One reason many people enjoy the experience of betting is due to the multiple wagering options available. It’s possible to bet on the team to win, the number of scores, which players get a card, and so much more. Interestingly, you don’t always have to place your bets before the sports game starts. Thanks to live betting, you can also do so while the match is ongoing.
Many bookmakers in Kenya support live betting, and the section records substantial traffic. You’ll find this guide helpful if you’re interested in using Kenya live betting sites. Here, we’ll cover all you have to know about the activity and tips to help you place better bets. Let’s start by discussing what it is and how it works.
What is Live Betting and How Does it Work?
Simply put, live betting allows you to bet while sports matches are active. On some sportsbooks, you’ll find it as in-play betting. It’s different from pre-match betting, where you submit your bet slip before kickoff.
For instance, suppose there’s a football game between Arsenal and Chelsea set for 7 PM. Normally, you can choose to bet anytime before the match starts. However, for live betting, you hold on until the game begins at 7 PM to pick your odds.
Live betting notably varies from pre-match, besides the fact that the game is ongoing. When you live bet, you’ll encounter volatile odds that change rapidly. That’s because the value adjusts following what’s happening in the match. Consider the Arsenal and Chelsea game mentioned earlier. Arsenal may have higher odds before the match. However, if the game starts and they score first, the live betting odds will reduce.
Live Betting Sites in Kenya
Types of Live Betting
When you visit Kenya live betting bookmakers, you’ll find different types to wager on. Check out the common works below and how they work:
Moneyline
With moneyline, the focus is on predicting the match winner. Typically, two teams will compete, so you pick one that’ll emerge victorious. You’ll see moneyline bets with positive “+” and negative “-” signs on live betting sites. The positive is assigned to the weaker team, giving them an advantage. Conversely, the stronger team receives the negative, meaning you get lower winnings if you back them.
Live Prop Bet
Proposition bets — prop bets for short — allow you to wager on diverse outcomes beyond who wins the game. In a football game, for example, prop bets will allow you to predict who’ll score next, the number in the next 10 minutes, the next player to receive a card and much more. This type of live betting is highly volatile, as events happen rapidly in sports games.
Live Parlay Bet
A parlay is simply a single bet that combines multiple others. For instance, placing a money line and a prop bet on the same slip becomes a parlay. You can combine as many bets into a parlay as the live betting site supports. The appeal here is that you’re leveraging odds from different markets, which could mean higher potential winnings. However, know that if one outcome fails, you lose the entire bet.
Point Spread
This live betting option involves predicting the margin of victory at the end of the game. It’s a handicap where one team gets a scoring edge over the other. Consider a basketball game between the LA Lakers and New York Knicks. Both teams have a +6.5 and -6.5 point spread, respectively. Betting on the LA Lakers means you expect the team to not lose by more than 6 goals. The positive sign gives them a 6-goal lead over the New York Knicks.
Over/Under
You’ll find the totals option on the majority of live betting sites in Kenya. Here, you simply bet on whether the score of any outcome will exceed or be less than the figure set by the bookmaker. If it’s a football match and you pick an over of 2.5 for the total goals, you predict the game will have up to 3 goals. Choosing the under option means you expect the match to end with less than 3 goals. Besides goals, totals apply to different football outcomes like corners, fouls, and cards, to name a few.
Best Betting Sites in Kenya
How to Place a Live Bet on a Kenyan Betting Site
Live betting isn’t complicated. Simply pick a reputable Kenya live betting bookmaker, create your account, and you’re good to go. If your slip is green when the bets are settled, you can seamlessly withdraw your winnings. Let’s cover each step in detail:
- Signing Up
First, select a live betting site in Kenya from our featured list. We evaluate bookmakers via a strict process to ensure you get the best experience. When you identify your ideal website, follow the steps below:
1. Visit the website and click the Sign-Up or Register button
2. Complete the registration form by providing all required details
3. Accept the terms and conditions and submit the form
4. Complete the email/phone verification to activate your account
*Once you finish signing up, you should fund your account to start live betting. Note that if the bookmaker demands ID verification after email/phone, also comply to avoid complications when it’s time to withdraw. - Placing Your Bet
If you’ve added money to your account, you can switch to the live betting section to start wagering. Most sites will feature a “Live” button on the pre-match page. When you click it, you get a display of ongoing matches across different sports categories.
As you browse the games, click the odds for the market you want to wager on. They’ll appear on your bet slip. Note that the odds can still change even when on your slip. They only become fixed when you submit the bet.
When done picking matches, set your wager and confirm your bet. Most Kenya betting sites will have a My Bets section where you can view the slip. Now, monitor the matches you select and their outcomes. - Withdrawing Winnings
Cashing out winnings from live bets isn’t different from when you place pre-match wagers. The bookmaker will credit the won amount to your account wallet if your ticket is green. Then, you can request a payout when you want.
The exact withdrawal procedure will differ from one live betting site to another. However, these are general steps to expect:
1. Log into your betting account
2. Navigate to the withdrawal section via your profile
3. Specify the amount you want to withdraw
4. Choose any featured payment method and provide the required details
5. Submit your withdrawal request
*If you go with bank options, receiving credit typically takes 24 hours. However, with mobile options like MPesa, you can expect faster transactions.
