Ever bet on a football match after kickoff or cashed out a bet before it’s concluded? Then you’ve tried out in-play football betting already.

Football in-play betting makes the whole experience a lot more exciting, but some live betting sites in the UK do it better than others. And we’ve been finding out exactly which ones they are.

Based on their live football betting markets, in-play betting tools and odds – we’ve got nine fantastic picks for you to check out.

At number one, it’s the classic Grosvenor, thanks to its great football in play betting odds on top of a double-the-odds welcome bonus that you can use to bet live.

Let’s check out all the rest and see how Grosvenor stacks up against them.

1. Grosvenor — Best Football In Play Betting Site in the UK Overall

18+. New, ID Verified players only. Max stake £10. 60-day bonus expiry. 100% odds boost token. Bet on any sport at any odds. Note that full T&Cs apply.

Pros:

Expert in-play betting tools
Dedicated mobile betting app
Great range of live betting markets
Live streaming on many events
Double-the-odds bonus applies to live bets

Cons:

Could have more payment methods

The absolute best bookie in the UK for football in play betting is Grosvenor. Its in-play betting functions are down to a tee, it has a fantastic range of football betting markets and the site and app are brilliant to use.

In-Play Betting Tools: 5/5

Grosvenor’s in play betting tools are some of the best in the business. You’ll get live odds on every single football match so that you can jump in whenever you like, and you’ll be able to cash out each bet early if you want.

You can even live stream a lot of the sporting events you’re betting on here, which helps you feel even closer to the action. And even if the live stream isn’t available, every event has some form of live graphics to keep you up to date with what’s happening, which is pretty remarkable.

Betting Markets: 5/5

The football betting market selection at Grosvenor is about as full as it can be. You’ll be able to bet on a huge range of markets in everything from the English Premier League to the Guatemalan Liga Nacional.

At the time of writing, there were 50,000 football betting markets to choose from. Incredible!

But the range of markets here even transcends football. No matter which sport you’re looking to bet on, you should be able to do it extensively at Grosvenor.

Sportsbook Bonuses: 4.6/5

New UK bettors at Grosvenor will be able to get double odds on their first bet in the sportsbook.

It’s not the most exciting welcome bonus in the world – but it applies to live bets, which is a pretty rare sight.

Grosvenor also offers a wide range of ongoing bonuses, such as free bets in the Grosvenor Sport Club and the chance to get your winnings paid out even if VAR rules a goal out.

Even better still is the fact that there are no wagering requirements, and that makes it really easy to withdraw your winnings.

Website and Mobile App: 5/5

Another one of our favourite things about Grosvenor is the beautiful design work. The desktop site looks beautiful and is neatly laid out in a way that makes it really easy to find the betting markets you’re looking for.

The same can be said of the mobile app, which can be downloaded on the Play Store and the App Store. This app has all the in-play betting functions we mentioned above, so you can enjoy football betting in-play on the go with ease.

Overall: 4.9/5

Many punters in the UK will know just how popular Grosvenor is. Its land-based casinos can be found across the country, and its online casino and sportsbook are just as famous.

And there’s a good reason for that: Grosvenor really is the very finest. In-play football betting isn’t the only thing it’s best at.

Double the odds on your first in play football bet at Grosvenor

2. Luckland — Best Football In-Play Betting Odds in the UK

18+. New, ID Verified players only. Min stake £15. 14-day bonus expiry. Qualifying bet odds must be 2.00 or greater. Free bet minimum odds 1.80. Note that full T&Cs apply.

Pros:

Good value on early cash-out bets
Strong odds for in-play football matches
£10 free bet for new customers
Well-organised sportsbook

Cons:

Not many ongoing sportsbooks bonuses

Luckland pays more for cashed-out bets and wagers placed on live football betting markets. For those reasons, we believe it’s a very strong contender for the best UK betting site to bet live.

In-Play Betting Tools: 4.9/5

The area in which Luckland excels the most is its strong odds for in-play bets. This means you’ll get paid more for winning bets you place on events that have already started or higher value cashouts if you can’t hold your nerve to go all the way to the end.

The rest of the in-play bet features are very good, too. There’s a fair amount of live streaming or, at the very least, some useful data about how each match has been unfolding so far.

Betting Markets: 4.8/5

Compared to Grosvenor, Luckland doesn’t have a ton of football betting markets. But that’s a very high bar to compare it to because there are certainly still a lot more than average here.

