Live betting, also known as in-play betting, is a type of sports betting where you place bets on a match while it is in progress. This can be a very exciting way to bet on tennis, as it allows you to react to the momentum of the match and place bets on specific outcomes that you think are likely to happen next.
Jump directly to your preferred section below
- How does Live Betting Work?
- Best Sportsbooks for Live Betting Tennis
- Live Betting Rules for Tennis
- Betting Strategies
- How to win on Tennis Live Betting?
- An example of a Live Bet
- Arbitrage Betting
- General Tips when placing Live Bets
- Specific Live Betting Strategies
How Live Betting Works
Live betting tennis is available at a majority of the best tennis betting sites. To place a live bet, simply log in to your account, select the tennis match you want to bet on, and then browse the available live betting markets. You can then place a bet on any of the available outcomes, such as the next game winner, the next set winner, or the total number of games played in the match.
Be aware that these odds change in real time all the time so bets need to be placed quite quick. This is something you will get used to after a few live bets.
Let’s have a look at our favorites when it comes to betting tennis in-play while watching the match.
Best Live Betting Sites for Tennis in 2024
| Betting Site | Countries Accepted* | Bonus | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|---|
BetOnline – A US-friendly sports betting and casino site!
|
  |
Up to $1000 | Bet Now |
BetUS – Top recommended USA friendly bookmaker.
|
|
125% + 30 Free Bets | Bet Now |
Bovada – Great tennis odds, covers a lot of markets!
|
|
$250 Sports Welcome Bonus | Bet Now |
| Betting Site | Countries Accepted* | Bonus | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|---|
Parimatch – Great betting site with fun promos and free bets
|
 |
Bundle of £40 in Bonuses | Bet Now |
William Hill – A trusted UK bookmaker with great tennis selections!
|
 |
£30 in Free Bets | Bet Now |
| Betting Site | Countries Accepted* | Bonus | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|---|
Betsson – The only betting site you need!
|
|
$100 + $30 Free Bets | Bet Now |
William Hill – A trusted bookmaker since way back!
|
|
Up to $500 | Bet Now |
Betsafe – Strong and popular betting brand
|
|
$100 +$15 Free Bets | Bet Now |
Stake – Crypto focused site with great promos and cashback!
|
|
Ongoing Promotions | Bet Now |
| Betting Site | Countries Accepted* | Bonus | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|---|
|
William Hill – Trusted bookmaker that’s been around forever!
|
 |
€30 in Free Bets | Bet Now |
NetBet – An all-around betting and gambling site
|
|
€50 Bonus | Bet Now |
| Betting Site | Countries Accepted* | Bonus | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|---|
|
William Hill – Trusted bookmaker that’s been around forever!
|
 |
Up to €100 | Bet Now |
StarCasino – Italian based sportsbook and casino
|
|
N/A | Bet Now |
| Betting Site | Countries Accepted* | Bonus | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|---|
|
BetUS – Top recommended USA friendly bookmaker.
|
|
125% + 30 Free Bets | Bet Now |
|
William Hill – A trusted UK bookmaker that now accepts many countries!
|
|
€30 in Free Bets | Bet Now |
|
Stake – Crypto focused site with great promos and cashback!
|
 |
Ongoing Promotions | Bet Now |
|
BetOnline – A US-friendly sports betting and casino site!
|
|
Up to $1000 | Bet Now |
Pinnacle Sportsbook – Trusted sportsbook since 1998.
|
 |
No Bonus | Bet Now |
22Bet – Huge gaming site available in many languages.
|
 |
€122 Sports Bonus | Bet Now |
| * Please note: All brands displayed on the list above are legal online sports betting sites, however you are responsible for determining the legality of online gambling in your jurisdiction, that you’re allowed to place bets on this specific site and that you are of legal age to bet. Please gamble responsibly and only bet what you can afford to lose. If you think you are not in control of your gambling, seek help immediately from any of these organisations: BeGambleAware or Gamcare. |
Live Betting Tennis Rules
The rules of live betting vary slightly between sportsbooks, but there are some general rules that apply to all live bets. For example, live in-play bets are typically placed on a “next to happen” basis, meaning that you are betting on the outcome of the next point, game or set. Once a point, game, or set is completed, the live betting market for that event will be closed and a new market will be opened for the next event.
Another important thing to note is that live betting odds are constantly fluctuating. This is because the sportsbook is constantly adjusting the odds to reflect the current state of the match. For example, if one player is serving for the match, the odds on them winning the match will be very low. However, if the other player is able to break serve, the odds on them winning the match will increase significantly. Need to learn about tennis odds?
