Best Live Betting Sites in the UK

Live betting is on the rise in the UK, with many online bookmakers now focusing on in-play bets.

Being able to bet on the live action is a major plus for UK sports fans, but what are the best live betting sites to use? Our complete guide to the best live betting sites in the UK has the answers.

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Written by Steven Hubbard
Verified by BettingLounge team
Last updated 14/02/2024

The Best In-Play Betting Sites in the UK for March 2024

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bet365
Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
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New Customers only. Bet £10* & Get £30* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5* and £10* to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. Registration required.
Betfred
Bet £10 Get £50 in Bonuses
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New customers only. Register (excl. 13/04/24) with WELCOME50. First bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get Free Bets: £20 In-Play, £20 Acca & 50 x £0.20 (£10) Free Spins on Fishin’ Frenzy within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply.
Unibet
Money Back as a Bonus up to £40 +£10 Casino Bonus
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  • 40+ Sports
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18+ begambleaware.org. New customers only. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus if first sports bet loses. Wagering requirements: sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Unless forfeited the sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in. Visit Unibet.co.uk for full T&C's.
William Hill
Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
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  • Comprehensive Sportsbook with Live Streaming
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18+. Play Safe. New customers using Promo code R30 only, Min £10/€10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 3 x £10/€10, free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply. See full terms below. #ad
Betway
£30 matched Free Bet if your first Acca loses + Completely Free Acca every day at Cheltenham
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New UK customers only. Min Stake: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First bet on a Football or Horse Racing multiple with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00 (2/1) or higher. Free Bets available upon settlement of the qualifying bet. 100 Free Spins on Gold Blitz (£0.10 per spin) credited on settlement of qualifying Acca bet. No wagering requirements on free spin winnings. Debit Card deposit only (exclusions apply). This offer is valid 7 days from the new account being registered. 18+ BeGambleAware.org. Bet the Responsible Way. Full terms apply.
Ladbrokes
Bet £5 Get £20 in Free Bets
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18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £/€5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 4x £/€5 free bets. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply.
Coral
Bet £5 Get a £20 Free Bet
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  • Great Betting Apps
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18+ New UK & ROI Customers only. Min deposit £5. Min first £5 bet at minimum odds 1/2 to qualify for 1x 20 free bet. Certain deposit methods and bet types excl. Free bet valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply.
BetVictor
Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
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  • Old and Trusted Bookmaker
18+ New customers only. Opt-in, bet £10 at odds 2.00+ within 7 days, no cashout. Get 6x £5 Free Bets, set events at odds 2.00+. 7 day bonus expiry. Debit Card / Apple Pay payments only. Click for T&Cs. Please Gamble Responsibly.
Hollywoodbets
Up To £30 Back as a Free Bet + 20 Free Spins
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Deposit £10+ on card. Stake £10+ on both your 1st & 2nd bets at min odds of 1.5 (1/2) within 3 days of registration & receive a £10 Free Bet for each qualifying bet resulted as a loss. Free Bets only be valid on multiples with 3+ legs & min cumulative odds of 3.0 (2/1). Min odds of 1.4 (2/5) required per leg. Free Bets must be used within 3 days of them being received. 20 Free Spins will only be available for use on the slot game ‘John Hunter and the Book of Tut Respin™.Promo period: 12/08/2023 – 01/01/2024.
BetMGM
Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets
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New cust only. 3 days to claim & 7 days to place a qualifying bet to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 Horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 Football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply.

Best Live Betting Sites in the UK (Ranked and Reviewed)

The best betting sites offer various live and pre-game betting choices. In-play or live betting is simply placing a bet on an event once it starts up to its conclusion. Pre-game is simply betting on an event before it starts, and there are a few notable differences when betting in-play.

Odds can change rapidly depending on what is occurring during the event. If a football team scores or a tennis player wins a set, odds will change dramatically to reflect this. Also, betting will temporarily be suspended until the odds update.

Markets can also be individually suspended depending on what is happening in the event. Say a player receives a card; you will see the card markets stop and odds update.

On some sites, you can find "Fast Markets," in which you can bet on the following point winner in tennis. Or a team to score in the next 5 minutes.

When placing a bet, you will have a processing time that could stop your chance if the odds change. Say you are placing a gamble, but a team scores; the odds will change, and your bet will not go through. You can then set the bet with new odds or find a different chance.

Top 10 Live Betting Sites in the UK

  1. bet365 - Best for live betting markets and odds
  2. Unibet - Best for live-streaming
  3. William Hill - Free live racing radio and live streams
  4. Ladbrokes - Huge range of in-play betting markets
  5. Coral - Best for cash-out while live betting
  6. Kwiff - Best for live betting odds boosts
  7. Betfred - Top bonuses for live betting markets
  8. BetVictor - Highest live betting odds
  9. Betway - Top live betting site for eSports and cricket
  10. SBK - Best dedicated live betting app with low margins
bet365

#1 Best Live Betting Site - bet365

Bet365 is right up there with the best online betting sites in the UK, and a significant reason for this is that it provides an almost unbeatable service for live in-play sports betting.

At Bet365, customers can expect a virtually unparalleled choice of live in-play sports betting markets to pick from, and the live betting odds at Bet365 are some of the best in the business.

Add that Bet365 account holders get access to a vast array of live streams - which can be viewed on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets - and signing up is a must.

Pros

  • Thousands of free live sports streams are available to view each month.
  • Fast and reliable live in-play coverage across a range of devices.
  • The cash-out feature works brilliantly for pre-match and live in-play bets.
Unibet

#2 Best Live Betting Site - Unibet

While it is fair to say the live in-play betting coverage at Unibet could be laid out better, the online bookmaker has excellent live betting odds and fantastic live sports streaming for users.

They have hundreds of streams available monthly, and customers need money in their accounts or have placed a bet in the past 24 hours to access them. 

The exception is horse racing, with fans needing to bet at least £1 on a race to view the stream. Watch and Bet with Unibet was launched in 2021 and continues to go from strength to strength.

Pros

  • Watch and Bet with Unibet is a market-leading sports streaming service.
  • The cash-out system works well for both pre-match and live in-play wagers.
  • Excellent coverage of esports includes many live in-play betting options.

Cons

  • The layout of the live in-play betting markets could be better.
  • The variety of live betting markets is less comprehensive than other bookies.
William Hill

#3 Best Live Betting Site - William Hill

The live in-play betting platform at William Hill is up there with the best in the UK, with sports fans likely to find it very easy and quick to use when they want to put a wager on rapidly.

There is also free live-streaming racing radio at William Hill that is available for all UK and Irish races, while the cash-out feature at this online bookmaker is among the most impressive, too.

William Hill TV also provides a great range of live sports streams to watch, with minimal lag, while the William Hill mobile betting apps for iOS and Android are very well-reviewed.

Pros

  • Excellent live sports streaming via the William Hill TV service.
  • Free live-streaming racing radio is also available to customers.
  • Fantastic live in-play experience thanks to market-leading design.

Cons

  • Range of promotions on the live betting side are not the best.
Ladbrokes

#4 Best Live Betting Site - Ladbrokes

Like William Hill, Ladbrokes is a trusted UK betting brand that excels in live in-play betting. The mobile betting apps are arguably one of the best in the business - with Android and iOS options available - making it a cinch to bet live in-play on sport.

Ladbrokes has live streaming of top horse racing and some football and NBA action, while the betting site is also known for having consistently high sports betting odds.

A massive range of good live in-play betting markets plus a top cash-out feature means that Ladbrokes can be highly recommended for any sports fans in the UK who bet live in-play.

Pros

  • Market-leading mobile betting apps for iOS and Android.
  • Live sports streaming includes football, NBA and horse racing.
  • There is a vast range of choices for live in-play markets.

Cons

  • Sometimes, there can be delays when cashing out live in-play bets.
  • Customer service options are not always the easiest to find here.
Coral

#5 Best Live Betting Site - Coral

As a sister site to Ladbrokes - the two UK online bookmakers are both a part of GVC Holdings - it makes sense Coral is also among the best live-in-play betting sites in the country right now.

The excellent live sports streaming service does not have as many options as some of our other recommendations, but most of the action people will be searching for can be found here.

With existing customer promotions, including the free-to-play game Football Super Series, Coral is naturally an elite choice for anyone seeking a new live-in-play betting account in the UK.

Pros

  • The solid live in-play platform provides a wide range of markets.
  • Promotions like the Football Super Series are excellent.
  • The impressive cash-out system works well on all devices.

