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The Ultimate Football Betting In Play Guide

Bet Inplay on Football With Our Guide to Live Betting!

Watching a game of football is fun, exhilarating. Part of that enjoyment comes from how much the story can change with one swing of the boot. That’s why for many people, live betting on football can be so fun. You might spot a little change in the tempo of the game, or a sub might come on who is immediately causing havoc. Whatever the reason, football live betting is one of the best ways to have fun – it is, though, also one of the hardest to get right!

If you are hoping to maximise your betting returns this year, then you might want to look into our guide to winning with an in play bet. Whether you are betting on a random league match, a team you support, a team you really don’t support, or a major tournament, this guide to live in play betting should be just what you are looking for. We’ll even give you some live betting tips to help you make the most of your time and get your first in play bet is a succesful one!

Table of Contents

What Is Live Betting?

So, live betting is the system used by those who wish to place a bet in the middle of a match. The majority of football betting is done pre-match, for example, a win/loss, an over/under goals, or a first scorer bet. Especially things like football accumulators. However, today you can bet in play now and actually place a bet in the middle of the match.

This is typically best used when you are actually watching the match, though. Placing a bet based on a live text update of a game might not be the best decision!

There are many live betting sites which we will offer a few examples of below. This gives you the chance to place a bet with a bookmaker, or a betting exchange (see below). Live betting, then, is the act of placing a bet on the match when it is actually live as opposed to before the match has started. It really is that simple.

Football Bet Inplay - Bet Live Football Markets!

When looking at in-play betting or live betting, bettors tend to consider it easier. This is because they have more information than what was available before the game started. As you might imagine, an in play bet is more informed than a pre-match punt because the action is actually taking place.

The In-Play Betting option gives you a chance to change your mind or to be certain concerning your selections if certain things go your way during a match. For example, if Harry Kane scored England’s first goal, the odds for the “Three Lions'' ensuring a win for their team will change (can increase or decrease). Live betting sites will use their own metrics and algorithms to help determine the movement of prices.

Bet Inplay on Football Now

Depending on what platform you stake through, the odds for a club during outright betting are always higher than the in-play odds. Simply because the game is already in action and betting can be dictated through what is already happening.

Let’s look at an example.

In a game where Spain is playing against Germany, Spain could be the favorite with odds set at 5/1. But if Spain scores the first goal, then those odds will be even lower. Germany scoring the first goal will also affect the already set down order of things in the game. This will have an impact on the live betting odds you are seeing across the spectrum.

There are two distinct advantages of in-play betting:

  • One is the fact that you can live-bet on every game that you choose to watch, regardless of the tournament or event. You can bet in play now on any match you wish.  
  • The other is the number of betting options that are consequently made available to you due to the already set order of the game in-play.

Inplay Betting Advantages

Another good thing about in-play betting is that you can use your knowledge of football to make better judgments and decisions.

For example, if England goes a goal down to Scotland, the bookmaker will put England’s price to win up. The change in the live betting odds for that match might not be huge, but it could go from 4/1 to 8/1. So, knowing how good the Three Lions are before staking an in-play bet on them to win is a good investment. You stand a chance to win more money in return. A little bit of research simply needs to be before the game to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each team.

To be able to do this properly, you must have more understanding and knowledge about clubs/teams and their players. So, these are beneficial ways in which the in-play betting market can be used. More often than not, you will get better opportunities to win more money or cover the impending loss on your previous bets. If you prefer to watch games, then look for platforms with live stream betting so you can watch the action unfold and get a better ideal than you would simply following stats.

bet in-play

Live Betting Using A Betting Exchange

Of course, you might choose to get involved with live football betting using a betting exchange. Betting exchanges differ from a normal bookmaker. Platforms such as Betfair are seen as the best betting exchanges. Much like a standard bookmaker, you are predicting an outcome – such as a win or a loss. However, you are not betting with the bookmaker; you are instead matching your bet from a ‘backer’ or a ‘layer’.

This means there is no conflict of interest with the bookmaker. Bookmaker want you to lose so they don’t pay out (naturally); betting exchanges take commissions on the bet placed, so they want you to bet more i.e. they want you to win. By using a peer-to-peer betting service, like Betbull, odds are determined by the users as opposed to the exchange themselves – this means you can often get better live in play betting odds.

Since your bet is against another individual or market, there is a fairer general playing field. You feel less compelled to take on a live in-play bet based on a bookies unique odds, and more based on what you actually feel could happen.

betfair exchange live betting
The BetFair Exchange is the best known live betting exhange

Using A Live Betting App

Of course, there are many options to use when it comes to bet in play solutions. Live football betting comes in many forms, and one of the best forms comes from using a live betting app. These are great to use because they allow you to place the bet quickly. Every app is different, but most will work in the same way it would placing a bet pre-match.