You can bet on many lower football leagues, from the Egyptian Second Division to the Tanzanian Premier League. And you can bet on most of them live, too!

Outside of football, it’s much the same story. Luckland offers odds on some pretty obscure sports like stock car racing, and it covers eSports well with markets on Valorant and more.

Sportsbook Bonuses: 4.5/5

Place a bet of £15 at odds of 2.00 or greater when you first sign up for Luckland, and they’ll put a £10 free bet straight into your account.

You can use that free bet on any market as long as the odds are 1.80 or greater. And once it’s settled, you’ll instantly be able to withdraw any winnings you’ve made, as there are no wagering requirements for this bonus.

That’s about it for sportsbook bonuses at Luckland. It’s a pretty good welcome bonus, but we would have liked to have seen a few more bonuses to be able to give the top marks here.

Website and Mobile App: 4.7/5

Luckland has taken a no-frills approach to its website design. Everything is sleek and well-organised, and that makes it a pleasure to use. There’s nothing particularly adventurous about the graphic design, but we’re big fans of the minimal, structured take.

You won’t be able to download an actual mobile app which is why we’ve had to dock a couple of points in this category, but even that isn’t such a bad thing as we found that the neat design is echoed in the mobile site as well. Just load it up in your phone browser.

Overall: 4.8/5

We can’t blame you if you haven’t heard of Luckland. It’s one of the newer UK betting sites in our top picks, having been created in 2015, but that’s not to say it’s not credible. Luckland is gathering quite a reputation, and we can totally see why!

Take advantage of the strongest in play football betting odds in the UK

3. Sportsbet.io — Best UK Football In Play Betting Site for Live Streams

Available to Sportsbetio players over 18 years of age. ACCA Boost applies to pre-match selections on all sports and competitions. In-play sports and competitions do not count. ACCA Boost minimum odds is 1/5 (1.2) per individual selection. ACCA Boost applies to winning settled accumulators with 5 or more folds. Note that full T&Cs apply.

Pros:

Watch football matches as they happen
Beautiful desktop site design
Very extensive range of live betting markets
Acca boost

Cons:

Lack of bonuses

The brilliant Sportsbet.io is one of the most modern-feeling of our top picks, so it only fits that it has a whole bunch of live streams to enjoy.

In-Play Betting Tools: 5/5

Perhaps the best thing about Sportsbet.io is the huge range of live streams they have available. You won’t be able to watch the likes of the English Premier League for licensing reasons, but you can check out a lot of the smaller leagues across the world, which is fun.

Whether you choose to watch the matches or not, you’ll be able to cash out or place an in-play bet with ease. All odds are constantly updated to get you great value, no matter what’s going on in a match.

Betting Markets: 5/5

You won’t find many football matches that can’t be bet on at Sportsbet.io. It’s one of the most extensive sportsbooks we’ve seen, and that’s really saying something. You’ll be able to bet on sports matches from across the globe and pick out niche markets within them.

The sportsbook is pretty perfect across the board here, in fact. There are loads of eSports to bet on, and all major sports are covered in great detail.

Sportsbook Bonuses: 4/5

This is the one area in which we feel Sportsbet.io could do some work. There’s only one ‘bonus’, and it’s an acca boost. With this, all accumulators with five or more legs will get boosted odds. So, you’ll get more for your money if you win.

It’d certainly be nice to see a Sportsbet.io welcome bonus at some point in the future. With that, they could certainly be challenging for the top spot in our best football betting sites for UK bettors.

Website and Mobile App: 4.8/5

The Sportsbet.io desktop site is one of the most visually pleasing we’ve come across. It looks modern and fresh while still maintaining a neutral minimalism that will please all kinds of players.

Again, there’s no mobile app here, but that’s not a problem, thanks to the brilliant design. You’ll still be able to place all your in-play bets and cash out with ease on the mobile site. You can even live stream the matches on it!

Overall: 4.7/5

The lack of bonuses is the key factor bringing the average score down for Sportsbet.io. But for this site to find itself in number three despite this is very impressive. There’s a lot to like here, and once you dive into its in play football betting markets, you’ll see why.

Get a boost on your acca with 5 legs or more at Sportsbet.io

4. Mr Play Sport — Best Football Live Betting Markets in the UK

18+. New, ID Verified players only. Min stake £10. 14-day bonus expiry. Qualifying bet odds must be 2.00 or greater. Note that full T&Cs apply.

