What is live in-game sports betting?

In sports, the scoreboard and the matches themselves are constantly changing. That’s why many sportsbooks offer live in-game or in-play betting, so you can immediately win the final whistle. But what does in-game betting mean? Read on to discover the definition of live in-game betting, the different types of in-game bets and some useful strategies on making smarter real-time sports wagers.

What is live in-game sports betting?

If you’ve heard the terms in-match betting, in-play betting and micro-betting, they’re essentially all describing the same concept; live in-game sports betting. Live in-game betting simply means any wagers placed while the game or match is still in progress, including during half-time, between quarters and timeouts.

Live in-game bets use live odds, which usually change due to different circumstances in a sporting contest. For example, if an MLB team is priced at 5.0 (+400) to win at the top of the 7th inning but suddenly hit two home runs to tie the game, that team’s live odds might quickly shift to 3.5 (+250).

Famously, midway through the third quarter of Super Bowl LI, the live odds with some sportsbooks on the New England Patriots winning were a staggering 12.0 (+1100). That’s because the pre-match favourite Patriots, at 1.67 (-149), were losing 28-3 to the Atlanta Falcons at the time.

A live in-game €100 wager on New England winning back then would have returned a considerable €1,100.

Luckily for betting enthusiasts, in-game bets aren’t exclusive to full-time or final results. Live-betting is a great way to take advantage of situational occurrences throughout sports, such as injuries, penalties, substitutions, and even the weather.

Types of live in-game sports wagers

Name the sport, and you’ll find a multitude of available live in-play bets. That’s why the different kinds of live in-play betting on offer depend on the sport.

In the NHL, for example, typical in-game bets include the next player to score or the next team to receive a penalty shot. Whereas in the NFL, you could bet on the outcome of the next drive, i.e., a touchdown, field goal, turnover (on downs or by interception) or safety.

Interestingly, some in-game bets such as player and team props, same game parlays (accumulators) and win margins are also available pre-match.

Are live in-game wagers the same as Cash Outs?

The Cash Out option and in-game sports betting have some similarities, but they’re not the same. Obviously, both in-game betting and Cash Outs are available with the match or game still in progress. However, here’s where they differ.

Firstly and most importantly, cashing out means settling an existing bet, whereas live betting entails placing a new bet. In other words, whereas choosing to cash out involves guaranteed returns, live in-play wagers do not.

Unlike in-play betting, many Cash Out features are available pre-match. That’s because, with some sportsbooks, bettors have the option of setting up an auto Cash Out once a certain scenario or potential profit level occurs.

Imagine a €50 wager on the underdog Pittsburgh Penguins beating favourite Toronto Maple Leafs in an NHL match in Toronto. At odds of 2.15 (+115), that bet could potentially return €107.50, including €57.50 in profit.

However, the bettor may also choose to configure a full or partial Cash Out (at the same or slightly varied odds) if the Pittsburgh Penguins ever lead by two goals, i.e. 0-2, 1-3, 2-4, etc.

Live in-game sports betting best practices

If you’re planning to make in-play wagers, it goes without saying that you should have your eyes on the game. Whether from the stadium or at home, monitoring the action means you’re more likely to take advantage of new opportunities.

Some of the best ways to make in-game bets include:

Reducing tab and app usage - when live betting, speed is key in receiving and reacting to new information. That’s why it’s a great idea to reduce your computer’s random-access memory (RAM) consumption by closing unnecessary apps and browser tabs that might slow things down.

Planning out your wagers - live in-game wagering requires quick decision-making skills and effective bankroll management. These include having clear objectives before the game, such as your daily betting budget, how much to bet in different scenarios, waiting for odds to improve, only betting on the favourite or underdog, etc.

Staying up to date - factors like the weather, substitutions and injuries can flip a game upside down. News like this sometimes arrives first via sideline reporters on social media or on betting forums and chat rooms. That’s why it’s worth monitoring the internet, too, to see what’s trending.

Choosing wisely - popular live betting sports include those with timeouts and like NHL, NFL and NBA. That’s because these intervals give you time to assess the game in progress and make well-thought-out decisions rather than impulsive wagers. Even in sports without timeouts like Football, use unscheduled breaks such as long VAR checks and on-field injuries to weigh up your next move.

Looking for value bets - live wagering allows bettors to react to changing situations and unearth value bets during the game. So if a bettor can see Team A’s star player struggling with an injury, quickly finding in-game value bets on Team B could be worth exploring and betting on.

On the other hand, some common pitfalls of live betting include:

Chasing losses - whether it’s pre-game or in-game, betting for the sole purpose of breaking even is never a good strategy. That’s especially the case for in-game betting because the momentum of a sports match can swing frequently.

Involving emotional bias - betting on your favourite team or player can muddy your judgement and lead to illogical decisions. Similarly, don’t live bet on a gut feeling or because it’s your birthday. Instead, focus on objective analysis, such as value bets based on your own judgment and not personal allegiance.

Misunderstanding shifting odds - the movement of odds should impact your in-play live betting strategy. The key factor is that you understand that odds fluctuations usually represent a change in opinion as well as value. So if you see great-looking odds for a Tottenham Hotspur win in the 86th minute when they’re losing 1-3 to Arsenal, consider the circumstances rather than the apparent value on offer by the sportsbook.

Betting while distracted - successful live in-game betting requires your complete focus. Therefore, avoid making live in-game wagers when you’re likely to be preoccupied with things such as being at work, shopping for groceries, or out socialising. Remember that it’s your money at stake, so make it go further by not combining it with several other tasks.