Why Live Betting is So Popular in Sports

Since the overturning of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018, sports betting has been widely available in the US for the first time in decades. The law was repealed on the basis of it violating the state of New Jersey’s rights, who took the argument to the Supreme Court.

The new ruling meant that every state in the US had jurisdiction to enforce their own gambling laws. Five years on, there are now 37 states with some form of legal sports betting. The industry is booming and there are tons of new ways to bet since the move to online betting from brick-and-mortar shops.

One of the best examples of this is the popularity of live betting with online bookmakers. With live betting, you can wager on sporting events while that event is in-play. For example, if an NFL game has already kicked off or an NBA game is in the second quarter, you can still back your favorite markets and more.

As the game is played, stats are altered accordingly. For example, if a team is winning their odds become shorter or if the total is getting closer to the line set. This is where money can be won.

Live betting is widespread in ball sports and is where it is the most popular. Let’s take a look at a few different sports and see how live betting is used.

NFL

The NFL is the most popular sport to bet on in the US, so it is no surprise that live betting is also huge for the sport. One of the reasons that live betting is so popular in sport is because when tracking the ebb and flow of a game you are more able to pick up on stats and trends that translate to the betting markets. With the NFL being the most watched league in the nation its is on show here more than anywhere else.

We also often see upsets and turnarounds from deficits in the league which, when watching a game, fans are often more likely to wager on. You are also more likely to be able to understand how an offense is planning to play. For example, if a team is trailing by two scores in the fourth quarter, they are more likely to look for chunk plays. This informs betting trends for player props as bettors may look to back quarterback passing yard props or receiving yard props for WR’s.

NBA

Another ball sport that is great for live betting is basketball. The NBA is one of the most exciting leagues in the world and the 82-game regular season means there are few limits when it comes to games you can wager on. One of the best aspects of betting in-play on the NBA is that half-time leads are often tight. Favorites can often head into the third quarter trailing by a few points and while this is not likely to have too much of an effect on the final result, bookmakers still have to adjust odds accordingly. This is when it could pay to back the moneyline pre-game favorite as the odds would’ve shifted slightly and you are more likely to see a better return.

Tennis

As tennis is of course not a team sport, players must rely on their own ability and bettors like to take advantage of any inconsistency. One of the best ways to exploit this is by betting live on breaks, specifically on clay courts. Games on clay courts are often slower and see a higher number of service breaks. This can be a great way of backing underdogs, especially if there is a noticeable trend of service breaks in a single match. Odds on the receiving player for a game are usually around +250 which of course opens the door for some great wins.

Soccer

Soccer is likely the best sport for live betting across all other sports. One of the biggest advantages of in-play wagering on soccer is the lack of stoppages meaning it is much easier to track the flow of the game and bet accordingly. There are a lot of markets you can wager on in-play on soccer as well which makes it all the more exciting.

Betting on players to receive yellow cards pre-match is often tough and the odds are stacked accordingly. However, if you are watching a full back struggle against a pacey winger for example then this could be when to strike, especially if he has already committed a foul without being carded. Or maybe a team is only a goal down but is putting a lot of pressure on the opposing team’s goal. This is when a lot of bettors will wager on a draw or a particular player to score next. Soccer is one of the most exciting sports to bet on and it offers the most opportunities to win on live betting.