Best In-Play Betting Sites in Ireland for 2023 – Live Betting

How we rank the Best In-Play Bookmakers

One of the most important features you are looking for in any bookmaker is their in play betting. Because of this, we ensure to take in play betting into account when examining any bookmaker online. Here’s what we look for when we’re examining in play betting, and how we rank bookmakers based on this criteria.

In play betting markets: Firstly, we will of course be looking at the in play betting that is available on the bookmaker we are examining. While a bookmaker site may cover a large range of different sports when it comes to pre-game betting, the same may not be true when it comes to in play betting.   That’s why we will look at exactly which sports are covered by in play betting, and what markets are available. We want to see a good range of sports covered under this section, with enough market variety to cover all your betting needs. If a site can offer both of these then they can rank highly with us.

Live streaming options: As we look at a bookmakers in play betting, we will look to see if they offer ways of tracking the match as it happens. After all, it’s much easier to keep track of the game and the bets you make all in one site. While not a lot of sites right now can offer live streaming, if they can it is a massive bonus to you. In most cases, to access live streaming you will simply need a funded bet on the match in question. As such, if they are able to offer this that makes them a great option for in play betting.   If the site is not able to offer live streaming, they should still be able to offer match trackers. A good match tracker will give you a fully up-to-date picture of what is happening in the game at any time. That way you can still see what what’s happening, and plan your next better accordingly. We look for either of these options when we are ranking bookmakers depending on their in play betting features.

Odds on in play markets: If you are someone who primarily likes to bet on in play matches, then you want to be sure that you are getting the best prices on the bets you make. That means finding the right bookmaker site to make those bets, and taking advantage of the odds they offer you.   We take a close look at the odds that they offer to their members, and compare them to other bookmakers on the market right now, especially the larger bookmakers that are available. We want to see both good value odds, and consistency in the odds that are available. If a bookmaker can offer both for their in play markets, then that makes them a good option for anyone who primarily bets this way.   We also look to see if the site offers best odds guaranteed on markets such as horse racing and greyhounds. That offers you better value on these bets if these are the sports you like to bet on.

Site design and usability: While betting itself is the main focus of any good bookmaker site, you do want to see that they have put a lot of time and effort into designing the site itself. This is especially true when it comes to in play markets, as a well designed site will allow you to keep up with the game in question, and never miss any of the action.   As such, we look to see that the site is well optimized for in play betting. That includes offering fast loading times, and design that helps you find the markets you want as soon as possible. If a site is designed to be usable and quick to load, you shouldn’t miss out on a thing.

Mobile betting: Not every match is going to happen when you’re at home, so you want to be able to access your chosen bookmaker site no matter where you are. That’s why we pay close attention to their mobile site design, to see how they allow you to access those markets when you are out at about.   We will look to see if the site offer you the chance to download a mobile app, which is something that many potential members would like to have for in play betting. If they don’t have that, then you should see that they have a well designed and well optimized mobile browser version of their site. Either way, you want to see that you can bet on in play matches wherever you are.

Payment options: Another thing you will need to do before you can start betting on in play markets, is to deposit cash into your account. As such, we look to see that the bookmaker in question offers a good payment system that is easy and quick to use.   For example, we look to see what payment options the site will accept from you, with more options available, the better. We also look for popular betting payment options, such as PayPal or Apple Pay. These are highly in demand because it makes it a lot quicker to fund your account and get on with the betting. We also look to see how quickly the site can release your winnings, and process that payment to you.

Customer service: Finally, we take a look at the customer service that any bookmaker can offer you. While you shouldn’t have any issues with a good quality site when it comes to in play betting, you need to have the option to get help if you ever need it. We look for a good customer service team who are available via several channels, and who are willing to help you out quickly.

As you can see, we have several criteria that we are looking for what it comes to high-quality in play betting sites. We use these to rank sites so you can find that the best one for you.

The Best Live Betting Sites

If the thought of live betting appeals to you, why not start placing some live bets? There are lots of highly rated Irish betting sites that let you place live bets for sports such as football, tennis, hockey, basketball and many more.

Below is our list of recommended in play betting sites. Each one of these top Irish online sportsbooks lets you place live bets on a wide range of sports.

