Bets placed on in-play bets will vary from a single amount to thousands. While some bookmakers offer an easy way to place large in-play bets, others may require you to open an account and establish an online bankroll first.
To ensure you understand what the in-play betting spread is before you start placing bets, here’s a quick guide.
What Is The In-Play Betting Spread?
In the simplest terms, the in-play betting spread is the difference between the highest and lowest prices that a bookmaker is willing to accept for a particular game or event. For example, if you search for cricket betting spreads on Google, you will find a number of websites that provide information on what the betting markets are for upcoming cricket matches.
Remember that the in-play betting spread can vary from firm to firm and even from state to state, so make sure that you read the fine print before you place a bet! In addition, many bookmakers will impose a limit on how much you can stake per day, per week, or per month on a particular sport. So, be sure to adhere to these limits as well or you may find yourself in breach of the UK’s gambling laws.
Why Do Bookmakers Offer In-Play Betting?
The vast majority of bookmakers offer in-play betting as it provides them with a valuable tool to get some financial return on their advertising spend. To attract sports fans and encourage them to spend more time on their site, bookmakers must offer a variety of betting markets and games. In addition, betting on events that are happening rather than on finished matches allows for more opportunities for casual and occasional sports fans to engage with the site.
With all these incentives in place, it’s little wonder that so many bookmakers have entered the in-play betting market. If you’re looking for a place to place a bet on the next big game, you can’t go wrong with in-play betting.
How To Place A Safe Bet With In-Play Betting
Despite the many benefits that in-play betting can provide, it is essential to remember that this type of betting is extremely risky. This is because it is not possible to verify the actual outcome of an event (or a match) before it happens. In other words, you don’t know whether you’ll win or lose until the game has ended. Thus, it is essential to take this into account before you place a bet.
To help you place a safe bet with in-play betting, most online bookmakers will provide you with a series of handy guides and tips on how to avoid risking your money on uncertain games and events. For example, if you’re interested in betting on the World Series of Poker, you can be sure that the bookmaker you choose will advise you of the many risks associated with this type of game. The same goes for betting on horse racing or European football.
When Should I Avoid Placing A Bet With In-Play Betting?
If you’re looking for a place to place a bet on the next big game, there are several instances where it may not be a good idea to do so. The best answer to this will depend on how much you’re willing to wager, how familiar you are with the sport, and what type of financial setup you have in place.
Generally, it’s a bad idea to place a bet on a sport you know nothing about. The reason behind this is that you’ll have no idea whether or not you’ve chosen a good, solid sportsbook that is willing to accept your account, or if you’ve been scammed by a slick sportsbook that seeks to trick you into placing a bet that they will quickly lose. In addition, if you’re not familiar with the particular sport or event, don’t risk your financial resources on wagers that you might lose. This is especially important if you’re doing so, as you might be setting yourself up for financial loss.
On the other hand, if you’re a seasoned gambler who regularly engages in sports betting and knows how to detect a scam, then you may feel comfortable risking your hard-earned money on an event you’re familiar with. In this case, you should look for a sportsbook that is established and licensed, and has a good reputation in the region you’re located in. You should also make sure that the betting line is not too far off the actual outcome of the game, as this could potentially lead you to lose a lot of money if the game ends up being close.
How Do Bookmakers Set The In-Play Betting Spread?
Each bookmaker sets their in-play betting spread depending on a number of factors. Some of these factors are more prominent than others. For example, consider the following:
- The Popularity Of The Sport
- The Popularity Of The Event
- The Type Of League Or Match
- The Location Of The Event
Let’s take a quick look at each of these factors.
The Popularity Of The Sport
The first factor that bookmakers take into account when setting their in-play betting spread is the popularity of the sport. In particular, they will aim to offer the fairest odds possible for prominent sports, such as cricket, Formula 1, and soccer. In addition to this, highly ranked sporting events will also be accompanied by a higher odds than those matched games that are lower down on the prestige scale.
As a rule of thumb, if you see that a lot of people are wagering on an event or game, then it’s a good indication that it must be a fairly popular sport or game. This makes it a prime candidate for in-play betting. In general, you should avoid betting on events and games that aren’t as well-known or popular, as you may struggle to find an online betting partner that is willing to take your wager. In addition, if you want to place a safe bet, then avoid choosing a game or event that is highly contested as this may lead to long waiting times for the game to settle down, and increased risk of getting stuck with a losing wager.
The Popularity Of The Event
The second factor that influences the in-play betting spread is the popularity of the event. As stated above, highly ranked sporting events will be accompanied by higher odds than those games/matches that are less well-known. The same logic applies to events, whether it’s a grand final or championship match, or an important cup final. These are usually the kinds of events that will have higher betting odds than standard games.
In addition to this, some bookmakers will also set different odds for a particular match depending on whether or not it’s a Test match, a One-Day International, a Twenty20 match, or a Football League game.
If you have a look at the tables above, you will see that the Manchester United v Liverpool game, which is on October 25th, has very generous odds of 1.81, whereas the Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal match, which is on the same day, has much more modest odds of 1.36. The reason behind this is that this one is a much bigger game in terms of worldwide prestige, and thus more attractive to betting fans. In-play betting is all about getting as much bang for your buck, so to speak, and getting the best odds possible for the sport or game you’re interested in. This often means going for matchups between high-profile teams or players where they square off against each other, as this will attract a lot of interest and bets will be placed easily. These are the kind of games that will generate the best returns for bookmakers.
The Type Of League Or Match
The third factor that influences the in-play betting spread is the type of league or match. If you’re not familiar with the difference, a league is a collection of teams that play against each other in a certain number of matches, with each match being worth one point. A championship is the league’s top-tier, with the winner being the overall champion. A cup competition is similar to a championship, but it typically includes a much larger group of teams, and usually, only the winner advances to the next stage. A relegation league is similar to a cup competition, but the teams are divided into two divisions, and the bottom-placed team of each division is automatically relegated to the next tier. Finally, a knockout competition is similar to a cup competition, but the teams play against each other in a one-off match, with the winner being the overall champion.