The UK’s Best Live Betting Sites for December 2024

The in-play betting function has been almost universally embraced by the bookies, and you’d be hard-pressed to find an online bookmaker that doesn’t offer live betting options. As you can see, each of our recommended live betting platforms will grant you a plethora of betting possibilities and streaming events in a safe and regulated environment.

The online sports betting industry is booming, and the competition for new players is fierce. That’s why every operator that offers live stream betting tries to allure new customers using a different strategy. Some rely on the abundance of in-play markets, others on the quality of live streaming. As each of the mentioned UK online sports betting sites have their strengths, we have sorted them out by categories in the following table.

How to Play at Live Betting Sites

For those of you who have not made any in-play wagers at live betting sites in the UK so far, we will give a brief explanation of what exactly live betting is. It is quite simple – in-play bets are all those bets that occur when a certain sports event has already started. Depending on how the game is going, the odds constantly change, so picking the right moment to place your wager is essential.

Obviously, in order to take full advantage of the provided live-stream betting markets, players must have a stable internet connection. In the blink of an eye, the whole game can turn around, so make sure you don’t miss your chance to place a bet because of a bad connection.

The best live betting sites in the UK have a number of employees that follow every single sports event live and cancel all betting markets the moment they see a situation that can influence the outcome of the game. In-play bets can pay off literally in a matter of minutes, so once more, we emphasise the fact that timing is crucial. Check out the following image to see the four most important steps of in-play betting.

The Advantages of Using the Best Live Betting Sites

The advantages of playing at the best live betting sportsbooks are numerous. First of all, unlike placing pre-match bets, when you place in-play wagers you can make a more accurate prediction on the outcome of the game. That’s because you watch it live, and you can evaluate how it is going and how the teams and players are performing. This way, it’s easier to gain an edge.

Another huge benefit of live stream betting is that it creates many additional wagering opportunities. In most sports events, there are many in-play wagers available that are impossible to place before the game starts. For example, you can place in-play bets on who the next scorer will be, who will win the next point, what will happen in the next ten minutes and so on. Clearly, timing and speed are much more important here, unlike pre-match bets where you base your betting predictions on statistics and form.

How We Test and Rate Live Bookmakers

Each of our top-rated live betting sites has been checked according to four main criteria, that we believe to be the most important to a successful in-play betting arena. These are the range of sport and betting markets on offer, the odds levels, the presence of attractive betting promotions, and the mobile and tablet compatibility and support. In the table below, we have outlined the most popular features of a good live betting bookmaker, so feel free to jump straight to the paragraph that most interests you.

Top Sports You Can Bet on Live

As you can see in the table of the best live betting sites, each of our recommendations provides live wagers on many different sports. Some sports, like football, for example, offer many more betting opportunities than others, but this doesn’t mean that you should completely ignore other sports and betting markets.

We definitely recommend you stick to sports and leagues that you like and know well. This way, you will be able to spot profitable opportunities more often. Clearly, live betting can make a dull game or a sport that isn’t to your liking much more exciting to watch, but you should not make bets that you don’t understand just for the thrill. Even though we said timing is probably the most essential factor for profitable live betting, this doesn’t mean that knowledge and research aren’t important.

FootballFootball TennisTennis Horse RacingHorse Racing GolfGolf BoxingBoxing

Live Football Betting

The most loved and followed sport in the world is also the most popular for live betting. When you place a bet on football games normally, they provide hundreds of betting opportunities pre-game, and when it comes to in-play wagers, the situation is pretty much the same. But being able to figure out your bet after you’ve watched a couple of minutes of a football game and seen the starting line ups, gives you an extra advantage. Football, also known as soccer in some parts of the world, is the most wagered on sport at the best online sportsbooks. Usually, there are more than 100 in-play betting markets, and for the biggest tournaments, this number even gets much higher. Our recommended top live sports betting sites offer live football betting markets on nearly every single professional game worldwide.

