What Is an ‘In Play’ Bet?
In-play betting (aka In-game or live betting) is the act of placing a wager on a sporting event after it has already started and while it is still in progress.
This is different from traditional (or “pre-match”) betting, where all wagers must be placed before the event begins.
Key Features of In-Play Betting
- Dynamic Odds: This is the most important feature. The odds for various outcomes change constantly in real-time to reflect what is happening in the event. For example, if the underdog team scores the first goal in a football match, their odds of winning will instantly shorten (become less profitable), while the favourite’s odds to win will lengthen (become more profitable).
- Real-Time Wagers: You can place bets at almost any point during the game, allowing you to react to the flow of the game, a player’s performance, or a shift in momentum.
- New Bet Types: In-play betting opens up a wide range of markets that are not available before the game starts. These are often short-term “prop” (proposition) bets.
How In-Play Betting Works: An Example
Imagine you are watching a football match between Team A (the favourite) and Team B (the underdog).
- Pre-Match: Before the game, you might bet on Team A to win with odds of 1.50 (meaning a £10 bet wins £5 profit).
- Game Starts: The match begins, and in-play betting opens. The odds for Team A to win might stay around 1.50.
- An Event Happens: In the 20th minute, Team B (the underdog) scores a goal to go 1-0 up.
- Odds Change: The live betting system instantly recalculates. The odds for Team A (who are now losing) to come back and win might drift out to 3.00. The odds for Team B to win will shorten dramatically.
- You Place a Bet: Believing Team A is the better team and will still win, you place an in-play bet on them at the new, higher odds of 3.00. If Team A turns the game around and wins 2-1, your in-play bet is a winner.
Common Types of In-Play Bets
The markets available vary by sport, but here are some common examples:
- Football:
- Next team to score
- Next player to score
- Who will win the next corner or throw-in
- Total number of goals (Over/Under a new, adjusted number)
- Tennis:
- Who will win the next point
- Who will win the next game
- Who will win the current set
- American Football:
- Result of the next drive (e.g., Touchdown, Field Goal, Punt, Turnover)
- Next player to score a touchdown
- Basketball:
- Which team will win the current quarter
- Which team will be the first to reach 20 points