While most online sportsbooks offer some form of in-play betting, only the best betting sites make this type of betting a priority. Finding these sportsbooks 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.
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 sportsbooks below and visit them to receive the best live betting odds and free bet bonuses.
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.
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.
In-play betting lends itself to wagering in real-time on the sports 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 sportsbooks offering them on live betting markets too. Sometimes in-play betting can feel like an afterthought with some sportsbooks, so this attention to detail is excellent to see.
Some bookies 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 sportsbooks that support this feature.
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 sportsbooks - with this type of bet known as a bet builder or same-game multi.
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 sportsbooks 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.
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 bookies 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:
So, are you ready to discover more about the best in-play betting sites? Take a look at some of our recommendations below!
888Sport is one of the best mobile platforms you can find for in-play betting in New Zealand. 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.
One of the most familiar brands to punters in New Zealand and beyond, bet365 is considered one of the world’s most prominent online sportsbooks. 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 bookies. For the most immersive live in-play betting, Bet365 is probably our best choice.
Click here to sign up to bet365 and claim your welcome bonus today!
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 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 sportsbooks, as well as innovative in-play betting technology, BetVictor should be your choice.
Click here to sign up to BetVictor and claim your welcome bonus today!
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.
The simplicity of in-play betting is part of the reason why it is so entertaining. Bookies 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.
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.
New Zealand'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.
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.
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.
When a tournament is running, many tennis matches run simultaneously. You will often find all of these matches organised together on a recommended live tennis betting sportsbook. Ultimately, the best tennis betting sites provide the perfect place to build in-play accas, which you can do simply by selecting all the markets you want in your wager.
As previously mentioned, live in-game betting odds fluctuate considerably, reflecting what is happening during the sporting event. The odds are not always spot-on because they are changing so rapidly in response to the live action. This is where being on the ball pays off, so watching the event live helps you to place in-play bets which exploit gaps in the odds.
However, this also works the other way and is something you should be mindful of. Sports betting operators set odds differently, resulting in some markets where you're not getting value for money. Pick the markets you feel most confident about, regardless of the odds.
One of the most critical in-play betting tips to keep in mind is to stick with a sensible plan. If you stick to a reasonable betting plan, you should make steady gains. Don’t abandon your system and chase losses. Keep to the big picture and make intelligent in-play wagers.
Just as the top sportsbooks will often run betting offers to make your wagering more exciting, the best in-play betting sites will do the same for live events. You can usually find incredible offers on your favourite sports such as odds boosts, free bets, deposit bonuses and more.
There are plenty of excellent wagering opportunities to be found with live in-play betting boosts and offers - just remember to always check the terms and conditions so you know exactly what they entail.
Mobile betting apps provide a great way to quickly access your online betting account from anywhere quickly. They give players a unique and tailored betting experience and are an excellent way to stay up-to-date with all the best odds. Mobile apps often come with exclusive features, like notifications about live events and even mobile live streaming. You can be the first to know about any changes and the first to make the most of live in-game promos.
Most in-play betting sites are also responsive and optimised for mobile browsers thanks to HTML5 technology. The best live betting sites will translate perfectly to the screens of smartphones and tablets and will offer all the same markets and odds. The speed will be the same as other platforms, and the site will give you the same control over your live in-play betting.
In-play betting allows you to bet on markets while an event is live. You can wager on markets like match winners, scorers, points totals, and more. Odds adapt in real-time to what is unfolding, meaning you can find opportunities to win big if you’re on the ball.
You can find all the best in-play betting sites right here on this page. Since in-play betting has become so popular, many boookies provide punters with the chance to bet in-play on a wide range of sports and markets - but only the best are highlighted here.
Yes, in-play betting is the same as live sports betting. Some sportsbooks have different names for this type of wager, but all terms refer to the same kind of bet. In-play and live sports betting describe wagering on a live sporting event after it has started.
Most of the best in-play betting sites offer dedicated mobile apps you can use to enjoy in-play betting. Some of the top mobile betting apps include 888sport and BetVictor.
In-play betting is no different to regular betting when it comes to funding your account. You can use any payment method available at a bookmaker to place in-play wagers. You just need to make sure you have deposited enough to stake the bets you want while an event is running.
Sportsbook operators will decide the odds offered on in-play markets based on what happens during the event. If there is a runaway winner in a horse race, don’t expect to find high odds. That doesn’t mean there isn’t a chance for profit. You can use more subtle insights to improve your live in-play betting.
In-play bets will have live cash out totals that you can use to your advantage. Once the live bet is placed, cash out works the same as a standard pre-event wager.
Most sports will have some kind of in-play betting available, even if that in-play betting is just on the result of the event. However, most popular sports markets, such as football, horse racing, cricket, and tennis betting online have many in-play betting options.
"A passionate sports betting expert and journalist with over 15 years spent in the gambling industry."
Reviewer since June 2016