Best Live Betting Sites in the UK 2023
Welcome to our expert guide to live betting sites. This article contains everything that you need to know about betting on live events, as they happen. We have website reviews, information on different sports, betting tips and much more. Let’s start things off with a list of the best in play betting sites.
Our top live betting bookmakers in the UK
- All
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List of the Best In Play Betting Sites
Here is a little more information about our favourite sites for sports live betting.
- Betstorm – Our top pick for in play betting
- Betfred – Bonus King has in play football offer
- BetUK – Our favourite app for betting live
- 888sport – One of the best options for live streaming
- Rhino – Gorgeous graphical updates
- LiveScore Bet – Live score experts will keep you updated while you bet
- William Hill – Betting Grandaddy still treating live punters
- Tebwin – Lots of useful in play statistics
- QuinnBet – Get free bets when you bet live
- 10bet – Superb live Pulse Bet feature
Reviews of the Best Live Betting Sites
We’re now going to take an in-depth look at our recommended sites for live in play betting with some expert reviews.
1. Betstorm Live Betting – Bet £10 And Get A £30 Free Bet
Launched recently in 2021, Betstorm has already made a big impression for those that enjoy gambling on live events. Their live section is a pleasure to use and is packed with sub-sections that make betting easy and informative. Go into a football match and you’ll clearly see the latest score listed, a timeline of events, head-to-head chart and updated stats. There’s even a graphic showing where the ball is on the pitch.
To find a full programme of live events, click on the dashboard or live overview sections, with a calendar of upcoming events also available. Another handy feature is being able to select live events that you’re betting on and placing them in the live multiview section, for easy access. With a generous welcome bonus, free bets on every Monday and a host of betting contests, Betstorm is a great choice for in play gambling.
What we like:
- Top live section
- Generous welcome offer
- Updated live stats
- Free bets on Mondays
What we don’t:
- No live streaming yet
2. Betfred In Play Betting – Bet £10 Get £40 In Bonuses
Betfred are one of the most well-known betting brands around and their financial clout means that they have live streaming available for a high percentage of their in play events. When streaming is not available, then live graphical updates will keep you informed of what’s going on. There’s a handy section of upcoming live events and also one listing all the events with live streaming. Select the ones that you plan to bet on and add them to the favourites section.
Known at the ‘Bonus King’, this brand are renowned for their offers. They have one of the biggest welcome bonuses around and amongst their range of promos for regular customers is In Play Double Delight and Hat-Trick Heaven. Back a player to score the next goal and if they score twice you’ll get paid at double odds, while a hat-trick will see you paid at triple the odds.
What we like:
- Live streaming
- Graphical updates when streaming not available
- One of the biggest welcome bonuses around
- In-play Double Delight and Hat-Trick Heaven
What we don’t:
- Site design needs a revamp
3. BetUK Live Betting – Bet £10, Get £30 In Free Bets
As the name suggests, BetUK are focused on British betting fans. This is reflected in their live section, which features all of the favourite sports of UK bettors. Go into any in play event and you will find graphical updates and a range of nicely laid out stats, which can be easily accessed.
Site design is one of the strengths of BetUK and the ease of use is important when trying to quickly place live bets. Fans of live eSports betting will enjoy the live streaming available, but otherwise this feature is only available for greyhounds and horse racing, sports in which you can’t bet live. BetUK users can benefit from a host of offers, with your initial bet trebled and regular promos such as an acca club, weekly free bet deals and a 10% profit boost on every Manchester City game.
What we like:
- Slick site design
- Useful live statistics available
- eSports live streaming
- Good range of offers
What we don’t:
- No live streaming for other live sports events
4. 888sport In Play Betting – Bet £10 And Get £30 In Free Bets + £10 Casino Bonus
Another of the major players in the UK betting market are 888sport. Launched back in 2008, they’ve had plenty of time to finesse their product, making it a must for live bettors. We found that the events in the live section had a really deep range of markets, along with graphical updates, live streaming, stats and scores.
There’s useful Bet Builder and Cash Out functions too. New users get their first deposit quadrupled, while existing customers can take advantage of a number of free bet deals. This includes a £5 free bet, any time you bet on a winner at odds of 4/1 or higher.
