Best Live Streaming Betting Sites Ireland for 2024

How We Rank The Best Live Streaming Sites

FAST REGISTRATION	When looking for a betting site with live streaming capabilities, you want to register quickly and efficiently. This is especially true for online betting, as it is supposed to be easier compared to travelling to the physical location. The sign-up process should take 3-5 minutes, asking only mandatory questions like contact details and billing information.
LICENSING AND SECURITY	Having robust security as a betting site is vital. When dealing with thousands of punters and their sensitive data, it is important to have proper safety measures in place. Examples include encryption, verification, and authentication. Additionally, all reputable bookmakers must have valid, up-to-date licensing.
SAFETY	Especially with live streaming, it can be easy to fall into a pattern of overconsumption. Having so many events at your fingertips is a positive, but it is the responsibility of you and the bookmaker to ensure your gambling is kept at a reasonable limit. Betting sites may offer time-out limits as a way to counteract this.
RANGE OF PAYMENT OPTIONS	To access a livestream, you must first place a bet on the event. Depending on your preference, there could be a multitude of ways in which you finance your betting account. Make sure that the bookmaker you use supports your payment method. The most common examples most betting sites are compatible with include Visa, Mastercard, Neteller, and Skrill.
PROMOTIONS AND OFFERS	The welcome offer is by far the most generous promotion a betting site will advertise. However, look deeper and find other bonuses they offer throughout the year, which reward you for being a loyal customer. This includes free bets or access to live streams, often as a part of their loyalty scheme.
CUSTOMER SERVICE	Although we hope you won’t need to come into contact with customer service, having it there is crucial. In the event you encounter a problem, or have a query, 24/7 support should be available.

There is a plethora of betting sites which offer live streaming as part of their services to their customers. Hence, it is important to rank them based on their other features as well.

Best Live Streaming Betting Sites for 2024

Using the above criteria, we have evaluated all betting sites with live streaming and elected our top four bookmakers.

Bet365

Pros

• Generous welcome bonus
• More competitive odds compared to other betting sites

Cons

• Known to limit professional punters

When choosing bet365, you will be met with a generous welcome bonus of three times your deposit. You stand to gain upto €30 in free bets which you can use on any sports.

In terms of livestreaming, you can use bet365 on your computer, tablet, or phone. This allows you to watch sports even when you are on the go, whether this be at work or the gym.

Irish punters will be pleased to hear that bet365 has livestreams on Irish horse races and Irish greyhound races! In addition, there is coverage on football, tennis, cricket, American football, and basketball. This includes both home and international games. There are over 600,000 events available altogether.

BetVictor

Pros

• Best welcome bonus on the market
• Bet builder and bet boosts

Cons

• Limited markets compared to other betting sites

Of all the betting sites, BetVictor by far has the most generous welcome bonus. The bookmaker will match your stake upto a maximum of €100, which you will receive in free bets.

Also, BetVictor is renowned for having high quality live-streaming. There a number of similar features you can utilise, such as live odds, updates, in-play betting, and more. Streams include football, basketball, tennis, and lots more sports. These are both countrywide and international.

Ladbrokes

Pros

• High quality live betting
• Generous welcome bonus
• Trustworthy reputation

Cons

• Loyalty program has limited rewards

Ladbrokes is one of the largest sports betting companies in the world, so it comes as no surprise that their live streaming capabilities are endless. They offer free livestreams of football, basketball, horseracing, and many other sports. To qualify, you simply need to have a registered and funded account, or have made a bet in the previous 24 hours.

For new members, the Ladbrokes welcome bonus is useful to consider. When you place a €5 wager, you will be rewarded with €20 in free bets to use on whichever sports you wish to bet on.

888sport

Pros

• Competitive welcome offer
• Valuable promotions
• Loyalty program which converts points into free bets

Cons

• Limits professional bettors

The 888sport welcome offer is undoubtedly one of the most attractive, giving you €30 in free bets, and €10 to use in their online casino site as free spins. You only need to deposit €10 to benefit from this.

Livestreaming with 888sport is also worthwhile, because there are thousands of in-play markets. This means that you can place wagers whilst the games are still live, benefitting from the volatility of the competition. Furthermore, their competitive odds place them on the map.

What Is Live Streaming In Betting?

In betting, live streaming is where the bookmaker will broadcast the sport game on their site, so that other punters can watch. Especially for Irish and UK bettors this is great news, because it can be difficult to stream international games when you aren’t a resident of that nation. In addition, you no longer have to pay fees to subscribe to sports channels.

Generally speaking, there are no costs associated with livestreaming, and so many betting sites consider them ‘free’. However, there are two costs to consider.

