Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know About Live Sports Betting

Live betting is when a bettor places action on a contest already underway. Handicap will often offer lines and odds that are adjusted based on gameflow and current win probability. This is based on the initial line, the current score, and gamescript. Handicap offer live betting on spreads, moneylines, and over/unders (totals). Some books also offer other live bet types such as "what will the result of the next play be" or "what the result of a particular drive might be."

Live betting is about taking advantage of the additional information that betting on an ongoing contest presents.

Strategy

Live betting is all about strategy: what sport to play, when to play, and when not to play. These all need to be approached strategically, and there are also hedging and middling strategies to consider. Let’s dig a little deeper.

When to Play

When to partake in live betting should generally be decided only when watching and taking in the game in question. This allows you to soak in the adjustments or changes in gameflow in the contest. Generally speaking, one wants to take live betting action when they are able to find lines at a better value than what had been available earlier.

Experienced live bettors often prefer to wait until late in the contest to submit their live bets. The thinking here is that the later you are able to wait, the better you can increase your odds of winning that particular wager. This works best for underdogs.

When Not to Play

There are times when a bettor should try to stay away from live betting. The number one time is when you are down big after a full day of betting. This can result in “chasing,” where you bet specifically to try and recoup some, if not all, of the day’s losses. While there are times when it is perfectly fine to engage in live betting when you are down, it is generally not recommended unless there is a standout value that cannot be ignored. The reasoning here is that a day of significant losses can influence your decision regarding whether or not a live bet option is actually an attractive value or not. Never chase.

Another time to avoid live betting is when the contest in question involves your home team or one of your favorite teams. Betting, especially live betting, needs to be emotionless. There is no better way to let emotion and your heart creep into your decision making than to be betting on a contest involving a club or team that you support.