What is live betting in sports? How does live betting work

Live betting is when you place a wager on a game or event after it has started, with the action unfolding in real-time. A key component of live betting is that the odds/lines/totals are generally moving with every play or possession, thus giving bettors a plethora of opportunities to take advantage of new, ever-changing odds as they watch or follow the action live.

Live betting is on the rise in sports betting as it lets users continually wager on a sporting event they’re watching. We live in an era of instant gratification, and a live bet can pay out in a matter of minutes if you place one late in the fourth quarter of a basketball game. In some cases, you can even wager on the particular outcome of the next play/possession in a certain game. As mentioned above, live betting allows you to bet on a game/match/event after it has already started and odds update in line with what unfolds on the playing field. A wide range of live-bet offerings can be found across most sports. Live betting is already a massive market in Europe, especially in tennis.

Most sports now offer live betting odds with instant data feeds. Sportsbooks will generally show the current situation (score, time remaining, etc.) and the current odds. Sports with frequent, extreme momentum swings (and therefore plenty of odds movement) are popular on the live betting market. Among the major sports, football is the most popular, followed by basketball. Baseball, hockey and soccer are less popular because there are generally far fewer numbers on the scoreboard. Among less mainstream sports, tennis is wildly popular because of its scoring system. Points, games, and sets are won all the time in matches, making for more substantial and frequent odds movements.

At most sportsbooks, there will be a “live now” tab where you can find games that are in progress and available for betting, separated by sport. You can also find the live options by clicking on an individual sport and then finding the live games. Both the site layout and the live odds could differ from book to book, so make sure you explore all options.

Almost every sport offers live betting, and within that spectrum, there are dozens of markets available. The types of markets on offer depend on the specific sport, as statistics are much different in football, basketball, baseball, etc. See below for what some of the most popular mainstream sports offer when it comes to live betting.

Money line: The odds on each team to win a game outright will change as the action progresses. For example, if the Patriots score a touchdown against the Eagles, the Patriots’ odds will improve, and the Eagles’ odds will become longer.

Point spread: The point spread will move similarly. If the Patriots are -2 favorites at the time and score a touchdown, they might become -7.5 favorites.

Game totals: As points are scored or not scored by both teams, the Over/Under will adjust accordingly. If it was 45.5 and the score is 3-3 at halftime, the total may come down to something like 28.5.

Game props: These may not be available except in the Super Bowl or other playoff games, but in certain situations, there could be live odds on statistics like total touchdowns, total turnovers, etc.

Player props: A player’s quota on a certain market will also change depending on statistics accrued throughout a game. For example: if Stefon Diggs’ Over/Under for receiving yards is 113.5 and he catches a 70-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage, the Over/Under could soar to something like 165.5.

Money line: The odds on a game’s outright winner will move as runs are scored by either team. For example: if the Brewers are -135 favorites over the Reds and the Brewers score two runs in the top of the first inning, they could become something like -200 favorites.

Run line: Similarly, the odds on a -1.5, -2.5, or -3.5 run line will also change as the action develops. In the above example, the Brewers could have been +125 on the -1.5 run line and might now be -110. In absolute blowouts, such as if the Brewers take a 9-0 lead, a -8.5 run line could be introduced in the live betting market.

Game totals: As runs are scored by both teams, the Over/Under will adjust accordingly. If it was 9.5 and the score is 4-4 after the fourth inning, the total may move to something like 12.5.

Player props: A player’s strikeouts, hits, RBIs, runs scored, etc. will also change depending on what transpires on the field. For example: if Max Scherzer’s strikeout quota was 7.5, and he’s tallied 5 strikeouts through 3.0 innings, the number could move up to 9.5.

Money line: The odds on a game’s outright winner will move as points are scored by either team. For example: if the 76ers open as -180 favorites over the Pacers and the 76ers lead 37-28 in the second quarter, they could become something like -240 favorites.

Point spread: The point spread will move similarly. If the 76ers open as -4.5 favorites, the spread could be -10.5 when they take their 37-28 lead.

Game totals: As points are scored by both teams, the Over/Under will adjust accordingly. If it was 220.5 and the score is 68-66 at halftime, the total may move up to something like 232.5.

Player props: A player’s points, rebounds, assists, three-pointers made, etc. will also change depending on what transpires on the court. For example: if Stephen Curry’s three-pointer quota was 5.5 and he has 4 threes at halftime, the number could move up to 7.5.