What we like:
- First deposit quadrupled
- Excellent live streaming
- Lots of in play markets
- Range of free bet deals
What we don’t:
- Default site design colours not the best
5. Rhino Live Betting – Bet £20 Get £20 Free Bet
Launched in 2021, Rhino’s philosophy is to offer a stripped-back betting experience, which very much concentrates on the core product. There’s lots of live markets and strong odds, while the graphical updates are amongst the biggest and clearest that we came across, making it very easy to follow sporting events.
There’s dedicated apps for both Apple and Android devices, which allow you to place live bets, wherever you are. The welcome offer is decent and there are some attractive daily price boosts available. However, Rhino is currently lacking any regular promotions for existing users, which is an obvious area in which they can improve.
What we like:
- Stripped-back approach
- Superb graphical updates on live events
- Daily price boosts
- Android and Apple apps
What we don’t:
- No promos for existing users
6. LiveScore Bet In Play Betting – Bet £10, Get £20 In Free Bets
LiveScore Bet is an offshoot of the LiveScore brand which has long been a specialist in keeping sports fans updated with the latest scores and results. It’s no surprise then, that this aspect is something that the betting operation excels in, with live scores clearly displayed and instantly updated, alongside graphical displays to keep you informed and live streaming on selected events.
New users will get their first bet doubled. Existing customers can get a £5 free bet when they place a Bet Builder wager and a £10 free acca bet each week, for every two £10 acca bets they place. Squads is an excellent free fantasy style game, that will see you earn money when selected players score.
What we like:
- Live score and results experts
- Free Squads game
- Get first bet doubled
- Weekly free bet deals
What we don’t:
- Could have more live markets
7. William Hill Live Betting – Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets
Betting brands in the UK do not get any more well known than William Hill, whose first betting shop appeared in 1934 and launched their online sportsbook in 1998. This pioneering company have moved with the time, which extends to their live section. There’s live streaming, graphical updates and all manner of statistics. The odds are amongst the best around and market coverage runs deep.
A company of this size has all the features that you could want, such as Bet Builder, Cash Out and betting tips. Pre-event bettors can get a number of enhanced odds deals every day and there’s chances to win prizes for free, with offers such as Scratch of the Day and a free football prediction game.
What we like:
- Well-established betting brand
- Great odds and lots of live markets
- Packed with features
- Win prizes with Scratch of the Day
What we don’t:
- Site design a little tired
8. Tebwin In Play Betting – Bet £10 Get £30 Free Bet
A relative newcomer to the in play betting scene is Tebwin, which launched in 2021. Their menu system takes a little while to get used to, but once you do you’ll find it works pretty well. Though there’s no live streaming, the graphical updates work well in keeping you abreast of what’s going on, plus there’s plenty of statistics available. It’s also easy to look for live events that are taking place right now, or in the future.
New users will get their first bet stake trebled. For existing customers there’s weekly free bets, a number of cashback deals, betting contests and a loyalty programme. This is certainly a betting brand to watch as it grows and adds more features.
What we like:
- Live graphical updates
- Good range of promotions
- Useful statistics
- Strong welcome bonus
What we don’t:
- Menu system takes time to get used to
9. QuinnBet Live Betting – Get 50% Back As A Free Bet Up To £35 Offer + 10 Free Spins
From Ireland comes QuinnBet, founded in 2016. It has a very clear and crisp site design, with the in play section highlighted right at the top of the menu bar. Go into that live section and you see every sport with events taking place. Click on an event and you’re treated to one of the best graphical displays we came across, with all sorts of options for drilling into the stats.
At present, live streaming is only available on horse and dog racing, which isn’t much use for live bettors. What is of use, is the array of offers for existing users, which is arguably the best around. Amongst the many promotions are various in play bonus offers, where you can get a free bet every day, based on 5% of your total live bet spend.
What we like:
- Crisp and clear site design
- Superb array of promotions
- Attractive graphical updates
- 5% in play bonus offer
What we don’t:
- Streaming only for horse and dog racing
10. 10bet In Play Betting – 100% up to £50 Welcome Bonus
Another betting brand with a very attractive site design is 10bet. It’s extremely easy to look through the various sports in the in play section and find your event of choice. Click on an event that you want to bet on and you’ll find plenty of markets, competitive odds, along with graphical updates and all manner of statistics.
