Live betting, which is sometimes referred to as in-play betting, involves real-time wagering on an ongoing sporting event. Live betting greatly heightens the overall betting experience, and in this article we will put forward a list of what we think are the 20 best live betting bookies in the UK.
Table of Contents
- Best Betting Sites We Recommend For Live Betting
- Live Betting Sites Ranking Criteria
- What is Live Betting?
- What Sports Can Punters Bet on in Play?
- Placing a Live Bet
- Live Betting Tips
- Best Football Betting Offers – England Premier League, Spain La Liga, Italy Serie A, Germany Bundesliga, Champions League
- FAQs
- ThePuntersPage Final Say
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#1
 bet365
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Min deposit £5. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. |
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#2
 Betfair
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New customer offer. Place 5 x £10 or more bets to receive £20 in free bets. Repeat up to 5 times to receive maximum £100 bonus. Min odds 1/2 (1.5). Exchange bets excluded. Payment restrictions apply. T&Cs apply. |
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#3
 William Hill
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New customers using Promo Code P30 only, min £10/€10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 2 x £15/€15 (30 days expiry), free bet/payment method/player/country restrictions apply. |
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#4
 Paddy Power
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New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any sportsbook market and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using Cards or Apple Pay will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. |
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#5
 Coral
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18+. UK+IRE only. Paypal & some deposit & bet types excl. Min first bet £5 a odds 1/2 or more. Tote and Pool excluded. Must be placed within 14 days of account reg. £20 credited as 2 x £10 free bets. Not valid with CashOut. Free bet valid for 7 days. Free bet stake not returned. 18+ T&Cs Apply. |
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#6
 Ladbrokes
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18+ New UK+IRE customers. Paypal and certain deposit types and bet types excluded. Min £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4 x £5 free bets. Free bets valid for 4 days on sports, stake not returned, restrictions apply. T&Cs apply. |
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#7
 BetVictor
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New Customers only. Deposit and place a £5 qualifying bet at odds of 2.00 or greater within 7 days of opening a new account; excludes cashed out bets. Receive 2x £10 Free Sports Bets, valid on set events only at odds 2.00 or greater, expires in 7 days, plus a £10 Casino Bonus, expires in 7 days. Wager the Casino Bonus 35x to withdraw winnings, game weighting applies. Card Payments only. Geographical Restrictions and T&Cs Apply, See Below. Please Gamble Responsibly |
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#8
 Betfred
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New UK & NI customers only. 18+. Sign up using promo code ‘SPORTS60’. Deposit & place first sports bet at a minimum of £10 in one bet transaction at evens (2.0) +. £30 paid in free bets within 48 hours of bet settlement, expires 7-days after issue. Doesn’t apply to customers who place their first bet on the Virtual Grand National. E-Wallet & Prepaid Card restrictions apply. Your first bet must be settled within 60 days of bet placement. SMS validation may be required. Game restrictions apply. Maximum 30 Free Spins on selected games. Free Spins expire after 7 days. Full T&Cs apply. |
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#9
 888sport
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Minimum deposit of £10 using deposit code 30F - A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 placed on any sports market - Minimum odds of 1/2 (1.5) - Free bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days - Free bet stakes not included in returns - Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days • To withdraw bonus/related wins, wager bonus amount x40 within 14 days • Wagering req. vary by game • Deposit methods, Withdrawal restrictions and Full T&C’s apply |
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#10
 Unibet
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New customers only. 18+, BeGambleAware.org. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus. Wagering requirements: Sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), Casino 25x. Only one bonus can be used at a time, Sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the Casino, unless the bonus has been forfeited. Bonus will expire after 7 days of opt-in. |
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#11
 32Red
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New accounts only. Min. £10 deposit, debit card only. Up to 50x wagering, game contributions vary, max. stake applies, 7 day expiry. See full terms. |
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#12
 BoyleSports
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18+. Cash stakes only. Min £10 stake required for initial £5 free bet. Min odds ½. Max £25 in free bets. Subsequent free bets equal 50% average of each 3 qualifying bets. 13 bets required to receive full £25 free bet. Qualifying bet must be placed within 30 days of opening account. Free bet expires after 7 days. Payment method restrictions apply. T&Cs apply. |
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#13
 MansionBet
