Betting On Games

Live betting is one of the most recent technological advancements in legal sports betting and one that has greatly improved the overall experience of sports betting. Essentially, live betting allows fans to bet on in-game outcomes while the game is being played. Before the introduction of live betting, all bets had to be locked in prior to the start of the game, but telecommunications technology and advanced analytics algorithms now allow sportsbooks to monitor the game and recalculate odds in real time. While live betting is a newer feature, it will likely prove popular in introducing sports betting to a younger, more tech-savvy generation of bettors.

Major online sportsbooks offer live betting lines every day on sporting events all over the world. While live betting was first limited to popular leagues like the Premier League, La Liga, the NFL, etc., it has since expanded to cover even niche sports like table tennis. Live betting is a great way to stay engaged with an event and ensure that you constantly have something to root for. This page will cover everything you need to know about live betting, from where to find live betting sites to popular live betting sports to specific live betting wager types. If you are at all curious about online betting, read on.

These 'betting percentages' represent actual wagers placed on each game at the participating sportsbooks. This data is delayed 30 mins. Click on the linear graph feature located on the. Our games are tested by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement to provide games that are fair and operate correctly. Only customers 21 and over are permitted to play our games.If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Subject to regulatory licensing requirements.

Is Live In-Game Betting Legal?

Live-in game betting is as legal as any other type of betting that you would participate in at any sportsbook. As long as you are using a legitimate sports betting site or land-based sportsbook, you can safely place live wagers on your favorite sports. Australia is the only major sports betting market that has specifically banned in-play betting in 2021, leaving the door open for those in the United States and other markets. For US residents, no state has any specific offshore sports betting legislation, let alone laws regarding live betting. States that have legalized sports betting allows for the sportsbooks to take live bets as well. You can always verify the specific gaming laws in your state, but as a general rule, if you’re eligible to sign up for an offshore sports betting account in your area (Bovada, BetOnline, MyBookie, etc.), it is safe and legal to enjoy live betting at these sites in addition to all the other services they offer.

Live Betting On Super Bowl LV

Super Bowl 55

Sunday, February 7th, 6:30 EST

Kansas City Chiefs

vs.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Super Bowl 55 is set to kick off on February 7th, and it will be the biggest live betting day of the year. The Super Bowl has more live odds on it than any other game. You can bet on what the next playcall will be, when the next sack will happen, what method the next touchdown will be scored by, and more.

However, many of these wagers will only be available at the online sportsbooks that are located offshore. This is because they have some of the best betting odds and lines on the Super Bowl, so it’s important to know that you can use these sportsbooks for Super Bowl LV wagering. There are a lot of options, so you can check out the best sportsbooks by looking at our sportsbook review page. In addition, you can shop lines on live wagers by using multiple sportsbooks.

How Live In-Game Betting Works

As far as the steps you have to take to start partaking of live in-game betting, there’s not a big learning curve. Live sports bets are not much different from any other wager types that you would place. If you are using one of our recommended online offshore sportsbooks, you simply click or tap on the “live betting” page of your sportsbook of choice, where you will see all of the live and upcoming events on the docket. Select your sport/event and choose the outcome that you want to bet on. It’s that easy!

This, though, is where live betting differs from standard sports betting, because you will only have a few seconds to confirm your bet before the odds update. As the action changes, so do the live betting odds. This makes live betting the most exciting way to bet on sports, but it requires you to monitor the lines constantly. Results are graded immediately after the sportsbook receives the scores or results of the given play, though bets placed on dynamic, live game lines (like updated moneyline or spread bets) will only be graded after the conclusion of the game.

Sports Available For Live Betting

When you use an online sportsbook, there will be plenty of sports available for live betting. You are guaranteed to find in-game betting lines on popular US sports such as NFL football, MLB baseball, NCAA football and basketball, NHL hockey, and NBA basketball. There are also live lines on international league sports like soccer, cricket, and tennis, among dozens of other options. You can always check which sports will have live betting options by viewing your sportsbook’s selection of upcoming events for the day. Some sports betting sites will also offer a detailed event calendar where you can see which events are scheduled for the entire week ahead. While not every sport featured in your sportsbook will have live in-game betting options, sites do try to meet the demands of their bettors, and live betting is featured more and more often all the time.