• Free livestreams are considered ‘free’ because there is no cost to watch them. However, to have access, you must have made a bet on the event. On the other hand, some betting sites allow access as long as you have a registered account with the betting site, and it is funded. Lastly, you may be given view of the livestream as part of a free reward or loyalty program.
• Pay Per View (PPV) livestreams are different to free livestreams. They are monetised so you have to pay a fee to watch them. Depending on the bookmaker this price can range from €15 to €50, based on the popularity of the broadcast. PPV is common in boxing matches.

There are a multitude of sports and thousands of popular championships in the world. So, which are the most common in in live stream betting?

SPORT	COMPETITIONS
Football	Premier League, FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship
American Football	National Football League and Superbowl
Golf	The Masters, The PGA Championship, The US Open, The Open Championship
Basketball	National Basketball Association
Formula 1	Grand Prix, World Championship
Horse Racing	The Grand National, Royal Ascot, Epsom Derby
Greyhound Racing	Irish Greyhound Derby, English Greyhound Derby

There are also a few top tips to finding a good livestream.

• Compare bookmakers: the majority of bookmakers offer livestreaming services because they know their customers will be attracted to their site for it. However, not all livestreams are the same. Some have higher speeds and resolutions whilst others lag and have a bad reputation. Furthermore, some are free whilst others have a list of eligibility criteria.
• Accessibility: in this day and age, it is important to broadcast livestreams which are compatible with a variety of devices. Whether you want to watch on your television, computer, tablet, or phone, ensure that the betting site provides these opportunities.
• Look for additional features: as well as a high-quality live stream, betting sites can offer more than just a broadcast. Generally, this includes live odds, statistics, in-play betting, and any relevant updates.
• Limit your screen time: like we mentioned, there a copious number of events happening all over the world, all the time. Be sure to know your limits, and control the amount of time you spend on betting sites. Whether you are actually placing bets, or simply livestreaming, getting rest and having a healthy balance is key to being a successful punter.

How Do I Access Live Streams?

Now we understand what live streaming is, and which betting sites offer the best live streaming options, we should consider the ways to access the broadcast. Generally, there are two ways:

• The main way to access a livestreaming is by making a bet. Log in to your account, choose the sport and market, and evaluate the odds. When you find a wager that you consider to be worthy, fund your account and place your stake. Consequently, you should be able to click ‘watch livestream’ and the broadcast will come up.
• Alternatively, some betting sites offer Pay Per View. This is simply where you fund your betting account and pay to watch the livestream. Often, this is with highly-anticipated international events like boxing, with famous figures. It is worthwhile noting that not all payment methods are accepted, so be sure to check.

When accessing live streams, you will notice that not all sports are available to watch. This depends on the bookmaker, because not all have the proper licensing to stream these events. Similarly, some markets will be unavailable when you try to search for them.

Another thing you will notice when you access the live steam is statistics. The majority of betting sites have live streaming, but not all of them have extra features which further help you and make the experience more engaging. Read more about this in ‘What To Look For In Live Streams When Betting’.

To access live bets, you also have to have a clear livestream. In-play betting is where the bookmaker allows you to place wagers from the beginning of the event, until the last few seconds. It is a great type of bet because you can gain a unique perspective that punters betting regularly don’t have. For example, if a player gets injured or substituted, you can predict the outcome of the game much better than if you placed the bet before knowing.

It is also worthwhile to know the criteria that you as the punter need to meet in order to access the live stream:

• Steady internet access: the speed at which the broadcast plays rely on your internet just as much as it does the connection of the bookmaker. Ensure you have a fast connection.
• Flash: no matter which device you play the broadcast on, it should have flash. This is common for desktop and mobile applications.

What To Look For In Live Streams When Betting

Live streams in themselves are a great feature of a good betting site. However, there are several other key things to look out for which help to optimise the betting experience.

• High Quality Live Streaming

When watching an event, it should be just as exciting as if you were there in person. There is nothing more anticlimactic than a poor-quality broadcast with bad audio and image resolution. On the other hand, a good quality broadcast with have clear resolution and concise speech.

Usually, the majority of livestreams start one minute after the event has begun, and therefore end one minute later than real-time. This is slight lag is normal and doesn’t pose much of an inconvenience to your wager overall.

• In Play Betting Options

Live streaming and in-play betting go hand in hand. An in-play bet is one where you can place wagers whilst the game is still going, and it has many advantages. This includes observing real time situations and being able to act accordingly.

In-play betting is common in many sports such as football, cricket, and golf. These games are long and therefore make it easier to bet in-play. By having good quality livestreaming, you can utilise the in-play betting offers provided by bookmakers, and experiment with different sports and markets.

