Sports betting has changed dramatically over the last decade or so, with the rise of smartphones and live data, which has revolutionised the sports gambling industry.
Nowadays, many punters prefer to look at live betting sites and bet in-play, as you can get a read on the event before committing to betting online.
The development of live streaming has seen seen a further rise in the use of live sports betting sites, allowing users to watch events as they happen across a wide range of sports.
Best live betting sites by sport
There are many popular betting sites used by millions of people in the United Kingdom. One of the key aspects of any betting website is how suited it is to the particular sport they have chosen to bet on.
We have ranked and reviewed the best live betting sites by sport, so customers can find the online bookmaker that best meets their specific needs.
Best live betting site for football: LiveScore Bet
Having made their name as one of the best data-fed live scoreboard companies around, it’s no surprise LiveScore Bet rank highly as a live betting site, offering the perfect package to bet on football.
They’ve quickly become one of the best new betting sites. Their website site and betting app are simple to use, allowing users to make bets with ease.
Because of LiveScore’s original business model of providing updates and stats, they were already trusted by a large number of football bettors and they’ve enhanced their reputation by offering users a £5 free acca every week and price boosts on a variety of competitions.
There’s also a straightforward LiveScore Bet sign up offer where betting £10 on any sports market will earn you £30 of free bets.
Along with their up-to-the-minute stats and speedy odds updates, LiveScore Bet also offer live streaming on more leagues and competitions than most football betting sites.
Best live horse racing betting site: Bet365
Bet365 have long marketed themselves as the home of live streaming, and as live horse racing betting sites go, their global coverage makes them the perfect choice if you want to watch the race and bet on the horses.
Bet365 stream every racing meet in the UK and Ireland, including every race from major events such as the Cheltenham Festival. They also have selected international meets available to watch.
Most races are free to watch, provided Bet365 accounts are funded or a bet has been placed in the previous 24 hours.
Bet365’s entire horse racing offer is impressive, with competitive odds, a clean site that is easy to navigate and a highly-rated app, while they get you started with up to £30 in free bets with the Bet365 welcome offer.
Best live golf betting site: BoyleSports
Golf is the third most popular sport to bet on in the UK behind football and horse racing, and BoyleSports is well-placed to meet the needs of those wanting to bet on the sport.
They will regularly offer 12 places on DP World Tour events, all four majors and the PGA Tour, and have even introduced an early payout scheme for selected tournaments.
You will struggle to find a more diverse range of in-play markets on other live golf betting sites than on BoyleSports, who cover every major event.
BoyleSports also produce a range of price boosts for selected tournaments each week and their live golf odds are consistently competitive.
Boyles are considered the king of accumulator bets. So if you fancy placing a live acca bet online on golf, BoyleSports is the perfect place with Acca Rewards.
Best in-play tennis betting site: Betway
Betway have one of the most comprehensive in-play tennis packages, boasting a good selection of markets on all matches, up-the-minute live stats and live streaming of a large number of ATP and WTA events.
Betway offer cash out on several in-play tennis markets too, and everything is available both on the desktop site as well as one of the highest-rated betting apps available to UK bettors.
Tennis bettors can also benefit from Betway’s Free Bet Club, where you can earn a £10 free bet from wagering £25 or more on accumulators or bet builders comprising three legs or more.
As a tennis betting site, you’ll struggle to find better options for in-play wagering at any other operator than Betway.
Best live boxing betting site: William Hill
William Hill has a vast range of boxing markets and offers great value odds. They have a good history of pricing fights well in advance too, but its fight-night specials are what sets it apart from other boxing betting sites and they will regularly enhance the odds on several bets, and offer a wider range of live boxing odds than other leading bookmakers.
Punters can also use their £30 free bets from the William Hill sign up offer to bet on boxing pre-fight or in-play should they wish to do so.
Best live cricket betting site: BetVictor
Cricket bettors will love using BetVictor for live bets, as it is one of the most straightforward cricket betting sites to use.
The aesthetics and usability of BetVictor’s platform make the process all the easier, sharing compatability across both its website and betting app.
Look out for quick-fire bets when using BetVictor, but users can expect the same expansive range of markets as you’ll find pre-match and competitive odds across the board.
New customers can unlock the BetVictor welcome offer worth £40 in bonuses, although £20 is reserved for use on its online casino. There’s no BetVictor bonus code required though and users need only deposit and bet £20 to secure their bonus.
How we choose the best live sports betting sites
We have stringent criteria for companies to even be considered for our list. Here are some of the factors that went into our thinking:
Regulation: Every site we recommend has to be regulated by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) for us to even consider rating them.
Reputation: Our recommended best in-play betting sites list is based on household names, but also has a couple that might be slightly less well-known to customers.
Responsible gambling: Similarly to regulation, we take into account how committed a bookmaker is to responsible gambling, and this played a role in our recommendations.
Customer experience: We considered how good an experience the site provides for its customers when choosing the best live betting sites, looking at their desktop website, betting app and mobile site. If the site is straightforward to use, easy to navigate and has a good design then it improves the customer’s experience.
Payment options: Live betting sites should be offering a diverse range of payment methods. We only consider in-play betting sites that offer both traditional and modern methods, including Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Promotions: A betting company, like any other, can be judged on its promotions and offers. For example, are these live betting sites offering unique deals, streaming or other user experience we haven’t seen anywhere else?
Sports you can place in-play bets on
We have only listed the best live betting sites for the most popular sports, but there is a long list of sports where in-play odds are available at the same bookmakers. Here are some additional sports you can expect to be able to bet on:
- Rugby League
- Basketball
- American Football
- Mixed Martial Arts
- Snooker
- Darts
- Ice Hockey
- Baseball
- Formula 1
- Cycling
- Esports
- Athletics
- Volleyball
- Table tennis
Responsible gambling on live betting sites
The most important thing to remember is to always gamble responsibly. Despite the enticing offers, betting should be considered a form of entertainment and never a guaranteed way to make money.
When using gambling sites, only bet what you can afford to lose. Sports betting can also be addictive so please take steps to remain in control of your budget. Make sure to use the responsible gambling tools offered by live betting sites, including those on the list above, such as deposit limits, loss limits, self-exclusion and time-outs. A bookmaker should only be chosen if it meets your requirements.
All sites mentioned above are legitimate and licensed by UKGC. There are several charities and healthcare providers should you wish to seek help for gambling-related issues. The providers below offer support and information:
Best live betting sites FAQs
What are the best live betting sites?
There are a number of quality live betting sites on the market, but we feel that LiveScore Bet, Bet365, BoyleSports, William Hill and Betway stand out across different categories.
What sports are available for live betting?
Almost all sports on betting sites are available for live betting, although football, horse racing, tennis, golf and boxing are among the most popular options.
Are promotions available for in-play betting?
Many betting sites will run promotions for live betting, including enhanced odds and free bets. Look out for these offers during live matches and events.