Different Live Betting Strategies
There are a number of different strategies that you can use when live betting on tennis. Some of the most popular strategies include:
- Set betting: This involves betting on the winner of the next set. This can be a good option if you think that one player is clearly in control of the match and is likely to win the next set. For example, if Rafael Nadal is leading Novak Djokovic 6-3, 5-2 in a Grand Slam final, then betting on Nadal to win the next set could be a good option, even though the odds would be low.
- Total games in a match: This involves betting on the total number of games that will be played in the match. This can be a good option if you think that the match is likely to be close or if you think that there will be a lot of service breaks. For example, if two players with evenly matched serve games are playing each other, then betting on there to be more than 21.5 games played in the match could be a good option.
- Handicap/Spread: This involves betting on one player to win by a certain number of games. For example, you might bet on Rafael Nadal to beat Novak Djokovic by more than 2 games. This can be a good option if you think that one player is much better than the other and is likely to win comfortably.
- To Win the Next Point/Game/Set: This involves betting on the winner of the next point, game, or set. This can be a very risky strategy, but it can also be very rewarding if you can accurately predict the outcome of the next event. For example, if you can see that Novak Djokovic is serving for the match and is looking very confident, then betting on him to win the next game could be a good option.
- Next Player to Break: This involves betting on which player will break serve next. This can be a good option if you think that one player is struggling to hold serve and is likely to be broken soon. For example, if a player has double faulted twice in their last service game, then betting on them to be broken in their next service game could be a good option.
How to win on Tennis Live Betting?
Well, apart from the fact that you need to have good knowledge, make research before the game, take time to go through the available bets, you’ll also need some luck in order to win in tennis live betting.
However there are a few tricks you can try in order to get your winning streak started, and live betting has a few great opportunities compared to pre-game betting. The bookmakers is usually more interested in the end result of the match, compared to how certain aspects and events unfold during the match.
If you know of a good player that you think will win the match, but you also know he’s usually slow to get going in the start of the match, then it might be a good idea to place the bet live in the beginning instead of pre-match, as the odds would have gone up.
Here’s another trick you can try…
Let’s say there’s a match where Nadal is clear favorite with low odds, try then to place a small pre-match bet on the underdog to win. Then, if Nadal does not establish an early lead and starts slow, you can back him to win 2-0 in sets at much higher odds than what was available before the match. What usually happens is that the favorite will dominate the match, and if they don’t, you can still cash in on your first bet on the underdog.
This strategy needs to be tested a few times so you’ll learn which amounts and odds to use in order to make it profitable and usable in the long run.
See also our tennis betting strategy section for more tips on how to create a profitable tennis betting experience.
Example of a Tennis Live Bet
Below I’m placing a live bet on the match between Francesco Passaro and Nicolas Moreno De Alboran at Bet365. At the time of the bet, Moreno De Alboran had just won his serve game and had a 3-2 lead, when I bet on Passaro to win the 1st set. A few of the betting sites, like Bet365, will show a live stream of most matches which is a great addition.
The odds were 2.50 but quickly changed to 2.25 before I could hit confirm. I decided to continue to place the bet even with the slightly lower odds.
Once the bet is placed you can see your betslip with your potential winnings on the screen or under “My Bets” or “Pending Bets”, this varies a bit between different bookmakers.
So, how did it end up?
After a very even game, where both of the players won their serve games at all times, it ended up in a Tie Break where Passaro were the stronger player from the first ball and eventually won the first set 7-6 (7-3 in tie-break).
I ended up winning 45€ after my 2.25 odds bet of 20€, a profit of 25€.
Arbitrage Betting
Arbitrage betting is a strategy that involves placing multiple bets on the same event at different sportsbooks in order to guarantee a profit. This is possible because sportsbooks often offer different odds on the same event. However, arbitrage opportunities are rare and can be difficult to find.
General Tips for Live Betting
Here are some general tips for live betting on tennis:
- Do your pre-match research: Even though you are betting on a match while it is in progress, it is still important to do your pre-match research. This will help you to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each player and to make informed betting decisions. For example, if you know that Rafael Nadal is a very good clay court player and Novak Djokovic is a better hard court player, then you can use this information to inform your live betting decisions.
- Pay attention to the stats and trends: The stats and trends can give you a valuable insight into how the match is likely to unfold. For example, if you can see that one player is winning a high percentage of their service games, then you might want to bet on them to hold serve in their next service game. You can also use the stats and trends to identify areas where a player is struggling. For example, if a player is making a lot of unforced errors, then you might want to bet on them to lose the next point or game.