Pros:

Various live betting markets for football games
Plenty of live streams
Loads of payment methods
Over 1500 casino games

Cons:

Awkward desktop site
No mobile sports betting app

Mr Play is often considered more of a casino than a sportsbook, but with these in-play betting tools, we’d say it’s at least 50/50.

In-Play Betting Tools: 4.9/5

Mr Play is another online betting site that we found to have a brilliant range of live streaming options. If you fancy tuning into a football match from the other side of the world, you can do that right here.

That’s alongside the pretty fantastic mechanics for live betting. Even if the website is a little slow, the updating of the odds and the betting itself are quick processes. All of that is complete with what is possibly the most comprehensive lineup of live betting markets for football games.

Betting Markets: 4.7/5

Despite Mr Play’s casino presence, it has a very dedicated sportsbook. You’ll find all kinds of odds here, no matter which sport you choose to bet on.

The only issue is the slight lack of eSports coverage, so bear that in mind if you like your sports in the virtual domain.

Sportsbook Bonuses: 4.6/5

‘Pay £10 and get £10’ is the welcome bonus here, and it really is as simple as that. The terms and conditions are pretty easy to understand, too. Just remember you have 7 days to use your free bet – so be quick about it.

Website and Mobile App: 4.2/5

The actual Mr Play Sport website is a little awkward to use. It feels a little cheaply designed in its appearance, and it can be quite glitchy, which users will find a little frustrating at times.

Mr Play does offer a downloadable mobile app, but you won’t be able to use it to place sports bets. This app is for online casino games only.

And it’s with online casino gaming that Mr Play excels. There are over 1500 games to play here, which is very impressive.

Overall: 4.6/5

This UK football in play betting site picks up a very respectable fifth place today thanks to its top in-play sports betting markets.

Explore the massive variety of live football betting market at Mr Play

How We Ranked the Best Football Live Betting Sites in the UK

In-Play Betting Tools:

As a bare minimum, an in-play betting site needs to have the option to place bets on football matches after kick-off, but they should also allow you to cash out before the final whistle. Extra points are available for live streams and live graphics of the matches.

Betting Markets:

Here, we’re looking for a wide range of football leagues and tournaments for bets. And within the individual games, it’s good to see plenty of markets, such as the number of corner kicks or who the first goalscorer will be.

Sportsbook Bonuses:

Most of our top picks have some kind of free bet or matched deposit to offer new players. But it’s not just about the welcome bonus, as many online sportsbooks offer ongoing bonuses for all their players.

Website and Mobile App:

The online betting experience is always a lot more enjoyable when it looks good. This category is all about aesthetics and usability, and there are bonus marks available for downloadable mobile apps, as these tend to work a lot better for in-play sports betting on football games.

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Why is Grosvenor the Best UK Site for Football In Play Betting?

You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who disagrees that Grosvenor is the best place to bet in play. And there are a few key reasons why.

Flawless mobile app: Grosvenor’s mobile app is super highly rated in the App Store, and we can see why. It looks beautiful, and it contains all the in-play betting functions we love from the desktop site.
Excellent in-play betting tools: Grosvenor offers satisfying in-play bets and cashouts. Plus, you can watch a lot of the matches on the site through a live stream or check out live graphics for them.
Expert live odds: As football matches go by at Grosvenor, the odds will be changing all the time. And they don’t sell you short here either. You’ll constantly get the most competitive odds, no matter how far through a match.
Bet on anything: You really can bet on pretty much anything you want at Grosvenor. Their range of sports betting markets is near perfect, with around 50,000+ daily football markets only.

Is In-Play Football Betting Better Than Pre-Match?

The introduction of in-play betting to the football betting community has made it a lot more enjoyable for many. Here are the key reasons why that is the case:

More immersive: The simple fact of the matter is that in-play betting gets you more involved in the action, and that makes things a lot more exciting.
Better chances to salvage bets: If you’re coming to the last leg of your accumulator and being offered a healthy cash-out value but are having second thoughts about the final fixture, it might be a good time to cash out and enjoy your profit.
Opportunistic bets: Imagine you see Man City 1-0 down to Fulham at halftime. How much would you fancy them to come back and win the game 2-1? This is another key time in-play football betting comes in handy, and you’ll get much better odds than pre-match betting.

Guide to In-Play Football Betting in the UK

What Is a Football Live Bet?

Every bet that you place after the football game kicks off is called a live bet. Betting on the game before it starts is called pre-match betting.

How Does Football In Play Betting Work?