Live Betting Mistakes to Avoid in Kenya
From our discussions so far, you’ll agree that live betting with Kenyan gambling sites is straightforward. However, some punters record negative experiences because they make some avoidable mistakes. We’ve made a list of some live betting mistakes to avoid as a Kenyan punter:
Not considering the current game situation
Live betting is about ongoing action, which means you have to make decisions based on what goes on in real time. For instance, the odds for a game between Muhoroni Youth and Gor Mahia would likely be in favour of the latter. However, if, during the course of the match, Muhoroni Youth seems to have the upper hand, it could be a smarter idea to place bets in their favour rather than focusing on the odds. Here, you’d be looking at the current stance of the game and placing your bets accordingly.
Ignoring quick odds
changes
This may sound ironic, considering the previous tip. However, the focus here is on taking advantage as a Kenyan Bettor. Sometimes, the odds can skyrocket during live betting, and if you consider the gaming situation, there might be visible reasons to leverage the value by staking immediately. You can wager a small amount, but the potential winnings will be substantial since the odds are super high. Gambling involves luck at the end of the day, so you should try yours.
Betting on too many
games
The urge to bet pennies to win thousands or millions of shillings is almost irresistible, so some Kenyan bettors stake on many games at a time. Still, one game from a long list can ruin all your hard work, and it could be difficult to monitor all the games live to take advantage of real-time changes. As such, we advise you to always bet on a few games at a time so you reduce your risk of losing out on your bets and so you can monitor live action as well.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Live Betting
Everything has upsides and downsides, and live betting is no different. It’s best to understand both sides to decide whether it’s suitable for you as a Kenyan punter. In that view, here are the advantages and disadvantages of live betting:
Advantages
+ Real-time access: You may plan to wager on a particular game but miss out for any reason. With live betting, you can still wager while the game is ongoing.
+ Potential for higher odds: Once matches begin, bookmakers will adjust odds to match the current situation. So, it’s easy to come across higher odds with live betting markets in Kenya than pre-match.
+ Interactive experience: If you’re the type that visits bookmakers for entertainment, you’ll appreciate live betting. You can monitor the matches, take advantage when things get interesting, and test your predictions. So, it keeps you active throughout the game rather than simply checking the scores at the end.
Disadvantages
– High volatility: There are two types of Kenyan punters: those who can’t handle sharply shifting odds and those who can’t. If you are the latter, you won’t enjoy live betting. Some prefer the pre-match option since it allows more time to analyze the game.
– Technical issues: Live betting depends on technology. So, some Kenyan bookmakers can sometimes experience issues like delays in updating markets. That can put you at a disadvantage since you can’t leverage real-time happenings.
– May not be available for all sports: You’ll typically find live betting markets for popular sports in Kenya, like football, basketball, horse racing, cricket and tennis. However, coverage depends on the bookmaker, so some sites only support limited sports.
Top Live Betting Strategies and Tips for Kenya
To ensure you can enjoy the pros of live betting, here are some top tips from our experts to help:
- Analyze pre-match: Although you’ll place bets when the game is ongoing, it’s best you do your research long before it starts. That way, you can have a solid betting plan that won’t sway easily due to the quick-shifting odds.
- Watch the game: Kenya live betting sites usually provide live statistics. However, you can better understand the dynamics when watching the match. Thankfully, some bookmakers support live streaming, so you can do it all from one window.
- Focus on specific markets: Don’t get carried away by betting on outcomes you’re unfamiliar with simply because the odds are high. You should settle on markets you understand to make better decisions.
- Leverage major shifts: If there’s any major shift in the game momentum, place your bet to align accordingly. For instance, in football, an injury to a key player within minutes from kickoff can completely change the narrative of the rest of the game.
Popular Sports and Events for Live Betting in Kenya
Kenyan sports lovers prioritize some categories more than others, and the same is true for live betting. If you sign up at a live betting site in Kenya, these are the popular sports you’ll find:
Football
This is the world’s most famous sport, so there’s no surprise it holds the same position in Kenya. You can wager on a range of outcomes in football when live betting. With 90 minutes of play plus the 15-minute break, there’s much time to analyze and place bets.
Basketball
Next after football is basketball, with the NBA commanding the most attention. Basketball matches are usually high-scoring, and they last for just around 50 minutes. So, it’s one sport where you’ll witness significant odd shifts during live betting.
Baseball
Third is baseball, where matches last up to three hours. Additionally, the games have particular periods of high momentum but are generally moderate regarding changes. So, consider this sport if you want a live betting option with enough time to plan.
Responsible Gambling: Tips and resources for safe and responsible gambling practices for live betting
Whether you place bets pre-match or live, staying responsible is always crucial. Gambling on sports shouldn’t be taken as a source of income. Winning largely depends on luck, and as a sports fan, you should see it more as entertainment. To help you keep your activities in check, here are some responsible gambling tips to follow:
Conclusion
You should find using Kenya live betting sites much easier after reading our guide. The option is highly innovative as it lets you wager while the game is ongoing. Hence, even if you miss out before kickoff, you can still bet on your preferred matches before the final whistle.
If you want to use the best live betting site, ensure you pick a bookmaker from our featured list. Also, consider the top live betting strategies and tips in Kenya to better your chances of favorable outcomes. It’s also important that you stick to responsible gambling practices to always stay safe.
FAQs
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Emmanuella Oluwafemi is your ace for captivating sports betting and online casino content. With a flair for spinning words like reels, my writing shuffles through the world of online casino gaming and sports betting with wit and expertise.
As an iGaming writer for a decade and counting, every piece is a chance to create content that’s not just a gamble, but a guaranteed win for the audience!