What Bookmaker Is Best For Live Betting?

Last Updated: March 4, 2024

Live BettingLive or in-play betting was once an option offered by just some of the biggest bookmakers, there are now few providers which don’t supply it in one form or another.

That gives punters a wide range of choice when it comes to which bookmaker they wish to use.

In order to help you to make a decision we’ve created our top 5 rankings for the best live betting sites out there – bonus info for each is included.

Best In-Play Betting Sites: Top 5

1
Bet365
Bet £10 get £30 free bets
BET365 REVIEW
CLAIM BONUS!
New Customers only. Bet £10* & Get £30* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5* and £10* to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. Registration required.
2
Betvictor
Bet £10 get £40
BETVICTOR REVIEW
CLAIM BONUS!
18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10  on any football market at minimum 1/1 odds. No cash out. Get £40 in Free Bets on selected events. Free Bets expire in 7 days. Card payments only. T&Cs Apply, see below. begambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly
3
william hill
Bet £10 get £30
WILLIAM HILL REVIEW
CLAIM BONUS!
18+. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 18.10.2022. £30 bonus. New customers only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook (excluding Virtual markets). Further T&C's apply. #ad
4
Paddy Power
Bet £20 Get It Back If It Loses
PADDY POWER REVIEW
CLAIM BONUS!
New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any sportsbook market and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using cards or Apple Pay will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. Paddy's Rewards Club: Get a £10 free bet when you place 5x bets of £10+. T&Cs apply.
5
unibet
£40 + £10 Welcome Offer
UNIBET REVIEW
CLAIM BONUS!
18+ begambleaware.org. New customers only. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus if first bet loses. Wagering requirements: all sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Unless forfeited the sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in. Full T&Cs apply #AD.

Best Live Betting Sites & Why

The following is a list of the best live betting sites and why they rank highest:

  1. Bet365 – most live streams.
  2. Betvictor – best football odds.
  3. William Hill – great app.
  4. Paddy Power – most promotions running.
  5. Unibet – live streams & solid markets.
  6. Coral – live streaming & betting.
  7. Betfred – generous sign up bonus.
  8. Ladbrokes – lots of live markets.

In-Play Betting Features Explained:

Cash Out

Cash OutBetting sites with cash out essentially allow punters to opt out of a bet before it has been settled. If the punter’s chosen selection is looking less likely than at the outset of the event, for instance, the bookmaker would offer them a cash out value of less than their stake. If the selection is looking more likely, meanwhile, an amount above their stake but below their ultimate maximum winnings may be offered.

Quick Bet

Quick BetOne of the more recently introduced features of live betting, a quick bet feature is when a bookmaker provides a more speedy way of placing a bet than their usual process. This can be very beneficial for in-play betting as it can allow punters to quickly take advantage of available odds which might soon change as the match or race in question progresses.

Streaming

Live StreamingLive streaming is less commonly available than live statistics or live scoring, but where available it allows punters to actually watch matches, races or events. Rules about which events they can view vary from bookmaker to bookmaker with some providing access to all of their live events to any customer with a funded account and others requiring the customer to have bet on a particular event in order to watch it (see live streaming FAQ for more details).

Live Scores

Live ScoresA near ubiquitous feature of bookmakers’ in-play interfaces, live scoring is crucial for any punter looking to bet along with an event that they can’t actually watch. Bookies generally provide a scoreboard which offers the continually updating score of the game or event in question and on some occasions other details like scorers’ names and the time elapsed.

Live Stats

StatsAlongside the score, some live betting providers also offer further up-to-the minute statistics regarding the game or event in question. This can include things like possession stats for football, bowling figures for cricket and other sport specific data. These live statistics, therefore, can help punters to decide which in-play betting selections they want to back.

How Does Live Betting Work?

Before you dive into live betting let’s first have a brief look at exactly how live betting works and how it differs from general ante post betting.

Live betting is simply the process of betting on a sporting event as it is in progress.

What’s different?

  • Odds for the in-play markets provided will fluctuate and change along with the circumstances of the game, match or race. This, therefore, opens up a number of different betting opportunities such as betting on a favourite while they are behind to take advantage of more generous odds.
  • A larger number of smaller markets can be bet on for each event e.g. if there will be a corner in the next five minutes or the number of runs scored in the next over of a cricket match.
  • Markets get suspended e.g. if a penalty is awarded during a match, then the next goalscorer market amongst others will probably be suspended until after the penalty has been taken.