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New customers only. Min deposit £10 (UK Debit cards only). Bet £10 at odds of evens (2.0) or greater. Multiple bets with cumulative odds of evens (2.0) count, each leg must have odds of 1/5 (1.2) to be eligible. Each way bets are eligible for this promotion. Upon qualifying bet settlement, 1 x £5.00 Free Bet will be credited to your account. Once the first £5.00 Free Bet has been used a further 3 x £5.00 Free Bets will be applied to your account. Free bet stake not returned after bet settlement. Valid for 7 days, each Free Bet must be used in its entirety. |
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#14
 Novibet
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#15
 10Bet
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New Customers only; Min. deposit £15; Bonus amount 50% of deposit up to £50; Wager deposit and bonus 8x within 30 days; 4/5 Min. single odds or 2/5 min. acca selection odds; Max. stake contribution equal to the initial bonus; Certain bet types and payment methods excluded; See full terms; Terms apply; 18+ |
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#16
 Karamba
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18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only. Min Deposit: £10. Max bonus £50. 100 spins require 3 deposits. WR 35x, spins valid for 24hrs, on selected games. Full T&Cs apply. |
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#17
 Mr Green
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#18
 Betsson
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Please note: betsson Welcome Offer not available for UK residents. This offer is only eligible to new customers who haven't used a sports welcome offer of Betsson before. Players will need to verify their age before being able to register an account. Bonus amount must be wagered 10x at a minimum odds of 1.50. System Bets do not count towards wagering. Wagering requirements must be met within 30 days for bonus money to become real money. Bonus money which has not been converted to real money after 30 days will be forfeited. The minimum Deposit for the Sport Welcome Bonus is €10. |
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#19
 Betsafe
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#20
 bwin
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bet365
When it comes to sports, bet365 are almost unrivalled. Featuring one of the most comprehensive sports offerings around, the world’s biggest online bookmaker pulls no punches when it comes to live in-play betting. Bettors can bet in-play on just about anything you can think of and stream most of it too. And, if things are going badly, you can always cash out early.
Betfair
When it comes to live betting, Betfair are another strong performer, which is hardly surprising given their size and stature. As the innovative site that originally bought you Cash Out betting, Betfair also provide live feeds for many events and are consistently one of the best at offering strong odds. This is really a truly great live online bookmaker.
William Hill
William Hill do not disappoint when it comes to live betting facilities. Customers here can enjoy a huge amount of in-play betting markets, a very good quality of odds and, of course, the famous William Hill TV,which is great for live streaming horse racing and greyhounds. If you do decide to stay for a while and watch the event you have had a punt on, then know that William Hill offer their customers fantastic Cash Out options if things look as though they are about to go against you.
Paddy Power
Despite Paddy Power’s genius marketing strategy of positioning themselves as a cheeky menace, their sportsbook product is anything but naughty. This extends to their live betting offering which looks and feels very good indeed. The platform is extremely well-designed for speedy in-play betting, and comes complete with live streams and Cash Out, as well as endless betting options for many events.
Coral
Coral are well known for offering one of the best live betting platforms in the betting industry, which makes perfect sense given that they are one of largest and most well-established operators around. Coral’s live betting offering includes a deep menu of sports, leagues and live betting markets, all complete with extensive Cash Out availabilities – you certainly will not be left wanting.
Ladbrokes
Many bookmakers offer live betting, but when it comes to a quality in play betting experience, Ladbrokes are miles ahead of most of the competition. Again, like their GVC partners directly above, they are one of the oldest operators around – quite frankly, they’re mega. And it shows, because live bettors at Ladbrokes are very well taken care of. Cash Out? Check. Live Streaming? Check. Huge range of markets? You betcha. Ladbrokes in-play betting service is top notch.
BetVictor
BetVictor have developed a respectable live offering that includes a very large amount of sports available to bet on live. Their in-play odds are also extremely good and better than many of their competitors. The options for all these sports are great too; for instance, not all bookmakers offer in-play handicap betting, but BetVictor do, which is just another reason live bettors will be more than satisfied with an in-play punt at BetVictor.
Betfred
In the world of live betting, Betfred more than hold their own. The popularity of in-play betting has rocketed in recent years and this is one bookmaker that has been very quick to take advantage. Betfred have employed extensive live betting options that include real-time live odds on a huge range of sports, providing an engrossing in-play betting experience.
888sport
The 888sport live betting tab is glorious to look at and very user-friendly. All the live odds are easily accessible and there are a ton of live betting markets available, which is practically a given seeing as the sportsbook is Kambi-powered. On top of strong odds on a huge range of markets, everything is backed up by Bet and Watch live streaming options and Cash Out availabilities.