On top of everything, most of the best live betting sites provide live streams for many football games. This might not include the clashes from the Premier League, but more often than not, live streams of La Liga or Serie A events (and more) are available. The big diversity of in-play betting markets might make your decision a bit harder, so always look for the most valuable wagers.

Play the goals in extra time market, with teams used to scoring at the end of games. The less time remains on the clock, the higher the odds.

Another live betting tip that we can give you is to wait at least a couple of minutes and watch the match so you can decide what to bet on. The odds are constantly changing depending on the players’ performance.

Let’s say the strong favourite receives a surprising early goal. The odds for the favoured team will instantly rise, while the odds for the underdog to win the game will fall. This way, you can get some extra profit if your prediction turns out to be a winner compared to the bet that you would have placed before the start of the game. This, of course, applies to all sports. You don’t necessarily have to rush to place an in-play bet as soon as the event has started. Patience can be your biggest ally, while spot-on timing can be your main piece of equipment.

Live Tennis Betting

Live tennis betting is probably the best way to bet because you base your decisions on a single player. While in football and basketball, there are many things that can turn around a game, in tennis, live bets are between just two players.

Make bets on the players who are considered the favourite, when they start the game slow and lose the first set.

Watching the first few minutes of a set or just the first two games can give you a clear view of how the tennis match will unfold. The diversity of in-play markets is not as huge as in other team sports, but still, there are enough rewarding options. Due to the high intensity of the sport, here timing is even more crucial than in other sports, as the odds are going up and down every other second.

On some occasions, you might be able to even watch the tennis game live on the betting site, especially if the match is not from the most highly ranked competitions. Live streams of matches from the Wimbledon or the US Open are also available from time to time, and very often, the best live betting sites even offer some kind of tennis-related bonuses.

Live Horse Race Betting

For old-schools punters, horse racing is a pivotal sports to follow. There are quite a few sportsbooks accepting bets on Cheltenham because big races such as this one gathers a lot of attention even today – in the digital age. The Grand National – Aintree is another brilliant horse racing event with a lot of action that lends itself to live betting.

Not only can you wager on the traditional pre-match bets in play like each way, but you can predict whether a horse will unseat or which way the action will go.

Witnessing the race’s dynamics unfold in real-time allows punters to make informed decisions based on current conditions, such as a horse’s form or jockey’s strategy. This is why, many sportsbooks let provide live streams to their users. Live betting provides opportunities to capitalize on fluctuating odds, potentially leading to higher returns. Engaging in the moment, reacting to the unpredictable, and the potential for immediate rewards combine to create an unforgettable experience, unmatched by pre-race betting.

In-Play Golf Betting

Betting on golf from the UK provides a distinct avenue for gamblers who appreciate the nuances and unpredictability of the sport. In live betting, odds can fluctuate considerably, but they are an accurate representation of the current situation. Variables such as player performance, meteorological shifts, and course challenges can all impact the odds at the UK sportsbooks for golf betting.

Among the most esteemed events in the golfing calendar is The Open Championship. This major championship holds significant prestige, drawing the attention of everyone.

You can place wagers on an outright winner as the tournament progresses, predicting who will clinch the tournament. Another option is the Each Way bet, where stakes are placed on a player not just to win, but to secure a position within the top ranks. Match bets allow one to speculate on the performance of one player against another within a specific round or throughout the tournament. As the action goes live, some of these betting lines might close before the end of the tournament.

Live Boxing Betting

Betting on boxing from the UK in-play provides a comprehensive landscape for enthusiasts who understand the intricacies and dynamism of this combat sport. Live betting in boxing allows individuals to adjust their wagers based on a multitude of factors. These include the perceived stamina of the fighters, their tactical approaches, or even a sudden turn of events such as an unexpected knockdown. Sometimes, you will be able to cash out wagers in the nick of time and get your winnings.

The UK has seen events that have garnered worldwide attention, with bouts held in iconic venues like Wembley Stadium.

