You can research a game for hours just for it to be thrown to the curb the second a sporting event begins. That is the beauty and the pain of being a sports gambler. No matter the amount of prep you can do, tides can shift in an instant. Luckily for us, there is a way to capitalize on the shifts in a game and profit big time. Welcome to live betting.
What is live betting?
Let’s begin with the basics for those who may be new here. Live betting is the option that sportsbooks give to bet on a game while it is happening. Lines will change non-stop throughout the course of the game.
Many experts believe that live betting is the biggest flaw in the system at this point because the servers can have a hard time keeping up with real-time action. If you are sitting inside a stadium and gambling, there is a great chance that you can place a bet before the odds move. If you are streaming a game off of some low-quality website, however, you are gonna be behind the eight ball on getting off a successful bet.
Let’s look at an example here: Let’s say the Buccaneers are playing the Steelers. Before the game, the Bucs are 6.5-point favorites. The Steelers get the ball first and march right down the field and score a touchdown. The line moves from 6.5 to 5.5. The change wouldn’t be that drastic because the Bucs have yet to get the ball. But if a quarter later the score is 21-0 Steelers, the line may now be Bucs +6.5 which will entice bettors to start betting in the opposite direction.
In live betting, everything from the spread, to the total, to prop bets are all fair play. You can place bets on who will be the first to score 20 and 30 points. You can place bets on who will score the next touchdown, how that touchdown will be scored, and what the result of the drive will be. This isn’t just in football either.
All major sports have different options for live betting and it has become an extremely popular method for handicappers who decide they don’t want to risk much in the beginning without seeing the current status of the teams that are playing.
A great example of when to live bet on a game is if the weather could play a big factor. If the Packers are hosting the Dolphins at Lambeau Field in December and the forecast calls for -25 and an inch of snow, you probably don’t want to place a bet before the game begins. Weather changes and for all you know, it could be clear skies for three quarters where the offense is churning. This gives you a shot to see how the game is actually being played and see how you should be betting.
Best sportsbook for live betting
Don’t worry, nearly every single sportsbook offers live betting. It would be a huge crutch to any app or book that didn’t offer the function as it has become so incredibly popular. Here are a few of the best apps that you can use to place live bets.
BetRivers
BetRivers is becoming one of the leaders in the sports betting market and they have a functional live betting service. Something you’ll find with BetRivers is that they are always on top of major games like the Super Bowl or World Series. You’ll find a large number of betting markets and tons of different props and wagers.
FanDuel
This has taken over as the most popular mobile sportsbook for bettors across the United States. FanDuel lines are incredibly quick as a game progresses and you are guaranteed to get a great line if you stick with the platform. This is one of my favorite books to use and you will be ahead of the action when you are using FanDuel.
DraftKings
Right behind FanDuel is DraftKings because of how seamless their app is and how easy it is to use. When it comes to live betting, every single second matters. If you open up an app that is confusing to use or makes it difficult to place a bet, you are out of luck. For every passing second, that line could be shifting tremendously. The best way to win those bets is to be on top of it and DraftKings promotes that kind of action.
FOXBET
Unless you watch FOX Sports or you listen to Terry Bradshaw talk about this non-stop, you may not have heard of FOXBet. What’s great about this platform is the variety of odds which have made it such a popular sportsbook. There is something to be said for all the fun bets they offer and how they allow you to interact with some of those unique lines, even in a live betting format.b FoxBet may not be as mainstream as some of the other sportsbooks but it is certainly gaining traction and during football season, it is tough to find a more fun sportsbook.
Should you live bet?
If you are new to the betting world, get the basics down first and then tiptoe into the world of live betting. The action happens much quicker which means you can lose more, quicker, or win more at a faster rate. You want to have some experience and make sure you know what you’re doing before you enter that world, but by all means, you should be looking into all the different ventures of sports betting and this is one of them. If you find yourselves in a live sporting event in the near future, whip out your phone and take advantage of the biggest flaw in the system at this point.