Best In-Play Betting Sites

While most online bookmakers offer some form of in-play betting, only the best betting sites make this type of betting a priority. Finding these bookmakers can often be a time-consuming and challenging process, but don’t worry! Our experts at Gambling.com are here to help with our recommended top live betting sites.

Top 10 In-Play Betting Sites October 2024

The great thing about in-play betting is that it is constantly changing. Odds and markets react live to the action unfolding in whatever event or match you are wagering on, which is in complete contrast to fixed pre-match markets. In-play betting is a whole new ball game and adds a different dimension to your sports betting experience.

In-play betting is often referred to as live betting or in-running betting on some online sports betting sites. Don’t worry about the title, as they all mean the same thing. As long as you are wagering on live sporting events, you’re in the right place.

Not only can you guarantee the best live betting experience with these sports betting platforms listed below, but every site we recommend is licensed and regulated. Check out our favourite in-play betting bookmakers below and visit them to receive the best live betting odds and free bet bonuses.

What Makes a Top In-Play Live Betting Site?

So what exactly is the difference between the best in-play betting sites and the rest? There are crucial elements our experts look for when reviewing an online sportsbook. One such factor is the variety of markets. The more markets, the more appealing an in-play sports betting site is to punters. Our experts assess all aspects of a live betting site before recommending it.

Some features boost your experience when you bet in-play. Having the option to watch sports through live streams can elevate an in-play offering to an elite level and the same goes for cash out functionality. We take these features into account when reviewing betting sites.

There is also the issue of reputation. A bookmaker that offers the best features and odds but doesn’t have the correct licensing won’t appear on our page. We’re only interested in legitimate and regulated sportsbooks that will keep customers safe when betting in-play.

Must-Have Features for In-Play Betting Sites

With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the features our dedicated experts consider when reviewing the best in-play betting sites.

Availability of In-Play Betting on Mobile Site/App

In-play betting lends itself to wagering in real-time on the best betting apps. Betting on mobile is the ultimate way to control your online sports betting experience by keeping everything in the convenience of your pocket. You can even receive notifications about live events. Combining this with in-play betting means you get the best odds first.

There is also the convenience of not being tied down to a computer when a sports event is live. If a bookmaker doesn’t offer user-friendly in-play betting on its mobile platform, it’s a severe negative in the eyes of our experts.

Live Streaming

In-play betting combines the thrill of wagering online with the excitement that only live sports entertainment can bring. But what could be better? How about watching your favourite sports live while placing your bets? Some live streaming betting sites show particular sports and events online, meaning you can watch those sports and place your wagers - all in the same place.

You will often find live football, cricket and tennis live streams at many online sportsbooks. In most cases, you typically need some funds in your betting account to access these live streams. However, this is the most immersive way you can bet on sports, and any bookmaker that offers live streaming will be one we rank highly.

Match Stats

Having as much information as possible is the best way to make intelligent betting decisions. That’s why up-to-date match stats are crucial for in-play bettors. Live match stats can give you insights you might otherwise not notice about the event you are watching.

These stats can be incredibly detailed at the best in-play betting sites. Take football as an example. You may find information about individual players shots, shots on target, fouls, corners, cards and more at top football betting sites. Any tools like these that help you place better wagers are positives for a sportsbook.

Live Betting Odds

Odds often shift and change throughout a sporting competition based on what happens during the event. Since many in-play bettors wish to capitalise on odds they wouldn’t typically expect to see before a game starts, live betting odds are great. These odds are constantly fluctuating on most markets available for in-play bets, making this kind of betting more exciting.

Enhanced Odds

You’ll often find enhanced odds and other promotions for upcoming events at the best live betting sites, with selected markets offering extra-generous odds. Enhanced provide extra value and keep betting fresh and engaging, with many bookmakers offering them on live betting markets too. Sometimes in-play betting can feel like an afterthought with some bookmakers, so this attention to detail is excellent to see.

One-Click Betting

Some bookmakers will offer a feature called one-click betting. Essentially, one-click betting optimises the online betting process by allowing you to wager a stake on a betting market with just one click. For in-play betting, this is a game-changer.

One-click betting enables you to capitalise on the best live betting odds as they change. If you need help with this, you can discover in-play betting tips at Gambling.com across a range of sports. Our experts highly rate bookmakers that support this feature.