Money line: The odds on a game’s outright winner will move as goals are scored by either team. For example: if the Golden Knights open as -200 favorites over the Sharks and the Knights lead 3-1 in the second period, they could become something like -330 favorites.

Puck line: Similarly, the odds on a -1.5 or -2.5 puck line will also change as the action develops. In the above example, the Golden Knights could have been -115 on the -1.5 run line and might be -140 after taking a 3-1 lead. In absolute blowouts, such as if the Knights take a 4-0 lead, a -3.5 puck line could be introduced in the live betting market.

Game totals: As goals are being scored by both teams, the Over/Under will adjust accordingly. If it was 5.5 and the score is 2-1 after the first quarter, the total may move to 6.5. Or it could remain at 5.5, and the odds/juice on that number would change.

Player props: A player’s goals, assists, points, points, etc. will also change depending on what transpires on the ice. For example: if Mathew Barzal is +150 to record Over 1.5 goals + assists, and he scores in the first period, he could move to -120 to go Over the number.

3-way money line: The odds on a match’s outright winner will move as goals are scored by either team. For example: if Manchester City opens at +120 on the 3-way money line against Arsenal and scores a goal in the 15th minute to lead 1-0, it could become a -150 favorite. Arsenal could become a +350 underdog, while a draw might move from +160 to +190.

Spread: Similarly, the odds on a -1.5 goal spread will also fluctuate as the action develops. In the above example, Man City could have opened at +275 to cover a -1.5 spread. If the Citizens take a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute, they could move to something like +140 to cover that -1.5 spread.

Game totals: As goals are being scored by both clubs, the Over/Under will adjust accordingly. If it was 2.5 and the score is 2-0 in the 40th minute, the total may move up to 3.5. Or it could remain at 2.5, and the odds/juice on that number would change.

Game props: These may not be available except in the World Cup or other huge matches, but in certain situations, there could be live odds on statistics like total yellow cards, red cards, corner kicks, etc.

Player props: A player’s goals and/or assists will also change depending on what transpires on the pitch. For example: if Lionel Messi is +200 to record Over 1.5 goals + assists and he scores in the 13th minute of the match, he could move to -110 to go Over the number.

Live odds are calculated by reacting to the game flow of a particular event–most notably the score. The most important thing to note is that markets will generally freeze at any key points/moments in which there is an obvious momentum swing and odds must be adjusted. Evens that may freeze live betting odds include a touchdown in football, a three-run homer in baseball, LeBron James getting ejected from a basketball game, a goal in soccer, a service break in a tennis match, and much more. Lines will move accordingly based on various data factors in addition to how bettors are trading.

Live reaction: It is both fun and smart to live bet on a game you are watching. Reading the action with your own eyes gives you the best possible knowledge of the situation. In addition to analyzing what is happening, you will be up to speed on any injuries, players getting benched, and other important news when watching a game. That will give you a leg up in betting a game live.

Hedging: Making a pregame bet can create an opportunity for hedging as a game or match unfolds. If you bet on Roger Federer as a +400 underdog to beat Novak Djokovic and Federer wins the first two sets in a best-of-five match, you could hedge your put by placing a smaller amount on Djokovic to win. That will guarantee an overall profit on your two bests (one pregame, one live), regardless of the outcome.

Less sharp odds: Before a game or match begins, the odds and lines being offered by the books will generally be quite sharp, especially when it comes to mainstream sports and most important events. However, even for bookmakers, it is not as easy to adjust lines and odds during the run of play. Greater value can often be found with live betting compared to pregame betting.

Various logistical issues: Although there are many markets available, some sports may not offer live betting or at least may not offer certain plays you want to make. Some games may not have a live stream or game tracker that offers stats and odds. Additionally, when it comes to mobile betting some Android apps won’t list all of the in-game markets. Certain apps may not be available in some states. Finally, odds/juice can be worse than pregame/outright odds.

Frustrating line freezes: The books are sure to be using up-to-millisecond services to track scores and set odds. When you watch a football game and see a touchdown scored, you won’t be able to beat the book in a race to get in a live bet on the team that just scored. The lines will be immediately frozen, and you will have to wait for the adjustment before making a live bet.

Less time to react: When making a pregame bet or Futures bet, you have time to do hours, days, or even weeks and months of research. In live betting, of course, you need to react immediately to what is happening on the playing field. Emotions–heart over head situations–can become more prevalent in live betting than in pregame betting. Live betting can be both fun and lucrative, but you have to be smart about it.