There’s a big upper limit on the welcome offer, in which your first deposit will be 100% matched. 10bet have a number of unique football promotions for existing users, where you can earn cash bonuses and free bets, if certain criteria occurs during a match. This site is packed with features. That includes the regular Bet Builder and Cash Out, but also Pulse Bet, which allows you to place live bets on the next goal during football matches.
What we like:
- Live section well designed
- Big welcome offer
- Unique live Pulse Bet feature
- Special football promos
What we don’t:
- Lack of live streaming
What is Live Betting?
There was once a time that when you placed a bet, it had to be on before the event started. Then there was nothing much you could do, except keep your fingers crossed that it would be successful.
The advent of in play gambling changed that situation, giving punters far more control of their betting destiny. Now if you have a pre-event bet, you can manage your position after the action starts. Place additional wagers, or use Cash Out to guarantee an early profit.
Yet many punters simply prefer to purely bet live. It’s an exciting experience, with prices changing quickly, dictated by swings in the play. You also have the advantage of being able to watch the event and react to the action. With live gambling where you are able to watch, you’ll find yourself having opinions on events where no obvious bet came to mind, before it started. Many bookmakers offer live streaming of sporting events, allowing you to watch and bet from the same website.
The growth of in play betting has seen it become the main focus at many online sportsbooks. Visit a bookmaker’s website and generally the live section is placed front and centre in the middle of the home page, which tells its own story.
How Live Betting Odds Work
As we mentioned in the previous section, the odds can change extremely quickly with in play betting. Imagine that you’re live betting football. The game is 0-0, when the underdogs score the opening goal within ten minutes of the game. It would result in a big swing in the prices, with the outsiders potentially becoming the new favourites.
The changes in prices are made by automated software, with human oddsmakers also monitoring things, to make any adjustments that might be needed. While the software might be able to price up the market accurately on factors such as the amount of money being bet, or events in a game such as a goal or sending off, the human touch is often required, such as when a team is simply putting heavy pressure on the opposing goal.
With so many live markets available each day, there are many which are just run through automation. This can create betting opportunities, ready for you to take advantage of, as long as you’re watching the action and can spot a set of odds which present some value.
How we Rank Live In Play Betting Sites
You may be wondering how we went about ranking live betting UK websites. This is some of the criteria that we considered.
Bonuses
A generous welcome bonus will get you new account off to a good start, giving you some extra funds to use for some in play betting. We also look out for deals for existing customers, especially ones which are exclusively designed for betting live.Design
Betting live can be a fast and furious business, requiring you to quickly place a wager before the odds shift and the opportunity disappears. That can be difficult if the live section is poor designed and it’s difficult to find events and markets. As well as a clearly designed site, we like the option of dedicated apps for mobile users.Features
There are some obvious features that are useful for this type of betting. Live streaming lets you watch the action, whilst betting on it. Updated stats and graphical highlights, can keep you updated when no streaming is available. Cash Out can provide you with an offer during an event, where you can lock in a profit. Bet Builder is a function that can be used with in play bets.Markets
We expect a high percentage of pre-event markets to be turned live when the action starts. There should also be markets that are exclusive to the live experience, such as next goal in football, frame betting in snooker, or set betting in tennis.Odds
Some bookies offer much more value with pre-event markets, then drop the prices when the event goes live. This is because live markets are more difficult to manage, with greater potential risk for the bookie. Nevertheless we expect the live odds to be at least close to what’s offered before the start.
