Live Betting Sites in New Zealand

The online betting industry is evolving rapidly. Top bookmakers are always trying to introduce new features to make their offerings stand out from the crowd. Live betting is a similar addition that has transformed the betting experience for punters worldwide over the past decade. 

 Read on, and you will get all the answers you’re looking for about live sports betting in New Zealand after reading this article.

Live betting adds a touch of dynamism to traditional sports bets. Back in the old days, bets needed to be placed before the start of an event. We all know that last minute scramble to get a wager in before kick off. 

But now, some bookmakers keep the betting window open even when the event begins. You can place bets as the event gets underway - bookmakers simply adjust the odds based on how the game develops. 

Let’s say you are betting on a live cricket match between New Zealand and Australia. Australia has to chase 331 runs in 50 overs, but lost both of their openers in the first over. In that case, betting on an Australia win would be quite risky, so the odds will be much longer than they were just five minutes earlier. 

Then imagine the Aussies gained momentum and a middle order partnership put 200 runs on the board. After 38 overs, the score read 250 runs for three. That means, Australia need only 72 runs to win off 72 balls. 

If someone places a bet on an Australia win at this stage, as opposed to after the first over, the bet will be the same (Australia to win), but the odds will be drastically different. This is the heart of live betting: it’s all about timing, and risk.

As you can imagine, there are plenty of other nuances involved that make live betting quite different from usual sports betting practices. We will explore these in greater detail later on. 

Because of its thrill, convenience and potential for a big payout, New Zealanders live bet on all mainstream sporting events. Cricket, rugby, horse racing, and football are the most popular picks, I would say.  Rugby and football are my go-to options for sports live betting.

Here are the sites I believe are the best live sports betting sites in New Zealand: 

• 20Bet
• 22Bet
• Bet365
• PowerPlay
• Betway

Let’s have a closer look at these online live betting sites one by one: 

Besides their rich live betting offerings, I would also recommend the above mentioned sites for their convenient payment methods. I see countless complaints on online gambling forums about payment issues with live betting websites, so it’s one of my top priorities while choosing a reliable bookmaker. 

Here are the most convenient payment methods for Kiwi punters: 

• Credit and Debit Cards: Most live gambling sites accept payments from and pays out VISA and MasterCard cards. American Express and other cards are less common, but you can expect them to work in most cases as well. 
  
• POLi: POLi has become one of the most popular media of online transactions in Australia and New Zealand because it is fast and secure. Unfortunately, not a lot of international bookmakers offer POLi payments.
  
• Skrill: Skrill is widely supported across most of the best live betting sites in the world. It’s commonly used in New Zealand as well. I often use it to deposit money in online casinos and sportsbooks. 
  
• Neteller: Neteller is another ewallet like Skrill that New Zealanders commonly use. Most live betting sites and online casinos accept it as a banking option as well. 
  
• Wire Transfer: Wire transfer is the most conventional withdrawal system available in mainstream betting sites. I am not a big fan of this because it takes too much time and higher withdrawal fees are involved.

I also listed these bookmakers because they offer special promos for live betting. These involve special odds, early payouts, and many more. Bet365 and Betway are the standout options, in my opinion, when it comes to live betting specials, but 20Bet, 22Bet, and PowerPlay also offer a decent range of options. 

I think you have already gotten the gist of it, but let’s go over the basics of live betting once again. The idea here is to use your knowledge of the sport to study the game and make predictions that can pay off handsomely. 

In a football match, for example, you can expect which team will score the next goal when you watch the game. Let’s say, Arsenal and Manchester United are playing. Arsenal had pre-match odds of 2.40 to win the game, and odds for a United victory was set at 3.30. Bookies priced a draw at 3.00.

Now, let’s say the match is at 0-0 after 65 minutes. United coach Ruben Amorim takes off Tyrell Malacia and brings on Amad Diallo. You see this as an opportunity for Arsenal to score. Why? Diallo is more attacking-minded than Malacia, and he has been brought in to move further up the flanks. 

This will create an opportunity for Arsenal right-winger and their best attacking threat Bukayo Saka to run into the space left behind Diallo. 

At that time, the odds for an Arsenal win were set at 4.00, a draw at 2.80, and a United win at 4.40. You read the game state and took a decision before the football in play betting odds shift. As per your prediction, Arsenal will score next and win the game. 

So, you can place a bet on Arsenal winning the match at higher odds. When Arsenal do start to attack with more intensity, the odds will readjust and the odds for an Arsenal win will shorten. If Arsenal win the match, you will get a heftier payout than other punters because you placed the bet before the odds got slashed. 