Live Betting Accumulators

Being able to bet on one event is exciting enough, but combining wagers from multiple events or matches is even better. Accas offer you the chance to get greater odds by adding more legs to your bet, and in-play betting accumulators can result in some great payouts. You can even combine markets from one single event when betting in-play at live betting bookmakers - with this type of bet known as a bet builder or same-game multi.

Quick Cash Out Option

In-play betting is based on a constantly shifting set of odds and circumstances. These changes can mean that punters may lose confidence in a bet and wish to draw out what funds they can. We rank bookmakers that offer cash outs on in-play bets above the rest as they provide much more control to bettors. This is especially true when those cash outs can be processed quickly.

Some online gambling operators will take this further and allow you to set automatic totals on your cash outs. That means when a bet reaches a specific value, the sportsbook will automatically cash it out for you. This kind of detail is key to building a great in-play betting website.

How We Rank Live Betting Sites

While our team of experts at Gambling.com is always on the lookout for the key factors above when finding the best in-play betting sites, we also ensure to strictly assess the rest of the sportsbook offering. In many cases, top-quality bookmakers also provide top live betting odds.

Our betting experts have years of industry experience behind them and know just what to look for when finding the best quality sportsbooks. Whether it's old established favourites or fresh new betting sites, we put them through the same rigorous review process. Here are a few of the major factors we consider:

• Easy Sign-up Process: No one likes an overcomplicated and confusing sign-up process. That’s why we appreciate a site that makes this process as simple as possible. Our top-rated online bookmakers will have you registered and betting in no time.
• Variety of Betting Markets: Being able to bet on the most popular sports is no longer enough. The best bookmakers are the ones that also offer markets niche sports. This variety keeps sites interesting and provides new and exciting betting opportunities.
• Odds Offered: At the end of the day, while betting is an exciting form of entertainment, we all want to win some money while we're at it. That’s part of the thrill. Therefore, the more generous the odds, the better a sportsbook is for a player.
• Betting Offers: The best bookmakers understand a great way to engage customers is with new content - and betting promotions provide precisely this. Not only do you get the chance to boost your bankroll, but it also offers more intrigue to your betting. The best sports betting sites will offer regular bonuses, including free bets, bet boosts, acca boosts, and more.
• Popular Payment Methods Accepted: Sportsbooks need to cater to all customers, especially when it comes to payments. Bettors want to choose payment methods they trust. The more payment methods a bookmaker offers, the more people it will please.
• Fast Payouts: Punters want control of their finances, and accessing their winnings quickly is a huge advantage. Having lengthy waits for withdrawals is something the best in-play betting sites don’t accept.
• Gambling Licence from a Trusted Authority: Online bookmakers must hold a licence to operate in Ireland. The UK Gambling Commission is one of the most respected gambling regulatory bodies in the world. Our best in-play betting sites are licensed to operate legitimately and we will only feature operators fully licensed by the UKGC or another respected regulator like the Malta Gaming Authority on our site.
• Privacy and Security: Customers trust their personal and financial information with bookmakers, as well as their money. Knowing this is safe is very important. Top in-play betting sites use the latest encryption technology and other security services to keep your data safe.
• Customer Support: When things go wrong at a betting site, you want to receive help as quickly as possible. That’s why we assess the quality and support that bookmakers provide for customers and only recommend sportsbooks with excellent customer support options.
• Operator’s Industry Reputation: Usually, a reputation is hard-earned. An operator’s reputation can occasionally be misleading, but it is certainly a good reference point for our experts.

Top In-Play Betting Sites - Recommended for Players in Ireland

So, are you ready to discover more about the best in-play betting sites? Take a look at some of our recommendations below!

888Sport - Best for Mobile In-Play Betting

888Sport is one of the best mobile platforms you can find for in-play betting in Ireland. The native mobile app and mobile browser site both provide an excellent layout to make placing live in-play bets easy. With 888Sport, you’ll have complete control of your in-play betting on the move.

bet365 - Best for Live Streaming

One of the most familiar brands to punters in Ireland and beyond, bet365 is considered one of the world’s most prominent online bookmakers. So it comes with no surprise that this is an excellent sportsbook for in-play betting.

The platform has an expansive range of live streaming options you won’t find at other bookmakers. For the most immersive live in-play betting, Bet365 is probably our best choice.