Simply log in, find the in-play bet you wish to place, and make your wager. It really is no different to placing any other kind of bet – the only difference is that you might find the odds change from moment to moment based on where the money is being placed. Using an in-play betting app, though, simply means using a bookmaker of your choice (or one of the bookmakers recommended below) and placing your bet in the middle of the match as opposed to before it starts.

How Bet Football Live Betting Odds Work

One thing to note when it comes to live betting odds is how they are calculated. As you might imagine, the odds can change in real-time based on what is going on across the pitch. For example, someone’s odds to bag a hat-trick are naturally going to change if they have not scored by the 60th minute. By the same token, someone with a brace of goals by half-time is going to have much shorter odds for a hat-trick then they would have before the game started.

Live odds are calculated based on what is happening in the match itself. If the favourite is beginning to dominate the match, the odds will slowly but surely shift to show that. Most online live betting sites use an odds compiler, which is akin to an odds trader like you would get in foreign exchange trading. This means that the price changes and is based on a series of real-time stats that are relative to the game.

So, for example, in football a team who has more possession, passes, is having more shots, more corners and is being fouled more etc. are going to have shorter odds than the team who is being dominated. By using algorithms, they can better work out the rough chance of a goal going in and thus the odds adjust to accurately reflect who is in the ascendancy (or not).

Best Football Inplay Betting Bookmakers

If you want to bet live football there are, of course, any bookmakers who offer live stream betting. If you want to get a better chance at winning, you should look to try out some reliable in-play bookmakers who give out fair and genuine odds. We recommend, then, that you start by looking at:

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Bet 365 Live In Play Betting

Bet365 online sports betting live is trustworthy, easy to use, and reputable – you can easily use this Bet 356 live in play betting all year round. They are also partial to providing bettors with loads of regular deals so a Bet365 in play bet offer could also be on the cards.

coral

Coral Bet in Play

Coral live betting is useful as it covers so many leagues and gives you so many choices to pick from when it comes to in-match betting. Coral bet in play is sure to provide you with a

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Paddy Power

The cheeky bookmaker is great for in-play betting, with Paddy Power live betting football odds among the best you will find on the market today.

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Betfair

Typically, you can find that Betfair live betting is among the most reputable starting places as they cover so many leagues and have such a long reputation of success.

william-hill-logo

William Hill Bet In Play

The most recognisable bookie in the UK, William Hill live football betting is one of their mainstays, with so many different options to pick from and look through. William Hill bet in play football betting allows you to jump into the action and reaction with bets mid-way through hundreds of games every single week.

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BetBull

Growing all the time, the BetBull live betting section has exploded in popularity over the last few years and looks set to become a big-time player in the live betting scene in the future.

Ladbrokes

Ladbrokes Bet In Play

Finally, the Ladbrokes Bet in Play options are also a great option available to football bettors from the UK & Ireland. Ladbrokes live betting offers dozens of live markets for all major leagues across the world and plenty of smallers ones too.

These are, in our view, the best places to start with live betting and placing an in play bet.

Live Betting Tips - Find Your Inplay Football Betting System

There are many useful betting tips live that we can provide, but the most effective tips, we believe, are the following. If you want to get some useful live betting tips then you should try out the following ideas to give you a leg-up:

1.      Make Use Of Changing Odds

The constant change of odds is a big advantage for you as a bettor. The bookmakers are particularly good at their jobs, setting the market very accurately. They can sometimes make it hard to find any value in your selections. Most of the bigger bookmakers will have one trader for a match, and others will have the in-betting odds automated so there could potentially be some value for you depending on who you bet on. Get used to these shifting odds when looking at betting sites with live streaming, and it is easy to spot a little gap in the market where a smart in-play bet could win big.

2.      Start Small

First, you should start small. Although, it could take a while for you to get it down to a fine science. You can do this by staking small money on bets. Your return on investment might be little. This method will ensure that you don’t lose much. Remember, “experience is key”. It is easy to make a success of live betting once you build up knowledge and confidence; the mantra of “go big or go home” does not apply to bet in play, trust us!

3.      Keep An Eye On Your Bets And Your Win/Loss Record

This is an important one, you could tip every match of the UEFA Champions League group stages correctly. You probably have made just pretty tidy profit. So, if you splash as much as €50 on the knockout stages, there is a good chance you might win your bet.

Hence, keeping track will also let you know how you spend your money, as you probably won’t notice the small losses that build up and leave you with no money left.

4.      Bet Pre-Game If You Are Confident

If you think you have a good handle on who is going to win a match outright, then bet on them in the pre-game. If Manchester City is playing Burnley then a pre-game bet on City winning is a solid foundation for your money. If they take the lead, with all the in-play betting options, you can make even more money. You can use our betting predictions to get the edge on the pre-match betting markets and odds.

5.      Be Quick With Your Bets

This one is imperative. During a match, the in-play betting odds are constantly changing and if you are not quick and careful enough when you place your bet, your bet could be rejected.

For example, Leeds United are leading West Ham United 2-1 heading into the second half, the odds for Leeds to win will be small but then should the Hammers equalize, the odds will go up. If you are still confident of the Whites winning, you can place a live bet on them to win and if they do, you will have two winning bets. With one having much better odds than the pre-game one!

