What is Live Betting? Live Betting Explained in 2 minutes
Jesse M. Cox Last Verified
19/04/2026
What is Live Betting?
Live betting , which is also known as betting in play or in-running betting, refers to the practice of placing a bet during the actual course of a sporting event. Once a sporting event has begun, the number of smaller events which it is possible to place a bet on expands hugely. Live betting can be highly entertaining, but discipline and control are needed in order to maximise the chances of a profitable result.
Although live betting can be applied to any sporting event, it is particularly popular amongst spectators of football, horse racing and basketball.
How is Betting in Play used in Sports Betting?
Once the action of an event has started the number of events on which bets could potentially be placed is virtually limitless. Technological advances, particularly online streaming, mean that it is possible to keep track of the fluctuations of a match, and of the odds being offered, and to place bets accordingly. A keen-eyed viewer will be able to spot when a player is tiring or hitting peak form, for example, and combine this with knowledge of previous performances to make successful bets.
In a tennis match, bets could be placed on the number of games won to love in a set, the total number of games in a match or the winner of the next game or point.
While watching football it’s possible to place a bet on fundamental factors such as which team is going to win and who’ll score the first goal, through to smaller matters such as the number of corners during a game, the identity of the next goal scorer or the score at half time.
Live betting is more dynamic, more interactive and, in many ways, much more exciting than simply placing a win, lose or draw bet on an event. The flipside of this is that it’s easy to get carried away by the sheer range of bets on offer, and keeping a careful watch on overall outgoings is vital if an eventual profit is to be secured.
