Online sportsbooks have completely changed the game when it comes to sports betting. People no longer have to go down to their local high street sportsbook and take whatever odds they’re given in the limited markets available to them. While some might mourn the absence of the betting shop community aspect, most people can see that the improvements that online sportsbooks offer seriously outweigh that loss.
The ability to place bets online has opened up betting to more people, particularly those who didn’t feel comfortable going into betting shops or who didn’t live local to a reputable bookmaker. Online sportsbooks also offer features that wouldn’t be possible at a classic betting shop, such as live streaming, in-game betting and bet builders.
Every country has its favorite sport to bet on. In the UK it’s Premier League football, in South Africa it’s rugby, in Canada it’s NHL hockey and in Australia, the top betting sport is cricket. In the USA, of course, it’s the NFL. The Super Bowl is the single biggest betting event of the year in the United States, with over $185 million being wagered on the 2024 Super Bowl alone. In-game betting has become particularly popular for NFL games.
Betting on the NFL isn’t just for Americans, that’s part of the fun of online sports betting. There are, however, some special rules and markets for the NFL that a new fan might not be aware of. Reading a list of NFL betting tips is a good place to start, especially if you’re new to in-game betting on the sport or to sports betting in general.
Whether you’re betting on the NFL, the EPL or any of the other sports that have in-game betting as an option, it’s worth giving it a try. In-game betting is a game-changer for fans and if you keep reading, we’ll explain what it is and the main reasons why today’s punters love it.
What is in-game betting?
In-game betting is also known as live betting or in-play betting. In-game bets are placed on games that are already happening. They can be placed on the outcome of a half, or events that may happen during a half or quarter of the game, or any other factor not directly tied to the final outcome of the game.
Some examples of popular in-game bet types are who will score the next goal/points (player or team), who will win the next quarter/half, or which player will be fouled or receive a yellow card next.
On occasion when something dramatic happens or if there’s a major shift in the momentum of a game, in-game betting options will be suspended. This gives the bookmakers time to recalculate the odds to keep things as accurate as possible. This is highly variable and could happen multiple times during a game or only once before a game starts.
In-game betting isn’t offered for every sport. The number of sports that have in-game betting options is steadily growing, however, as sportsbooks realize how much fans enjoy being able to bet on games as they’re happening.
New types of bets
Sports bettors today have more options than ever before. They can bet on a wider range of markets, with many sportsbooks offering odds on at least 30 or more sports. They can compare odds, build their own complex bets and boost their parlay bets with parlay insurance.
We’ve come a long way from the basic, single event win/lose bets of the early days of sports betting. In-game betting is the latest addition and this new type of bet satisfies the craving for new things. Also, betting while a game is in progress opens up new betting possibilities. It keeps things interesting for bettors who may have become bored with placing the same kind of scheduled bets on a weekly or daily basis.
Bets for when you’re watching the match
One of the biggest perks of online sports betting is that you can place bets while out at a sports bar watching a game or while hanging out with friends. It makes it a more social activity, and in-game betting can make it even more exciting.
With in-game betting, you can be watching a game with friends and all decide to place bets on the same market. It’s simply a more advanced version of the classic joking that friends engage in – only, instead of the loser having to buy the next round, everyone has the chance to win – or lose! – a bit of money.
Added difficulty
In-game betting is not for the inexperienced bettor. It provides an added level of difficulty that experienced sports bettors enjoy. The odds and outcomes change fast in in-game betting, and this can be difficult to keep track of.
New bettors often get carried away by the excitement of in-game betting and can end up spending much more than they planned. Experienced bettors have the ability to judge the action better without getting too caught up in it.