This is why bet in play now is so popular at the moment.

If you don't want to worry about having the bet you're trying to place rejected due to odds changes, please note that a lot of our partners have an option available to automatically accept any odds change that might have happened in the time it took for you to enter your stake amount. Usually it'll be a box available to tick off on the bet slip and from then, the function will be active on all your in-play bets until you remove it.

Another advantage to being quick with your bets is that you can add opposing selections to help offset any losses you might accrue due to your first bet. You bet on Real Madrid to beat Valencia in La Liga and then find yourself losing with a goal down in five minutes to the final whistle, winning is nearly impossible but betting on a draw could help alleviate the impending loss.

6.      Know Your Teams

If you have good knowledge of the top leagues across the world, then you will be in a good position to make better bets based on your judgment. While doing this, you will be able to take advantage of the bookmaker’s odds. This is because you feel that their odds are good or bad for a team and you are essentially saying that you are trusting your knowledge above that of the bookmakers’.

7.      Do Not Be Afraid To Bail Out By Changing Your Bet Mid-Game

Sometimes while betting on major events, like the UEFA Champions League or the FIFA World Cup, you could make a bet earlier and then start having doubts that the opposing team could win, and you say stuff like “it is their day”. When this happens, bettors, but most of the time, tend to go ahead and place opposing bets on the same match to help get back some of the money they think they are about to lose.

It will nearly always guarantee a loss for you, but you would rather a small loss than a big one right? This is the benefit of bet in play football – you are always able to adjust to fit the prevailing odds.

Many of our partners also have a bet in play cash out function, where you can close your bet before the match has ended at odds that reflect the current situation in the match.

8.      Never Try And Chase Your Losses

This gets people into trouble a lot. They are losing money, yet they keep betting. They are trying to cover their losses and end up losing even more. Ideally, you will want to set yourself a limit for the day/tournament, etc. Let’s say you have a limit of £200 for the day to bet on the numerous games going on in the Premier League, and you are down to your last £30. Do not try and win it all back in one bet, but rather a host of small ones. Live betting sites make it easy to start chasing losses, but it is not a wise tactic.

A £5 win here and a £10 win there is better than losing everything. Betting takes time so you need to be patient. If you are in a hurry to win all your money back, then before you know it, you are transferring money from your account to bet on even more selections and heading down that road is a very slippery slope. Once you hit your limit in this case £200 that is it, you should finish up and not try to keep betting.

9.      Be Wary Of Betting On Individual Markets

A big factor that is going to either make you a successful bettor or a losing one is what markets you bet on. If you are constantly trying to predict who will score the next goal or who will get booked next, you are just asking your money to leave your account.

Instead, try and focus on the result of the match you are live betting on. Stay on track and bet on who will win the match rather than who will score the next goal.

10.  Watch The Games

Of course, a complicated inplay football betting system may work for you but sometimes it is best to go back to basics. And so, if you can, make sure you watch the games you are trying to bet on. With live stats, you do get an idea of what is going on in the game but even the impressive tech these sites use to put together these figures to help you doesn't give you the full picture. If you watch the games, you can see what is happening with your own ideas and react based on what you are seeing and what you can sense is going to happen soon.

It is easy to do this at modern sportsbook as many will offer streaming capabilities if you are betting on the game or sometimes just for having an account balance. Some sportsbooks also ask that you have made a deposit within a certain time frame, like within the last 3 months.

You can also benefit from live stream betting, with many bookmakers making it easy to watch the game live so that you can actually build a clear image of what is happening. Seeing someone with all the possession and shot stats does not necessarily tell you the full story!

Football In Play Bet Summary

  • An In play bet is where you bet on a match that is currently taking place, not one due to start.
  • You can bet on just about anything that is happening in the middle of a match.
  • You can place bets on live matches from all over the world, regardless of the league.
  • Odds will adjust and change in the middle of a match relative to the on-pitch action.
  • Using a betting exchange offers different odds and opportunities from a bookmaker.
  • You can bet using a website, a local bookmaker, or a live betting in-play app instead.
  • Live betting is easier when you follow the tips and tricks that we have suggested above.

Stick to the above information, and you can soon find that bet in play cash out wins are not the fantasy they once seemed. Good luck making your first on in play bet on football games today!

live streaming

In Play Football Betting FAQ

  • Do most betting sites offer in-play betting?

    Yes, they do. Nowadays, to keep up with their competitors, most betting sites offer in-play betting.
  • Is there a limit on how many in-play markets I can bet on?

    No, there is no limit. You can bet on all of the available in-play betting markets, provided you have the money to do so.
  • Can anyone bet on the in-play betting markets?

    As long as you are over the legal age to gamble, then yes. Although, most platforms will request that you create an account, with your valid ID card before you can proceed to deposit some money. Most of the time, it will be a small amount of money for a start.