Soccer Live Betting Guide

As a soccer match takes place over a 90-minute period, it’s a sport that lends itself very well to live in-play betting, with customers able to sit back and watch the action unfold before deciding what bets they want to place.

How Do I Bet Live on Soccer?

Live (or in-play) betting works the same way as pre-match soccer betting. The only difference is that the odds are refreshed regularly, so you might find that the 3.50 you want to back has suddenly changed to 3.00 or 4.00. Always be aware of the potential for prices to change!

Customers log in to their favorite online betting sites and click on the "Live" section, where it will show the soccer matches that have live markets available.

For popular leagues, like the English Premier League, Italy's Serie A, and the Champions League, you can guarantee that live odds will be available. It is then a case of choosing the live betting market or bet that makes the most appeal.

As with pre-match soccer betting, you can still bet on the 1X2 market, which ultimately decides which team is going to win the game. Alternatively, sites offer popular live markets such as Next Team to Score, Next Goalscorer, and Half-Time Score.

Why Should I Bet Live on Soccer?

Several sportsbooks now report that live betting accounts for over 50% of turnover in popular soccer matches, especially those shown live on TV, such as Sunday afternoon or Monday night games.

The biggest attraction of soccer live betting is the capacity for assessment; you’re able to check odds with concrete knowledge on your side. In other words, since you can view how a team is playing and how the match is shaping up, you’re better informed when you place an in-game bet than you could be when making a bet before the game.

Top soccer betting sites all have live streams of games online, providing up-to-date statistics and information to help you make a judgment on how much value the odds represent.

It can be a rollercoaster experience, but live betting also allows customers the instant gratification of a quick win. You can often win several times during the 90 minutes, across a range of soccer betting markets, with Cash Out also available - that means you can back your judgment and close out for a profit, without the market being settled.

How Can I Make Winning Live Soccer Bets?

If you strike several in-game bets on a soccer match, it’s unlikely that you’re going to win with all of those wagers. That is because soccer is a low-scoring game, and there are many variables in determining the outcome at the full-time whistle.

The best live betting strategy is to take in the opening exchanges of a soccer match before making the decision to place a bet. If you bet immediately after kick-off, then you might as well snap up the pre-match odds, which traditionally offer better value before the game begins.

Take a watching brief of 15-20 minutes, and make notes of what’s happening in the game. This might include which team looks most dominant, the players most likely to score, and the overall strategy for both teams throughout the match.

It’s also sensible to watch live markets and changing odds to understand how online betting traders react to different events on the pitch.

You might be watching a game between Liverpool and Wolverhampton, with the Reds available at 1.50 before kick-off. However, if the scoreline is goalless at half-time, you might expect Liverpool’s odds to drift out to 1.83 or maybe 2.00.

When the second half kicks off, the odds will continue to drift while the game remains level and we get closer to the final whistle. The skill/luck is identifying when it’s the right time to play a particular market.

When is the Best Time to Bet Live on Soccer?

There is no right or wrong time to place a live bet. It’s all about identifying value opportunities as they come along. The key to beating the house is identifying a price you think is ultimately too high relative to how you regard the situation.

That said, half-time gives you a 15-minute window to reflect on what you’ve seen in the first 45 minutes. There is ample time then to make a considered decision based on the match action so far.

It often pays to be brave and not get scared off by a high price, although less is often more when it comes to the volume of in-game bets placed, considering that there is a sportsbook's margin factored into every soccer betting market, and especially so with live betting markets. In-game betting will be available for all the top leagues, including MLS games.

Responsible Live Betting

We always advise betting customers to gamble what they can afford. When the fun stops, you need to stop and just enjoy a soccer match without placing any further bets.