What is In-play betting?
In-play betting is wagering on a sporting event after it has started, with odds that update continuously as the action unfolds.
Bettors can back outcomes such as the next goalscorer, the result of the next point in tennis or the match winner at any stage. Prices are driven by data feeds and trading models, and markets are suspended briefly after key events such as goals or penalties.
In-play has become a large share of sports betting turnover in mature markets. It depends on fast official data, which has made sports data rights a valuable commercial asset and a focus of integrity monitoring.
Regulators and researchers have examined in-play betting because its speed and frequency can increase intensity of play, and some jurisdictions restrict or ban certain live markets. Delays between live action and broadcast or data feeds create integrity risks, which operators manage with short bet acceptance delays.
