Best USA Online Sportsbooks Offering Live Betting Odds During The Game
Betting on sports is one of the most popular gambling markets in the world, but traditionally, the action stops once the game starts. Of course, since crazy things can and do happen during the games themselves, bettors have always wanted a way to wager on dynamic odds that shift to reflect the ebb and flow of each contest. Now, with live betting lines at the best online sports betting sites, they finally can!
At any top-rated online sportsbook, live betting odds for USA players are prominently featured. Every game across all the biggest leagues in the US and globally feature in-game live betting, which means that you can stay focused and engaged – and win way more money on timely bets – than ever before.
Live wagering allows you to not only hedge your pre-game bet by locking in guaranteed profit, but it also allows you to buy out of bad situations to ultimately limit your losses. There are a host of reasons why in-game betting is so popular, and these are just the tip of the iceberg.
Read on to learn more about live betting at the best USA online sportsbooks!
Best Live Betting Site For USA Players In 2024
There are many reasons why we recommend Bovada as the best online sportsbook for US players, and Bovada live betting is just one of them. Of course, the ability to place live in-game wagers isn't some minor thing, as it's fast becoming the most popular way to bet sports online.
As usual, Bovada in-game betting sets the industry standard, offering the most robust live betting platform compared to all other sports betting sites. And not only does the Bovada betting suite support live betting lines on all major and minor contests, the site also hits all the high notes with its exclusive Prop Builder and other top-quality gambling options.
Additional reasons why US sports betting fans should join Bovada include the following:
- In its 10 years of existence, Bovada has become a very trusted name in the international betting industry
- New players can take advantage of the 50% Bovada Sports Welcome Bonus worth up to $750
- One account grants access to sports betting, online casino games, online poker, and online horse racing betting
- Bovada features over 2000 daily sports bets, not including Bovada live betting lines and Prop Builder odds
- Bovada mobile sportsbook web app available for all iPhones, iPads, Android devices
- Bovada is a 5star sportsbook and online casino with the best reputation in the business
Top Rated US Online Sportsbooks For 2024
Below is our list of the top 8 online sportsbooks that accept USA players. Each of the sportsbooks below will be legally operated offshore, offer 24/7 support, great betting lines and most of all offer fast payouts when you want to collect your winnings.
We bet on sports too, so rest assured that the sites we recommend are the absolute cream-of-the-crop 5-star sites available to USA players.
| Site Name | Current Bonus | Rating /5 | U.S. | Visit Site | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | 50% Max $1,000 | 4.9 |  | Visit Site Review |
| 2 |  | 100% Max $1,000 | 4.5 | | Visit Site Review |
| 3 |  | 50% Max $250 | 4.3 | | Visit Site Review |
| 4 |  | 100% Max $2,500 | 4.2 | | Visit Site Review |
| 5 |  | 25% Max $500 | 4.2 | | Visit Site Review |
| 6 |  | 50% Max $200 | 4.2 | | Visit Site Review |
| 7 |  | 50% Max $500 | 4.1 | | Visit Site Review |
What Is Live Betting? In-Game Live Wagers Explained
The last few years have seen the live betting experience absolutely explode at most of the top USA online sports betting sites. Also called in-game betting or in-play betting (or, in the UK, in-running betting), this immersive option truly does "put you in the game" in real-time.
When offered by top-of-the-line mobile sports betting sites, live betting is easily the most interactive method of sports wagering you can find anywhere. With live betting odds, you can actually place wagers in real time while a sporting event is being played.
This adds an exciting new spin to watching your favorite sports, since you can react quickly with an intelligent wager whenever you see the momentum start to shift.
The old betting standard is certainly lots of fun in its own right, and it is still the most common way to bet sports online. With typical betting odds, you place a sports wager before the beginning of a game or event, and once that sporting contest starts, you have to wait until the end to see if you won.
But with live betting, you never have to worry about missing kickoff, tip-off, or the opening pitch. By all means, get your action down before the start of the game if you think you have an advantage in doing so. But if not, simply watch the game unravel in real-time, log into your sportsbook account, and be ready to pounce with a quick in-game wager if you see a line you like. Live real-time betting is the wave of the sports gambling future!
The Basics Of Live Betting
Before you start gambling with the best live betting bookmakers on the Internet, you need to establish a basic understanding and approach about in-game betting in general. Remember, with all other gambling, when you bet live, sure bets don't exist. You have to work for your money!
As a result, it's recommended that you hone your live betting strategy by implementing the following live betting tips. Once you have the basics down PAT, live sports gambling is guaranteed to be your new favorite way to wager!
