Live Betting Sites in the US
Live betting is one of the most exciting aspects of wagering and there are many excellent in-play betting sites available. Experienced players can jump straight to our list of the top US in-game betting sites.
If you’re still new to online betting, check out the rest of the page first. We explain how live odds work, what are the best markets and everything else you need to know before starting.
Best Live Sports Betting Sites in September 2024
# | Sportsbook | Bonus | Visit Site | T&Cs | |||
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1.
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BetMGM |
Up to 1500$ first bet offer Cashback |
Play |
Use bonus code: No bonus code required. Register to claim offer
Qualifying bet: No minimum bet amount and no odds restrictions Wagering requirement: 1x bonus. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (available in all of US) 21+ only. Please gamble responsibly. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (NY), 1-800-327-5050 (MA) 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Rewards are non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 7 days. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for Terms. US promotional offers not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico. |
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2.
|
BetMGM |
Up to 1500$ first bet offer Cashback |
Play |
Use bonus code: No bonus code required. Register to claim offer
Qualifying bet: No minimum bet amount and no odds restrictions Wagering requirement: 1x bonus. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (available in all of US) 21+ only. Please gamble responsibly. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (NY), 1-800-327-5050 (MA) 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Rewards are non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 7 days. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for Terms. US promotional offers not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico. |
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3.
|
BetMGM |
Up to 1500$ first bet offer Cashback |
Play |
Use bonus code: No bonus code required. Register to claim offer
Qualifying bet: No minimum bet amount and no odds restrictions Wagering requirement: 1x bonus. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (available in all of US) 21+ only. Please gamble responsibly. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (NY), 1-800-327-5050 (MA) 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Rewards are non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 7 days. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for Terms. US promotional offers not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico. |
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4.
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Caesars Sportsbook |
Bet $50 Get $250 in Bonus Bets Cashback |
Play |
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5.
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FanDuel Sportsbook |
Up to $1,000 risk-free bet Free bet |
Play |
Use bonus code: No bonus code required; Register to claim
Qualifying bet: No minimum bet amount Wagering requirement: 1x bonus |
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6.
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DraftKings Sportsbook |
Bet $5 get $200 in free bets instantly Free bet |
Play |
Use bonus code: No bonus code required; Register to claim
Qualifying bet: $5 Wagering requirement: 1x bonus |
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7.
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BetRivers |
100% up to $250 Match deposit bonus |
Play |
Use bonus code: 250MATCH
Qualifying bet: No minimum bet amount and no odds restrictions Wagering requirement: 1x bonus |
Almost every decent bookmaker in the US offers live betting, however, not all are made the same. We consider several important factors when writing our sportsbook reviews, such as the selection of live markets and quality of odds, when picking sportsbooks for the top list. Also, keep in mind that we review only licensed betting sites that guarantee players’ safety.
How to Pick the Best In-Play Betting Site
Since there are so many live sports betting sites available, it’s important to know how to recognize the best ones. We have listed a few things that make an excellent in-play betting site, so be sure to consider everything written below when deciding where to bet.
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Licenses
If an operator doesn’t have a valid betting license from one of the US state governments, don’t bother creating an account. A site that doesn’t have a US betting license does not have to follow the same rules, which means they can withhold your money unfairly or decide to not pay out legitimate wins.
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Selection of sports
Most live sportsbooks cover popular sports, like NBA, NFL and MLB. However, the best ones can have tens of other sports, such as soccer, tennis, volleyball, etc.
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Selection of live markets
You don’t have to live bet only on the game’s final outcome. In-play betting sites offer a plethora of other live bets such as over/under, next team to score, and next player to score, although these vary depending on the sport.
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Mobile apps
Live sports betting is all about speed, so having a nicely designed mobile app gives you a great advantage. We pay close attention to mobile betting apps when picking live bookmakers for our list, and we strongly recommend you do too.
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Bonuses
Welcome bonuses at betting sites aren’t usually specific for live betting, but that shouldn’t stop you utilizing those offers with in-play wagers if you want to. The best sportsbooks will also put up live betting promotions from time to time.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Live Betting
It’s important to know both sides of the story before live betting for real money, which is why we give you a full list of in-play betting advantages and disadvantages. Consider everything below before deciding whether or not to start betting live.