Live Betting Vs. In-Play Betting

When it comes to betting live on sports, most sports betting sites will have two different options – live betting and in-play betting. Live betting, which is also known as in-game betting, is when you wager on real-time odds throughout the duration of a game. The live betting odds are updated from one moment to the next with each play of the game. You will have numerous betting options, from halftime and quarter lines, straight moneylines, even or odds props, game totals, spreads, etc.

In-play betting is similar to live sports betting, but there are not as many betting options. With in-play betting, odds are adjusted during the commercial breaks of a game. Typically, in-play lines on popular sports are available for parlays, if-bets, and straight bets. Online sportsbooks will differentiate between the two with separate sections or pages. For the most part, in-game betting is more popular than in-play betting, though both have their dedicated fanbases.

Best Live In Game Betting Sites

Below we have listed the best legal online sportsbooks that offer the most in game betting options. Some of these sites will let you bet on the next drive, current quarter, and all kinds of other things. These sites are all highly reccomended for US players and all of them are top notch companies. These are all sites that are employees have tested and even made some bets at themselves, and we are confident that they are your best option if you want to bet during the game.

RankSportsbookBonus OfferPlay Now
150% Up To $250 Read ReviewVisit Bovada
250% New Member Bonus!Read ReviewVisit Betonline
350% Up To $1,000 Read ReviewVisit MyBookie
450% Up To $1,000 Read ReviewVisit Sportsbetting
5100% Up To $300Read ReviewVisit XBet

Betting On Games Of Skill

SportsBetting Sportsbook – $25 Free Live In-Game Betting

SportsBetting brings you all of the best action on your favorite sports teams. You can bet on all of the most popular sports, including NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, and NCAA sports, as well as a huge assortment of international favorites. Getting started at SportsBetting is easy – you only need to create a free account and make a quick deposit. Some of the instant deposit options include Visa credit and prepaid cards, MasterCard, American Express, and Bitcoin (as well as other cryptocurrency altcoins like Bitcoin Cash, DASH, Ethereum, Litecoin, etc.). We recommend Bitcoin for its reliability and its $25,000 deposit maximum with no additional fees.

As one of the top sites for live in-game betting, SportsBetting will basically give you your first bet on the house. If your live wager of up to $25 is a winner, continue betting to potentially make even more profit. However, should your first wager lose, the sportsbook will credit your account with an equivalent free play within 24 hours. There’s no way to lose when you make your first live wager at SportsBetting, so why not create your sportsbook account today?

Bovada – $750 Bitcoin Welcome Bonus

Bovada is one of the most trusted online sportsbooks for US bettors. The sports betting site is known for reliability, with 100% secure deposit and withdrawal options. When you make a deposit with Bitcoin or Bitcoin Cash, you can take advantage of Bovada’s $750 Bitcoin Sports Welcome Bonus. When you make your initial crypto deposit, the online cashier at Bovada will match the amount by 50% for up to $750 in free plays. To redeem the offer, use the promo code BTCSWB750 when funding your account.

You can use the Bitcoin bonus on any sport or wager within the Bovada sportsbook. This includes live betting odds, which are the best way to really get in on the action. You will find live in-game betting options on football, basketball, tennis, golf, boxing, rugby, and lots more. There are in-play and live betting odds for all of the most exciting sports matchups every day, and live betting at Bovada is becoming the most popular feature on the sportsbook.

BetOnline – Lifetime Bonuses

BetOnline is a reputable sports betting site that you can count on to deliver the action you crave. Whether it’s NFL betting, NBA betting, MLB betting, or any sport in between (both in the US and abroad), you will find options at BetOnline. The live betting interface is one of the best across all sportsbooks, with sections for current and upcoming events. To get started, you will need to deposit money into your sportsbook account. You can choose from credit cards, checks, money orders, or bank wires to make your deposit. However, we recommend Bitcoin (or another supported cryptocurrency), which is an instant-deposit option with a $20 minimum and a huge $25,000 maximum. Digital, blockchain-based currency has become the most reliable deposit option for legal sports betting.