Comparing Live Betting Sites
Here is a visual guide to our favourite sites for in play betting, showing exactly what features are available at each bookmaker.
| Bookmaker | Bet Buider | Cash Out | Live Statistics | Live Streaming | Mobile App |
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| Betfred | |
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| BetUK | |
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| 888sport | |
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| Rhino | |
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| LiveScore Bet | |
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| William Hill | |
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| Tebwin | |
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| QuinnBet | |
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| 10bet | |
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Most Popular Live Betting Sports
There are a variety of different sports available in the live sections of bookmaker websites. We’re going to take a look at some of the most popular sports with punters.
eSports Live Betting
One of the fastest growing in play sectors, is eSports. Being able to bet on live video game contests is proving to be increasingly popular, especially amongst a young audience. It stems from the popularity of live streaming of eSports and you’ll find that there’s some bookies that show these contests, even if they don’t stream regular sports. Games such as Call of Duty, CS:GO, Dota 2 and League of Legends are amongst the most popular titles within live eSports betting. Our recommended site for in play esports wagering is BetUK.
Tennis In Play Betting
Live betting tennis is one of the most popular activities amongst in play punters. It’s a sport that is very much suited to placing live bets, with the matches taking place over a relatively long period and featuring big swings in momentum. Because of the structure of the sport, you can place live bets on every game, set and match, along with a lot of other minutiae. Tennis betting live on the Grand Slam events is particularly popular, when the mens’ game is played over five sets. Our favourite site for tennis live betting is William Hill.
Football Live Betting
The most popular sport of all when it comes to in play gambling is football. As the global game, there’s always a match going on somewhere and you will be able to place live bets on it. Because of the popularity of football betting, bookmakers have really been able to invest in the coverage of sport, with a huge amount of live markets available. Odds tend to be strong as well, especially for the biggest events such as the betting on the World Cup, Premier League and Champions League. Our recommended site for football in play betting is Betfred.
Cricket Live Betting
Another popular live sport to bet on is cricket. The sport takes various forms, with test cricket being by far the longest. Played by international teams over five days, there is huge potential for the momentum of the game to swing back and forth, impacting the odds, while the weather can also have a big say on the odds. Then there are shorter format games, such as one-day, Twenty20 or The Hundred, where the action is fast and furious. Our favourite site for cricket in play betting is 888sport.
Darts Live Betting
A sport that has seen huge growth in recent years is darts. What was once essentially a UK pub game, is now played in huge arenas and venues across the world, throughout the year. In some tournaments the action is short and snappy, while others see marathon matches. Either way the games can see big odds swings. Darts is quite literally the ultimate numbers game and there are loads of exclusive live darts betting markets, that are unavailable pre-match. Our recommended site for darts in play betting is Betstorm.
Snooker Live Betting
Like darts, this is another sport that has been transformed by a busy year-round schedule. That means that snooker is a staple of live sections at bookmakers during non-busy times, such as midweek afternoons, while there are also huge events such as the World Championships. Again, it’s a numbers-based game, with lots of exclusive live markets coming into play from the first break. Our favourite site for snooker in play betting is QuinnBet.
In Play Betting Offers
Now we’re going to examine some of the promotions and deals available that can be used in conjunction with betting in play.
Betfred – In Play Double Delight and Hat-Trick Heaven
For fans of goalscorer bets, this is the offer for you. When you place an in play wager at Betfred on the next goalscorer, you have the opportunity to have your odds massively boosted. If the player scores the next goal and then goes on to score a second, you will be paid out at double the odds. Should your selection score the next goal and ultimately score a hat-trick, you’ll be paid out at triple the price.
Quinnbet – In Play Bonus
If you place a lot of live bets then you can profit from this offer from Quinnbet. Every day, they will give you a free bet, up to a maximum value of £5, based on 5% of the total value of your in play bets. What’s more, this offer is available separately for live football bets, tennis wagers and US sports bets, meaning that you can potentially earn multiple free bets every day.
10bet – Pulse Bet
10bet’s have an exclusive mobile feature called Pulse Bet, where you could land a big jackpot. If you get the feeling that there’s a goal coming when in play betting football, use Pulse Bet to select a time period in which you think that the strike will arrive. Choose between 30 seconds, one minute, five minutes or ten minutes. Whatever the time period, it will be split into three sections, with the winnings getting potentially bigger as the seconds tick by.
Pros & Cons of Live Betting
Like most things in life, there are pros and cons of betting live. We think the positives far outweigh the negatives. Ultimately it is a much more exciting and fast-paced form of gambling. You have to move quickly, as opportunities for a value bet can be short-lived as prices fluctuate quickly, reacting to the sporting action.
