Live Betting
Bet on markets while a match or event is in progress.
10 of 10 reviewed sportsbooks offer Live Betting.
About Live Betting
Live betting — also called in-play betting — allows users to place wagers after an event has started, with markets updating in real time as conditions change. Odds move faster than pre-match markets and reflect the current state of the match, requiring quicker decisions.
Not all operators offer the same depth of live markets. Some restrict in-play betting to major events while others provide extensive coverage across multiple sports and competitions. Live betting availability contributes to the sports coverage component of our overall methodology, but licensing, transparency, and responsible gambling carry materially greater weight in the final score.
Live Betting Market Depth
All ten operators in this dataset offer live betting as a confirmed feature, but market depth varies considerably between them. Football and tennis attract the broadest in-play coverage at most operators — major match markets update continuously throughout play, with additional outcomes such as next goal, next set, and match handicaps available beyond the standard winner market.
Sports coverage scores in the dataset give an indication of overall market depth: Bet365 (88) and William Hill (82) represent the deepest live market coverage. Operators with narrower sports profiles — DraftKings (70) and Sports Interaction (68) — offer in-play betting on major events but with less variety across secondary competitions and non-mainstream sports. Cricket and MMA in-play markets are the most variable across operators; checking whether specific events are covered before registering is advisable if these sports are your primary focus.
Live Betting and Cash Out
Cash out — the ability to settle an open bet before an event concludes — is closely connected to live betting for many users. Eight of the ten operators in this dataset offer cash out: Bet365, William Hill, Unibet, Betway, LeoVegas Sport, Betsson, DraftKings, and BoyleSports. Pinnacle and Sports Interaction do not offer cash out as a feature.
For bettors who frequently place live bets with the intention of managing positions mid-event, the availability of cash out at the same platform matters. Cash out values on in-play selections reflect current market prices at the moment of the request. Offers can be suspended during key match moments when odds are being recalculated — this is standard across all operators that offer the feature.
Mobile and In-Play Experience
All ten operators in this dataset provide native iOS and Android apps, meaning live betting is accessible on mobile at every reviewed operator. App quality varies significantly, which is a relevant consideration for bettors who primarily place in-play bets via smartphone. App scores range from 85 (Bet365) to 60 (Pinnacle), with DraftKings second at 82 and LeoVegas Sport at 80.
For the UK market specifically, Bet365, William Hill, Betway, and Unibet are generally regarded as having the most complete live betting mobile experiences among the UKGC-licensed operators in this dataset. Feature parity between desktop and mobile varies — some operators' desktop platforms offer additional live market views or streaming options not replicated in the app.
Live Streaming Alongside Live Betting
Five operators in this dataset offer live streaming alongside their live betting markets: Bet365, William Hill, Unibet, Betway, and Betsson. The remaining five — LeoVegas Sport, Pinnacle, DraftKings, BoyleSports, and Sports Interaction — offer live betting without integrated video coverage.
Access to streaming typically requires an account with a qualifying bet placed or a minimum balance maintained. Broadcast rights restrictions mean that the same event may be streamable in one country but not another. For UK bettors, Bet365, William Hill, Unibet, and Betway all offer streaming — Betsson is not available in the UK. In Canada, streaming operators available in the dataset are Bet365, Unibet, and Betway.
How to Compare Operators for Live Betting
Since all ten operators offer live betting, the comparison shifts to secondary criteria: market depth (reflected in sports coverage scores), cash out availability, streaming, app quality, and overall operator trust. Trust scores range from 87 (Bet365) to 60 (Sports Interaction) — a material difference even when every operator nominally supports the same base feature.
Pinnacle is a distinctive case: it offers live betting with consistently competitive live odds and no account restrictions, but it is not available in the UK or Australia, does not offer cash out, and lacks live streaming. For value-oriented bettors in Canada, Ireland, or New Zealand who accept the Curaçao licensing framework, Pinnacle's live odds offer a different trade-off than the UKGC-regulated operators. For UK and Australian bettors, all available operators in this dataset support live betting — differentiation between them lies in depth, features, and trust scores.
Sportsbooks With Live Betting
Frequently Asked Questions
Is live betting available on all sports in this dataset?
Live betting availability varies by sport and operator. Football and tennis live markets are the most widely available. Basketball, horse racing, cricket, and MMA live markets are offered at most operators, but depth and odds update speed differ. Some operators limit in-play to major events or restrict live betting to specific disciplines.
Does live betting affect odds accuracy?
Live odds reflect the operator's real-time probability assessment, but prices can move very quickly — particularly during scoring events. The efficiency of odds updates varies between operators. Some platforms offer better live prices on certain outcomes; comparing across platforms for in-play value is advisable if this is central to your betting approach.
Can I cash out a live bet?
Cash out is available on live bets at operators in this dataset that support both live betting and cash out. Not all operators offer cash out on in-play selections — and where available, it may be restricted to specific sports, bet types, or stake ranges. Check the operator's specific terms for live cash-out availability before placing in-play bets you intend to cash out.
Does live betting availability affect the overall operator score?
Live betting contributes to the sports coverage component, which carries a 20% weighting. Operators with broader and deeper live markets score higher on sports coverage than those with limited in-play availability. However, trust factors — licensing, responsible gambling, and transparency — carry materially greater weight at 35% of the overall score.
Is live betting available on a mobile app?
Most operators that offer live betting also provide it via their mobile app, though feature parity between desktop and mobile is not guaranteed. Operators with well-reviewed native iOS and Android apps tend to have more complete live market coverage on mobile. App quality contributes to the App Score component, which carries a 10% weighting in the methodology.
How does in-play betting relate to responsible gambling recommendations?
Regulators in several jurisdictions have raised concerns about in-play betting's pace and its potential link to impulsive gambling behaviour. UKGC-regulated operators are required to offer tools including deposit limits, reality checks, and self-exclusion. Using these tools alongside any form of fast-paced betting, including live markets, is something we recommend considering.