BetVictor

BetVictor has in play betting available for around a dozen markets. These include football, cricket, tennis, golf and a number of prominent e-sports. The site is modern, user friendly and well designed. It’s not as cluttered as other online sportsbooks and everything is easy to find. While sports betting is the focus, there’s also a casino section offering a broad selection of games; there are even some unique games branded to BetVictor, such as BetVictor Soccer Cup and BetVictor – Branded Megaways. Odds are competitive and there are plenty of bonuses – both for sports betting and casino games – to be claimed.

Pros

• Live betting is available for a range of popular markets
• Live streaming is offered for a small number of top sports
• The welcome bonus for new punters is rewarding
• The desktop site, mobile site and apps are all well designed
  
  

Cons

• Some of the site’s terms and conditions aren’t the most favourable, e.g. closing accounts without letting you know why

888sport

The 888 gambling brand is well known and respected. There are several different websites that belong to it: 888sport, as its name suggests, focuses on sports betting. Other 888 sites include 888casino and 888poker. Like other live betting sites, 888sport lets you place bets on a wide range of events as they’re happening. Some of these include football, badminton and volleyball; there are even some virtual sports that you can place live bets on. The 888sport website has been welcoming bets from punters since 2008. It’s earned a pretty good reputation thanks to its reliability and its wide coverage of events.

Pros

• There’s a great line-up of options for live betting
• Many options are available for live streaming
• The apps for mobile devices are well designed
• Lots of promotions are running
• The site’s developed and maintained by a reputable gambling brand

Cons

• The bonus terms and conditions could be better

LeoVegas Sports

LeoVegas is a popular, award-winning gambling brand. It promotes itself as the ‘King of Casino’ and while its website focuses on the casino aspect, it also offers a sportsbook with lots of betting opportunities. The live section lets you place bets on all sorts of top markets and there are some great bonus deals you’ll want to take advantage of. LeoVegas was launched in 2011 by a company based in Sweden. Their aim is to make mobile gambling easily accessible and convenient. LeoVegas therefore has a mobile site and apps as well as a regular desktop site.

Pros

• The odds for lots of top sports are quite competitive
• The brand is well respected and has won some industry awards
• Both the mobile site and the apps are very suitable for mobile gamblers
• Good range of options for in play betting

Cons

• Not many promotions for sports betting currently listed

Bet365

Since coming online in 2000, Bet365 has established itself as a leading player in the world of internet gambling. The website is focused on sports betting though other types of gambling such as casino games, bingo and poker are available. For sports betting, there are dozens of markets with in play betting available for lots of them and live streaming offered for a select few. Visit Bet365 on your computer or mobile device and you should find it a reliable betting site.

Pros

• Excellent coverage of live betting options
• Live streaming available for lots of top sports
• Lots of promotions with generous bonuses to be claimed
• A successful gambling brand with a great reputation

Cons

• There isn’t currently a loyalty scheme or VIP club

UniBet

Another one of our best in play betting sites is UniBet. Having launched in 1999, it’s one of the longest-established betting sites. Even though it’s been around for over two decades, it’s just as modern, user friendly and packed with gambling opportunities as its competitors. As well as sports betting, there’s a full suite of online casino games, with regular bingo games and poker tournaments also running.

Pros

• Good range of options for in play betting
• There are lots of promotions with some great deals to be claimed
• The site’s blog has lots of relevant posts that are well worth reading
• There are three apps: one for casino games, one for sports betting and one for poker

Cons

• The welcome bonus’s wagering requirements aren’t the best

William Hill

William Hill is a well-established gambling brand known for its large number of betting shops. The website offers betting on an extensive list of sports and other events. For in play betting, the options are also numerous. The site is designed to a high standard and so are the mobile site and apps. A few other types of gambling are available on the platform as well.

Pros

• A large number of options for live betting
• Great live streaming coverage
• Plenty of bonuses for punters to claim
• Operated by a long-running brand with close to a century of experience

Cons

• The site doesn’t have a loyalty scheme or VIP club

Kwiff

Kwiff may not be as well known as some of the other names on this list, but it’s definitely not to be overlooked. This gambling site offers sports betting and casino games, along with some tempting bonuses. The site design is modern and striking, and the layout is both user friendly and simplified. There’s both a mobile site and an app; the app in particular has been praised for its design, features and user experience.