Cons

  • More live sports streams could be available to pick from.
Kwiff

#6 Best Live Betting Site - Kwiff

Although Kwiff is one of the newest live sports betting sites in the UK, it has established itself quickly as a bookmaker to watch thanks to its unique selling point: boosting the odds of bets.

Players can get randomly 'Kwiffed' odds to massively increase the amount of profits that they can make from a bet, with the Kwiff mobile betting apps a great way to place a live wager.

Pros

  • Chance to have bets boosted with the Kwiff feature.
  • Excellent mobile betting apps for live in-play betting.
  • Live horse racing streams are available to watch.

Cons

  • Range of live in-play markets not as wide as elsewhere.
  • Unboosted odds are typically towards the low end.
Betfred

#7 Best Live Betting Site - Betfred

This traditional British bookie has made a significant effort in live betting, which pays off. The Betfred live betting experience is strong, with the site easy to navigate with just a few taps or clicks. The UK Betfred mobile betting app for iOS or Android is also a joy.

With Betfred having some of the best promotions for both new users and existing customers, any sports fans who want to bet live in-play should undoubtedly consider signing up for an account. But remember that specific online payment methods like cryptocurrency are not accepted.

Pros

  • Outstanding live in-play platform that works seamlessly.
  • Top betting bonuses for new users and existing customers.
  • Great mobile betting apps for Android and iOS users.

Cons

  • Payment methods are a little limited compared to others.
  • Sports streaming services could be a more complete offering.
BetVictor

#8 Best Live Betting Site - BetVictor

BetVictor has been around for a long time, but this old British betting brand has long had a top reputation for innovation, which can be seen clearly within its perfect live in-play betting area.

The BetVictor live betting odds are also excellent, so for sports fans who want to make sure they are getting the most bang for their buck, a BetVictor account comes highly recommended.

BetVictor has terrific mobile betting apps for iOS and Android, so this is a top choice. But a downside is that horse racing fans must place a bet to access live streams.

Pros

  • Typically near the top when it comes to sports betting odds value.
  • Leading Android and iOS mobile betting apps to download.
  • Good coverage when it comes to the range of markets and sports.

Cons

  • Some of the live sports streaming is not free to watch here.
  • Existing BetVictor customers do not have access to many promotions.
Betway

#9 Best Live Betting Site - Betway

Known to football fans for being the shirt sponsor of West Ham United in the Premier League, Betway is a solid choice for live in-play betting, especially on the beautiful game.

At Betway, the live betting odds tend to be ranked near the top, so there is good value on offer. Betting bonuses for new customers and existing users alike are good, with Betway, one of the major UK online bookmakers, having free bets up for grabs each week as rewards.

Pros

  • Excellent mobile sports betting apps to download for iOS and Android.
  • Great value betting odds, both for pre-match and live in-play action.
  • Esports betting is solid at Betway, especially for live markets.

Cons

  • Minimal Betway live sports streaming compared to some rival UK sites.
SBK

#10 Best Live Betting Site - SBK

With prices coming from the Smarkets betting exchange, SBK claims it can provide the highest sports betting odds in the game. Testing shows that SBK odds are up there.

SBK is a new mobile betting app with iOS and Android users all having the chance to download it onto their preferred device. But sports fans in the UK who do not want to download a mobile sports betting app will not be able to use SBK for their live in-play betting.

Pros

  • Some of the best odds for live in-play betting around.
  • The SBK betting app works exceptionally well for live in-play betting.

Cons

  • It is only available as a mobile betting app at this time.
  • Sports streaming is missing from the list of SBK features.

How Do We Pick the Best Live Betting Sites?

Betting sites constantly improve their in-play designs and features to attract more customers. But, we believe bookies must have several key factors to be the best.

Live Streaming

In the UK, watching live sports each year is getting more complex. With big companies like BT, Sky and now even Amazon bidding for rights to the Premier League, you would need to spend hundreds of pounds monthly on subscriptions.

Betting sites can't do much for the English football issue, but in other leagues, you can stream football live on many different betting sites for free.

You can watch various free live streams covering various sports, from tennis to baseball to basketball.

Here at BettingLounge, we believe live streaming or at least watching the event live is very important for betting. It is one of the main advantages of pre-game betting. You can see how a player/team performs and make an informed decision when browsing for a good value bet.