Unibet
The Unibet in-play betting section is highly comprehensive, with hundreds of live betting opportunities and sports markets from all over the world for you to take advantage of. The design is both visually satisfying and user-friendly, making the whole process of betting in-play really very simple. There are, of course, Cash Out options and live streaming services available too.
32Red
To access live betting at 32Red, simply navigate over to the in-play tab and open up a whole world of live, in-play betting at its finest. From football to table tennis, there are loads to bet on in real-time due to the huge range of live betting markets. There is more good news in that Cash Out is available, as is live streaming. The site works equally well on all devices too, so wherever you want to watch the live stream, you can.
BoyleSports
So broad is the range of live betting markets on offer at BoyleSports that customers can even bet in-play on Futsal! The site works really well for in-play purposes and is very user-friendly which is always welcome news. BoyleSports aim to offer the best odds on many events, and it will please bettors to know that they try to extend this to as many of their live markets as possible. All in all, this is a very good in-play bookmaker and one definitely worth considering.
MansionBet
MansionBet are another betting site that are thriving in the world of live betting, especially live football where they have introduced ActionBet and PulseBetting. These are two highly innovative features that, in the case of ActionBet, feeds you betting suggestions that have been triggered by actions on the pitch, while PulseBetting allows you to select from a list of markets such as corners, cards and goals to bet on in the next few minutes. They do, however, lose points for not integrating live streaming into their software yet.
Novibet
Novibet offer a wide variety of sports for users to bet on in real-time. They don’t provide as many in-play promotions as some of the more well-known operators, but it is a solid product on a nice looking site that is fast loading and user-friendly. Their odds are provided by Bet Genius, so they are updated in real-time and are of the highest quality. If you are looking for in-play betting, then Novibet will not disappoint.
10Bet
There is a classic feel to 10Bet’s live betting section and indeed their entire betting platform which allows for the successful and speedy placement of bets on live markets which are plentiful. The site also offers Cash Out and live streaming which again, thanks to the expertly designed user interface, is achieved with minimum fuss and maximum ease. The live streaming service also provides an excellent statistics service which many will find useful.
Karamba
Unfortunately, Karamba don’t offer live streaming but they do however offer up a thriving in-play betting section where all of the major sports are covered and some of the minor ones too. When betting in-play, a lot of the original markets will remain live throughout the entire event. Another site to offer handicap betting in-play, there is a healthy choice of markets at Karamba who also provide very good odds and cash out available.
MrGreen
Mr Green’s in-play betting section comes complete with a slick, user-friendly interface with a sweet design and top functionality. There are also some great in-play graphics that take you right to the heart of the action while an event is ongoing. However, the reason the site supports in-play graphics is because sadly they do not offer live streaming. How long this will be the case, we can’t say, but they are part of the William Hill family so we are hopeful that live feeds will be up and running some time soon. In the meantime, though, this is still a very good live betting site.
Betsson
At Betsson, users can view live streams of the events that they are wagering on as well as cash out if things take a bad turn. What’s more, you don’t need to make a bet to trigger the live stream; you simply need to have money in your account. Users can also view live scores, but we did note that the stats here aren’t particularly great. As a major online bookmaker, they do offer a huge range of live markets and Cash Out as standard.
Betsafe
When it comes to live betting, Betsafe have you well-covered. As part of the Betsson family, they offer a great in-play experience backed up by a slick and user-friendly platform. When we say user-friendly, we mean it too, as placing an in-play here is swift, easy and achieved at the touch of a button. They also provide some of the best odds in the business as well as in-play price boosts, the ability to live stream and, of course, that all-important Cash Out.
bwin
bwin offer their users a huge amount of sporting markets available to bet on each day, plus the ability to cash out on any bets that are threatening to turn sinister. As part of the huge GVC network, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to learn that you will be able to follow any punts via a live stream that is fully supported with real time stats. Of course, all this would mean nothing if the site didn’t supply a wide selection of betting options available to bet on in-play – which bwin do, so there are no worries there either.
Live Betting Sites Ranking Criteria
We compiled the above list using our own ranking criteria, which include and consider factors such as number of sports offered, betting markets, quality of odds, live streaming capabilities, cash out opportunities, and in-play promotions and price boosts.
What is Live Betting?
