What is Live Betting? A Beginner’s Guide to Sports Betting During the Game

If you’ve ever placed a bet before kickoff and thought, “Man, I wish I waited to get better odds after seeing the start of this game”, then live betting — also called in-game betting — is for you.

Live betting is one of the fastest-growing areas in sports betting, and it’s easy to see why. Once the game starts, the odds don’t stop moving. Every play, every possession, every injury creates a new opportunity. Whether it's the spread, total, player props or even betting on the next play, live betting offers ample opportunities to find an edge.

In this guide, we’ll break down what live betting is, how it works, and why it might be the smartest (or riskiest) way to bet on sports.

Learn more about Wager Relay's live betting tools.

What is Live Betting?

Live betting refers to placing a wager after the game has already started. Instead of locking in your bet before kickoff or tip-off, you can wait, watch how the game unfolds, and jump in at the right moment.

Sportsbooks update their lines in real-time based on complex algorithms and models. The current score, time remaining and potential injury news can all factor into that. While bettors also look to "momentum" and public action to sway their decisions, it's a misconception to say it impacts the actual live odds.

This means the spread, moneyline, and total points (over/under) are constantly adjusting to reflect what’s actually happening on the field or court.

For example:

• Before kickoff, the Chiefs might be -6.5 against the Broncos.

• But after Denver scores early and leads 10–0, you might see the Chiefs as a +2.5 underdog — creating an opportunity to back the favorite at a better price.

How Does Live Betting Work?

Most online sportsbooks and apps have a dedicated “Live” or “In-Game” tab where you can find current lines for games in progress.

Here’s what happens behind the scenes:

• Oddsmakers use algorithms and live data feeds to adjust lines automatically in real-time.

• After each play or stoppage, the lines are recalculated and briefly “locked” while they’re updated.

• Once reopened, you have a window of a few seconds to place your bet before the next adjustment.

This cycle repeats throughout the game. Sometimes dozens or even hundreds of times depending on the sport. That makes it even more valuable to have a tool like In-Game Edge, which can watch every game for you and spot the lines to bet.

Why Do People Bet Live?

Live betting isn’t just exciting. It can actually be smarter than pre-game betting if you know what to look for.

Here are a few reasons bettors love it.

Better Value

If you believe in a favorite but they start slow, you can wait for the line to move in your favor before jumping in.

Respond to What You See

If you’re watching the game and notice momentum shift (like an injury, weather, or foul trouble), you can act on it before the books fully adjust.

More Action

Some people just enjoy the added engagement of betting throughout the game instead of waiting for their pre-game bets to settle.

Risks of Live Betting

Of course, there’s a reason sportsbooks love live bettors too — it’s fast, emotional, and easy to overdo.

Some things to watch out for:

• Overreacting: Don’t chase bad lines just because you feel like you “need” to get in.

• Latency: Odds move fast. By the time you click, the value you saw might already be gone.

• Juice: Vig can sometimes be higher on live bets, eating into your edge.

• Discipline: Without a plan, it’s easy to bet too often during a game.

Tips for Live Betting Smarter

If you’re new to live betting, here are a few simple tips to keep you sharp:

Watch the game and pay attention to momentum shifts.

Have a plan for what kind of situations you’re looking to bet.

Don’t chase — let the game come to you.

Use tools (like Wager Relay’s In-Game Edge) to help you spot opportunities you might miss.

How Wager Relay Can Help

Live betting can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.

At Wager Relay, we built In-Game Edge, an AI-powered tool that tracks every game, monitors line movement, and sends you instant alerts when high-value bets appear.

Instead of staring at your app, refreshing lines, and hoping you don’t miss the moment, we do the hard work for you so you can just watch the game and place the bet when the alert comes.

The results?

NFL: 75% win rate over the past 3 seasons.

NBA: 60% over the past 3 seasons.

NCAAF: 78% over the past 2 seasons.

If you’re ready to start betting smarter — and winning more — when the game is live, join us.