Live betting sites let you turn hunches on who’ll score the next touchdown or hit the homer into action. They offer real-time odds, live streaming, thrills, and impressive bonuses.
Interested? Check out the top live betting sites according to our extensive research below.
Best Live Betting Sites Ranked
You don’t have to deposit and wager at dozens of live bookmakers to find top options. We’ve already done this for you and chosen the best live sports betting sites for different categories.
Best Live Betting Site Overall
🥇 Winner: BetOnline
- Pros: Best live betting features, user-friendly live lobby, wide range of sports.
- Cons: Doesn’t offer live stats.
Why we chose BetOnline: This is the best live betting site for features, with live streaming, event visualizers, and a multi-event view available. BetOnline packages all these features into a live sportsbook that’s easy to use on a desktop or betting app.
🥈 Runner-Up: Bovada
- Pros: Dozens of live bets for some games, live streaming for many events, cash out live wagers.
- Cons: No specific in-play betting promos.
🥉 Podium Finish: BetWhale
- Pros: Great live streaming setup, covers more games than most live betting sites.
- Cons: $150 minimum withdrawal on live winnings.
Best Betting Site for Live Streaming
🥇 Winner: BetWhale
- Pros: Easily accessible live streaming, offers streaming for many daily matches.
- Cons: No streaming for certain sports.
Why we chose BetWhale: We like how BetWhale starts playing streams as soon as you open a relevant match. This bookmaker also streams many matches, especially those involving American favorites like football, basketball, baseball, and hockey.
🥈 Runner-Up: MyBookie
- Pros: Streams plenty of games in high-profile sports, quick to update odds during game breaks.
- Cons: Could stream even more contests.
🥉 Podium Finish: BetOnline
- Pros: View livestreams for many games when logged in, enjoy several other features beyond streaming.
- Cons: Streams can lag during peak traffic hours.
Best In-Play Betting Site for Cash-Out Options
🥇 Winner: Bovada
- Pros: Fair prices on cash out offers, helpful onsite tutorial on cashing out.
- Cons: Not available for all events and bet types.
Why we chose Bovada: This bookmaker offers some of the better prices on cash outs among live sports betting sites. It also provides the best tutorial we’ve seen on using this option.
🥈 Runner-Up: Xbet
- Pros: Commonly provides in-play cash out opportunities with most wager types.
- Cons: Unavailable for live props.
🥉 Podium Finish: TG.Casino
- Pros: Simple interface makes cashing out easy, this option is available for a variety of sports.
- Cons: Requires a VPN from the US.
Best Live Betting Sportsbook for Odds Boosts
🥇 Winner: BetOnline
- Pros: Best live betting sportsbook at providing odds boosts, offers large boosts on props.
- Cons: Not available for all wager types.
Why we chose BetOnline: We like the sheer volume of daily odds boosts that this live betting site offers. BetOnline is especially generous with its boosts on prop bets.
🥈 Runner-Up: SportsBetting
- Pros: Easy to find opportunities under the Odds Boosters section, frequent boosted props and parlays.
- Cons: The small welcome bonus somewhat counteracts frequent boosts.
🥉 Podium Finish: BetUS
- Pros: Solid number of daily odds boosts, covers several bet types.
- Cons: High rollover on some deposit bonuses.
Best Live Betting Sites in the US at a Glance
Here’s a quick look at where four of the top live betting sites stand out, along with their notable features.
| Category | Sportsbook | Key Features | Why It Stands Out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | BetOnline | Unique features like Mega Parlays, great live betting platform, supports 17 cryptocurrencies | Excels in almost every area, especially adept at in-play betting markets and features |
| Bonuses | BetUS | Multiple welcome bonuses, regular reload bonuses | Provides a 200% up to $5k crypto bonus & 100% up to $1.5k reload bonuses |
| Sports Coverage | BetWhale | Features 30+ sports, offers deeper coverage of each sport versus most in-play betting sites | Excellent variety of sports, great bookmaker if you like niche markets like politics or live betting on esports |
| Payouts | Bovada | Pays up to $180k through Litecoin, processes most withdrawals in hours | Highest payout limits among US live betting sites, offers quick cashouts through several cryptocurrencies |
Top Features to Look for in a Live Betting Sportsbook
Some live sports betting sites offer more than the competition in key areas. Here are the main features you should consider when looking for the best in play betting sites.