Live betting, quite simply, is the process of betting on a sporting event while that event is taking place, the idea being that the situation can change at any point. Naturally, this means that the odds will fluctuate in and out of our favour – but that just makes the whole thing even more exciting.
Live Betting vs Pre-Match Betting
Pre-match betting involves betting on predetermined odds before an event begins, whereas live betting takes place while the action is actually happening. While both are achieved in much the same way, there are a few subtle differences between the two from both the punter’s and bookmaker’s point of view. For instance, pre-determined odds are compiled from statistics from previous events and recorded form, whereas live odds are based on actual events and real time occurrences.
Likewise, from a bettor’s perspective, when making their picks, they normally use harvested data and statistics to make their selections. But, when betting in-play, punters have to act quickly and have far less time to think and plan; unless their routine includes making planned strategic contingency bets if certain events occur.
What Sports Can Punters Bet on in Play?
At all the best UK sports betting sites, you will find that live betting markets are open on almost all of the sports you can imagine. You can even find live and real time in-play odds available for TV specials such as Britain’s Got Talent final or the Eurovision Song Contest. It should go without saying that more popular sports, such as Football, Tennis, Golf, Snooker and Darts, will have more in-play betting opportunities than less mainstream events such as athletics or pool. Mainly, however, there is a strong chance that prices are available in-play on most of your favourite sports.
Placing a Live Bet
Placing a live bet is no more complicated than placing a bet before the event gets underway. The process might be a little different from your perspective because you are being influenced by real time events when betting in-play. But, putting money behind your in-play choices is simple. Once you have made your decision, put it into your slip, back it with a stake you are comfortable with (remembering never to gamble more than you can afford to lose) and place your bet.
Live Betting Tips
The key to live betting is paying attention. It might sound obvious, but always remain focused on the event that you (should be) watching. Look for trends in the players, such as playing poorly, playing well or maybe falling foul to injuries that could hinder their performance. These could all be factors that could well influence the outcome of an event.
Remember, in-play betting is a speed game. You will need to think fast. To that end, why not prepare a few “what if” bets in case something entirely possible occurs?Obviously, only professional bettors have the time to prepare for every outcome and incident, but a few contingency bet plans wouldn’t go amiss. Of course, you don’t lay any money on these until their moment comes, if it comes at all, but be prepared.
Of course, the key to preparation – and this counts for pre-match betting too – is to do your homework. Look into injuries and recent form, and do your research on when teams do well at certain times of the match or which golfers are slow out of the blocks on day one. Finally, remember that the favourites are the favourites for a reason.
The bookmakers are not silly and know how to offer the shortest prices on the best performers and the ones most likely to win. To that end, back the favourites if they fall behind. If Michael van Gerwen loses the first set in a game of darts, he will still more than likely win – depending on the opposition – by the end of the game. The same theory would, for example, apply to Rafa Nadal in a game of tennis, especially if he is playing on clay. This way, the odds on these otherwise short priced favourites can drift a little bit, leaving some value for you to exploit.
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Paddy Power
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New customer offer, min £10 single Sports bet, min odds 1/5 (1.2), on the EPL, Sat 11th July. Deposits using credit/debit cards or Apple Pay only. Excludes in-play bets. Free bets are awarded after the qualifying bet has been settled. Free bet stakes not returned with winnings. T&Cs apply. |
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888sport
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New customers only • Minimum deposit of £10 using deposit code 30BACK • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of max £30 • Single Bets only • Minimum odds of 1/2 (1.5) • Bonus will be credited in cash within 72 hours • Deposit method and withdrawal restrictions apply & Full T&C’s apply |
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Unibet
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888sport
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New customers only • Max Bet £5 • £10 deposit using promo code • Free bets are granted within 72 hours and expires after 7 days • Free bet stakes not included in returns • Deposit balance is available for withdrawal at any time. withdrawal restrictions & full T&C’s apply Full T&C’s apply |
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888sport
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New customers only • Max Bet £5 • £10 deposit using promo code • Free bets are granted within 72 hours and expires after 7 days • Free bet stakes not included in returns • Deposit balance is available for withdrawal at any time. withdrawal restrictions & full T&C’s apply Full T&C’s apply |
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888sport
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New customers only • Max Bet £5 • £10 deposit using promo code • Free bets are granted within 72 hours and expires after 7 days • Free bet stakes not included in returns • Deposit balance is available for withdrawal at any time. withdrawal restrictions & full T&C’s apply Full T&C’s apply |
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Paddy Power