The UK stands prominently on the global boxing stage, both for hosting monumental events and producing revered fighters. Naturally, there are a number of boxing betting sites in the UK that lay odds on major fights. Stick with these regulated operators and you will be able to place wagers on World Title Fights, PPV matches, Olympic boxing, and the boxing super series. Of course, you will have the added benefit of being presented with live odds and, in some occasions, cash out opportunities .

Live Markets You Can Bet on in Real Time

Anyone who likes to bet live has surely noticed that once a match begins, the number of markets available on the sportsbook to play decreases. The reason is obvious: some types of bets are not playable in real time, and it is not even possible on some markets to constantly update the odds. You can usually bet on boxing online on most bookies’ live betting section as the fight happens.

In the following table, we have listed the number of in-play betting markets at our selected best live betting bookmakers for the three most popular sports. As you can see, there are more than enough options, and there are many valuable betting markets, some of which not available pre-game.

Understandably, the football betting market variety is the greatest. There are many different types of football bets, so it’s essential for you to pick the right one. Base your predictions on how the game is going, and don’t stick to the same types of bets all the time. Among the most popular in-play betting markets on football are the Over/Under, Corners, Next Goalscorer, Half with Most Goals and Asian Handicaps.

Payouts and Live Odds

We can evaluate the odds levels for in-play fixtures at the bookies using exactly the same mathematical formula as we used for pre-match fixtures to calculate the bookmaker’s margin. Generally, the odds for in-play fixtures are lower than pre-match, making the bookmaker’s margin slightly higher.

Bonuses at the Best Live Betting Sportsbooks

Online sports betting certainly has many advantages. But despite the convenience it brings, the next major benefit is the presence of bonuses and promotions. Most live betting sites offer attractive welcome bonuses and promotions to allure new customers, and keep their current players base satisfied.

Most of the time, welcome bonuses are connected with your first deposit. Operators will either offer to match your initial deposit (up to a certain amount) or reward you with some extra wagers. Always make sure to read the terms and conditions of a bonus before signing up.

Another popular practice among the best in-play betting sites is to offer live bonuses. More often than not, you can qualify for a live sports betting bonus on the sportsbook if you have placed a certain wager pre-game. Most of the operators will match your bet up to a certain amount with a bonus bet that you must place after the event has started.

In the table above, you can see our recommendation for the best live stream betting bonus. As you can see, the wagering conditions are next to none, so you won’t have any trouble withdrawing any potential winnings from the bonus free bets. The operator also has regular sports betting promotions, which most of the time can be claimed and wagered at the live betting section.

Best Payment Methods to Play Live

Now let’s turn our attention to the available payment methods at the best live betting sites. Banking at an online bookmaker is no different to banking at the top UK gambling sites. Punters should have access to a diverse list of secure payment options, so that they can choose the method that is most suitable to their needs and preferences. Check out the table below to get a clear view of the most important aspects of a payment method, when playing at live sports betting sites.

And while the diversity of payment options on the sportsbook is important, the security of the banking method should be your number one priority. PayPal betting sites normally stand out with the safest transactions, as do Skrill betting sites. Luckily, our featured top live betting sites use first-class security systems and high-level encryption, guarantying the safety of your banking information and your transactions.

Making a deposit at the best live betting sportsbooks normally happens instantly with most of the payment options. As for the withdrawals, e-wallets stand out with speed. You can expect to receive your money in less than 24 hours. If you’re keen on fast transactions, then we recommend you use the most famous e-wallet in the world, PayPal.

Another good option for punters who desire fast and easy transactions are Neteller betting sites. All in all, each of our selected best live betting sites will grant you a large number of banking options, so the choice is up to you. Bear in mind that some payment methods (mostly e-wallets) may be excluded from the list of qualifying deposits for a bonus, so always make sure to get acquainted with the terms and conditions of promotions.

Live Mobile Betting

The mobile compatibility of our selected top live sports betting sites was another crucial factor that we had in mind when making our top 5 selection. Nowadays, people spend an enormous amount of time on their mobile devices, and there are apps for literally everything. Of course, the sports betting industry has managed to stay up to date with the trends, and nearly every single live betting site has a mobile platform. Mobile betting is responsible for more than 75 percent of all sports wagers. No surprise there. The feeling of placing a live bet through your phone or tablet while watching a football game or another sport is familiar to most punters.

