Live betting enables a punter to make a wager on a game, outcome or betting market after starting the game. Making a live wager allows a punter to make a wager based on how the game progresses. Live betting is the most popular betting option for punters making wagers on time-based outcomes such as football, hockey, cricket, boxing, baseball, tennis, the NBA, the NFL, etc.
The opposite of live betting is making wagers before starting a game. In most cases, making a wager before the game depends on the past performance and analysis of performance between the participating teams.
Making a wager after starting a game depends on how the teams perform in the current game or event. Both live bets and pre-game wagers help punters make a profit by making a wager at different times. However, depending on the situation and setting goals, a punter should consider using a healthy combination of live bets and pre-game bets.
Features Of Live Betting
Some live betting features include making in-game wagers, variable odds, utilized for evenly matched outcomes, establishing the importance of current performance, essential metrics to follow, and accounting for a delay in match broadcasts for sports betting events.
1. In-game Wagers
In-game wagers are wagers a punter makes after the start of the game. They also call them “live wagers” because a punter can make a wager after a single minute or 80 minutes after a match starts. However, bookies account for swings in the game and adjust the odds accordingly. If a team scores two goals in quick succession, then the bookie reduces the odds and payout for wagers made on that particular team.
2. Variable Odds
When making a wager, a punter has access to variable odds or fixed odds. Varying odds change throughout a game and depend on the match’s outcome. Fixed odds are established based on the bets placed and match analysis before the start of the game. Most live bets and wagers are based on variable odds because the odds change throughout a match or outcome. A punter needs to consider when they make a variable wager, the odds at the time of making the wager, and the payout.
3. Utilized For Evenly Matched Outcomes
Punters can utilize live wagers for evenly matched teams and outcomes to determine which team has an advantage after starting a game. If a punter places a bet on two evenly matched teams before a match, the punter may not know which team or outcome to place the wager on.
4. Current Performance Is Important
Current performance helps punters make wagers based on how a game progresses. A game may go with team A leading in the first half, resulting in a punter making a wager on team A to win. However, during the second half, team B performs better and wins the game, but the punter doesn’t have the opportunity to factor that into the bet. While current performance is essential, form and performance can change throughout a match or a half.
5. Important Metrics
Some of the essential metrics punters need to consider when making live wagers include possession of play, attempted chances, live score, squads participating, forced substitutions, style of play, and form over the first 10, 20, 45, 60, 75, and 90 minutes of the game. Punters can also make live wagers for knock-out tournaments going into the finals and semifinals of tournaments for bets on different time results and penalties.
6. Delay In Broadcast
Most live games streamed over the internet or television have a natural stream delay, i.e. the time between capturing play and rebroadcasting it. In most cases, the wait is usually 3 seconds but can extend to more than 10 seconds at a time depending on the competition, broadcaster, and viewing country. Even a slight delay can result in a punter losing out on making a profit. Any delay results in punters making wagers from the stadium having an unfair advantage over punters making online wagers from home or not in the stadium.
