Live sports betting has been a staple of the bettor’s experience ever since the late 1800s when sportsbooks began offering in-play odds during a horse race. It was, as you would imagine, a chaotic affair as updated prices would be shouted over the hordes of racegoers once a horse got to a certain point on the track.
Any bettor keen on betting on these new odds would have to convey their approval by either a hand signal or find a way for their voices to be heard over the shrieks of excitement from those in attendance. Compared to the convenience of the modern day when we can sit undisturbed in the comfort of our homes and bet live on sports, this outdated practice undoubtedly sounds exhausting.
Yet, despite the vast technological advancements, the essence of live betting remains unchanged: just as those eagle-eyed punters of the 1800s looked to capitalize on live developments, today’s bettors are driven by the same desire to take advantage of unforeseen opportunities. Below, we’ll look at why live betting remains a popular option in today’s world.
Games That Are Too Close to Call
Anyone who’s followed sports knows the feeling when a game is too close to call in the lead-up. No matter how many times you review the stats or assess the current form of both teams, a clear outcome still remains elusive.
Live sports betting, however, allows you to eliminate some of that uncertainty by sampling the action before placing your bet. While there will be occasions when a cagey affair still unfolds after the referee starts the contest with not much evidence of an upcoming result apparent, there will also be times when a clear rhythm is established which can offer valuable clues about how the game might progress.
Crucially, this might not always depend on selecting the final outcome. At least, observing a specific pattern can help with markets like who the next goalscorer will be. For example, if one team is dominating possession in a soccer match and generating a series of corners then the next goal may not come from an attacking player but rather from one of the towering central defenders who pose a significant threat on set pieces.
In essence, live sports betting allows you the chance to weigh up real-time information before accessing the in-play odds that best reflect the current status of the game.
Betting Against the Odds
One of sport’s most captivating features is its unpredictability. Ask any sports fan, and they’ll gladly share a story about the time their team pulled off what many believed to be impossible—coming from behind to spoil the headlines that had already been written.
With live sports betting, you’re given the chance to back these comeback kings by betting on what seems like an improbable result at the time. While there will be many instances when a fairytale ending does not transpire, there will, on the odd occasion, be a jaw-dropping turn-up for the books.
A good example of this was Manchester City’s recent game in the Champions League against Dutch side Feyenoord when City had raced into a three-goal lead by the 50th minute and were cruising to victory. After Pep Guardiola’s side had scored their third goal, the odds of a draw had skyrocketed to +25000.
However, the cat was put among the City pigeons when Feyenoord made it 3-1 in the 74th minute. It would only take another 15 minutes for the unthinkable to happen as David Hancko leveled matters in the 89th minute to make it 3-3; the referee would bring the game to an end a few minutes later with Feyenoord having secured a draw from nowhere.
After the match, a certain sportsbook in the United Kingdom would reveal that eight of its customers bet on a draw at +25000 when the score was 3-0. The highest payout was $1217 after one bettor placed a $6 bet and then cashed out after Feyenoord’s equalizer.
While it’s important to reiterate that this type of result is the exception and not the norm, the wider point is that live sports betting lets you back this type of eventuality. It is deciding when to which is key.
To that end, before placing any bet, whether it is pre-match or futures, it also pays to be discerning with live betting by doing the required research and reading the latest sports analysis.
In the example above, City had shown an uncharacteristic brittleness having lost five consecutive games before facing Feyenoord, leaving the door open to a late implosion under the right circumstances. In other words, there can still be a method to the perceived madness of betting against the odds with live markets.
The Inside Track
Whether you prefer to monitor events unfold or use the potentially advantageous in-play odds that could lead to a handsome profit, live sports betting puts the power back in your hands. It is this freedom and flexibility that has seen live sports betting go from strength to strength ever since those first live horse racing bets were taken 150 years ago.