Live/In-Game betting strategies

An important part of sports betting is live betting, also known as in-game or in-play betting, which has become especially popular with the emergence and development of online bookmakers.

Before we present the strategies, advantages and disadvantages of this way of betting in more detail, it is important that you understand what live/in-game betting really is. It is, to put it simply, the possibility of placing bets on matches that have already started.

In the beginning, you could only bet on a couple of games, like the outcome at halftime or the end. Today, live/in-game betting has gone wild, and the range of what you can bet on is huge. You can place your bet on the number of corners in the match, the total number of points of each team scored in any quarter of a basketball game, who will win in each game of the tennis match, etc.

All in all, this type of betting creates a large number of chances to earn a lot of money quite quickly, but it also carries the risk of things getting out of control and losing money.

In the following paragraphs, we will introduce you to the main features of live betting and try to explain some strategies.

Is there value in Live/In-Game betting?

Yes. To make money in live/in-game betting you need to understand where that value lies and you should make the most of it.

The bookmakers have the advantage before the match starts because they set the odds. Before they publish them, they have time on their side and can analyze all the factors in detail. So, when setting up odds, they go through complete statistics, follow the latest news from the clubs, look at what other bookmakers are doing, consult experts, check their algorithms, etc.

This will minimize the risk of setting inappropriate odds. Admittedly, they often make misjudgments. That is when surebets and valuebets come to the scene, but bookmakers have time to keep them to a minimum.

But what happens when they don't have time? When they are forced to determine odds and margins in the blink of an eye, there is a much higher chance of making a mistake. Then they have to rely on algorithm estimates, which are not perfect, and they do not have time to consult with experts. This is a key advantage of live betting. When you see that a player has been injured, that the course of the match is changing rapidly, or that the audience has a huge impact on the game, you can take control.

Even though live/in-game betting implies a chance for bookmakers to set bad odds and margins, it can also have a huge negative impact. One of the reasons why bookmakers always make profit is that they are aware that the people who bet are often not too smart and that they often place bets irrationally.

Do you think bettors are more emotional before or during a game? Of course, during the match, so live betting attracts a huge number of people who will impulsively place bets on their favorite teams and players. Also, this type of betting offers the opportunity to recover expressly what you lost that day.

To minimize these negative factors, we have prepared a short guide for live/in-game betting for you.

Interface quality

Some people may find this paragraph stupid or unimportant, but the visual experience of online betting sites is essential. If a site is done cheaply, superficially and there are visible mistakes, no matter how good the odds are, it will drive away a certain number of players.

Also, it is very important that the games are laid out with space between them so that there is no error when selecting a particular line.

In addition, it is crucial that any change in odds is emphasized and clearly signaled. This can be done by employing red and green arrows or by turning the odds box green or red with each change. Also, when confirming a bet, it is important to be informed that if have been changes in the odds.

Protect yourself

Live/in-game betting is ideal to minimize the risk of loss or eliminate it completely in certain situations. Here is an example:

Mike is waiting for Rafael Nadal to win against Roger Federer in the Roland Garros final for a net profit of €60. He invested €5. The Spanish player leads 2-0 in sets, so bookmakers value the Swiss's victory at odds of 9.55 at that moment. 

Mike decides to invest another €5 that Federer will make a comeback and so he has covered all the possible outcomes. If Nadal wins, he will earn €60. In case Federer wins, he will earn a net worth of €42.75.

Our recommendation is to use this strategy because it eliminates risk and ensures a secure income.

Wait, then make money

A tactic that proved to be very efficient, but also a bit risky, is to make a thorough analysis before the match, wait for it to start and then act.

For example, the Milwaukee Bucks are favorites against the New York Knicks and play in front of their fans, but you think the away team will win. The odds for the Knicks to win before the match are 2.35 and you plan to bet €10. But you decide to wait and hope for a good opening of the Bucks.

The home team gained a 10-2 advantage after three minutes of play and now the odds for the guests are 4.35. You place your €10 then and your potential net earnings raise from €13.5 to €33.5.

This strategy can be very profitable, but it requires excellent knowledge of the sport you are betting on, as well as teams and their forms. In addition, you have to be determined because the odds change very quickly and you can easily miss a good opportunity.

Stand firmly on the ground

Because Live / In-Game betting is very dynamic and everything changes very quickly, you can easily place a large number of bets in a short time and get off track. Make sure that doesn’t happen!

For example, you bet that Manchester United will beat Newcastle, but the Red Devils defender fails in the 10th minute and Newcastle gains the advantage. The odds on your team jump right away and you have a chance you don't want to miss, so you place a new bet.

Thirty minutes later, Newcastle's best player leaves the field due to an injury, and the odds are still the same, so you place another one. Instead of one, you now have three bets on one match. This can sometimes bring huge profits, but it often brings great losses in a short time.

Don't bet just for the sake of betting

You’ve already placed the bets you planned that day, but you have a free afternoon or you’re home alone. You make the decision to place a live bet because you are bored, and so the nightmare starts.

You miss the first, then the second line, and you lose your balance completely. At the end of the day, you realize that all your planned bets are winning, but you failed to make a profit because of hasty live decisions.

That is why it is crucial not to bet just for the sake of betting but try to use your free time in a different way.

Don’t bet live on matches you don’t watch

Earlier in the text, we stated that the main advantage of bettors over bookmakers in live betting is that they can react in a split second and recognize some things that the computer cannot. That is why it is very important that you don’t bet live on matches that you’re not watching.

If you don't have time to watch the whole match or you're not focused enough, don't even think about live/in-game betting. Place as many bets as you want before the start of the match, but don't even turn on the TV.

Conclusion

The essence of this whole story is to learn how to deal with this way of betting. Information will reach you at lightning speed, but our recommendation is not to act hastily.

Make a plan of how you will act before the game starts. To start, place one to two bets per match. Analyze the platform and learn “how it breathes”.

Live/in-game betting is a type of betting that can bring extreme profits. But you will not be able to make money on every match every day, but as with other betting strategies, it requires time and patience.