Each of our recommendations has successfully managed to keep the differences between live betting on the desktop version and the mobile version of the sportsbook to a minimum. The quality of the in-play features is impeccable, regardless of if you use your tablet, phone or computer. Many punters would even recommend mobile live betting more than placing wagers on the desktop version.

Not only that you can enjoy mobile live betting to the fullest with each of our recommended live sportsbooks, but you can also use all other functions and features of the sites without any difficulties or stress. Live streaming through your portable device is a great way to pass some time, even if you don’t want to place any bets. It might not be like watching a sports game on a huge TV, but you can’t bring the TV on the bus with you, can you?

Live Stream Betting

Another great feature of the best live betting sportsbooks is live streaming. We have reviewed some of the best live stream betting sites, with multiple events shown each day. This can help drastically when it comes to successfully betting in-play, as punters can watch a fixture to help decide what their next in-play bet should be. Have in mind, though, that the live streams are normally delayed a few seconds from real time. As we already mentioned, all of our selected bookmakers offer at least some live-streams.

It wasn’t an easy task to decide which bookmaker offers the best live-streams. All of our recommendations offer high quality live streams on various sports. Our top pick offers more than the impressive 60,000 live streams per year. You can watch the sports events on your phone or tablet, as well as on the desktop version.

The variety of sports that can be watched live is quite large, so punters can enjoy some of the biggest games as long as they have an active account with a real money balance. Of course, you won’t be able to stream any Premier League fixtures at either operator due to licensing and publishing rights. However, there’s a good range of high-level fixtures from Spain, Turkey, Greece, Italy, and other countries.

Horse racing and greyhound races are also quite common, but so are games from the major volleyball championships. So, while a lot of the live streams for football are lower league European fixtures, there are plenty of opportunities to see some good fixtures from the continent, as well as big tournament fixtures in tennis.

Live Streaming Requirements

Even though most live betting sites provide live streams for many sports events, some of them apply some conditions in order to be able to take advantage of this function. The most common rule is obviously to have an active account with your selected live betting site. Most operators also require you to have real money in your account, even if it’s just 0.01p.

There might be some requirements related to the operating system of your computer or mobile device. You might also need to install plug-ins such as Flash Players, for example. On some occasions, you might also be required to place a real money wager on the in-play market in order to be able to watch the live stream. All things considered, the eventual requirements for live streaming are quite easy to fulfil and pretty much every punter can watch live sports events straight at the bookmakers’ platform.

TV Rights of the Operators

The dispute for the television rights of sporting events is, as is well known, very fierce. Since a few years ago, when bookmakers also entered the fray, some distinctions have been necessary for the auctions that lead to the assignment of the possibility of broadcasting the events. For example, unlike real television broadcasters, betting sites generally do not buy the gold packages of the events, but those for which transmission is in low definition and there is no commentary.

Cash Out

The cashout feature is a staple of all the best live betting sites and it has turned into a must-have option for any online bookmaker who wishes to have success. It was originally invented by the operator bet365.

The betting sites with cash out allow you to accept a profit or minimise your losses before the end of a certain sports event. It is a real-time decision and pays out immediately after you use the feature. Each of our selected top live bet sites provides the cashout feature.

Live Betting – Tips and Strategies

While most of us place live bets mostly for fun, it is always better to be able to make some extra cash. After all, no one likes losing and wasting money. That’s why it’s important for punters to follow a certain betting strategy and set some ground rules. The most important of all is always to bet only what you can afford to lose. Sports betting is supposed to bring you joy and excitement, so the moment you feel you’re stepping over the edge and it’s no longer fun, you should stop.

Mistakes to Avoid When Live Betting

If you are completely new to the sports betting industry and haven’t placed a live bet so far, you should be prepared that you will make some betting mistakes at the beginning. It is inevitable, even if you follow all the instructions and advice in our live betting guide. In the table below, we have listed some of the most commonly made mistakes that beginner players make.