| Feature | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Live Streaming | Bet while watching games in real-time |
| Speedy Bet Placement | Instant response for fast-paced sports |
| Cash Out | Guarantee winnings or minimize losses |
| Special Promotions | Specific bonuses just for live betting |
| Sports Coverage | Place live wagers on a variety of sports |
| Bet Types | Live props, parlays, and totals are entertaining |
| Live Betting Features | Multi-views, event visualizers, and stats enhance the experience |
Best Sports to Bet On at In-Play Betting Sites
Certain sports are better suited for live wagering due to their fast-paced action and unique betting propositions. You can see our favorite sports to wager on at live betting sportsbooks below.
Basketball
Why Bet Live?
- A team can go from trailing by 10 to leading in minutes, creating great betting opportunities on adjusted spreads and moneylines.
- A flurry of scoring, or lack thereof, down the stretch makes live totals bets interesting.
- Many top NBA betting sites not only cover the NBA but also feature live betting on prominent international basketball leagues.
Top Live Betting Markets
- Quarter/half winner – Bet on short-term team performances.
- First/second half totals – Wager on updated half totals.
- Live player props – Over/unders on specific player stats.
Live Betting Tips: Know the tendencies of when star players rest, then capitalize on this knowledge with live quarter bets. Use timeouts and quarter breaks to quickly analyze stats before betting.
Football
Why Bet Live?
- Teams are often a big pass play or interception away from changing the game momentum and your live betting fortunes.
- Frequent stoppages between players allow for more in-play analysis on NFL betting sites vs the average sport.
- Offers the most live wagering opportunities due to it being America’s favorite sports league.
Top Live Betting Markets
- Next touchdown bet – A live team or player prop on who’ll get the next TD.
- First/second half spreads – Wager on a team’s spread as the half rages on.
- Next score – Decide which team will get the next field goal, TD, or safety.
Live Betting Tips: Be more willing to cash out on live NFL player props because injuries are frequent, and check out interception props when one team is down by 2+ scores going into the fourth quarter.
Baseball
Why Bet Live?
- Place live wagers on everything from stolen bases to the next pitch.
- Great if you’re looking for a slowed-down version of in-play betting with more opportunity to research wagers.
- MLB betting sites have a wealth of stats available on hitters, pitchers, and teams for help with making live bets.
Top Live Betting Markets
- Runs scored – Over/under on the number of runs scored by both teams.
- Next home run – Guess which team or player will hit the next homer.
- Next run – Wager on the team that will score next.
Live Betting Tips: If a game is tied in late innings, moneyline bets on teams that are outhitting the other 2-1 are often successful. Also, watch for inflated total lines when the bases are loaded with two outs, then bet the under.
UFC & Combat Sports
Why Bet Live?
- An underdog who’s still upright is always in the match since a quick strike or submission can end things.
- The best live sports betting sites offer a wealth of bets and props during UFC Pay-Per-Views.
- Use your MMA expertise for lowkey wagers like total takedowns and significant strikes landed.
Top Live Betting Markets
- Winning method – Bet on if the fight will end by knockout, submission, or decision.
- Winning round – Decide which round the match will end.
- Round spread – Over/under on how many rounds there will be.
Live Betting Tips: Look for situations where one fighter is expending too much energy, then bet against them later in the fight. It also helps to recognize signs of injury (e.g., a broken hand) and act quickly to capitalize on shifting live odds.
Soccer
Why Bet Live?
- Props like corners, yellow cards, and shots on goal are more prominent due to soccer’s low-scoring nature.
- You can wager on a variety of leagues (eg MLS, Premier League, La Liga) at in-play betting sites.
- It’s a great sport for analyzing momentum shifts and wagering on live odds accordingly. For the esports version, FIFA betting sites have you covered.
Top Live Betting Markets
- Next goal – Bet on which side will score next.
- Shots on goal – Over/under on the number of shots on goal.
- Yellow card – Which team will get a yellow card next.
Live Betting Tips: Use the current score to place a correct score bet around the 75th to 80th minute of the match. If the favored team starts slow and is dominated in possession early on, watch for more favorable moneyline odds on them.