When joining BetOnline, you are entitled to a welcome bonus of a 50% match on your initial bonus up to $1000 in free plays to use on anything you’d like. The promo code to redeem this reward is BOL1000. To receive a lifetime of bonuses, simply put in the code LIFEBONUS and you will receive a 25% match on every deposit you make to your account for the duration of your membership, receiving a maximum of $500 each time.

Betting On Games
Can I Access Live Betting On My iPhone or Android?

Yes, you can definitely access live betting on your iPhone or Android mobile device. This is actually the most common way for online sportsbook users to wager, as it allows them the option to watch a game in a restaurant or at a bar without having to be tethered to a computer. Mobile sports betting is the number-one reason that live betting has become so popular so quickly, as it is immediately accessible to anyone who’s interested.

Games
What Are Some Live Betting Strategies

There are as many live betting strategies as there are sports wagering strategies. That’s because live betting is sports betting – just faster! Because the odds come and go in mere seconds, the number-one strategy to ensure successful live in-play betting is to have your computer or mobile device on and in front of you, set to your sportsbook’s live betting page.

Some of the most successful gamblers use live betting to double down on favorites when the line has shifted adequately, and they also do the opposite, using live betting to hedge their bets or negate bad bets placed earlier (like, for example, when a team’s top player is injured at the beginning of a game, which could lead to a wipeout loss without live betting options to mitigate the unforeseen event).

This a positive use of live betting, but also be wearing of using live-betting to chase your losses. It is very easy to get caught up in sports betting, and to try to win back your losses via risky live bets. Be careful when trying to win back lost funds via live betting, as it can be a very slippery slope that could leave your bankroll empty.

Is Live In-Game Betting Only Available Online?

No, live betting odds are not only available online, as most casinos that have active sportsbooks also offer live betting. However, given the general dearth of sportsbooks across the US (though more are admittedly popping up every day), online live betting is going to be the best option for the dramatic majority of US sports bettors.

Does It Cost Anything Extra To Use Live In-Game Betting?

Absolutely not. When you sign up at a legal offshore sportsbook, it never costs anything extra to use live in-game betting services offered by the site. There are no required subscriptions, no undue betting minimums, and no obligations. Just place your wager and get paid! It’s as simple as that.

Can Live In-Game Betting Help Me Recover My Losses Quickly?

In theory, live in-game betting can indeed help you recover your losses quickly. However, in practice, the pros know to stay away from this line of thinking. Yes, live in-game wagering is perfect for mitigating individual bad bets here and there, but if you’ve recently lost a lot of money, you aren’t going to be able to recoup that any faster by live betting, despite the massively increased volume of wagering chances available. As a general rule, if you ever try to recoup big losses quickly in the sports betting world, you are just going to lose even more cash. As the old saying goes, slow and steady wins the race (or whatever other sporting events you’re wagering on).

Where Is Live In-Game Betting Offered?
Live in-game betting is offered not only through the use of offshore internet sportsbooks and state-run mobile platforms but also at brick and mortar establishments. Due to its popularity among sports bettors, it’s no wonder that it is featured anywhere that has legal sports betting. When placing such wagers through a mobile device, the game being wagered on is still viewable from your phone.
How Do I Hedge My Bets With Live In-Game Betting?
One of the biggest advantages of live in-game betting is the ability to hedge your bets in real-time. Hedging your bets is the act of creating a new bet that opposes a current bet you already have in place in order to guarantee yourself a certain amount of money. Say you have a four-game parlay that has already hit the first three legs. You can guarantee yourself a portion of the money by betting against yourself on the final leg, meaning no matter what you will win some money. Live betting allows you to do this in the middle of a game, meaning there is always time to hedge.

The sports betting menu is crowded with choices. Some of the wagering opportunities you’ll come across are a bit on the advanced side, but there are also ones which are straightforward and easy to wrap your head around.

Moneyline bets fall into the latter category. For these wagers, you’re simply choosing the winner of the game. That’s it. There’s no point spread to worry about or anything like that. If the side you pick wins the game, you’re golden.

While the concept itself is simple, there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to the moneyline. There are times when the bets make sense, situations where you should pass, and other scenarios in which you may want to do a little shopping.

We’re going to take a detailed look at everything you need to know right here. For starters, here are the best spots to place your bets online legally and safely.