• Good Variety Of Sports and Events

As we mentioned, there are a variety of sports which are available on live streaming. This includes football, golf, cricket, rugby, American football, greyhound racing, and dog racing.

When betting sites offer live streaming, it is worth checking out which sports they offer their services for. The most popular global events, such as The World Cup and Formula 1 Championship, will inevitably be available from the majority of bookmakers. However, it is important to check whether the tournaments you are interested in are available, not just what everyone else will be watching.

In the same way, there should be a good range of markets available for you to bet on in-play.

• International Events

In Ireland, there a range of sporting events you could buy a ticket to see, or watch on television for free. This includes the Irish Derby, the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, and Six Nations Rugby being the most popular. Similarly, there are more less well-known games.

Alternatively, punters in Ireland may wish to watch international events, but be unable to travel. Not everyone has streaming services that these games are streamed, so it can be tricky to watch. When you have live streaming from a betting site, this worry is eliminated as you can watch the competition from the comfort of your own home, without spending a penny.

• Mobile and Desktop Compatibility

Every punter is different, and bookmakers should provide enough flexibility to make sure everyone is satisfied. Some bettors are old-fashioned and prefer watching sporting events on their laptop, because this is more comfortable for them and their preferences. On the other hand, mobile live streaming is extremely handy if you don’t have a desktop. Moreover, having an app compatible with Android and iOS means that you can watch the live stream from anywhere, as long as you have reliable internet signal. Additionally, the broadcast should be user-friendly and easy to navigate.

• Good Odds

Whilst live streaming in itself isn’t betting, you can place odds beforehand or use in-play betting. As a result, it is vital to compare bookmakers. Even if many betting sites have live streaming, they will inevitably offer you different odds. This not only depends on the bookmaker, but also the sport and type of market you are looking at.

As in-play odds fluctuate, it is important for the live stream to have strong service and be as close to real time as possible. Things can change very suddenly in sports; therefore, ensure you are using the quickest service possible.

• Live Statistics

Some betting sites also have statistics available on the side of the livestream. Depending on the sport this could include things like player line-up, goals or point scored, previous winners of the championship, and so on. This information helps to solidify the game and ensure you understand what’s going on. In the same way, if you are considering making a bet, you have useful information provided to you which will in turn aid you in making a better, more successful wager.

FAQs On Live Streaming

In final, live streaming is one of the most important qualities of a good betting site. Nevertheless, the bookmaker should ensure that this is a high-quality broadcast, and will be of use to you as the punter. In addition, the bookmaker must have other features like a good range of sports and competitive odds.

Below we have listed a few of the most commonly asked questions about live streaming, to help consolidate the information above.

Which Are The Top Betting Sites For Live Streaming?

Our top picks for betting sites with live streaming are bet365, BetVictor, Ladbrokes, and 888sports. This is because they have high-quality live streaming with good resolution, fast speed, user friendliness, and accessibility.

Other popular betting sites with live streaming include Unibet, BoyleSports, TonyBet, 10Bet, William Hill, Betway, Novibet, Coral, Paddy Power, and Betfair.

What Makes A Good Live Stream?

Having live streaming capabilities is vital, but the broadcast should be of good quality. A satisfactory live stream should not only be high quality but also have a large range of sporting events to choose from, broadcast international events, and be compatible with a number of devices.

Another thing to consider is in-play betting and cash back. In-play betting is where you can place wagers on the game as it is still live, whilst early cash back means you can close the wager and earn a fraction of your original profits before the game is finished. Both of these types of bet need optimal live streaming in order to work efficiently, because watching the competition is important whilst placing them.

Which Sports Can You Watch On Live Stream?

There are thousands of sporting events out there, not limited to Ireland. Whilst the Six Nations Rugby, Irish Derby, and All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, are the most popular Irish games, a betting site should have more to offer.

One of the most common sports to live stream is football, because it is popular in every country. This includes the World Cup, Premier League, and EUFA Champions League. In cricket, the most popular event is the cricket world cup. There is also Formula 1 racing, horse racing, golf, basketball, and more niche sports.

What Are The Cost Associated With Live Streaming?

Betting sites deem live streaming to be ‘free’ because most of the time, you do not have to pay for the actual stream. Nonetheless, to be eligible to watch the broadcast, you should have a fully registered and funded active account with the bookmaker. The majority of betting sites except you to have either made a bet in the prior 24 hours leading upto the live stream, or have made a bet on the specific event.

Alternatively, you may be interested in Pay Per View matches. The prices on these vary, but be sure to compare betting sites and their prices for this.