- Exciting way to bet
- Higher odds
- Bet with the flow of the game
- New betting markets
- Convenient on mobile
- Can be overwhelming
- Higher potential losses
- Less time to think through a bet
The majority of new betting markets that aren’t available pre-game refer to the next player or team to do something. This could be to score a touchdown in NFL, to be sent to the penalty box in NHL, or to get yellow carded in soccer.
In terms of the negatives, some people find that ever-changing odds can make live betting stressful as they try to find value. This can lead to placing too many wagers and needing nothing short of a miracle to actually make money.
How to Bet In-Play
In-play betting may look overwhelming to beginners, but it’s actually quite straightforward. If this is your first time betting live, take a look at our step-by-step guide, where we break down the whole process of placing a live bet.
Live Betting Odds
The odds you see before the game starts will still be available once the match begins, but they will soon change to reflect what happens in the match. If one team starts outplaying their opponent or scores, the odds will change accordingly.
Live odds are highly volatile because one event can completely change the course of the game. In this case, you don’t have enough time to analyze the stats and make an informed decision. Most bettors rely on their instincts and pre-match research to make betting decisions based on developments in the match.
Sportsbooks use advanced algorithms to come up with realistic odds, but it’s very hard to do that in a time crunch. This sometimes results in too high or too low odds, which allows you to leverage your betting experience and use it to your advantage.
Live Betting Line Odds Explained
Live betting line odds work in the same way as the regular ones. The only difference is that they change during the game. If a team has a strong start, lines quickly jump and you could see a market go from +150 to -150 in the blink of an eye. You should always follow the match closely and consider all relevant stats to make the most informed decision.
The easiest way to explain this is with an example.
Let’s say that the New England Patriots are favored over Dallas Cowboys with a line of -200. However, in the first few minutes of the game Patriots’ starting quarterback suffers an injury that puts him off the field for the rest of the game. As such, they aren’t favorites anymore and so the live odds almost immediately change.
If you still think that the Patriots will win, you can back them at the much bigger odds of, for example, +150. However, because of the injury, they are much less likely to win than at the start.
If you bet $100 on Patriots winning before the game, you would end up with a potential profit of just $50. However, with those increased live odds, a $100 bet would net you $150 in profit, which is three times more!
But don’t forget that this can also go the other way. That’s why it’s very important to closely follow what’s happening on the field and update your bets based on that. If done right, live betting can make your pre-game bets even more profitable.
Most Popular Live Bets
One of the advantages of live betting is that you have the opportunity to try an entirely new set of bets that aren’t available when betting pre-game. There are tens of different live bets, and we’re about to explain a few of the most popular ones below.
Keep in mind that live bet types can be very different depending on the sport, which is why we’re focusing on markets that are available at most of the best US betting sites regardless of the league you’re betting on. Each of these bets come with a distinct set of advantages and disadvantages, so it’s essential that you learn more about them beforehand.
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Next team to score
You place a bet on a team you think will score next. Whether you’re betting on the next touchdown or next goal, the rules are the same. If you see that one team is putting pressure on their opponent, it’s the right time to use the ‘Next team to score’ live bet.
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Match winner
This market is similar to the pre-game match winner bet, but in this case, you get to decide while the game is still on. If one team is pressuring to make the game turning score, you can back them up at high odds and end up with a sizable profit if they do manage to win at the end.
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Over/under
Most people bet whether there will be more or fewer points in the game than the set mark, but it doesn’t end there. Bookmakers usually also let you bet over/under on player stats, such as points, rebounds or goals.
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Time of next score
This is a very exciting market many bettors adore. You can bet whether the next score will occur in the next 5, 10, 15 or more minutes. This is especially exciting for sports where scores are relatively rare, such as NFL or soccer.
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Half winner
Is one team having complete control over the game in the first half? Instead of betting on them to win the game, you can simply bet on them to be leading by half-time. Depending on the sport, most live betting sites also let you bet on the quarter winner in NFL and NBA, or inning winner in MLB.
