Live or in play betting adds a new dimension to sports betting in India. Instead of taking odds on an upcoming match or event, live wagering gives you the ability to bet on events as the action unfolds on the field, pitch or track.
Even though sports betting in India has been around for years, live betting is a relatively new phenomenon. Technology has been the catalyst for this transformation where online-based bookmakers slowly replaced the traditional bookmakers shop. In play betting was first introduced telephonically where bettors could place bets while on the phone to their bookmaker. Moving the process online was the next logical step.
With live online and mobile sports betting, bettors can put money on matches as they are taking place. Unlike traditional wagers where the markets open a few days or even weeks or months beforehand, live markets only open after the starting whistle has blown. The odds are then updated every 10 minutes, or whenever there’s a major shift in the action. For example in Cricket the odds shift as soon as a wicket is taken, or if a batsman hits a couple of boundaries in a row.
The idea with in play betting is to analyse the momentum of the game and predict how the match will end based on current circumstances. The odds reflect what is happening at the moment, taking into account previous performances by both teams.
The rules and regulations stipulate that no bet may be placed before the start of the match or game, or after the final whistle has blown.
The easiest way to check if your bookmaker offers in play betting is to click on the event in advance. The bookmaker will display the pre-match options and also indicate which markets will be available as the game plays out.
With mobile sports betting access may differ slightly. Depending on the app, there may be a separate function where the odds constantly update and the markets are displayed below, or it may be integrated into the main page.
The major advantage with putting money down as a game plays out is being able to bet on a team based on their current performance. With pre-match wagers, teams can often look good on paper but play terribly on the day. There are many factors that can influence a game such as injuries, jetlag, weather, stadium and home ground advantage. With in play betting, you can see first hand how a team adapts to the game and build in previous performances to your prediction.
If you are familiar with sports betting in India, you will know that anything can happen in a match. The disadvantage of putting money on a match in real time is that you may place your wager too early and miss an unexpected score or change in action. Sometimes you can put money down too late in the game with not enough time left for the teams to pick up their performance.
Before putting money on any live event there are a few things to consider. As with all forms of online and mobile sports betting, research is key. While putting money down as the game plays out does negate previous performance statistics, it is important to know how previous matches were won. If a team usually performs better in the second half, it will be best to place your wager in the first half and predict a comeback. If a team starts off well but then tires out, this must be considered too.
Betting exchanges offer bettors peer-to-peer wagering where you have the option of laying or backing a bet. They have also recently started offering live wagering where you can lay or back bet on an event. The biggest difference here is not knowing which markets will be available, as they rely on the person laying the wager during the match. This adds another exciting new dimension to sports betting in India and offers punters even more ways to win.
If you’re interested in In play betting we recommend the following bookmakers:
