How Close to a Game Starting Can You Place a Bet?
It's becoming increasingly popular to wait until the last moment to place a wager. In most cases, you can place a bet until the second the game or match starts. If you wait a minute too long, you won't miss the action, as in-play betting odds go live as soon as the pre-game odds are taken down.
The timing of a bet is crucial. Odds change based on the most up-to-date information, so waiting until the last second to place a bet could provide value.
However, there are also times when placing a bet well in advance secures the most advantageous odds. Understanding when to bet can be as important as what you're wagering on.
How Far Out from an Event Can you Place a Bet?
You can generally begin betting as soon as lines are released. The ability to place a bet far in advance largely depends on your bet.
For a typical bet, where the wager is on the outcome of a single game or match, you may wait until all useful information about the teams has been made public.
Alternatively, you can place a bet well in advance. Futures, bets on the end position of a league, championship, or tournament, can be placed long before the result is known.
What’s the Point of Betting So Far in Advance?
Bettors may wish to back their favorite team or player regardless of the detailed information available later. However, a significant advantage of betting far in advance is that bookmakers have less information to judge the state of play earlier. This often presents bettors with much higher odds and a larger potential return if their bet proves fruitful.
The downside is that information released a week before the game or match may be proven wrong or outdated by the time the event begins. Therefore, strategic bettors may opt to hold off until the very last minute or wait for the in-game betting to start, ensuring they are betting with all the most up-to-date information, which can be crucial for pre-match betting.
When Do Live Betting Odds Start?
In-play betting odds, also known as in-running or live odds, start when the event begins. While not available at all bookmakers, most online gambling sites offer in-play options for multiple sports. These sports include, but are not limited to, football (American and soccer), basketball, tennis, and golf.
Live betting appeals to bettors due to the number of sports covered and the diverse bets available within those markets. It is also gaining popularity as live streaming becomes a staple at most sites. The global market ensures there is nearly always something to bet on live.
Examples of in-play betting opportunities include:
- During an NFL game, you can bet on who will score next, if a team will get a first down or punt, who might get the subsequent penalty, or who will catch the next pass.
- During a soccer game, you can bet on who will score next, who will kick the ball out of play, who might take the next throw-in, or who will receive the next yellow card.
Are Pregame Odds Always Different from In-Game Odds?
Not always, but for the most part, live odds typically differ from the pre-match or pre-game odds. The key difference comes down to the odds themselves. Once play has started on a specific game or match, bookmakers have a much stronger sense of what will happen and will adjust the odds accordingly during the game. Likewise, bettors can assess the state of a match and decide whether a live bet is worthwhile.
So, while the odds may be similar up until the start of the game, once it has begun, in-running odds will be constantly updated to manage expectations and keep bettors interested.
Another advantage of in-play betting is that punters can cash out early if the bet meets specific criteria.
Most major online bookmakers offer in-running odds, so missing the start of a game isn't the end of the world. However, placing a pre-game bet before the in-play odds release can often yield more generous returns.
Live Betting Advice for New Bettors
Novice gamblers may find themselves overwhelmed by a constant stream of bets in live betting. A good strategy is to set limits on what you will bet on, selecting specific categories or types of live bets.
It's important to note that in certain sports with many stoppages and changes, such as golf, the NFL, or college football, the live odds will be frozen until that specific part of the game is finished. The live odds will then reappear, having already been recalculated to account for the previous play. This unique characteristic is not present in other, faster-paced games, where the odds never pause.