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Free to play. Only one game may be played at any given time. Answer 12 questions and money left in the pot after all the questions are answered is yours to keep. T&Cs apply. |
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 Betfair Exchange
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Weekly opt-in. Exchange back or lay bet(s) Mon-Sun, min odds 1.5 for back bets. €5 free bet awarded at bet(s) settlement. ‘Free Bet streak’ bets will be equal to the winning free bet stake from the previous day, awarded at 12 pm the following day, valid for 72 hours. T&Cs apply. |
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bwin
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18+ | New players only | Min deposit req. £10 ; excludes deposits via PayPal | Max stake £10 | Min Odds 1/1 (2.0) | Max FreeBet £10 | Excl Horse Racing | T&Cs apply |
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Betfred
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New 18+ UK customers only. Register using the promo code FOOTBALL40a, deposit and place first bet of £10 on football (cumulative price evens+) in one bet transaction. First bet must settle within the Promo Period (00:00 15/06/20 - 23:59 12/07/20).£30 in Free Bets credited within 10 hours of bet settlement and expire after 7 days. Additional £10 in Free Bets only credited if first bet doesn’t win. Payment restrictions apply. SMS validation may be required. Full T&Cs Apply. |
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Betfair
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You can only take part using one account. If you have been excluded (via email or otherwise) by Betfair from taking part in Sportsbook promotions, you will not qualify for this promotion. This offer is open to new and existing customers, aged 18 or over, in the UK & Republic of Ireland. T&Cs apply. |
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Paddy Power
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Applies to all Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga games. Applies to pre-match singles in the Win-Draw-Win market only. Applies to all Online, Mobile, Phone and Text bets. |
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Betfair
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New customer offer. Place 5 x £10 or more bets to receive £20 in free bets. Repeat up to 5 times to receive maximum £100 bonus. Min odds 1/2 (1.5). Exchange bets excluded. Payment restrictions apply. T&Cs apply. |
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Unibet
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New customers only. 18+, BeGambleAware.org. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus. Wagering requirements: Sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), Casino 25x. Only one bonus can be used at a time, Sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the Casino, unless the bonus has been forfeited. Bonus will expire after 7 days of opt-in. www.begambleaware.org Must have a funded account, or placed a bet in last 24 hours, in order to watch stream. |
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bet365
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This offer is only available to new and eligible customers. This offer applies to pre-match single and multiple bets on the standard Full Time Result market for Soccer games from the selected competitions listed above. This offer is available for matches played up to and including Thursday 31st December 2020. Bets placed on the Full Time Result – Enhanced Prices market do not apply to this offer. This offer will not apply where a stake has been fully Cashed Out. Where a stake has been partially Cashed Out and your team goes two goals ahead, the bet will be settled on the remaining active stake. If a qualifying bet is edited using our Edit Bet feature prior to kick-off and your team goes two goals ahead, the bet will be settled on the new stake. Where a bet has been edited to include or amend a selection for an event that is In-Play, the offer will no longer apply. |
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Paddy Power
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New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any sportsbook market and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using Cards or Apple Pay will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. Paddy's Rewards Club: Get a £10 free bet when you place 5x bets of £10+. T&Cs apply. |
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Betfair Exchange
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New customers only, max £20 cash refund. Bet must be placed in first 7 days of account opening. Payment restrictions apply. T&Cs apply. |
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FAQs
✅ Why should I bet in-play?
There are two stand out reasons to bet online: the thrills and the potential value.
⚽ Which sports are best for live betting?
Football is by far the most popular sport to bet online, but just about anything will work. Obviously, the more obscure the sport, the less markets available.
❓ Are there any sports that can’t work for live betting?
You won’t find live betting on the horses or - for obvious reasons - the 100 metre sprint races and other fast races.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
In-play betting is the fastest growing way to bet. Why? Because it allows punters to place bets after an event has got underway, which is where the term in-play comes from. Not only that, but the thrills generated by live betting are also a whole new experience in comparison to pre-event betting, as great as the latter is. Don't just take our word for it – try it out and experience it yourself!
Translation Royale are our go-to experts in sports betting and beyond. With their roots being German, they love everything football but follow all kinds of sports across Europe and worldwide and know how to place a winning bet. With expertise ranging from premier league football wagers and basketball spread betting to crisp game analytics you can always trust these pure at heart sports fanatics to get your best betting tips.
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