Guide To Betting In-Play – Betting Guide

What Is In-Play Betting?

Before we delve into the plethora of advantages of in-play betting, first we must discuss what it actually is.

Essentially, in-play betting is a tool curated for punters to aid them in making more intelligent bets. Often, it is found as a separate tab on betting sites which you should click and explore the variety of sports currently in progress. The live odds will show, but be wary that they are constantly changing as the game moves forward.

Good betting sites also offer live streaming which goes hand in hand with in-play betting, as you can watch the match whilst simultaneously making bets. Firstly, to do this, you must register.

How Do I Place An In-Play Bet?

Placing an in-play bet is just as simple as a regular pre-match bet.

• Find a bookmaker that offers in-play betting and click to register
• Create an account by entering your contact details and payment method. Note that this should be a swift process, aiming to take no longer than 5 minutes.
• Open the ‘in-play’ tab and explore the games and markets on offer
• Choose the odds you find most appealing and place your stake
• Finally, wait for the result!

It is worth noting that you can register to multiple bookmakers, instead of being limited to one. This tip allows you to compare betting sites and opt for the highest odds. In addition, you can create many in-play wager, especially if you are spreading your bets and checking out several markets.

Which Sports Use In-Play Betting?

Now that we have discussed what in-play betting is and how to use it, we should consider the types of sports it is most efficient in.

Football

Football is an extremely dynamic sport. From the Premier League to the World Cup, there are a diverse range of tournaments. In addition, there are several markets including:

Tournament Winner	The most highly anticipated market in football is tournament winner. Whilst this is regarded to be a difficult market it is actually one of the simplest, because there are a select few teams that always out-perform. However, if you want to air on the side of caution, you can use in-play betting to take account for any exceptions.
Under/Over	Under/over betting markets are used when a bookmaker encourages you to predict how many goals with be scored. For example, if two teams are playing with different capabilities, more goals will be scored. On the other hand, if they are both exceptional teams, the winning margin will be much closer. With in-play betting, you can grasp how the teams are performing on the day and wager accordingly.
Handicap Bets	Handicap bets are most common in football. They give the weaker team an advantage so as to make the bets more interesting. When using in-play, you can make better designed handicap bets.

Golf

The majority of bookmakers offer in-play betting on golf tournaments because, just like football, they last for a long time. The four major championships are:

• The Masters
• The PGA Championship
• The US Open
• The Open Championship

They each last for a couple of days upto a week, usually during the summer months between April and July.

Betting sites encourage in-play betting on the tournament winner, as there can be over a hundred participants and therefore the outcome is always up in the air. Other markets include place betting, for example the Top 5 players.

Cricket

Cricket is another great example of an in-play betting sport. The most popular tournament is the Cricket World Cup, which takes place every four years. Recently, it was held in 2023, from 5^th October to 19^th November. The winners were Australia who took home their sixth title, beating India.

In-play betting is useful in cricket because games can last upto 8 hours, and tournaments span well over a month. This gives you ample opportunity to watch many games prior to making a bet.

What Are The Advantages Of In-Play Betting?

Our definitive guide on in-play betting would not be complete without thoroughly discussing the many pros of in-play betting, as well as the handful of cons.

Unique Perspective

Arguably the main benefit of in-play betting is that you have a unique advantage over pre-match bet punters. For example, you can take into account information like:

• An injury occurring whilst the game is in progress
• A player that has been carded or benched
• Weather conditions affecting performance

Subsequently, you avoid making bets based on trends, as these can be unreliable.

Hedging Bets

A hedging bet is a type of wager which counteracts the initial bet. This is made up of two bets. For example:

• Team A to win with betting odds 15/2
• Team B to win with betting odds 9/1

No matter which team wins, you will get cash back because you have covered both of the possible outcomes. Many punters find this advantageous if they are betting on a game that is not as easily predictable as the others, and ensures they will make a profit.

More Interesting Experience

For avid punters that have been part of the gambling community for a long time, you may simply want to enhance your experience. By trying in-play betting, you can immerse yourself in the dynamic environment and volatility of the match. Furthermore, you won’t have to wait as long for the final result of your wager, because you will know whether your wager was successful by the end of the match.

What Are The Disadvantages Of In-Play Betting?

Like any betting feature, there are some drawbacks to consider. However, with in-play betting, the benefits outweigh the risks.

Tricker Odds

Because in-play betting is based on live action, the odds are constantly being calculated. This means that they are ever changing and it can be difficult to place a wager in time. Any one thing can cause them to change, from injuries to the weather.

It is a common misconception that betting odds are lower when betting in-play. Although they can be lowered, there is no significant evidence that this has an affect overall.

Less Markets

Another disadvantage of betting in-play is that there are less markets to choose from. For example, in hurling, you can’t bet on the first goal scorer after it has happened. Similarly, if the Top 20 golf players have already been ranked, you won’t be able wager on place betting.

Some sports are less common with in-play betting. Fast-paced events like dog or horse racing are less commonly offered because they can be over very quickly. However, by researching betting sites, you will inevitably find a good bookmaker for your desired sport.