Live sports betting

From the football pitch to the tennis courts, and everything in between, every sports fan knows that the outcome of any match can change on a dime – it’s just one of the reasons why we love it!

But much like being the star player on the field or the manager in the dug-out, it’s important for you to be able to make game-changing decisions at the right moment, especially when it comes to maximising your bet potential – which is where our live betting markets come in!

The perfect place to put down a stake on your favourite sports as they happen, our live sports betting markets enable you to make smarter and more informed wagers after the starting whistle has been blown, updating you with live sports odds after every kick of the ball, swing of the bat, and break-out scrummage!

So, if you’ve never tried sports betting live before, here’s what you need to know about navigating its markets. 

How does in-play sports betting work?

Drawing straight from its name, in-play betting is exactly as it sounds – it lets you place a bet while a game is still happening, rather than locking you in before a given match actually starts.

Think of it like this. Imagine you’re managing one of the UK’s biggest football teams. Suddenly, you score to take the lead. This could be the perfect opportunity to make a substitution and sure up your team’s performance by going more defensive.

In-play odds work in a very similar way. They alter based on what’s at any given moment in time, lengthening or shortening based on what’s currently going on pitch-side and giving you a chance to capitalise on a sudden shift in momentum to increase your potential betting payout.

How to read in-play sports betting odds?

At their base level, in-play betting odds can be read in the exact same way as standard odds – the only difference is that they’re constantly changing and updating as a game goes on. For example, here at Betway, we display all our odds in a fractional betting format, with the number on your right determining your wager, and the number on the left being your payout.

So, let’s say that your team starts a football match with odds of 5/1 to win. If they scored within the first minute, these odds could then swap to 4/1. Alternatively, if they were drawing until injury time, and then their opponents score, then these odds could suddenly shoot up to 10/1 or higher!

All of which is to say that live betting odds can flip and change at any moment, so you’ll want to keep a constant eye on them as the game progresses if you hope to capitalise on a sudden and unexpected twist.

What sports offer in-play odds?

Given the lengthy nature of most sporting games, you’ll be thrilled to hear that we have a huge range of sports options in our in-play betting markets, including the likes of football, tennis, and more. Here’s a quick look at the main live sports bet markets you can get started with:

Football

Sitting at the top of our live betting list, the beautiful game is the place to be if you’re trying our in-play markets for the first time. From cards to corners, goals to the final result, you can put a wager down on just about any outcome right up until the final whistle.

Including livestreams of the biggest matches, such as the Premier League, Champions League, and the World Cup, you can follow along with all the in-play football action as it unfolds to place your in-play bet at exactly the right moment.

Tennis

The home of iconic court legends, our tennis in-play options focus primarily on the four major tournaments of the season – Wimbledon, the US Open, the French Open, and the Australian Open.

Indeed, the fluid nature of tennis actually makes it one of our most popular areas for sports betting live, with fans able to place bets on a set-by-set basis or lower as each game develops over the course of the evening.

Cricket 

Much like tennis, the multi-day nature of live cricket lends itself well to the in-play betting structure, which is why we’ve chosen to include it in our core suite of live betting markets. After all, one poor day of play isn’t necessarily the be-all and end-all of a match.

With the Ashes taking centre stage, alongside countless other smaller competitions and worldwide tournaments, bettors can take advantage of our changing live odds to adapt their strategy as each day of play starts and ends.

Basketball

Fast-paced yet forever unpredictable, basketball’s prevalence for high-scoring games and on-pitch scuffles makes having access to live basketball betting odds an absolute game-changer for punters.

Focused on the major games of the NBA, but still available for leagues of all levels, our basketball in-play market means you can increase or reduce your betting frames based on how your team of choice is currently performing at any given moment.

Start your in-play betting journey today

Whether you’re a sports betting newbie or a seasoned campaigner, we’ve made it easy for you to get started with our live sports betting markets. All you have to do is log in or sign up, verify your account, and then head over to your market of choice.

Then you can watch as your preferred game unfolds, updating and tweaking your bets as play happens!

Can I use the Betway app to place in-play bets

Yes, it’s absolutely possible to place in-play bets through our app. In fact, we’d say it’s the best way to do it! Whether you’re at the big game or down at the local bar, you can stay ahead of the game with the Betway Sports app!

Download it now from the Play Store or the App Store to enjoy live betting, real-time updates, and exclusive offers right at your fingertips. Our in-play market is just a touch away!