A Guide to In Play Betting

oddscrowd image

In-play betting is one of the greatest sports betting revolutions of the last few years. It’s available on a huge number of sports and betting lines, and in this guide, we’ll tell you all about it. 


What is Live or In-Play Betting?


In-play betting, also known as live betting, is a form of betting that occurs when the market is open. Pre-game bets are placed before a game begins; in-play bets are placed after the kick-off/tip-off.


How Does In-Play Betting Work?


In-play betting requires a huge, coordinated effort from Sportsbook operators.


They receive information from a live game and use this information to adjust betting markets in real-time. When something significant occurs, they suspend the market temporarily, preventing all bets and stopping anyone from betting after the fact.


For instance, if there is a penalty incident in a soccer match, the market will be suspended until the penalty has been taken or the game has moved on.


In addition, in-play bets are subject to a short wait, usually around 5 seconds. This means that if you place a bet now, you’ll need to wait 5 seconds for it to be confirmed. If a suspension occurs during that time, the bet will be canceled.


Using Cash Out When In-Play Betting


The cash out feature goes hand-in-hand with in-play betting. It lets you cash out bets while the game is still active before using those funds to place other wagers.


If, for instance, you have a pregame bet on Team A and they are winning, you can cash out and then move your bet (and the profit you have accumulated) to Team B. If things go your way, you could turn a small wager into a huge payout.


In-Play Betting Strategies


As noted above, in-play betting involves a huge network of operators and vast amounts of data. There is no way to cheat this process and sneak a bet on an event that has already been settled (such as betting on a goal as soon as a penalty has been given).


However, there are a few things you can do:


  • Look for bonuses. Sometimes sportsbooks have promotions just for in-play wagers. Check out our Sportsbook Offers page here, and our Odds Boost Aggregator here.
  • Always watch the game in question.
  • Don’t be afraid to change your mind. If you think things are going in the opposite direction, cash out and then place another wager.
  • Use the cash out button when you anticipate that things will change.
  • Bet smart and don’t be too reactionary.
  • Don’t try to beat the system. Just focus on bets that you have a good feeling about.
  • Don’t rush. You have more time than you think.


How to Place an In-Play Bet with FanDuel Sportsbook


Click the “Live Now” button in the menu bar to see a current list of all active games. From here, you just need to choose your bet. Your choice will be sent to your bet slip, where you can place your wager. After setting your stake, you’ll need to wait a few seconds, and then your bet will be confirmed.


How to Place an In-Play Bet with DraftKings Sportsbook


The Live In-Game section contains all active games. Click the one you want, and your bet slip will appear. Choose from a single or parlay, enter your stake, and then place your bet by clicking the green button.


How to Place an In-Play Bet with Caesars Sportsbook


Caesars has a lot of in-play bets available. Visit the in-play section, add your selections to your bet slip, and then confirm. Expect a short delay and occasional odds changes, as is common with all sportsbooks. 


How to Place an In-Play Bet with BetMGM Sportsbook


Choose “Live” to see all active games. From here, it’s just like placing a normal bet. All selections are added to your bet slip and are subject to a short wait before they are confirmed.


How to Place an In-Play Bet with PointsBet Sportsbook


Click the “Live” tab. It will show you how many live games are currently active with a big red button. Choose your bet from the following page, add it to your slip, and then wager as a single bet or a parlay.


How to Place an In-Play Bet with BetRivers Sportsbook


All in-play bets can be found under “Live”. Find the one you want, click the box, and visit your bet slip to place your bet. 

Bonuses
See all

Caesars

$1250 Bonus
Your First Bet Is On Caesars Up To $1,250, plus get 1,000 Tier Credits and 1,000 Reward Credits

FanDuel Sportsbook

$1000 Bonus
$1,000 No Sweat First Bet. Up to $1,000 In Bonus Bets If Your First Bet Loses.

SugarHouse

$500 Bonus
If your first wager loses, receive a Free Bet, equal to your stake, up to a maximum of $500

PointsBet

$250 Bonus
Get 5 Second Chance Bets Up To $50 Each ($250 Total)

BetMGM

$1000 Bonus
Sign up via our link and place your first bet. If it loses, receive your money back up to $1,000 in Bonus Bets

BetRivers

$500 Bonus
If your first wager loses, receive a Free Bet, equal to your stake, up to $500 ($100 max in NY)

DraftKings Sportsbook

$1000 Bonus
20% match worth up to $1,000. To get the full $1,000, you must deposit $5,000 when signing up

Unibet Sportsbook

$250 Bonus
If your first bet is not a winner, Unibet will give your money back up to $250

BetFred USA

$1111 Bonus
Bet $50, Get $111 + Get up to $1000 in Fred Bets:

SuperBook

$500 Bonus
$500 Every First Bet Wins Bonus ($1,000 in OH)

WynnBet

$100 Bonus
Bet $100 and Receive a $100 Free Bet ($50 Sports & $50 Casino)