What Is Live Sports Betting?

Live betting is an extremely popular way to place sports bets, not only in the U.S. but around the world as well. It's one of the fastest growing forms of sports betting.

But, unlike pregame betting, live betting moves at a much faster pace and requires quick thinking and rapid decisions before the odds are updated. You won't necessarily have to wait until the game has concluded before the outcome of your bet is decided!

We've outlined exactly how in-play betting works below. Whether you're a novice or someone looking to get a deeper understanding, we've got you covered. Read on to learn all about how it works, how odds are adjusted on the fly, and which sports are the most popular for live betting. By the end of this article, you should know all there is to know about in-play betting.

How Does Live Betting Work?

Live sports betting presents you with the opportunity to wager on a game once it has started. You'll be able to watch the action as it unfolds in real time. The key focus of live betting is that the odds, lines, and totals are always moving in line with the game's progress. As a result, you get plenty of opportunities to take advantage of the fluctuating odds as you follow the action.

Here at Bally Bet, we show you the situation as it stands, such as the current score, odds, remaining time, and other key stats that might help your wagers. It is important to consider these stats when you are placing bets, as they can help you to make an informed decision. But remember, in-play betting is fast-paced, so you have to be quick before the situation changes once more.

Live betting can be found for most sports and events, making it a huge betting option in the U.S. and around the globe. If you're looking for an exciting way to engage with your favorite sport, live betting could be the way to go.

All you have to do here is make your prediction and place a bet. Then, head to our live betting area and see the game unfold in real time. As the game progresses, you will observe the odds changing constantly to reflect what's happening in the game. Odds are data-driven, and so they are fixed on the current status of the game.

Due to the nature of in-play betting, it's not uncommon for predictions to be wrong. For example, it may be predicted that there will be a big comeback for a player who has suffered an injury, but they then continue to have a poor performance throughout the game.

As a result, if you time it right, you can take advantage of some valuable odds before they're updated to reflect what is happening. All you have to do is predict something and place a bet before the live odds are adjusted.

Which Sports Are the Most Popular for In-Play Betting?

While most sports offer live betting odds, some sports and events are more popular than others. Some of the most popular sports for live betting are football and basketball, while baseball, soccer, and hockey follow behind. Tennis is also a widely popular sport for live bettors, thanks to its unique scoring system.

Check out some of the popular sports and leagues for live betting below.

NFL Live Betting

What is live betting in the context of the NFL? NFL live betting attracts a lot of sports bettors, particularly during the regular season. But primetime games and the postseason still have a lot of interest.

If you enjoy the NFL, live betting offers a potentially profitable way of interacting with the game. Some of the most popular betting markets include the moneyline, over/under, point spread, player props, and others, such as the next team to score.

Let’s take a closer look at how these betting markets work for live betting:

Moneyline

This is the simplest bet that you can place for any betting market. A moneyline bet is all about predicting which team you think will win the game overall. For live betting, the odds will update as the game progresses.

Over/Under

For this bet, you need to predict whether the total points scored by both teams combined will be greater than or less than a specific number, which is set by the book.

Point Spread

Wager on the winning margin of an NFL game. Keep in mind that the favorite team will have a handicap and the odds will fluctuate throughout the game.

Player Props

This type of bet refers to a specific player's performance, such as how many yards a quarterback will pass. Rather than betting on the game directly, this relates to the players themselves.

Next Team to Score

This simple bet requires you to predict which team will be next to score a point in the game. All it takes is an understanding of how well a specific team is performing and thus how likely they are to score a point.

When it comes to NFL live betting you should always pay attention to the flow of the game. Make sure you keep a close eye on coaching decisions, injuries, momentum, and other variables that can affect the result or individual player performances.

With this in mind, you need to be prepared to change your betting strategy. Live betting on the NFL requires you to engage with the game and be ready to adjust your bets as the game progresses. It only takes the slightest change to impact your betting.

NBA Live Betting

Live betting on the NBA offers a good opportunity to focus on points spreads. NBA games can change a lot in very little time because teams can defy the odds at any moment. If you enjoy watching basketball games and placing wagers, live betting is one of the best ways of engaging with the sport as you get to experience the rush without having to wait for the game's outcome.

Before you start betting on NBA games, you need to understand how fast-paced the game is, how the game works, and how certain teams play. Keep an eye out for the recent matchups as well as league developments that can influence the game and player injuries. Some of these may include things like coaching moves, trades, or injuries within the team.

You should also pay attention to the stats for each team in the game and the players, as this will help you to make informed decisions for every bet. If you are a fan of the NBA, you will know that the players are not just competing against the opposing team, they are also trying to beat their individual stats.

For example, a player might be looking to break the record for the most three-pointers that are made in a game. Those efforts are something you as a live bettor might look to take advantage of.

Another good opportunity is looking at player stats to see how well a player is performing compared to their season average. For instance, a player may have just had a run of poor performances, but it is expected that they will make a comeback very soon. If you predict that they will perform well during the game in question, you can use this to form your bet.

NHL Live Betting

When it comes to the NHL, the main types of bets here are usually point spreads and the over/under. But you will have the opportunity to place bets on a variety of markets like who you think will win the game, what happens next, and the goal differential.

Live betting on the NHL is quite similar to placing bets before the game starts. You can still place all the usual bets such as moneyline, puck line, over/under, and prop bets. In-play also opens up many other options that are not otherwise available to the standard sports bettor. For example, you can wager on how many shots a team will make, the next team to score, the next player to score, and the number of goals you predict for each period.

As with any other live market, NHL odds change regularly as the game goes on. While the odds do fluctuate, they will not be as quick when compared to other leagues such as the NFL or NBA, due to the NHL's low-scoring nature.

Just like other live bets, the NHL live betting odds will vary according to the momentum, score line, drive results, injuries, and many other factors. It's important to consider these variables before you place any of your wagers. Having said that, while you should think before betting, you won’t have long before the odds change again, so think fast.

Other variables worth keeping in mind include:

• Player form

• Home/away factor (home advantage)

• Injuries

• Momentum

• Rest

How Are Live Betting Odds Calculated?

Live betting odds are continue changing as the game is played. That's because the odds are calculated and then adapted based on the flow of the game and variables that can influence outcomes.

Sportsbooks set the odds for their live markets using a combination of statistics, betting trends, historical data, and so on. These are used to determine the most likely outcome for a variety of markets.

It is important to keep in mind that some live betting markets will freeze at key moments if there is an obvious change in momentum. When this happens, the odds will need to be updated to reflect the current state of the game.

Some of examples of when live betting odds may be frozen include:

• A player scoring a touchdown in a football game

• A service break during a tennis game

• A key player being taken out of a basketball game

• A three-run home run in a baseball game

• A player scoring a goal in a soccer game

As you can see, this can happen for a number of events that affect the course of the game and possibly the outcome. Odds and lines will move based on this data.