Pros

• Excellent gambling app for smartphones and tablets
• Great site design that puts the user experience first

Cons

• The number of betting markets is smaller than what competitors have

Coral

The Coral gambling brand is nearly a century old. It was back in 1926 that the very first Coral betting shop opened. Today, there are loads more, plus a website, a mobile-friendly site and apps for iOS and Android devices. There’s an extensive collection of gambling opportunities available on the sites and apps. For sports betting, there are several dozen major markets you can place bets on, with live betting readily available for lots of them.

Pros

• Operated by one of the longest-running gambling companies
• More than enough gambling opportunities are available
• Well-rated apps you can download

Cons

• There isn’t a VIP club you can join

What Is In Play Betting?

There are two types of online betting: pre-match and in play. The former is where you place a bet on an event before it starts. The latter is where bets are placed as the event is taking place. Every Irish online sportsbook has pre-match betting available for a range of markets. In play betting, which is also referred to as live betting a lot of the time, is also widely available.

Pre-Match and In Play Betting Compared

Both types of betting are popular with punters. Some people enjoy both while others prefer one betting type over the other. Here’s a look at how they compare:

Factor	Pre-Match Betting	In Play Betting
Placing Bets	You place bets days, weeks or months before the event starts	Bets are placed once the event has started
The Odds	Odds stay fairly steady but can change if something significant happens such as a competitor pulling out of an event	It’s common for odds to have sudden and dramatic changes in value, depending on how the event proceeds
The Betting Experience	When the event starts, your bet’s already been placed so all you can do is watch and hope for the best	Your bet’s odds depend on what happens and there’s no telling how things will pan out; this can make the betting process exciting and unpredictable
Making Your Decision	You could be placing your bet ages before the event starts. There’s therefore plenty of time to make your betting decision	You’re put on the spot in a sense because once the event starts, there’s a limited amount of time for you to decide what to bet on
Using Your Knowledge	The more time there is before the event starts, the more time you have to carry out some research and learn more about what you’re betting on	Once the event starts, there’s not much time at all to find out about what you’re betting on. You’re basically relying on your existing knowledge to help you with your betting decisions

Advantages and Disadvantages of In Play Betting

Every type of online gambling has positives and negatives. In play betting is no exception. While it does have some plus points, there are also a few negatives. Before you start in play betting, have a look at the lists below to see what the advantages and disadvantages associated with this type of betting are.

Advantages of In Play Betting

• Can be a lot more thrilling than pre-match betting
• You can make decisions based on what’s happened so far
• If you’re lucky, you could get better odds than if you’d placed your bet before the event started
• Many of the best in play betting sites have live streaming so you can watch the event you’re betting on as it takes place
• It’s suitable for those who prefer quick betting and don’t want to dedicate hours to a single bet
• Some extra bets may be offered based on what’s happening in the event

Disadvantages of In Play Betting

• You could end up with worse odds than you’d get from pre-match betting
• There’s a lot less time to make your decisions
• You have to be quick to act; if you’re too slow, you could miss out on a bet with great odds

In Play Betting Sports

The typical online sportsbook in Ireland has dozens of betting markets available. Most of these are for common sports and some lesser known ones. A few, however, aren’t related to sporting activities at all. Entertainment and politics are prime examples.

When you visit a sportsbook, you should find that live betting is available for pretty much most of the sports you can bet on. The bigger sports such as football, tennis and cricket tend to have more options since these have a greater number of matches, races and competitions.

Odds for Live Betting

We’ve mentioned odds and how they can change while an event’s taking place. For all bets, the sportsbook operator determines the odds using a range of statistics and data, plus some general knowledge. A lot of the time, odds are fairly similar across different sportsbooks, but some sites want to be competitive and they’ll offer better odds than others.

With live betting, the odds right at the start of an event are determined in the usual way by the operator. However, once the event gets underway the odds are influenced by what takes place. The operator still sets them, of course, but they’re swayed by what’s going on. Again, some sites are more competitive than others and they’ll always try to have the best odds, even during live events.

When you’re betting on an event live, be prepared for the odds to change. This is what makes live betting so exciting for many punters; you never know what’s going to happen and could end up placing a bet that has fantastic odds and goes on to win.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Sportsbook

The number of in play betting sites available in Ireland is huge. It’s constantly growing since new gambling sites are regularly launching. This is great because it means there’s a lot of choice. However, sometimes having lots of options to pick from can be a bad thing; it’s easy to not know which one to go for.