Here’s why in play betting is more alluring to punters:

• You can make a more informed decision after the match begins. 
• There’s room for more strategic betting. Since you are watching the game live, you will spot unique betting opportunities opening up, like Xavier Savage scoring a try, Kane Williamson hitting five sixes in a match, or Chris Wood getting a red card. 
• Best in play betting sites sometimes offer early payout options. If you are convinced that a bet you had placed early in the game might not pay off in the end, you can minimise your loss by requesting an early payout. You will be paid at lower odds than those you initially bet on, but you can still get your stake back plus some extra. 

Live Betting Markets

Live betting sites spread their live wagering offerings across several markets. I have mostly talked about match results up until now, but there are a lot more options. Let’s discuss the most popular live betting markets: 

• Moneyline Bets/Match Results: Predict the final outcome of the match as the match progresses. The odds for the most probable result will get shorter as the match advances. 
  
• Total Goals/Points/Runs: The total amount of goals, points, or runs scored in an entire match. Sometimes, bookmakers offer these bets within specific phases of the game, such as total goals scored in the first half of a football match or the total runs scored in the second innings of a cricket match. 
  
• Handicap Betting: Bookies can also offer handicap live betting odds. For instance, when a team is two goals up with 30 minutes to go, there could be odds for the team to cover a -1.5 goal spread. 
  
• Specials: These are live bets focused on specific events that can happen before the events. For example, live horse racing betting sites can offer odds for a red colored horse winning the race halfway through the race, or rugby betting sites can offer odds for a certain player going to the sin bin after the match begins. 

Odds Fluctuation 

Bookmakers reassign the live odds throughout the match in relation to align with the unfolding events of the match. Let’s go back to our Arsenal vs. Manchester United example to explain how this mechanism works. 

If Arsenal score, the odds for Arsenal winning the match, and a draw will get shorter. On the contrary, the odds will move in the opposite direction for a United win. If United equalises, the odds for Arsenal winning will lengthen, and the likelihood for a draw will get stronger. 

So, odds for a draw will drop. Manchester United will not become the overwhelming favourites to win the match after restoring parity, but their odds of winning the match will shorten. 

The bottomline is, live gambling sites will keep on assessing the situation and reassign the odds in response to real-time game developments.

Live Streaming Options

A betting live stream is a premium feature that only a handful of bookmakers offer. Bet365 and Betway have the best live streaming coverage. These betting apps let you watch the game and bet at the same time. It’s a great feature to have, especially for people like me who don't want to miss out on betting while travelling. 

A word of warning, however: don’t expect excellent quality on these live streams. The video quality is usually quite low, so it’s not a replacement for your regular streaming plans by any means. Live streams on betting sites are more of a convenient backup than a primary viewing option.

I have talked about my personal preferences before, but which games do New Zealanders love the most for live betting?

Rugby 

Rugby union is the national sport in New Zealand, and the Kiwis also have considerable love for rugby league. 

• Popular Live Betting Markets: Match Winner, Handicap Betting, Total Points, First Try Scorer, etc.
• Live Rugby Betting Strategies: As I said earlier, you need to examine the tempo of the game and see when it shifts towards a certain team. A sin bin, substitution, injury, or a sudden try score can change the momentum. You can also analyse the first half performance, to place a bet on the second half or final result. 

Cricket 

New Zealanders also watch a lot of cricket. T20s have become the most popular lately, but they also follow ODIs and Tests. Although most New Zealand punters bet on international cricket, the sports betting community of the country also pays close attention to the Indian Premier League and the Big Bash.

• Popular Live Betting Markets: Match Winner, Top Wicket Taker, Top Run Scorer, Total Runs Scored, X Player to Score 100, etc.
• Live Cricket Betting Strategies: Live cricket betting sites offer a diverse selection of live betting markets to punters. Cricket is a game largely influenced by pitch conditions and weather. So, examine how the ball is moving and deduce whether this is going to be a run-fest or a tight affair. 

Football

Football is the most global sport of them all. It’s no different in New Zealand, so punters often choose football matches for live betting. Many bookmakers also offer special betting sites bonuses for live football betting. 

• Popular Live Betting Markets: The Team to Score Next, The Player to Score Next, Match Winner, Total Goals Scored, etc. 
• Live Football Betting Strategies: Look out for in-game tactical changes. Sometimes a manager can make changes to make his team more attacking or defensive. On top of that, keep an eye on key developments, like goals, bookings, and injuries, that can impact the outcome of the match. 

Horse Racing 

Horse racing is a legacy sport in New Zealand, and it’s even more popular among the local punters. 

• Popular Live Betting Markets: X Horse to Win, X Horse to Finish Xth, XYZ to Finish First, Second, Third, etc. 
  
• Horse Racing Betting Strategies: To maximise your winnings at live horse racing betting sites, I highly recommend studying track conditions. Plus, you also need to closely monitor how the horses perform after coming out of the gate. The window is a bit narrower here, so you must act quickly. 