Common Types of Live Betting In-Game Wagers
Log into any of the top USA-friendly online sportsbooks and you'll see a "live betting", "in-play betting" or "in-game betting" option. This option can usually be found as an individual tab at the top or side of the sportsbook home page.
The types of wagers offered for live betting are the same as those you're used to seeing. Generally, these include straight moneyline bets, spread bets, totals bets (aka over/under bets), player prop bets, team prop bets, and many more options. The most popular of these, of course, are in-game prop bets, as these shift the most frequently and offer bettors the most chances to win.
The main benefit of placing your in-game wagers at the top live betting sites is that the act of wagering during a contest makes watching the contest that much more fun. But it's also a great way to strategize and push your bankroll to higher limits. And of course, live betting simply gives you more chances to win than any other online sports betting option.
What Sports Support The Live Betting Feature?
As live betting sites refine their wagering portals and open up in-game bets to more and more markets, you'll eventually be able to place live in-play bets on any sport, anytime. But even now, you can expect to see all of the most popular sports leagues covered, with live betting lines on every game of the schedule.
Of course, you'll only get robust live betting odds at the biggest and best legally authorized USA sports betting sites like those recommended here. Smaller sites simply can't keep up. As long as you stick with the best online USA sportsbooks, you'll find all the following markets for in-play sports betting:
- NFL Live Betting
- Live College Football Betting
- NBA Live Betting
- NHL Live Betting
- Live Tennis Betting
- Live Boxing Betting
- Live Golf Betting
- Live Cricket Betting
- Live Racing Betting
- Live NFL Draft Betting
- Live Entertainment Betting
- Live eSports Betting
- Presidential Live Betting Odds
- And More!
Live Betting Bonus Options + Free In-Game Bet!
While most sportsbooks no longer offer no-deposit sports betting bonus options, you can occasionally still find free online bets at books that have special seasonal live betting bonus perks.
These usually come in the form of $10, $25, or $50 free bets, which you can use to place your very first in-game bet at any live betting site. If you bet and lose, your money is reimbursed. If your bet is a winner, you keep the profits! Just remember, these promotions typically aren't offered year-round.
Still, any sportsbook bonus that you accept can be used for placing in-game bets on live betting odds. You can score valuable welcome bonuses, account reload bonuses, enhanced Bitcoin betting bonuses, and even friend referral bonuses. With all that free money, you'll always have plenty of ways to bet on live lines online!
How To Use Live Betting to Hedge Your Bets
While we encourage bettors to visit a live betting tips forum or to download a live betting tips app when just getting started, there are two major concepts worth discussing right away. And these apply equally to all sports.
Now, if you want sports-specific strategies, you can find football live betting tips, live betting basketball strategy posts, in-play tennis betting strategy discussion, and more at the aforesaid resources. But regardless of the sports you enjoy wagering on, two major live betting tips will always be the tip of the iceberg: hedging and recovering.
Hedging Your Bet With Live Betting Lines
Because of the nature of live betting, sports betting pros use in-game bets to hedge their bets. For example, say you make a wager before the start of a game and are cruising to a big win. With live betting, you can often protect that bet at the risk of doubling your payout. Here's how betting on live odds can help boost your front bet (i.e. your pregame bet):
Let's say you've bet on the New England Patriots at -10 on the spread vs. the Cleveland Browns, and the Pats are up 14 at the end of three quarters. Here, you are currently winning your front bet by 4 points. If you log into your book's live betting platform, you might see the live line at the Patriots is now -14. Here, you have two choices if you want to wager: You can bet the Patriots at -14 or take the Browns at +14.
Taking Cleveland at +14 here not only offsets the original wager (Patriots -10) that you made at the start of the contest, but it also gives you an opportunity to win both bets.
If the Browns march down the field in the fourth quarter and kick a field goal, they are down 11. If neither team scores again, you just hit both bets! Of course, no matter what happens, the worst you are going to do is break even on the game minus the juice. If you play the lines, live betting can often give you a chance for "double or nothing."
Recovering Bad Bets With In-Game Wagers
A less complicated way that live in-play betting helps bettors benefit immensely is by allowing them to recover bad pre-game or front bets. Often, you'll make a wager that – very early on – is clearly a loser. Your team's star QB might have gotten injured, your power forward might have been ejected, etc.
Normally, that means your initial wager is probably toast. However, with live betting, you can see how these events affect the projected odds, and you can often take the other side. With a win on that side, you'll be able to recover most or even all of your presumptive losses.
Along with doubling down on good bets (or hedging them against a bad beat at the end of the game), using in-game live betting lines to clean up after a bit of bad luck early in a given contest is one of the most satisfying plays a bettor can make, and it's a great tool for your online gambling arsenal.