We also recommend you stick to Singles, Doubles and Triples when it comes to live betting. As the live odds change constantly, you risk to miss out on good odds if you just keep adding new selection to your bet slip. Playing just 2-3 games gives you a higher chance to make a profit, as successful predicting more than 4-5 events can be quite challenging. You should also diverse your in-play bets and not always stick to the same betting markets.

Beware of Scams: Safety Info

Obviously, you should always play at licensed and regulated live betting sites and avoid playing at online bookmakers that don’t have the required authorisations. Look for signs of approval from internationally recognised gaming organisations, responsible gambling associations and gambling authorities.

You should also use a unique username and strong password, so that your account is safe and secure. Don’t share your account details with anyone. Avoid playing from a computer or a smartphone that is not yours, as you can forget to log out and risk exposing your sensitive data to a large audience.

Sites to Avoid

The online sports betting industry is huge, and it’s normal to have some operators that try to scam and take advantage of you. Try to play only at live sports betting sites that are internationally recognised and provide a safe and secure gaming environment. Clearly, each of our selected best live betting sportsbooks in the UK has been fully authorised to offer betting services and possess the required gambling licenses, so you shouldn’t worry about safety and authenticity.

Specific Live Betting T&Cs

The terms and conditions relating to live betting have many points in common with the pre-match ones. In fact, they can be played 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and are subject to the same minimum wagering and maximum winning limits. Almost all bookmakers reserve the right to wait for the final acceptance of the bets: this is a physiological period of time, determined by fluctuations in the odds of live games. Therefore, always wait to receive confirmation of acceptance of your bet to be sure that it has taken place and that the odds you click are still valid.

Useful Information

We want to be as helpful as possible and guide you in the right direction for your future in-play betting adventures. That’s why we have decided to review a few more topics related to in-play betting. You can check out the table below and jump straight to the matter.

Glossary of In-Play Betting

Knowing the terminology of live betting is extremely important, almost as much as knowing the rules and statistics of each sports event you wish to bet on. In reality, many terms used are the same as those we can find when playing in other betting modes, such as pre-match. For this reason, we have decided not to deepen the discussion regarding specific terminology in this paragraph but to refer you to the complete and in-depth betting glossary that you find on our site.

New Live Bookmakers

It comes as no surprise that more and more new betting sites are constantly popping up. The sports betting industry is a multi-billion-pound business, so it’s normal to always have newcomers that also want a share of the pie.

All Live Betting Sites – The Complete List

As we mentioned earlier in our review, the online betting industry is a massive business. There are hundreds of sports betting sites, and at the end of the day, the choice where to play is up to you. We decided to pick out the five best performing live betting sites to make your decision easier, but there are many other online bookmakers that provide live betting services. In the table below, we have listed all live stream betting sites that we have reviewed on our site, and therefore we guarantee their authenticity and trustworthiness.

Final Thoughts on Live Betting

Our article about the best live betting sites has come to an end. We hope it has been informative and helpful enough. In our opinion, online live betting can be really fun, and it’s definitely worth trying. The huge variety of betting possibilities at our selected top live betting sites, along with the many first-class services that they offer, make them a valuable partner in your future betting endeavours.

Each of our selected top live betting sportsbooks is extremely consistent with the in-play offerings. Solid odds, wide mobile compatibility and user-friendliness are just some of the many perks you can get when playing at the best betting sites. The extra features, such as live streaming and live scores, further increase their attractiveness. You just have to use the right tricks and strategies after choosing the most congenial bookmaker for you, taking into account the sports, markets, bonuses and payment methods it offers, and then you can go for fun in real time!

Frequently Asked Questions

As we do in all of our articles, it is time for us to address some of the most popular and commonly asked questions regarding the topic at hand. Spare a few more minutes with us, and you might get the answers to your queries. And in case you need some additional help, don’t hesitate to contact us at info@bestbettingsites.com.