Though there is a risk of making a mistake when having to place wagers quickly, there is also more chance of beating the bookie. Not only is the pressure on them to get the prices right, but functions like Cash Out, live streaming and updated stats, are all helpful when it comes to making a profit.
Pros:
- Fast-paced and exciting
- Lock in a profit with Cash Out
- Watch the action on TV or live streaming
- Exclusive live markets
- Manage you pre-event positions
- No rush to place bet before start
- Promos catered to in play betting
Cons:
- Possible to make mistakes when betting quickly
- More attention required from the bettor
In Play Betting Strategy
It’s time to explain some examples of live betting strategy. Follow this advice to help your profitability.
Strategy 1: Watch
Perhaps the number one piece of advice that we can give is to watch the event that you are betting on, if possible. It could be being shown on TV, or via live streaming from either the bookmaker that you’re using, or an alternative source. Being able to watch will give you the advantage of being to react to events that are perhaps not apparent from the mere score of an event. This could include a participant getting injured, or a sports team’s performance slowly getting better.
Strategy 2: Plan
Sometimes a bet will occur to you while watching the action, that you hadn’t considered before. That’s OK if there’s a clear rationale to it, but overall, we’d always suggest that you have a clear strategy for your live bets. That could mean backing a football team, once their odds reach a certain level. Or it could mean using Cash Out once an offer meets a certain value. Make a clear plan and stick to it.
Strategy 3: Keep Cool
With punters trying to keep one eye on their bets and the other on actually watching the event, it’s easy to get distracted. Throw in the fact that prices change quickly, along with the subsequent need to put on bets fast and you have a recipe to make a mistake. Keep cool. Though you have to be swift, it doesn’t make sense to rush to an extent, where errors become likely. Keeping cool also applies to being non-emotional if a bet loses. Resist the temptation to chase losses.
Best Live Betting Apps
If you’ve got the freedom to place a bet any time during a live sporting event, then you don’t want to be restricted by your location. With mobile betting, you can place a wager wherever you are. Combined with in play betting, this enables you to place a bet easily, when watching a sporting event down the pub, or even at the stadium itself.
We’d always recommend using a dedicated mobile betting app, rather than a mobile browser. They tend to be more secure, faster and easier to use, all of which are even more important when betting live. Of all our favoured sportsbook, BetUK is our recommended live betting app.
Top Live Betting Tips
In this section we’re going to reveal some in play betting tips. Stick by this advice and you won’t go far wrong.
Tip 1: Research
There’s lots of betting statistics readily available and that includes in the live sections of sportsbooks. Do your homework and you will naturally spot opportunities in play. For example, imagine you read about a team who are statistically reliable at coming back from going 1-0 down. If they went behind early in the game, you might be able to find a relatively big price available to back them, when football betting.
Tip 2: Learn
The former would be an example of a value bet. That’s when the odds are bigger, than you have reason to believe, the true price should be. Doing plenty of research and betting regularly, will result in you finding it easier to pick out value bets when making in play bets. So too will reading the advice of tipsters, who tend to give reasoning for the picks. If they’re consistently successful, then there’s a fair chance that their advice can be trusted.
Tip 3: Specialise
It’s very difficult to be a successful punter if you’re constantly switching between different sports and competitions. No one can be an expert on everything. Stick to the sports and competitions that you’re naturally interested in. If you really want to beat the bookie, find a slightly esoteric league or tournament, in a sport that you love and do the work to become an expert. You may then have a chance of knowing more than the oddsmakers setting the pre-event prices and you can take advantage when the action goes live.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed the article. You’ve had time to read the various site reviews, information on different sports and our live betting tips. With all that information digested, you should be ready to try some in play betting. All of our recommended sites are fine choices, but we particularly like Betstorm right now.
FAQs
Can you bet during a game?
How to place an in play bet?
When is the best time to place a live bet?
What does free in play bet mean?
Can you make money from live betting?
Is it better to bet in play or before the game?
How do I read live betting shows?
Can you cash out in play bets?
A writer and editor for some of the top names in the gambling industry for nearly 20 years, Dan also works as a freelance sports journalist for publications and websites such as ESPN, FourFourTwo and LiveScore.
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