You can combine two or more live bets into a single wager for higher profits with a live betting parlay. Note that live parlay bets are not available at all online sportsbooks.
If any parlay selections don’t win then the whole bet is a loser, which is why you should be extra careful and include only bets that make sense.
Live Betting Apps
Having a great mobile betting app is always a good thing, but it’s even more important when betting live. The in-play odds are ever-changing so having an option to check them on the go and quickly place a bet at the right time is paramount to success.
Luckily every site we list above has an app that lets you live bet. We have even picked the top 3 sportsbooks that have done the most to improve their mobile platforms.
# | Sportsbook | Bonus | Visit Site | T&Cs | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8.
|
BetMGM |
Up to 1500$ first bet offer Cashback |
Play |
Use bonus code: No bonus code required. Register to claim offer
Qualifying bet: No minimum bet amount and no odds restrictions Wagering requirement: 1x bonus. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (available in all of US) 21+ only. Please gamble responsibly. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (NY), 1-800-327-5050 (MA) 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Rewards are non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 7 days. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for Terms. US promotional offers not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico. |
|||
9.
|
BetMGM |
Up to 1500$ first bet offer Cashback |
Play |
Use bonus code: No bonus code required. Register to claim offer
Qualifying bet: No minimum bet amount and no odds restrictions Wagering requirement: 1x bonus. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (available in all of US) 21+ only. Please gamble responsibly. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (NY), 1-800-327-5050 (MA) 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Rewards are non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 7 days. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for Terms. US promotional offers not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico. |
|||
10.
|
BetMGM |
Up to 1500$ first bet offer Cashback |
Play |
Use bonus code: No bonus code required. Register to claim offer
Qualifying bet: No minimum bet amount and no odds restrictions Wagering requirement: 1x bonus. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (available in all of US) 21+ only. Please gamble responsibly. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (NY), 1-800-327-5050 (MA) 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Rewards are non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 7 days. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for Terms. US promotional offers not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico. |
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11.
|
Caesars Sportsbook |
Bet $50 Get $250 in Bonus Bets Cashback |
Play |
|
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12.
|
FanDuel Sportsbook |
Up to $1,000 risk-free bet Free bet |
Play |
Use bonus code: No bonus code required; Register to claim
Qualifying bet: No minimum bet amount Wagering requirement: 1x bonus |
Hedging Live Bets
Hedging your bets is a very useful live betting strategy that can help you get the most of your in-play bets. If done right, you have a chance to guarantee yourself a profit by betting on the opposing team when the time is right.
Live betting odds can change considerably during the match, which means that it’s possible to bet on the opposing outcome and, in that way, assure you end up with a profit at the end.
This may sound a bit confusing, so it’s best to illustrate it with a real-life example.
Let’s say you bet $100 on Los Angeles Lakers to win against the Golden State Warriors at odds of +200. It means that if the Lakers win, you’ll earn $200 profit.
LA is clearly the underdog here but if the Lakers have a strong first half then the odds would significantly change. Now the Warriors winning seems less likely, but the sportsbook is still willing to pay at +100, resulting in a $100 profit for the same bet as on the Lakers.
This means that you’ll either be $100 up the Lakers go on to win the game or break even if the Warriors win. Remember: these opportunities aren’t easy to find, meaning that you need some experience.
Sports and Leagues Available for Live Betting
The best live betting sites have several sports available for live betting at any time. Apart from the most popular leagues, such as NFL, NBA and MLB, they also cover many less popular sports, like cricket, darts, and snooker.
However, keep in mind that live betting is available only while the game is on, meaning that the number of available bets can vary drastically depending on the time of the day.
NBA Live Betting
The NBA is ripe for live betting opportunities because of the nature of basketball. The fast pace means that odds are always changing and that makes it easier to find betting lines in your favor. Almost every sportsbook offers NBA live betting, so you won’t have difficulty finding where to bet.
