Live vs Pre-Match Betting - Which Should You Use at Stake Sportsbook?
Stake offers many different ways to bet on all your favourite sports, including both live and pre-match betting. Whether you prefer to place your bets before the match begins or take advantage of the live stats and streams to bet while the action is happening, Stake Sportsbook has you covered. Learn more about the differences between live and pre-match betting in this guide.
What is Live Betting?
Live betting, also known as in-play betting, means placing bets on a sporting event once the fixture has already started. Rather than placing all of your bets before the event begins, you can hold off until the match gets underway to make your selections.
This can be advantageous because you can wait to see how the players or team are performing before deciding whether to back them. You’ll be able to watch the live stream or make the most of live stats and live scores to gain greater insights into what’s happening. Also, live betting enables you to place bets on a fixture if you miss out on the pre-match betting window.
Fundamentally, live in-game sports betting works the same as pre-match betting. You consider the sporting markets available to you, decide on a stake, and place your bet. However, live betting odds are much more likely to fluctuate as they respond to the action as it’s taking place. What’s more, live betting markets can be suspended without notice, depending on what’s happening in the match.
Live betting markets are available for the biggest betting events, including sports such as soccer, tennis, basketball, ice hockey, American football, baseball, MMA, boxing, and Esports. You can place a whole host of live betting markets available on popular sports, including moneyline wagers, proposition bets, over/under, handicap, and spreads.
Live sports betting is popular for several reasons. Firstly, it allows you to bet on unique markets, such as the next goal scorer when looking at football betting odds, or the next player to hit a home run in baseball.
There is also the fact that live betting allows you to start watching a match before placing your bets. This enables you to delay your selections and consider how a team starts before backing them, potentially saving you from betting on a team on their off day. For example, you may want to make your halftime selections based on team performance in the first half.
What is Pre-Match Betting?
Pre-match betting is where you place bets on upcoming sporting events before the event begins. A pre-match bet can be placed minutes from kick-off, hours from kick-off, or even weeks to months in advance. In other words, pre-match betting is more conventional and allows you to place the likes of 1x2 bets, prop betting, correct score, total points and outrights before any action gets underway.
In many respects, this is beneficial, as pre-match odds can often be better than live-betting odds. Also, you can usually access a wider range of options with pre-match wagers and place bets like parlays much more easily.
Pre-match betting is very simple to understand. Before a sporting event or fixture, log in to your account at Stake.com and select the sport that you would like to bet on. Then, scroll through to find the fixture you’re interested in and consider which specific bets you want to place. You’ll see the betting odds available to you before the event begins, and you can place your bets accordingly. Then, when the action is underway, you can always supplement your betting slip with some in-match betting selections if you wish.
Pre-match betting is a popular way to bet on sports because you have plenty of time to analyse the stats and make your predictions for upcoming sporting fixtures and events. You can spend time researching the betting market and consider the best types of bets to place before creating your betting strategies and making your final selections.
While you can place pre-match bets the hour before the game begins, you can also prepare your betting slip the week, or sometimes the month before most matches, providing ample time to research and pick winning selections.
Differences Between Pre-match and Live Betting
There are several differences between pre-match and in-play betting that you need to be aware of before making your selections:
In pre-match betting, you must make your selections before the game begins, and you’re then stuck with your predictions unless you cash out. On the other hand, you can respond to the action in live betting and place your bets accordingly.
You have more time to place pre-match bets, taking as long as you like before the match to assess form and other key stats. Meanwhile, you have to be fast when making your live bets, as the odds may change quickly and markets can be suspended without notice during the match, depending on what’s happening.
Different sports betting markets are available to pre-match punters and live punters, so you might not find the bet type you’re looking for. Typically, there are more pre-match betting options to choose from, but some matches have greater live betting markets.
Live betting odds tend to fluctuate much more than pre-match odds as the action plays out on the pitch, court or field. Pre-match market odds can fluctuate too, but not normally as drastically.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Live and Pre-Match Betting
There are pros and cons associated with in-play betting that you need to take into account before making your selections.
Pros of Live Betting
Wide variety of unique and exciting live betting options to choose from.
You can base your selections on action and momentum shifts during the match.
If you miss the pre-match betting window, you can still place your live bets.
Live bets are a great way to bet on the biggest events on the sporting calendar.
Live streaming is often provided so you can watch as you bet.
Live odds fluctuation may provide greater opportunities for in-play value betting.