Tennis
Why Bet Live?
- Tennis offers in-play betting opportunities around every corner with so many serves, points, games, and props.
- Double the live wagering excitement with ATP and WTA tournaments running at the same time.
- There’s money to be made when you thoroughly know certain pros and their in-match tendencies.
Top Live Betting Markets
- Game winner – Pick which player will win the next game.
- Aces – Over/under on the number of aces in a match.
- Set winner – Decide the winner of the current set.
Live Betting Tips: Player endurance becomes a bigger factor in long matches, so have a good idea of each athlete’s stamina level. You can also reduce the volatility of live tennis betting by picking heavy favorites to win their serve games, which frequently happens.
Bonuses Available at the Best Live Betting Sites
The best betting sites in the USA offer bonuses specifically for in-play wagering. You can see what’s commonly available in the following table.
| Bonus Type | How it Works | Pro Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Risk-Free Live Bet | If your first live bet loses, you get a refund (often in site credit). | Look for sportsbooks that refund in cash, not bonus bets, for better flexibility. |
| Odds Boosts for Live Events | A live betting site boosts the odds on one side, usually the underdog. | Compare the boosted odds to regular odds at other bookmakers to ensure the deal is good. |
| Live Bet Parlay Insurance | You get a refund if your live parlay loses by one leg under certain conditions (eg -150 min odds). | Find live parlay insurance with more generous minimum odds, such as -200. |
| Deposit Match for Live Betting | An in-play betting site matches your deposit (eg 100% up to $200). | Anything under 10x rollover is favorable on match bonuses. |
| Free Live Bet | You place a free live wager and get winnings minus the stake if you win. | These wagers are nice for placing longshot bets since you’re not risking anything. |
How Live Betting Sites Work: A Quick Guide
Sportsbooks with live betting let you wager on matches as they’re happening. They post new odds on moneylines, totals, quarters, halves, player props, and more.
You can join the action by visiting a sportsbook’s in-play wagering section. You then select the desired sport and game to see what bets are available.
How Odds Change in Real-Time
Live betting is fast-paced, especially during games like hockey, with odds changing quickly. The same moneyline available a minute ago with an NHL betting site may be gone as one side or the other gains an edge.
In-play betting sites adjust odds depending on the specific sport and relevant factors. For example, soccer games are low scoring, so bookmakers use possession time and shots on goal to shape new lines.
Sports like basketball and football are a bit easier because they’re higher-scoring affairs. A basketball team that goes on an 8-point run will quickly have stronger moneyline odds.
The quick changes at live betting sites leave you with faster decisions to make. You’ll only have minutes or even seconds to take advantage of juicy odds.
Bet Types Available for In-Play Betting
The best live betting sites offer plenty of wager types, with the following being most common:
Moneyline
A bet on the match winner, with live odds changing frequently throughout the match as either side plays better/worse. Also popular on the best esports betting sites.
Spread
A handicap on the favorite and underdog, with the winner being the side that covers its spread. Live handicaps for each team grow larger or smaller as games run.
Totals
This live wager requires you to bet on teams scoring over or under the given line (eg 50.5 points). A slow start leads to a lower live over/under, while a hot pace causes a higher total line.
Player Props
Wagers involving individual player performances, such as Nikola Jokic scoring over/under 29.5 points. Online live betting sites frequently shift prop odds depending on how a player is performing.
Next Score
A bet on which team/player will score the next touchdown, basket, run, etc. These wagers may only be available for seconds in some sports, especially basketball and tennis.
Match Length
This wager is most common in MMA and boxing, where matches can end early. Live sports betting sites adjust the odds on each round handicap (eg over/under 4.5 rounds) based on each fighter’s form.
Parlays
The best in-play betting sites offer a parlay option, where you can put multiple live wagers on the same ticket. You must work quickly because deciding one live bet is hard enough—let alone two or more.
Quarter/Half/Round Winner
A wager on which team will win the current period or half. Quarters and rounds in fighting sports lead to intense live betting action due to their short nature.
Live Betting Regulations in the US
In-play betting laws can vary based on the state. For example, Mississippi requires you to be at retail sportsbook properties to enjoy pre-match or live online sports betting sites.