Also, betting should never be seen as an excellent way to make money because, let's face it, it isn't. Very few people make money while betting, but it is a perfect tool for enhancing sports, especially when watching live.

Sports/Events

Firstly, the best live betting sites must offer all the events or sports you want to bet on. Almost all bookies will have significant sporting events, and the live betting sites in our top list will have 20+ marks for you to choose from.

Depending on the sports you are interested in, check out our horse racing recommendations as well as our tennis ones, or perhaps the football page where we have listed the top ten betting sites for the sport.

If you want to choose a site that isn't on our list, we recommend checking out their in-play section before you sign up. During a major sporting event (World Cup), you will see plenty of live betting options, but it is best to decide this to get a "real" look.

Range of Betting Markets

You are likely to find more markets for pre-game betting than in-play. This is primarily due to how hard it is for betting sites to keep up with all the different needs and change odds during an event. But you can still find a great range of markets in play and sometimes a lot better value.

Say a favourite goes behind early on; the odds for them to come back and win are much better than their pre-game odds.

In football, you can also find decent in-play bets with great value in their more obscure markets. Often, their Asian Handicap odds are very decent or even their "Fast Markets".

In the fast markets, you can find great value in even the most minor decisions in a game. Say a team is extensive and piling on the pressure; you could bet on a corner in the next 1 or 5 minutes for some pretty tasty odds.

You can also find a "Your Odds" type feature like the one at William Hill. This service lets you tweet the betting site with your bet, and they can give you odds.

Say both teams to score, and each team over four corners at 6/1 in the England vs Croatia game. You can bet pre-game and in-play in this market. All the live betting sites in our list will have a wide range of needs, including fast markets and other unique features.

Value

It is essential to get the best value for your money. You can ensure this by comparing odds, ensuring a cash-out option and taking advantage of their promotions.

Comparing odds - You can do this by simply checking similar markets. For example, if you are betting on over 2.5 goals, check the standard and the Asian markets to see which has better value.

The same applies to cards, corners and other similar markets. Always compare odds and look for the best value bet.

Cash-out - Firstly, check out our Cash Out Guide if you are unsure of this feature. All the sites have cash-out features in our list, and for good reason.

You can quickly cash out for a profit if your bet wins but feel it could go wrong at any minute. This is also why it’s essential to have access to a live stream.

Promotions - During a major sporting event, you will find an abundance of upgrades to get the best value for your money.

For example, Betfair claims to have the highest odds on several football leagues, including the Premier League,

You can use your favourite for most of the bets, but other sites will often compete with potentially better odds, features, and promotions for you to choose from.

You can find the best promotions and unique features on the latest betting sites in the UK. This is mainly because the new betting sites must offer something different to attract new customers.

Live Betting Sites Stats

Almost all live betting sites offer basic stats during a live event. For example, you will see the score, possession percentage, corners, free kicks, throw-ins, and more in football.

If you cannot watch the game live, these stats are all you can use to understand what’s happening in the game. It's crucial when you are picking a bet.

The best betting sites will offer live score updates & stats that you can use for pre-game and in-play betting. These stats can include the player's/team's form, table position, goals scored, and more. Again, this is crucial when deciding on a bet. If you want further help, check out our betting guides!

Live Betting Apps and Mobile Sites

According to the UK Gambling Commission, 51% of people now use betting apps on their phones or tablets, with a vast majority using their devices to bet in-play. All the best apps and mobile sites are designed to make betting in-play easy, fast and fun.

Again, most of the promotions and features are aimed at the live betting market. Like the cash-out, live streaming and fast markets all being accessible on your devices.

Most of the leading online bookmakers in the UK also provide good sports betting apps. Many people find these to be the fastest way to bet live and in-play, with the apps usually also offering all the same features of a full desktop site, such as live sports streaming and cash out.

Fast Customer Support to Resolve Any Live Betting Issues

Sometimes, a live in-play bet might be a problem, and sports fans might need to contact a customer service agent to resolve the issue.

Most of the top sports betting sites in the UK now provide 24/7 customer service via live chat, but agents must respond quickly to any problems. Some people prefer to use email or telephone support here too.

FAQs

Steven is an experienced iGaming content writer who has been working in the industry since 2018. He is passionate about sports betting and enjoys writing about all aspects of the industry, including bookmaker reviews, betting tips and strategies, and news and analysis. If you have any questions about online gambling in the UK, please don't hesitate to contact him.