- Be aware of the weather conditions: The weather conditions can have a big impact on the outcome of a tennis match. For example, if it is windy, then this will make it more difficult for players to serve accurately. You can also use the weather conditions to your advantage when live betting. For example, if you know that a player is not very good at playing in the wind, then you might want to bet on them to lose their next service game.
- Watch the players’ body language: The players’ body language can give you a good indication of how they are feeling and how they are likely to perform. For example, if a player looks tired or frustrated, then they are more likely to make mistakes. You can also use the players’ body language to identify areas where a player is struggling. For example, if a player is constantly hitting their serve to the same spot, then you might want to bet on them to be broken in their next service game.
Specific Live Betting Strategies
In addition to the general tips above, there are a few specific live in-play betting strategies that you can use to improve your chances of success. Here are a few examples:
- Backing the favorite after they drop a set: If the favorite in a match drops a set, their odds will typically increase significantly. This can be a good opportunity to bet on the favorite, as they are still likely to win the match. For example, if Rafael Nadal is the favorite to win a match against Novak Djokovic and he drops the first set, then betting on Nadal to win the match at higher odds could be a good option.
- Betting on a player to win the next game after they break serve: Breaking serve is a very important part of tennis, and it can often be a turning point in a match. If a player breaks serve, they will typically have a very good chance of winning the next game. For example, if Novak Djokovic breaks Rafael Nadal’s serve in the third set of a match, then betting on Djokovic to win the next game could be a good option.
- Betting on a player to win the next set after they win a close tiebreak: Winning a close tiebreak can often give a player a lot of momentum, and they can be difficult to beat in the next set. For example, if Rafael Nadal wins a close tiebreak against Novak Djokovic in the second set of a match, then betting on Nadal to win the third set could be a good option.
Additional Tips
- Bankroll management: It is important to manage your bankroll effectively when doing tennis live betting. This means only betting a small percentage of your bankroll on each bet. This will help to minimize your losses if you have a losing streak.
- Don’t chase your losses: It is important to avoid chasing your losses when live betting on tennis. This means not placing more bets in order to try to win back the money you have lost. This can lead to you losing even more money.
- Take breaks: It is important to take breaks when live betting on tennis. This will help you to stay focused and avoid making impulsive decisions. This applies both after winning or losing bets, go for a small walk or have a coffee before getting back to the screen.
More Examples of Live Tennis Bets
Here are a few examples of live bets that you might place on a tennis match:
- Bet on Rafael Nadal to win the next set: This would be a good bet if Nadal is leading the match and is playing well.
- Bet on there to be more than 21.5 games played in the match: This would be a good bet if you think that the match is likely to be close or if you think that there will be a lot of service breaks.
- Bet on Novak Djokovic to win by more than 3 games: This would be a good bet if you think that Djokovic is much better than his opponent and is likely to win comfortably.
- Bet on Novak Djokovic to win the next game after he breaks Rafael Nadal’s serve: This would be a good bet as Djokovic will have a lot of momentum after breaking Nadal’s serve.
- Bet on Rafael Nadal to win the third set after he wins a close tiebreak against Novak Djokovic in the second set: This would be a good bet as Nadal will have a lot of momentum after winning a close tiebreak against Djokovic.
Is Live Betting in Tennis Recommended?
Live betting on tennis can be a very exciting and rewarding experience. However, it is important to remember that it is also a risky form of betting. If you are not careful, you can quickly lose your money. By following the tips and strategies above, you can increase your chances of success when live betting on tennis.
FAQ Live Betting on Tennis
During a live tennis match, you can place a variety of bets, including predicting the winner of the current set, the next game’s winner, total number of games in a set, whether a player will break serve, and many more.
Pre-match betting involves placing bets on tennis matches before they commence, based on factors such as player statistics, past performances, and other pre-match analysis. Live betting, on the other hand, allows you to adjust your bets based on the current momentum of the match and player performance.
While live betting can add excitement to watching tennis matches, it may be more suitable for experienced bettors who are familiar with the sport and understand how in-game dynamics can influence outcomes. Beginners may find it challenging to keep up with the fast-paced nature of live betting and make informed decisions in real-time.
Yes… but, the legality of live betting on tennis depends on your jurisdiction. In many countries, online sports betting, including live betting on tennis, is legal and regulated. However, it’s essential to verify the legality of sports betting in your region before participating.
Some betting platforms, such as Bet365, offer live streaming services alongside live betting, allowing you to watch tennis matches in real-time while placing bets. However, availability may vary depending on licensing agreements and geographical restrictions.