Most UK betting sites will have a separate section for football in play betting, where the odds are constantly updated based on what is going on in the game. Then, you can bet on the football game live as the action unfolds. If you think Arsenal will be the next team to score, you can place a live bet on them.

How To Win In Play Football Betting?

First things first, you’ll need to choose a reputable bookmaker like Grosvenor if you’re looking to bet live on football.

Then, you can follow a few rules and strategies to potentially win more than you lose:

Follow player injuries
Don’t mix emotions into your live betting strategy
Thoroughly understand the markets you’re betting on
Follow team form and standings
Learn how to take advantage of early cash-out
Keep a betting record

Which In-Play Football Betting Markets Should I Try Out?

You don’t just have to bet on the winner of a particular football match. Why not try bets on the first goalscorer, the number of yellow cards in a match or even a handicap bet? Get creative with it.

Grosvenor and Mr Play Sport offer the most in play betting markets for football, so we suggest you get started at either one if you’re looking for variety.

What’s the Most Popular UK Football League for Live Betting?

If you’ve never bet live on a football game before and are looking for an exciting competition to get started with, the English Premier League is where a lot of the action happens. It’s the most popular club football league in the world.

Can I Bet In-Play on Different UK Sports Than Football?

Absolutely! All the best in-play betting sites will allow you to bet live on most sports across the world.

So whether it’s American football, cricket, golf or something else altogether, in-play betting markets should be available.

Why Should I Place an In Game Football Bet After Kick-Off?

Putting down an in-play bet after kick-off isn’t always the best option, but there are a few circumstances where it can come in really handy.

For example, if a match isn’t going in the way you expected, but you think it will come back around, you could get better odds than you would have done before kick-off.

Let’s Compare the Best In Play Football Betting Sites in the UK

Here’s a roundup of our top picks for live football betting in the UK:

Grosvenor: The double odds on your first bet of £10 is a pretty neat way to get started on what we think is the best in-play betting site in the UK right now. Note that full T&Cs apply.

Luckland: We love how strong the odds are for in-play betting at Luckland, and we also love the fact that you can grab a £10 free bet when you stake your first £15 as a new customer. Note that full T&Cs apply.

Sportsbet.io: This bookie features the most live streams compared to the competition, and even though there’s no welcome bonus to claim – the live football betting markets are quite strong, and you can get an acca boost when you bet on 5 or more legs. Note that full T&Cs apply.

Mr Play Sport: We’re huge fans of the endless lineup of live betting markets available at Mr Play Sport. Don’t miss out on the sports betting welcome bonus worth £10 in free bets when you put down £10. Note that full T&Cs apply.

How To Sign Up & Get Started With Football In Play Betting in the UK

Check out our guide on how to sign up for our top pick overall, Grosvenor, and start betting live on football games.

1. Find the “Join” Button

Click here to head to the Grosvenor sportsbook and hit the green “Join” button in the top-right of the screen. This will bring up the registration page for your new Grosvenor account.

2. Enter the Required Information

Grosvenor will ask you for your full name, date of birth, phone number and postal address. You’ll also need to create a username, password and a 4-digit PIN number to log in with.

Be sure to decide how to receive communication from them in the future as well. You can tick ‘I’d Rather Not’ if you’d prefer them to leave you alone.

You’ll also need to verify yourself by uploading your ID and proof of address dated within the past three months.

3. Deposit

Next, head to the cashier section and select the payment method you wish to use. Enter the amount you’d like to deposit and follow the instructions. It’s as simple as that.

Once you’ve done this, be sure to place a deposit and take advantage of the ‘Double-the-Odds’ welcome bonus.

Ready to Place Your First Football In Play Bet in the UK?

We are mighty impressed by Grosvenor. It’s been at the top of the UK online sports betting game for many years now, and its football in-play capabilities have helped to staple its position there.

But there are a few online betting sites that aren’t far off. Luckland is a very, very close second, and if Sportsbet.io were to have a welcome bonus, it really would have been neck and neck with Grosvenor.

So, take your pick and remember to bet responsibly!

DISCLAIMER: You probably don’t need us to tell you that any form of gambling comes with risks and should not be undertaken as a solution to solve your financial troubles. It’s worth remembering the phrase…the house always wins!

If you suffer from a gambling problem or suspect somebody you know does, then we strongly suggest that you call the National Gambling Helpline at 0808-8020-133 to talk with an advisor for help and to make gambling safer for you or your loved ones. Remember all gambling sites and guides are 18+ only.

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