Live 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
Best Live Betting Sites & Why
The following is a list of the best live betting sites and why they rank highest:
- Bet365 – most live streams.
- Betvictor – best football odds.
- William Hill – great app.
- Paddy Power – most promotions running.
- Unibet – live streams & solid markets.
- Coral – live streaming & betting.
- Betfred – generous sign up bonus.
- Ladbrokes – lots of live markets.
In-Play Betting Features Explained:
Cash Out
Betting 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
One 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 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
A 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
Alongside 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.