How Does the Moneyline Work?

After a quick glance at the moneyline odds, you will immediately know which side is the favorite or the underdog in a game. Oddsmakers will attach odds to both sides of the equation.

The favorite will be designated with negative odds, while the underdog will have positive odds attached. Here’s what they’ll look like at an online sportsbook using a random NFL game as an example.

  • Los Angeles Rams +110
  • San Francisco 49ers -130

In this fictitious game, the 49ers are favored, and bets on that side will pay out at odds of -130 if correct. For the underdog Rams, successful bets on that side pay out at odds of +110.

So how do the odds impact what the actual return will be. Here’s the math on both sides for a $100 wager.

  • $100 bet at odds of +110 = potential total return of $210 (the original $100 bet plus a profit of $110).
  • $100 bet at odds of -130 = potential total return of $176.90 (the original $100 stake plus a profit of $76.90).

As you can see, a successful bet at positive odds offers the chance for greater returns than successful bets at negative odds.

However, that doesn’t mean you should randomly place your wagers on underdogs and hope for the best. Normal handicapping rules apply with moneyline betting, and the goal is to place your bets on the side you feel gives you the greatest chance of being right.

What is a Moneyline Bet?

A moneyline wager is a straight bet on the winner of a game. There are no point spreads attached or any other factors to consider. The sole concern is which side will win the contest.

After taking a look at the moneyline odds for a game you’re interested in betting on, you’ll know which side is expected to win. The favorite will have negative odds attached, while the underdog has positive odds.

Once you know that, the task at hand is to handicap the game and figure out which side you like. We’ll cover some tips on handicapping in a bit. For now, just know that it’s not as complex as it may sound.

Returns are going to vary based on which side you bet on. In a nutshell, you’ll see larger returns for correct bets on underdogs, but you shouldn’t let that be the determining factor on your choices.

There will be times when you find that the underdog makes the most sense, but there will also be plenty of times when you come up with the favorite as the answer to the question.

It can be helpful to be selective with which wagers you place on the moneyline. We’ll be covering that in more detail as we move along.

Betting on Favorites vs. Underdogs

When looking at moneyline odds, the favorite and the underdog will be readily apparent.

  • Chicago Bulls +120
  • Houston Rockets -140

In this fictitious NBA matchup, the Rockets are a decent-sized favorite. You’ll see less of a return for betting on that side as a result, while successful wagers on the underdog Bulls would see a bigger return.

Once again, it’s important not to let the potential return be your guide. Making the correct call is the bottom line, so your choices should revolve around which side you think has the greater chance to win.

To that end, it can be helpful to break down the game first prior to worrying about what the potential return will be. After you do this enough times, you’ll be able to figure out the range of returns quickly anyway, and that can help you be more selective with your choices.

For example, you may find that huge favorites are relatively safe wagers, but that the returns aren’t what you have in mind on a long-term basis. As such, you make a concerted effort to look for other opportunities first, such as favorites at odds of -180 or less.

After breaking down enough games on the other side, you’ll begin to understand that huge underdogs are that way for a reason. Sure, they’ll come in here and there, but solely focusing on big underdogs and hoping for a big score is not a recipe for a healthy bankroll.

Balance is a big key with moneyline betting, and the ultimate return on investment is the bottom line to focus on.

Examples of Moneyline Betting

Moneyline odds are offered for all of the major North American sports. The odds are presented in the same way for each, so you’ll be able to interpret them quickly.

For example, here’s a moneyline for an MLB game with a huge favorite.

  • San Francisco Giants +180
  • Los Angeles Dodgers -220

At first glance, you can quickly tell that the Dodgers have a big advantage for this contest, such as a stronger overall team or a substantial edge in pitching.

Now, let’s take a look at an NHL contest which has much tighter odds.

Betting On Games
  • Boston Bruins +100
  • Montreal Canadiens -120

After looking at this game, we can reasonably assume that these two squads are relatively even. The Canadiens are favored, but the gap in odds is far from substantial.

For basketball and football, point spread bets receive a ton of attention, but there’s also moneyline betting for these two sports. A common misconception is that there’s not enough value to be found on the moneyline in comparison to the spread.