Basketball 

Basketball is a sport that has seen enormous growth in New Zealand in recent years. The young generation loves it. While I am not such a fan of live basketball betting myself, live sports betting trends in New Zealand show that it has become one of the most popular sports to bet on. 

• Popular Live Betting Markets: Who Will Win the Quarter, Live Parlay, Team to Score Next X Points, Match Result, etc. 
  
• Basketball Betting Strategies: Look for momentum changes. Analyse the game during timeouts and make your decision. Back a team to go on a scoring run after a defensive stop or a key turnover. 

Mobile phone betting has played an instrumental role in making sports betting more popular in recent times. The same can be said for the online betting scene in New Zealand. In 2023, 40% of the overall gambling revenue in the country came from online betting. The convenience of mobile betting was crucial in this growth. 

Betting apps can give us regular updates when we are commuting or away from our computers. What are the latest odds? What markets are available? Just take your phone out of the pocket and find out. These apps are quite lightweight, so they don’t compromise the performance of your device. 

You can also turn on notifications in these apps to remind you of upcoming events and deadlines. So, live betting sites have managed to create more user engagement via their mobile apps. 

Mobile betting apps are an indispensable part of the live betting experience. These are best live betting apps in New Zealand: 

Bet365

I love the Bet365 app. It’s the most professionally designed betting app I have ever used. As soon as you enter the app, a beautiful, bottle green and black home page greets you. The live events are prominently featured on the home page and it also live streams multiple major events from around the world. 

Betway

The Betway mobile app is not as sleek and efficient as the Bet365 one, but it does more than a decent job. You can easily spot the live events and markets. Punters can also live stream their favourite events on the app. 

20Bet

The 20Bet app doesn’t offer live streaming, but that’s the only drawback I can think of. You can access the app in an instant. It’s quite responsive and easy to navigate. The live odds are highlighted when they become available.

I have already given you a few suggestions, but what features should you look for to find a good live betting site by yourself? These are the must-haves, in my opinion: 

• The first thing that comes to my mind is coverage. The site must provide live odds and markets across a huge selection of events. 
• The site can’t have any mobile accessibility issues. Flexibility and convenience are the main selling points of live betting. It's much easier to watch the game and bet on your phone, rather than sitting in front of your computer, right? It also gives you the freedom to bet anywhere, anytime. 
• Live betting sites should also have clutterless designs. Every second matters when you are betting live. The live odds and markets should be easily available. In case of major events like the Premier League or the NRL, I want the live odds to pop up on the home page. 
• Also, the odds must update regularly. I wouldn’t say too fast, but if the odds don’t accurately reflect the changing dynamics of the game, then live betting is meaningless. 

Here are some simple live betting “no-no”s I want to share with my fellow punters: 

• Never pick sports you don’t have proper knowledge of. Live betting largely relies on reading the game. Without game knowledge, there is no strategy, and without strategy, you are almost guaranteed to lose money. 
• Justify your picks. Don’t act on impulse.  Always back your decision with proper rationale. 
• Know when you should go for the early cashout option. Sometimes it seems inevitable that your pick won’t pay off. Abandon the ship when you know for sure that it’s sinking.
• Don’t let past records cloud your judgement. Real Madrid has a strong record of comebacks in European fixtures, but that doesn’t mean you should back them for avoiding defeat when they are two goals with only five minutes left on the clock. Yes, it might still happen, but it’s too much of a longshot to risk your money on. 

Betting sites bonuses can make your live bets even more lucrative. Bookies often offer several promotions to boost our bankroll. Here are the most common types of bonuses available:

Welcome Bonuses 

All bookmakers have welcome bonus packages for new users, and some of them might have special credits for live odds. Players might get special rewards for placing their first live bet on the platform. 

Cashback Offers 

Live betting is not a risky endeavour, but some bookies can insure your bets with cashback offers. Under cashback offers, you will get a certain portion of your losses back. 

Ongoing Promotions 

Bookmakers often encourage their users to place more live bets with several ongoing promotions. These may include enhanced odds, free credit, early cashout opportunities, and many more.

I would recommend checking out Bet365, Betway, and 20Bet regularly to get the best live betting deals. These bookies regularly host weekly and monthly promotional campaigns, including live betting specials. 

Sports betting isn't just about luck; there's a significant element of strategy involved, and this is even more true for live betting. I love the dynamic nature of it and feel more confident in my bets, as I can make them by analysing what's actually happening in the game.

A growing number of Kiwi punters share the same view, as live betting sites become increasingly popular in New Zealand. Local punters have recognised the immense potential of live betting.

They are using their knowledge of the sports they passionately follow to minimise risk and make informed bets with higher payout potential. With a greater degree of strategy involved, sports bettors in New Zealand have recognised the true potential of live betting in recent years. 

Use the sites I’ve recommended in this article, and you’ll be well on your way to having some fun - and maybe making some coin - with live betting as well.