one of the most engaging and interactive aspects of sports gambling. Its popularity has soared since the 90’s. Of course, sports betting service providers are always looking to attract new customers and trying to vary their offering.
It’s a service that originally goes back to the 1990s, when bookmakers would accept bets on events over the phone as they were happening. Online sports betting operators have remembered this and decided to get in on the action, which has made sports betting even more convenient for punters.
Below is a look at some of the sports for which it’s possible to take part in live betting, plus an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of live betting so you can make a more informed decision before you start betting. There’s also discussion of why it’s important to make sensible bets.
Sports for which in-play betting is often available
Punters have really embraced the chance to bet on the action as it unfolds, which has helped live betting to truly take off. It’s now a large part of the sports betting market. Sensing the appetite betters have for live betting, sportsbooks make it possible to bet on a wide range of sports. These include:
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Basketball
- Baseball
- American football
- Golf
- Horse racing
- Ice hockey
- Handball
- Rugby
- and esports
Basically, players are spoilt for choice, but it’s worth noting that sportsbooks don’t offer live betting on all sports. Take the UFC, for instance. Some sportsbooks will close the betting after the fight starts.
The betting process itself is simple: choose your bet, add it to the online betting slip, enter your stake and click a button to place your bet. Then it’s up to whoever or whatever you back to come good.
The pros of live betting
Live betting offers several advantages that can make it more attractive than betting before the start of the game. Here are some of them:
Greater chances of winning
When you participate in live betting, you’ve already seen part of the event. You can make a more informed decision, which can then increase your chances of winning. This is different to pre-event betting, which entails making your bet before the event begins and forces you to wait and hope the event goes the way you want it to.
Flexibility
Whereas in a lot of styles of betting it’s best to stick to the same strategy, live betting is one of those opportunities that allows you to adapt your betting strategy. As the action flows, you may find that sticking to the same strategy actually works against you instead of for you.
The cons of live betting
You shouldn’t rush into live betting without at least knowing the downsides to this betting option, so here they are:
In-play cashing out isn’t guaranteed
A lot of sportsbooks offer the opportunity for betters to cash out their winnings before the end of the event. This allows the player to walk away better off before the result or other elements of the event have the chance to go against them and cause their bet to become a losing one. Not all sportsbooks provide this opportunity, however, so you should check the terms and conditions.
Constantly changing odds can work against you
Sometimes it’s better to place your bet before the game if a side has good odds to win. If, during the event, they have excellent odds and then go up shortly before the end of the event, this can trigger a dramatic instant drop in the odds. In that case, it would have better to have bet before the start of the game, when the odds were better, and you could have won more.
Stressful pace of live betting
Since you’re betting in real time, making the bet can get stressful. Odds can change before you’ve managed to put your bet down. Your technology can fail and see you miss out on decent odds. If you can’t keep a cool head in stressful situations, live betting might not be the right option for you.
Why it’s important to bet sensibly
One of the big advantages of pre-event betting is that you can make an analysis of the opposing sides, players, etc. and lots of other stats before you make your bet. All the while, you do this in a calm state of mind.
Live betting, however, is different. You’re performing your analysis while the game is progressing, and it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement live betting offers. Unfortunately, this and a range of other emotions can all drive in-play betting. Anyone who’s in the grip of strong emotions at the time of betting is likely to make a bad bet and lose their money because their emotions are driving their decision, rather than a cool head.
Live betting is an enthralling betting option that provides players with flexibility and a greater potential to win, but whenever live betting, always keep your emotions in check. Be sure, too, to understand all the pros and cons before you make your bet.
