Live Football Betting

Thinking about betting on the big match this weekend? Then you might be interested in some of the offers shown in the table below.

What is Live Football Betting?

In the past, if you wanted to place a bet on a football game, you had to do it before the game commenced, as the bookmaker would close the book when the game started. Recently however, many online bookmakers have begun to offer live football betting, which allows you to bet on games that are in progress, right up until the final whistle. Usually, the live football betting part of a bookmaker's website opens up in a separate window, and requires software such as Flash to be installed. In this constantly updating window, sometimes called the 'console', you can access all the football games that are currently available to bet on, and see the scores and match times at a glance. Sometimes, there will be quick-bet buttons below these listings offering current odds for home win, draw, and away win.

If you click on one of the games, you will be presented with more detailed information, such as any goals that have been scored, any yellow and red cards that have been awarded, and more betting options for the game, such as naming specific scorers or predicting half and full time scores. During the game, the odds will change to reflect changes in the likely outcome of the match.

Live football betting is a much more involved, interactive experience than fixed odds betting. For example, If Everton went two up against Fulham in the first twenty minutes of a game, the odds that you would be offered for a Fulham victory would then lengthen dramatically. However, if Fulham were to claw back that two-goal deficit by half time, then the odds offered for a Fulham win would then shorten. Timing is all-important. If you had bet on a Fulham victory in the earlier part of the game when they were two nil down, and they then went on to win the game, you would have got a far better return on your stake than if you had placed a bet at half time. Live football betting also gives you a valuable weapon with which to beat the bookmaker, in that it allows you to hedge your bets as the game progresses. For example, if you make a bet that looks to be a poor one by half-time, you can make a bet on other team in that game, which may soften the blow slightly. Then, if your original bet comes through against all odds, you will make more than enough to absorb the cost of the bet you made at half time. Live football bets can also be combined into parlay (multiple) bets and system bets in order to maximise your winnings. Also, many online bookmakers offer a live audio commentary stream when games are in progress, which enables you to get a better idea of the direction that the game is taking, and adds to the excitement of the whole experience.