New York Live Sports Betting Online

Live sports betting has become a popular form of wagering. Most major sportsbooks including DraftKings and FanDuel offer live betting, which is also known as in-game wagering.

Online sports betting is legal in the state and operators have live wagering available at your favorite sportsbook. With betting markets changing so quickly, in-game betting can be an intense option for new sports gamblers.

How Does Live Betting Work?

Technology allows oddsmakers to update odds on a real-time basis as the game plays out. In-game wagering affords sports bettors the chance to pick and choose their spots on when to make a bet. As opposed to pre-flop wagering (bets made before the game starts), live betting offers dynamic odds that can shift drastically over the course of a game. 

In-game betting is now legal in the state of New York, which has a bevy of licensed sportsbooks operating under the New York State Gaming Commission. New lines can appear and then vanish based on the volume and amounts of live bets streaming in. Oddsmakers closely monitor the action on the court (and at the sportsbook) and adjust the odds accordingly. Their goal is to ensure equal amounts of money coming in on each side of the bet to avoid liability for the sportsbook. 

Best Sportsbooks Apps For Placing Live Bets

As a general rule, if you’re looking for a robust selection of in-game betting opportunities, it pays to be a member of the major sportsbooks because they offer more sports and betting options. It’s also advantageous to register for an account at FanDuel, BetMGM, and DraftKings, so you’ll have the ability to shop around for the best odds and lines on your in-game wagering bets in the future.      

DraftKings

DraftKings is a fantastic option for live betting online in New York. In addition to the similar betting markets you’d find on FanDuel, DraftKings has taken live in-game betting to a different level with their “Flash Bets” offerings. With other live betting options, most of the bets you’ll be placing are broken up into larger time frames (quarters, periods, halves, rest of game, etc).

With Flash Bets, you basically have the ability to bet on the game play-by-play as it’s happening which opens up a whole new world of possibilities when it comes to live betting online. You’ll see FLASH BETS at the top of your screen in the DraftKings app and there’s a step-by-step tutorial for first-time users which is very helpful. For your standard in-game betting options, DraftKings has a separate section of their site which you can find at the bottom of your app screen.

BetMGM

BetMGM is one of the nine sportsbooks granted a license to operate in New York and is one of the most trusted names in sports betting. When you open the app, you’ll see a “LIVE” logo as the first navigation button as well as featured live games you can swipe through underneath that. Once you’re in the game of your choosing, you can simply click on “All” to see all of the in-game betting options available. The one thing missing from BetMGM live betting, however, is the ability to wager on live player props.

FanDuel

One sportsbook that does offer live player prop betting is FanDuel. Similar to BetMGM, you can easily access all of the live games FanDuel has to offer at the top of the home screen. Live player props have become extremely popular and are another way for bettors who are actually watching the game to gain an edge on “the house”.

To use the same Buffalo Bills and New York Jets example from earlier where the Bills are trailing after the first half, let’s also say wide receiver Stefon Diggs has been held to zero catches. His live reception total might be somewhere around 4.5 catches.

You’ve been watching the game, however, and notice he’s been targeted seven times already. This could be a really good time to bet the over on Diggs’ reception total, given his talent level and Buffalo playing from behind. Outside of regular player props, FanDuel also gives bettors the option to wager on in-game player prop parlays as seen in the screenshot below.

How In-Game Betting Works 

Let’s use a hypothetical NFL game involving the New York Jets and New York Giants to illustrate how in-game betting works. 

Pre-Kickoff Odds

The Giants enter the game as a 3-point favorite at standard odds of -110. This means you could bet $110 on either team to win $100 if they cover the spread.  

At halftime, the Jets lead the Giants by a score of 14-10. The in-game odds at this point could look something like this:

Halftime Odds

The Jets began the game as 3-point underdogs, and while they’re winning by four points at the half, the sportsbook is now giving the favored Giants five points on the adjusted line. If the score remains the same, the Giants will lose the game but cover against the spread. You’ll need to risk $125 to win $100 on the Giants at halftime. A $100 bet on the Jets at halftime would bring back a profit of $130.

This is a basic example of in-game wagering. Sportsbooks will also offer live betting on the total of points scored by each team, a combined total of points by both teams, total TDs scored by each team, and total TDs by both teams. Remember that these numbers remain fluid based on how the game plays out, but you lock in your odds at the time your live bet is placed.

Using the same Giants-Jets example, let’s examine how a live bet on the total number of points scored works. As the third quarter ends, the Giants and Jets are tied, 17-17. With one quarter remaining (and possibly overtime), the adjusted line for the total of points could look something like this:

Total Points For The Game (Entering The Fourth Quarter) 

With 34 combined points entering the final quarter, you’ll need eight points to cover the OVER on this bet. But this really hasn’t been a high-scoring game, and you feel more confident in the fact that the next field goal could decide the game. You wager $115 to win $100 and celebrate when there’s no scoring in the fourth quarter by either team. The Giants, in fact, win on a FG in overtime with a final score of 20-17. The 37 points fall below the adjusted total you so astutely locked in and you’re $100 richer. 

In-game wagering can provide advantages for sports bettors. Sometimes it pays to wait and see how a game goes early and what the pace of scoring happens to be. Is it a defensive slugfest? A high-octane scoring affair? You would adjust your live total bets accordingly, but just remember the oddsmakers are following the action closely, too. Find the best number and value for any in-game wager you place by shopping around at different sportsbooks.     

Tips For A Successful Live Betting Strategy 

Regardless of the sport, there can be a benefit to waiting to place a live bet until you have a feel for the game. The bottom line is each bettor will have a certain number in mind in terms of value.

Be sure to closely monitor game developments, and the new odds being offered on your game. If circumstances play out and you’re presented with a favorable number, that’s the optimal time to make an in-game bet.

You can make live bets on the spread, moneyline, total, and more. NFL live betting is the most popular option for in-game wagering, but you’ll also find NBA live odds, and MLB live betting.

When it comes to MLB live odds, watch the performance of starting pitchers. This is typically the biggest factor when oddsmakers create opening lines for MLB games. When a starting pitcher performs poorly, it can drastically shift the odds in favor of the other team for MLB live betting.

The relative strength of the team’s bullpen will also be a key consideration in live odds that are posted. We’ve harped on this before but it bears mentioning again if you want to become a successful live bettor in New York.

Open accounts at BetMGM, DraftKings, and FanDuel. There can often be variance in live betting markets, and it’s to your advantage to have multiple sportsbooks to find your best live odds for in-game bets.    

Frequently Asked Questions – Live Betting In NY