Mr Green - Best for Live Match Stats

Since its recent revamp, William Hill-owned Mr Green has been a leader in many aspects of the online sports betting industry. One impressive area is Mr Green’s commitment to stats for in-play betting.

The sportsbook presents updated graphics during a sports event, alongside detailed stats and a comprehensive event timeline. The more information you have, the better bets you can make. Punters looking for that kind of support should give Mr Green a try.

BetVictor - Best In-Play Odds

BetVictor offers the best and most competitive live in-game betting odds around. You’ll find prices are consistently better at BetVictor when compared to other sites. Therefore, punters looking to maximise profits should visit BetVictor.

If you like the traditional feel of one of the longest-standing bookmakers, as well as innovative in-play betting technology, BetVictor should be your choice.

Ladbrokes - Best Range of In-Play Markets

In recent years, giant retail bookmaker Ladbrokes has also risen to fame in online betting. Ladbrokes offers an extensive range of sports betting markets, including live betting odds. If you’re looking to bet in-play on the broadest range of sports, Ladbrokes is one of the best in-play online bookmakers for punters in Ireland.

Paddy Power - Best for Regular Promotions

Although Paddy Power has more limited in-play markets than some other sports betting sites, we simply cannot ignore the strength of this brilliant Irish bookmaker. The excellent site design complements any kind of betting, and Paddy Power constantly updates its offers for customers to enjoy. If you’re looking to wager on the most popular sports in-play and capitalise on promos and free bet bonuses, Paddy Power is the bookmaker for you.

What is In-Play Betting?

So, what exactly is an in-play bet? In-play betting is the broad term that covers any wager placed while an event is live. Even if the whistle has blown or the gates have opened, you can still bet on your favourite sports in-play. In-play betting is a broad term because you can place all kinds of bets while an event is live.

How to Bet In-Play

The simplicity of in-play betting is part of the reason why it is so entertaining. Bookmakers are keen for you to get involved with in-play betting and have made the process as easy and quick as possible. Here is precisely what you’ll need to do to place your own in-play bets.

1. Visit one of the top in-play sports betting sites as recommended on this page. You can do this via a desktop website or mobile site/app.
2. Click on the 'Sign Up' or 'Register' button, and follow the easy steps to create your sportsbook account.
3. Once registered, visit the sportsbook’s cashier, go to the deposit section and select your payment method and deposit amount. Then, follow the instructions to complete your transaction and fund your account.
4. Usually, bookmakers will have popular live events displayed on the main page. If not, there will be a tab specifically for these events. Click on this to see live sporting events.
5. Choose the live sport on which you want to wager. You will see every live betting market available for you to bet on in-play.
6. Choose the market you want and add it to your bet slip. On the bet slip, you will be able to choose your stake.
7. Now place your bets! Sometimes this will take a few seconds because the bookmaker will check your odds are up-to-date. If the odds change, the bookmaker will give you the option not to place the bet.
8. If you are lucky and your bet comes through, head to the cashier’s 'Withdraw' section and follow the simple steps to cash your winnings.

Note that due to regulations, a sportsbook might require you to verify your account before withdrawing funds. The process requires sending a copy of your photo ID, proof of address (e.g. utility bill) and payment method (e.g. bank statement or photo of your card). You will only need to verify your account once.

Best Sports for In-Play Betting

Ireland's most popular sports have some of the most active in-play betting markets of any sports worldwide. Here is how to make the most of these sports’ live in-game betting odds.

In-Play Football Betting

Football betting is one of the biggest betting markets globally. When you open your desired in-play football betting site, it’s likely to display any live football markets front and centre. However, if you’re looking for a more specific event, you can always click on the football tab and find all the leagues and competitions a bookmaker offers. In many cases, this can range from the most prominent competitions, like the Champions League or Premier League, to more niche local leagues. Just remember to employ a solid in-play football betting strategy before placing your live football bets.

In-Play Horse Racing Betting

If you want to bet on horse racing in-play, you’ll have to be quick. Races can be over in a matter of minutes, meaning your time to take advantage of live betting odds is minimal. As recommended on this page, the best live betting sites offer plenty of live markets on a daily basis. They also include broad in-play coverage for the big annual events - so betting on Cheltenham, Royal Ascot or the Grand National comes with loads of in-play options.