NBA live betting sites let you bet on both teams and player props, which means that there are more than enough live bets to satisfy anyone’s needs. Here are some of the most popular NBA live markets:
- Win quarter or half
- Over/Under on team points/rebounds/assists in a quarter/half
- Over/Under on player points scored/ rebounds/assists
- Will a player score a double-double/triple-double
- Over/Under on 3-pointers
If you want to learn more about NBA betting, visit our dedicated NBA betting page. We share expert betting tips and explain everything you need to know about NBA betting markets, odds, apps, and everything else.
NFL Live Betting
NFL’s popularity means that every decent betting site around here offers NFL live betting. Since the NFL games have lots of pauses between plays, you’ll have more than enough time to think about your bets, making it very convenient for in-play wagering.
Sportsbooks let you bet on dozens of live outcomes, which includes both team and player markets. Here are just a few of the most popular NFL live betting markets.
- The outcome of the next play
- First/second half winner
- The first team to score 10 points
- How many yards will the next play gain?
- Over/under points/yards?
- Will a player score a touchdown?
Learn more about betting on the NFL by checking our dedicated page. We explain everything you need to know before placing a real money bet. We list top NFL betting sites and explain in great detail how NFL odds and markets work.
MLB Live Betting
Baseball is one of the best sports for live betting because of the slow pace of games. This gives bettors enough time to think through their in-play bets, making it very appealing for both casual and experienced players.
MLB live betting sites let you bet on both teams and players, meaning that there are more than enough markets to choose from. Here are a few of the most popular ones:
- Live moneyline bets
- Over/under the total number of runs
- Will there be a score in the 1st inning?
- Number of hits in the inning
- Number of home runs in the game
Visit our dedicated page to learn everything there is about MLB betting. We list the best MLB betting sites in the US and explain everything from MLB odds and markets to mobile betting apps.
Soccer Live Betting
Soccer is easily the most popular sport overseas, and it’s slowly starting to gain traction in the US as more and more sportsbooks offer soccer betting. You can bet on MLS and Liga MX, as well as on all Europe’s top competitions such as English Premier League, Italy’s Serie A, and the UEFA Champions League.
More and more US sportsbooks offer an extensive range of soccer live betting markets, including team and player props bets. Here are some of the most common ones:
- Next team/player to score a goal
- Time of next goal
- 1×2 live betting
- Next corner
- Next yellow/red card
- Over/under number of corners
Live Betting Tips and Strategies
Live betting requires some skill and experience, meaning that you should either learn it on your own or follow the advice of more experienced bettors. That’s why we have asked our in-play betting experts to share their top 5 tips on how to get the most out of your live bets.
Keep in mind that following these tips doesn’t mean you’ll win all your bets. However, these are evergreen pieces of advice that will undoubtedly boost your chances of success.
Conclusion
Live betting is very exciting and fun, but it requires a bit of skill and experience. It offers a different perspective on sports betting and lots of new betting options, so it’s no wonder online in-play betting became an instant hit amongst US bettors.
If you want to try it out for the first time, or you’re already a seasoned betting fan, you can check out the top list for the best selection of live betting sites in the US. They all offer the latest live betting features and a plethora of sports and live markets, so you won’t have any problems finding where to place your live bets.
Is live betting illegal?
Yes, live betting is legal in every US state where online betting is regulated. You can check out our list of the best live betting sites for US players if you want to learn more on this subject. Every site we list there is licensed and tested.
How does live betting work?
Live betting is available after the game starts. The biggest difference from pre-match betting is that the live odds constantly change to reflect what’s happening on the field. If you’re new to online betting, check out our step-by-step guide, where we explain how to bet in-play in great detail.
Where can I live bet?
There is no shortage of excellent live betting sites in the US. We have selected only the best of the best for our list of the top in-play betting sites in the US. All of the listed sites are 100% safe and have advanced live betting features.
How to win on live betting?
There is no full-proof way of winning every live bet. We suggest following expert advice on how to bet live and learn from your own mistakes. Start slowly, and give yourself time to master in-play betting.
How do lines work in live game betting?
Unlike pre-match odds, live lines are constantly changing to reflect what’s happening on the playing field. If one team is making the push, the odds will swing in their favor. It means that there are much more betting opportunities than with pre-match betting, which makes live betting very appealing.