Live betting sites allow their members to place wagers in real time on sporting events that are in progress. Many of the most advanced live betting sites also offer live streaming video, which perfectly compliments live wagering by allowing you to watch matches and events with commentary as they occur. Some of the most important qualities to seek in live betting sites include a variety of betting options, numerous sports on which to wager, lucrative bonuses and promotions, responsive customer support, user-friendly software and a bevy of options for making deposits and withdrawals.
Online Live Betting Sites
Software at Live Betting Sites
After you register for a free membership at a live betting site, you’ll usually be able to use their sports betting software directly in your web browser. In some cases, the site may provide downloadable software that you’ll need to install on your hard drive and run as a separate application. This type of software is specific to certain operating systems, while browser-based software doesn’t require a download and works on virtually all computers.
In order to be considered a live betting site, the sportsbook must offer live betting within their software. Live betting is unique because it allows you to place wagers instantly, often only moments before the event on which you’re betting occurs. This makes for a dynamic betting experience in which you can assess and place new wagers based on the status of the game. Live betting sites often facilitate this with live streaming video of the matches on which you’re betting, as well as game statistics that are updated in real time as the game plays out.
Betting Options at Live Betting Sites
Live betting sites typically offer several different ways in which members can wager on sporting events. Some of these include:
- If Bets
- Totals
- Pleasers
- Reverse Bets
- Futures
- Round Robins
- Teasers
- Propositions
- Parlays
- Straight Bets
Proposition bets are perhaps most important at live betting sites, as they’re used frequently within the site’s live betting area. Props bets represent the wagers you can place on specific events that might occur during a game, such as the next team to score or the performance of a particular player during a given period or quarter. Straight bets are wagers on the winner of a game. Futures are similar to straight bets except for the fact that they’re usually placed on future championship events that might not take place for months. Totals are also commonly used at live betting sites, as they allow you to wager on the total combined score of a match.
Sporting Events at Live Betting Sites
The best live betting sites offer a huge variety of sports upon which you can wager, often referred to as betting markets. Some of these betting markets include:
- Tennis
- Water Polo
- Horse Racing
- Golf
- F1
- Bandy
- Hockey
- Floorball
- Handball
- Soccer
- Lacrosse
- Baseball
- Boxing
- Nascar
- Rugby
- UFC/MMA
- Australian Rules
- Rally Racing
- American Football
- Basketball
Customer Service at Live Betting Sites
Reputable live betting sites usually offer more than one way in which you can contact customer support, such as email, phone and live chat. These service methods should be available free of charge. Note that phone support may incur fees depending on the country in which you live. Email turnaround times should be fast, allowing you to receive a response in less than a few hours.
Many live betting sites also offer detailed FAQ sections that provide explanations of account management, real money banking, software, betting options and more.
Bonuses at Live Betting Sites
Player-friendly live betting sites usually offer several different bonuses and promotional offers to new and existing members. When you first sign up, you’ll generally receive an initial deposit bonus that matches a portion of your very first deposit as a bonus, up to a specified max value. Reload bonuses, which work in the same way on your later deposits, are usually offered on a rotating basis and may be announced randomly by the site.
Many live betting sites also offer referral bonuses in which you can receive a real money reward for referring friends to the site. VIP programs, which sometimes offer automatic enrollment for all members, offer points in exchange for the dollars you wager at the site. As you rack up more points, you’ll be able to turn them in for free bets, cash rewards or merchandise.
Banking Methods at Live Betting Sites
In order to wager real money at live betting sites, you’ll first be required to make a deposit using a secure, reliable banking method supported by both the site at which you’re registered and the country in which you live. The most popular banking options, which include credit cards, e-wallets, banking transfers and more, include the following:
- PaySafeCard
- EntroPay
- Visa
- eCheck
- EcoCard
- Neteller
- MasterCard
- InstaDebit
- MoneyBookers
- WebMoney
- ClickandBuy
- UKash
- Cash Transfer
- Check by Mail
Reputable live betting sites rarely place fees on deposits, though it’s common to pay a small surcharge for some withdrawal methods. Deposits are usually processed on the same that day you submit them, while withdrawals may take a few additional business days to process.