When looking through our list of recommended Irish sportsbooks, you might not know which is the best one for you. If this is the case, think about what you want and need from a sportsbook and see which one suits your needs the best. Visit a few sites that look appealing and see what they have to offer, then register at the one that you think is the most suitable. Here are some factors you may want to consider:

• Markets
  • Your ideal betting site should cover all the markets you’re interested in; it should also have lots more so that you can explore new sports
• Other Types of Gambling
  • If you’re into other gambling types, such as casino games, the site you register at should offer these
• Promotions and Bonuses
  • Every Irish online sportsbook has a welcome offer for new punters and bonuses lined up for existing punters. You should join a site with generous rewards and reasonable terms and conditions
• Banking
  • The site you join should accept a payment method you’re currently using. It should have fast processing times and no fees
• Customer Support
  • You should join a sportsbook whose customer support system is dependable and easily accessible
• Licensing
  • A sportsbook should be licensed; this means it’s been checked over by a third-party regulatory authority. All our recommended sites are licensed and can therefore be trusted
• Reputation
  • If you’re going to join an online sportsbook, you should pick one that has a good reputation amongst punters and critics alike
• Mobile Compatibility
  • Lots of punters enjoy placing bets on the go. Your sportsbook should have a user-friendly mobile site; some sites offer apps too

How to Place In Play Bets

The process of placing in play bets is straightforward. There are three main steps to take:

1. Register at an online sportsbook
2. Fund your account
3. Bet on an event as it’s happening

Now we’ll run through these three steps in more detail:

Registering at an Online Sportsbook

• Choose an online sportsbook from our list of recommended sites and visit it

• Somewhere along the top of the page, you’ll see a button saying ‘Register’ or ‘Join’ or something similar

• Click this button to bring up the registration form

• Fill out the registration form; to do this, you’ll have to supply some personal details along with some contact information

Funding Your Account

• When you’re logged in, head to the deposit section; there should be a link along the top of the page that takes you to this

• Choose one of the accepted payment methods

• Enter the required details and the amount of money you wish to deposit
• Click to confirm the transaction and the money should reach your sportsbook account pretty much straight away

Betting on an Event as It’s Happening

• On the left side, you should see a link to in play or live betting

• Click this to bring up the betting options

• Select the market you want to bet on

• Choose a bet and it will appear in your bet slip on the right

• Enter the amount of money you want to wager and click to confirm

Some in play bets are settled when an event finishes. Others are settled while it’s still taking place. Once your bet’s outcome has been determined, your money will then be on its way to you if you’ve won.

Tips for Live Betting

Lots of punters use strategies and tips when placing bets at live betting sites. They do so in order to boost their chances of making money and reduce their losses. There’s no hard and fast rule as to how you should bet; after all, anything can happen and nothing is guaranteed. However, there are some general pieces of advice that may come in handy:

• Pick a market you’re knowledgeable about
  • For all types of sports betting, it helps to know what you’re betting on. The more knowledge you have, the better your decision-making will be
• Take advantage of good odds when they’re available
  • Live betting is unpredictable and this is reflected in the odds. When the odds are favourable, you should place your bet then and there. After all, there’s no telling if they’ll be that good again
• Have a set goal in mind and don’t panic if you miss it
  • A good tactic is to come up with an amount of money you want to win from a bit. Make this realistic. Wait until the odds give you this amount of money in winnings. If they don’t and you’re not able to win your target amount, it’s not the end of the world
• Be sensible
  • There’s always the temptation to spend large amounts of money, especially when you’re doing something exciting like placing live bets. Don’t overdo things such as chasing your losses. Basically, the best approach is to bet in moderation and hope for the best

With in play betting, it’s all about using your heading and staying calm. You haven’t got a lot of time to think and the fast-paced nature of this betting style means that you can end up making rash decisions. Gather your thoughts and use your knowledge of the market, plus your knowledge of what’s happened so far, to place your bets.

Summary

Take advantage of in play betting and take your online sports betting experience up a notch. Place bets on events as they’re taking place and hopefully you’ll manage to earn some decent rewards. Be sure to join one of our recommended live betting sites if you like the idea of betting on something while it’s happening. Claim bonuses to earn free bets and make your deposits go further.