Live betting continues to be one of the fastest-growing forms of gambling, and the right live betting strategy can be the key to consistent success. While standard online sports betting principles apply to this form of gambling, everything moves at a faster pace.
Read on to see the benefits of live betting explained for those new to sports gambling, and we’ll provide some of our tried and tested strategies that the sharpest of bettors have used to great success.
Top Tips for Successful Live Betting
Before we start to reveal a live betting strategy you can use today, we thought we’d set you up for success first. Below are 7 of our best live betting tips that will make sure you are prepared before the game begins.
- Use live streaming – If your sportsbook of choice offers live streaming, it is the perfect companion when betting on the go. You’ll be able to watch the action and bet on the very same screen.
- Close all your tabs on your PC – Reduce your PC’s RAM consumption when live betting. Speed is key. Stop any unnecessary apps in the background and close any browser tabs that are not essential and might slow things down.
- Use a mobile betting site – Use a dedicated offshore sports betting site that is accessible via your mobile. This can often be the fastest way to deploy a live betting strategy.
- Make use of virtual scoreboards – It’s not the perfect live sports betting strategy, but if you can’t watch the game at all, use the bookmaker’s virtual scoreboard. It will often provide more real-time data than following an event on the radio or via an online commentary.
- Shop around – This could be considered an advanced live sports betting strategy too just because you need to take in a lot of information. Keep a few bookmakers open and chase the best lines possible at any given moment. This is best done on a desktop screen rather than mobile.
- Never chase losses – Just like when pre-match betting, you should never chase losses by live betting. It’s always a better idea to take a break and choose another game to bet on at a later date. All successful bettors have good bankroll management.
- Know your sport – Get to know your sport or stick to sports you are knowledgeable about. As quick as live odds can be, they are data-driven and often fail to predict possible game changes such as comebacks. Extensive knowledge can put you at a massive advantage when live betting.
Best Strategies for Live Betting
There are tons of different live betting strategies you could leverage at any one time. It is a really good idea to research a few and develop a repertoire of approaches. We’d recommend researching and practicing each live in-game betting strategy explained below.
- Place live money line bets for better odds – The live money line often moves sharply when an event begins. You can often take advantage of this shift to get remarkably better odds than if you had placed a pre-match money line. Simply wait until the event begins and place a live money line.
- Watch in-person – Some bookmakers might be slow to adjust the live lines. Watch the game in person if you can. That way there will be no delay in viewing what happens in the match and you can be sure to take advantage of the shifting lines quickly.
- Bet on the opposite outcome – Can you see the writing on the wall early? Reverse your incorrect bet by quickly betting on the other team. This live betting strategy won’t always yield big payouts but it can help recoup some losses.
- Hedge your bets with middling – You can hedge an early bet and have both bets win. This is known as middling. Imagine backing a 4-point spread on the Chicago Bulls as underdogs and then a later spread on the opposing NY Nicks to notch a 2-point spread. If the Nicks win by 2-4 points, you’d win both bets.
- Bet on over 1.5 goals – This is a popular and consistent soccer live betting strategy. Find a game that looks like an over 2.5 game and wait for the start, since the over 1.5 odds will likely be around +120. The longer a goal isn’t scored, the more valuable the over 1.5 odds will become. Time your bet just right to claim maximum odds.
- Use arbitrage betting – Bookmakers price certain markets differently and have their own biases. Have a few live bookmakers open and you’ll often be able to find opportunities to cover the right markets that will result in guaranteed profit using arbitrage betting.
How to Place a Live Bet
It doesn’t matter if you’ve placed a pre-match bet in the past or you’re completely new to sports betting, using an in-game betting strategy is far easier than you might think. Ultimately, you are just betting with dynamically shifting odds but the principles of sports betting still apply. Check out our easy five-step guide below.
Step 1: Sign up and deposit
If you are not already registered, choose a top online sportsbook from our recommended list and sign up for an account. Make a deposit and choose to claim a bonus if you wish.
Step 2: Check out the markets
US sportsbooks showcase the markets ahead of time. Although some micro-markets – like those offered during baseball games – they may not appear until the game begins. Get familiar with the layout as time will be crucial later on.
Step 3: Place a bet
Watch the markets closely and look for a selection of value. Click on the selection to drop it in the bet slip. Nominate a bet amount and click “Bet” to complete the wager.
Step 4: Continue to place bets or cash out
You can continue to bet on the game, take early cash out if your bet is looking unlikely, or choose to wait for the outcome and receive a payout if it’s a winner.
Step 5: Withdraw your winnings
Remember, you’ll need to clear any play-through requirements if you have any bonus funds. Head to the cashier, select a withdrawal method, and nominate the amount you wish to withdraw. Follow the prompts to complete the transaction.
Also Read: The Business of Sports Betting: Economic Impact and Revenue Streams in Canada
