What is in-play betting? Guide to betting during live events

In-play betting is one of the most popular forms of betting in 2019. But what is it and how can you get the most out of this type of betting?

In-play betting has risen in popularity over the last few years, mainly due to the rise of mobile betting and the ease of placing bets online.

Long gone are the days when you’d have to walk to your local bookie to place your bets. Nowadays you can place your desired wager in a matter of seconds.

Whilst many bettors still love placing their bets before an event has started (pre-match), an increasing number of punters are going in-play with their wagers. In-play betting is actually the fastest growing bet type in the online betting world.

What is in-play betting?

You guessed it, in-play or in-running betting as it’s also known, is betting once an event has begun.

One of the great things about this bet type is that you can place both back and lay bets meaning matched betting and other strategies are still available once an event kicks off.

This may allow you to benefit from a bookmaker offer as we’ll look at later in the article.

Most of the pre-match markets will still be available as the game goes in-play meaning you’ve got loads of betting opportunities throughout the event.

Benefits of in-play betting

As with all methods, in-play betting has a number of pros and cons when compared to pre-match betting. Here are just some of the benefits:

  • More informed betting decisions
  • In-play betting is more exciting
  • Redeem your losses

Let’s check out each of these in more detail.

More informed betting decisions

Not 100% sure about the team you’re betting on? Don’t think the horse is going to last the distance? We’ve all had doubts about bets we’ve placed. But one of the great things about in-play betting is that you can delay your bet and gain some more evidence.

How did your team start the game? Are they looking confident? These are the questions you can ask before placing your in-play bet. Ultimately this allows you to make more informed betting decisions in the aim of increasing your profitability.

Keep in mind that the odds are likely to represent the current situation in the game.

It’s also important to add that the odds are often not as valuable once an event has started. But at least you can place your bets with some valuable knowledge.

In-play betting is more exciting

You might be wondering why in-play betting attracts so many people? One of the major draws is certainly the excitement of placing bets during live sport.

From personal experience, placing bets in the midst of a game is far more entertaining and exciting than before the event. With in-play betting, you’re caught in the thick of the action.

However, at the same time, this is something you need to watch out for. Don’t let the action get you carried away. Stay focussed and in control of your bets.

Redeem your losses

Another benefit of in-play betting is that you can potentially redeem losses. Whilst this won’t work for every sport and event, there will be the occasion when it works a treat.

Let’s say that your selected horse, which you bet on pre-race, fell at an early hurdle. Now, you’d lose your stake at the bookmaker and you have no chance of winning.

However, with in-play betting, you can head to a betting exchange and place a back bet or lay bet on another horse or horses to win the race. This should allow you to either maximise your profits or minimise your losses from the event.

In-play betting tips

Here are some top tips to ensure you get the most out of your in-play betting in 2019.

  • Place your bets at half time
  • Start with low stakes

Place your bets at half time

Odds move incredibly quickly during live events. You may be about to place your bet when a goal is scored. Obviously, this will significantly change the odds very quickly.

The aim is to wait for a break in play or use half time to your advantage.

Start with low stakes

As with any new betting strategy, it’s important to start with low stakes until you’re confident with the process.

Is matched betting in-play a possibility?

I mentioned matched betting a little earlier on but I thought it deserved its own section within this article.

There are plenty of opportunities to profit with in-play matched betting.

Some bookmaker offers require you to place in-play bets to qualify for the free bet or promotion. The Ladbrokes Bet £25 in-play, Get £10 is a good example.

To avoid any mistakes and missing out on any profit, it’s best to place your bets during a break in play or even better at half time.

Watching live events

Nowadays it’s also possible to watch live events from within certain bookmakers’ websites. This is a great feature that eases the process of placing in-play bets.

In-play betting overview

So is in-play betting worth your time in 2019?

100% most definitely.

In-play betting is arguably one of the most exciting ways to place your bets. As long as you remain focussed on placing the required bets you should also make some decent profit with this strategy.

Let me know what you think of in-play betting by leaving a comment below right now.

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