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Sports betting has changed so much in such a short time that the habits of the previous generation of gamblers are almost unrecognizable from how we wager today. In the past, gambling was as much about meeting friends as backing winners. Today, betting is about speed and convenience. More bets are placed using smartphones than websites and land-based sportsbooks combined.
The sports that are popular with bettors in the past – such as horse racing and football – remain strong choices, but there are more markets. Read a respected sportsbook review, and you’ll see they have over 100 pre-game markets on every soccer match.
No longer are we restricted to the simple win-draw-lose (1-X-2) market. You can now wager on the number of goals scored, a red card, the result at half-time, both teams to score, and many more.
- Times are changing
- What is in-play betting?
- How to use in-play betting
- Claim a free in-play bet
Contents
Times are changing
If you haven’t tried gambling on your favorite sport since 2020, you haven’t tried gambling. It’s exciting times as legalized sportsbook betting continues to be rolled out across the United States. But before jumping in with both feet, you must know what you are doing and understand how the industry works today. And that’s where we come in handy.
This article focuses on one of the newer features to have an impact – in-play betting. We’ll explain how in-play or live betting works, the benefits of using it to beat the bookies, and how you can gamble after a game has begun. We have everything you need to familiarize yourself with in-play betting.
What is in-play betting?
In-play betting is known by a few different names, but they all refer to the same thing; gambling on an event that has already begun. You may see in-play, live or in-game betting available, depending on which bookie you use and where you are gambling. Don’t be put off by the gambling jargon; in-play betting isn’t nearly as complicated as it sounds.
In its simplest form, in-play betting is gambling on an event that has kicked off already and is in progress. There are two reasons why you might want to gamble on a game in progress, but we’ll cover that in more detail in the next section.
A soccer match is set for a 15:00 kick-off. A betting trader will create their book, offering competitive odds on their list of eye-catching markets. When the time comes, and the game begins, the pre-match betting switches to in-play. A live betting trader then follows the match while updating the betting to reflect the score and flow of play.
How to use in-play betting
There are two main ways to use in-play betting on sports, and we’ll explain both in more detail here. You can stick to one strategy or use both in the same game. Both are explained below.
Missed kick-off
Ok, you have been waiting on tonight’s live football match from the NFL but were kept late at work and missed the kick-off. Thanks to improvements in how we watch sports on TV, you can catch up, but you can’t go back in time to place a bet.
Don’t worry; there’s no need to fire up the DeLorean, Doc. In-play betting allows you to gamble on the outcome of a game at any time during the play. A bet is as possible and exciting in the last few minutes of the game as before the start. You’re always just a few clicks from placing a bet.
Spotted value
The other way to enjoy in-play betting is if you notice a gamble worth making during the game. Suppose you have placed your pre-match bet, and things aren’t going to plan.
But while watching the play on TV, you notice something. It could be a player threatening to score or walking a fine line with the officials. Act swiftly and place the bet in play to get the best odds possible.
Claim a free in-play bet
The leading online sportsbooks offer customers a free in-play bet when they gamble pre-match. This promotion is usually reserved for big events like the Super Bowl, US Open final, or the Champions League.
The best way to find these deals is to register with a bookmaker and check the promotions tab on the day of an event. There, you’ll find the list of bonuses and specials offered to both new and existing customers.