If you solely focus on big favorites, that’s true. However, there are plenty of games in which the moneyline odds are tight. When you look at the point spread for these contests, you can quickly see which ones may have favorable moneyline odds.

As an example, a point spread of 2.5 points or less is a good indicator of a tight game. That being the case, the moneyline odds will have decent value on both sides that’s worth exploring.

Moneyline Betting on Close Games

Speaking of close games, you’ll come across many of these on the odds board regardless of which sport you’re focused on. When evenly-matched teams square off, it can be close to a toss-up in terms of which side will win.

Oddsmakers recognize this, and they will price the games accordingly. For example, in a really tight NFL game, you could see moneyline odds like this.

  • Minnesota Vikings -105
  • New Orleans Saints -115

When the odds are in such a close range, the difference in return is pretty small. However, that doesn’t mean you should flip a coin and hope for the best.

You’ll still be handicapping the game in search of a winner. It doesn’t matter how even teams may seem at first glance or according to the odds. There are almost always points of difference to be found, and you can always pass on those that are legitimately too close to call.

Moneyline Bet Odds and Line Moves

When odds are released for a slate of games, these are known as the opening lines. After they’re out, the betting public has a chance to weigh in.

Depending on how the action comes in, this can lead to a shift in lines. For example, if lots of money comes in on the favorite, odds on that side will rise in a bid to even out the action.

For bookmakers, the goal is to not be too lopsided one way or the other. If they get a ton of bets on one side and few on the other, that opens up liability on their end. To limit situations such as this, they will adjust the odds where needed in a bid to attract action on the other side.

Lines can also move based on new information that emerges after the initial release. A lineup change, trade, or previously undisclosed injury are among the things which can have an impact.

A good rule of thumb is to examine any changes from the opening line to the time you are ready to place your bets. This can point you to what the overall market sentiment is on the game, and also potentially alert you that there’s some news out there that you may have missed.

Moneyline shopping – What is it, how do you do it?

All odds are not created equal. While major sportsbook operators are typically in range, you can find some ticks of difference, especially on the moneyline.

In general, the differences won’t be eye-popping. Bookmakers that are far off the beaten path will stick out like a sore thumb. As a result, bettors will quickly jump on that line and bring it back more to the level of the general consensus.

To find these points of difference, you’ll need to engage in what’s known as line shopping. This refers to checking the odds and lines at different sportsbooks in a quest to find the best price.

If you were going to buy something online and found differing prices in a few different spots, you would naturally gravitate towards the better deal. It’s the same thing with sports betting odds.

For example, if one book is offering odds of -140 on a favorite, but another book is at -130, the better deal is at the latter. You’ll get a better return there for placing your wager on that particular game.

How to Handicap Moneyline Bets

Handicapping games can sound formidable when you’re unfamiliar with the concept. However, it can actually be a simple process if you allow it to be.

It can be quite easy to get lost in research, and that can make it just as simple to get overwhelmed with information. Especially when starting out, keep it simple and focus on the things that really matter.

Here’s a simple five-point plan that you can use as a starting point.

  • The odds and lines for the game. What is this telling you?
  • Overall strength of the two teams. Is there a marked difference between the squads?
  • Home/road splits. How do the two teams perform in the role they have for this game?
  • Key Stats. Points for and against, and other sport-specific stats that really make a difference in the outcome.
  • Recent Play. Is one team playing much better than the other recently?

Betting On Games Online

The process gets quicker the more times you go through it. Once you have a handle on it, you can begin to tweak and personalize it to your specifications, such as by adding more stats into the equation that you feel really impact the outcome.

The Bottom Line on Moneyline Betting

Free Online Betting Games

Moneyline bets are straight forward wagers in which you are simply deciding which side you think will win. For each game on the docket, oddsmakers will designate a favorite and underdog.

Which side is which will be reflected in the odds. Favorites will have negative odds, while the underdog will have positive odds. The odds tell us the likelihood of something happening, as well as what the potential return will be for our wagers.

Moneyline odds are found for all of the major sports. The odds can shift based on market action, as well as news which may develop after the initial release.

There are a number of different systems for handicapping moneyline odds. We’ve included a simple one here in this article which you can use as a starting point. As you advance with sports betting, you’ll be able to implement your own system and tweak as needed.