Cons of Live Betting
Live betting markets can be suspended without notice.
Not all pre-match bets are available as live bets.
The odds in live betting markets are not always as good as pre-match odds.
Decisions have to be made fast to keep up with fast-changing odds.
Fast-paced betting can make it harder to stay responsible.
Not available for every fixture.
There are also both pros and cons associated with pre-match betting that keen sports bettors should be aware of before getting amongst the betting action
Pros of Pre-Match Betting
You have lots of time to conduct your research and make your selections.
Pre-match value betting odds are typically better than live betting odds.
Pre-match odds and lines won’t be suspended without notice.
Generally a better availability of betting markets.
May make bankroll management easier.
Cons of Pre-Match Betting
You don’t have the benefit of waiting to see how a team starts before placing your bets.
You can’t bet on unique markets like the next goalscorer, next point, next card, etc.
Team selection, tactical changes and player injuries can jeopardise your betting slip.
Less flexibility in your bets until the game gets underway.
Choosing the Best Type of Bet
It's entirely up to you how you bet on your favourite teams, sports, and events. The best way to bet will depend on various factors, including where you are on your betting journey, how much time you have to research the stats, how invested you are in the sport, how much the betting odds vary throughout the season, and the betting offers available.
However, when it comes to the types of sports betting, combining pre-match bets with live bets is a great option, as it provides you with a wide selection of markets and puts you in control of your betting picks.
It's also wise to keep up to date with the latest predictions and game tips from our experts when devising your betting approaches for the biggest sports events. Whenever you’re choosing your bets, it also pays to look at the odds and calculate your potential winnings. Make sure you know how to read the odds and understand the vig, as this will ensure you’re able to get the best value from your bets. Remember you can switch between decimal, fractional and American odds.
How to Combine Live & Pre-Match Bets – Successful Betting Strategy
Combining pre-match and live betting is a great way to take advantage of betting as you can utilise all the markets and odds available.
To do so, you can visit your Stake.com account in the weeks, days, or hours before a fixture to make your pre-match selections. For instance, you might bet on the Cavs to beat the Lakers in an upcoming NBA match.
Then, when the game starts, you can bet on a host of live markets, such as who will score the first 3-pointer of the game and which player will have the most rebounds in the match.
The same is true for so many sports, whether it’s betting on the English Premier League, the NFL or placing wagers on e-sports like FIFA,League of Legends, and Dota 2.
Ultimately, combining live bets and pre-match bets is a great way to develop your betting strategy to make a profit throughout the season. Find out more about devising pre-match and in-game betting strategies in our ultimate guide to sports betting.
Watch Sports Live Streams & Place Live Bets on Stake
Live betting offers the chance to find new betting opportunities and enhance your betting experience. Stake offers greater insights into the on-field action with a variety of live scores, real-time data and live trackers. What’s more, we also offer free live streams on a variety of popular sports. Simply open the live event and choose the live streaming icon to enjoy the action as it happens.
Deposit & Withdrawal Methods for Betting on Sports
Deposit
Log in to your Stake.com account and check your current available balance.
Choose a supported deposit method and available local currency such as CAD, JPY and INR.
You can also deposit and bet using crypto, with coverage of a wide range of popular cryptocurrencies like BTC, ETH, USDT, EOS, DOGE, LTC, TRX and SOL.
Use the deposit address as the “send to” location from your crypto wallet or exchange.
Alternatively, it’s possible to deposit crypto with Mesh, or buy crypto using MoonPay and Swapped.com before sending it to your Stake account.
Once your funds arrive, store them safely in the Stake vault.
Withdraw
Log in to your account.
Open your Stake wallet and select the withdrawal option.
Choose your payment method and enter the amount you want to withdraw.
When making crypto withdrawals, check that you have the right cryptocurrency network selected.
Confirm all details are correct before confirming the payment.
Sports Betting Promotions, VIP Club & Responsible Gambling
Whether you’re placing pre-match or live bets at Stake, you’ll be able to take advantage of our excellent sports betting promotions. All Stake members can unlock VIP rewards thanks to the generous VIP Club. Simply placing bets will allow you to level up your account and earn regular rakeback, reload bonuses and even your own VIP host. All the details of how it works are provided on the VIP FAQ page.
As you’re enjoying the action at Stake Sportsbook, be sure to follow our Stake Smart guidelines to bet responsibly and stay in control.