Indiana allows licensed live betting sites throughout the state, but it prohibits in-play college player props.
In Montana, you can use the lone state-licensed app to prep wagers anywhere within state boundaries. But you’ll need to visit a state lottery retailer before completing a live bet.
If your state has restrictions like these, you can always use the offshore betting sites we recommend. Bookmakers like BetUS, BetOnline, and Xbet offer in-play wagering with no restrictions throughout the USA.
As for legalities, offshore bookmakers operate legally in jurisdictions like Anjouan and Panama. You’re perfectly fine to use these sportsbooks from a legal perspective in the US. Not only do they cover all major sports, but they also include esports, with markets for betting on Valorant, gambling on Dota 2, and much more.
Live Betting vs. Pre-Match Betting: Which One Is Better?
Both pre-match and live wagering have their advantages, but is one superior to the other? Let’s look at the finer points of each and come up with an answer:
Pros & Cons of Live Betting Sites
✅ Pros
- More action and opportunities
- Softer lines due to frantic pace
- Cash out bets early
- Use in-game observations & expertise
❌ Cons
- Live bets take a bit more juice
- Not much time to strategize
Pros & Cons of Pre-match Wagering
✅ Pros
- Can put more research into wagers
- Time to monitor pre-match line shifts
- Takes less juice on average
❌ Cons
- No ability to use in-game knowledge
- Less flexible than live wagering
- Pre-match odds are sharper
Are live betting odds better than pre-match odds? The debate between live and pre-match betting is close, but we like in-play odds a little more. Live betting offers more flexibility, softer lines, and the cash out feature. We also feel it’s easier to gain an edge with in-play wagering, despite the slightly higher juice.
Winning Strategies for Online Live Betting Sites
Choosing the best US live sports betting sites is only part of the battle—you also need strategy to win. We’ll help you get started in the right direction with the following tips:
- Understand the Time Delay: Unless you’re physically at games, you’ll deal with a 20-30 second delay between the action and what’s televised/streamed. One way to overcome this disadvantage and the odds you may miss is to only live bet during timeouts and other stoppages.
- Recognize Subtle Injuries: Sometimes key players try to play through injuries, making it appear as if they’re not seriously hurt. But if you see the athlete constantly wincing and grabbing the injured area, you might take the under in anticipation that they’ll make an early exit.
- The Faster the Action, the More Preparation Needed: Pre-match knowledge is great when wagering live on any sport because it cuts down on your research. But you should be especially prepared for high-scoring sports like football and basketball since they don’t allow much research time.
- Don’t Let Pregame Bets Bleed Into Live Betting: While pre-match knowledge is important, the wagers you make prior to a game should be forgotten. We suggest treating each live wager independently from whatever bets you place beforehand. This advice is especially crucial with moneylines, spreads, and totals, where you’re betting on teams’ chances now—not two hours ago.
FAQs
BetOnline is the best sportsbook for live betting due to its features, in-play wagering markets, promos, and total sports coverage. Bovada, BetWhale, BetUS, and MyBookie are also among the top live betting sites.
Most of the best in-play betting sites have live streaming, such as BetOnline, Bovada, MyBookie, and Xbet. Based on our research, BetWhale is the absolute best betting site for live streaming due to its markets and user-friendly platform.
You can cash out live wagers early as long as the sportsbook allows it. Cash out is great for locking in profits or cutting losses in a bad situation. If you’re interested in this feature, Bovada, Xbet, and TG.Casino are among the best live sports betting sites for cashing out.
Some live betting sportsbooks that provide streaming include BetWhale, BetOnline, MyBookie, Bovada, and Xbet. Out of these, we feel that BetWhale is the best live streaming betting site. This bookmaker excels at covering a wide range of markets and delivering a high-quality feed.
Totals, spreads, moneylines, player props, next score, and parlays are the most notable wagers at live betting sportsbooks. We suggest that you thoroughly understand a bet type before wagering on it live. This way, you’ll feel more confident when wagering at the best sportsbooks for live betting.
References
- https://gamingcontrolanjouan.org (Gaming Control Anjouan)
- https://www.gamingregulation.com/agency/panama/junta-de-control-de-juegos (Panama Gaming Control Board)