Micro bets are similar to traditional props, but they are settled much more quickly. These markets are only present in live betting. In traditional live bets, wagers are placed in real time while the game is already underway.
Prop bets involve staking on specific events that are not directly related to the game’s outcome, and these are usually settled at the end of a quarter, a half, or the game. With micro bets, you don’t have to wait until the end to know if your bets have won or lost.
Typical examples in baseball include wagering on batting results, individual pitches, or specific innings. For example, “Will the next pitch be a ball or a strike”? “How fast will the next pitch be?” “Will the next at-bat be a single, double, home run, or perhaps a walk or out?”
Note that micro bets often depend on luck since the action is fast-paced.
How to Read Micro Bets Odds
Knowing the implied probabilities and potential payouts behind micro bet odds can really help you make smarter choices. The micro bet odds are displayed in American, Decimal, or Fractional format, depending on the sportsbook and your preference.
You can see micro bet odds in an NBA game as follows: Will the next play be a run or a pass?
| Play |
American (Moneyline) |
Decimal |
Fractional |
Implied probabilities |
|
Run
|
-129
|
1.78
|
100/129
|
56.33%
|
|
Pass
|
120
|
2.2
|
6/5
|
45.45%
|
The odds show that the “Run” has a slightly higher chance of occurring, and a $100 bet on it will yield a profit of $78. On the other hand, the “Pass” has a slightly lower chance, and a $100 wager will bring in a profit of $120.
Like other markets, bookies will offer varying odds on micro betting, with some being more competitive than others. Comparing odds from different bookmakers to find the best odds is crucial for maximizing your potential winnings.
What Sports Can You Use Micro Betting?
The advent of live sports betting in recent years opened doors to many new markets at online sportsbooks. Micro betting offers a much wider range of options to punters. These are available in all major sports, including:
- Football
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Soccer
- Hockey
- Golf
- Tennis
One interesting thing to note is that as long as a sporting event has sufficient popularity, sportsbooks will likely offer some micro betting options.
Now, let’s look at the major sports where you will find these markets.
Soccer
With so many soccer leagues globally, there are plenty of micro betting opportunities for sports punters. These are available in the popular English Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, and many others.
Some of the most popular micro bets that soccer fans can engage in include:
- Next goal: Involves choosing a team to score next or that a team would not score before the end of half-time.
- Corners: Involves betting on whether or not a corner kick will occur during different time frames.
You can also place wagers on penalty possibilities, individual player performances, and other prop bets.
Experienced punters keep track of team statistics, player form, previous head-to-head encounters, and other essential data to succeed.
Golf
Golf is another sport that is popular and practical for micro bets. One of the significant reasons is how the game plays out. Unlike most other sports, golf is not a fast-paced game, and there is usually quite a bit of time between every shot made on the course. It leaves plenty of time for users to place micro bets between holes or swings.
Punters find micro bets on golf events, such as the PGA Tour, covering various scenarios throughout the game. For instance, you will find micro bets on outcomes like a “Hole Winner” between two partners and a three-way money line for the winner of a specific hole, which includes both players and tie options. You can also find bets like who will make the longest drive, the number of putts required, and the performance of specific players on particular holes.
Experienced micro bettors typically pay attention to golf player rankings, course conditions, historical performance, and other key factors to stay ahead of the game.
NBA
Basketball is another great sport that offers micro betting opportunities. However, one important thing to note is that, due to the fast-paced nature of basketball games, it can be more challenging compared to other sports. So, you will often find fewer micro bets here than in different sports.
For instance, punters will find micro betting lines on the “Next Field Goal” with options like a two-pointer or a three-pointer, and the “Next Free Throw” with options like a make or a miss. Some sites might offer markets on “Player Next Basket,” which involves betting on a specific player’s next basket, and “Next Scorer,” on who will score the next point.
Staying informed about player and team statistics, injury reports, and recent form can help you improve your NBA micro betting strategy.
NFL
The National Football League (NFL) is undoubtedly the undisputed king of sports betting in the United States. Introducing micro bets in football, especially in the NFL, has contributed significantly to the popularity of America’s most beloved sport.
Some of the popular NFL betting opportunities that punters can engage in include:
- Result of play: e.g., will the next play be a run or a pass?
- Result of drive: e.g., will the next drive be a touchdown, field goal, punt, or turnover?
- Field goal outcome: e.g., will the kicker make or miss the next field goal? Experienced NFL micro bettors stay updated with the analysis of teams, offensive and defensive statistics, weather conditions, and other factors that can help them gain an advantage.
NHL
Hockey is another fast-paced, free-flowing game that keeps fans excited with many different micro bet markets. The National Hockey League is at the forefront as it has the attention of millions.
Most micro odds betting providers offer options centered around shots, hits, goals, saves, and other similar events. You will also find markets on whether a goal will be scored within a particular time frame, such as within the next 10 minutes.
As with the other sports we have mentioned, keeping track of essential statistics, such as player injuries, team performance, goaltender strength, and other relevant information, is necessary for successful NHL micro betting.
MLB
Plenty of wagering options are usually available during a Major League Baseball (MLB) game. Many regard it as the best sport for micro betting due to individual plays in a typical baseball game.
In an MLB game, punters can place micro sports bets on:
- Result of a pitch: e.g., what will the next pitch be? – A ball, strike, or in play?
- Result of at-bat: e.g., what will the next at-bat be – a single, double, triple, home run, walk, or out?
- Team to score in a listed inning: e.g., which team will score in the next inning?
- Inning moneyline or total: e.g., which team will score more runs in the next inning?
Micro bets in MLB offer fans an exciting way to immerse themselves in the game with the potential of walking away with some winnings. To get an edge in MLB, you need to pay attention to pitcher statistics, batting averages, and weather conditions of the game you are interested in placing wagers on.
Handicapping Your Micro Bets
Micro betting largely depends on luck, as bets are made in real time. This does not mean that punters cannot be successful. You can try finding micro markets with handicap betting that balance out the odds within a competition between a high-performing team and an underdog.
However, finding such markets can be challenging, as they exist only for a brief period.
Where to Find Micro Bets
Before you can wager on micro betting markets online, you must find a reliable sportsbook.
With the massive demand for micro betting opportunities, many platforms have jumped on board to offer this unique experience to punters. DraftKings is one of the major micro betting operators available online. You can find markets within the site’s “Live Props” section.
Some of the other popular platforms for micro bets include:
Each of these sportsbooks offers a decent range of micro betting opportunities, with many providing a mobile app for added flexibility. They have an extensive collection of sports, with some even featuring micro betting markets on CS:GO and other Esports.
Micro Sports Betting Benefits & Drawbacks
Not long after bookmakers began offering it, micro betting became a favorite among many gamblers, especially those who prefer live wagering. However, like other markets, micro betting has benefits and drawbacks. Let’s take a look at some of them.
| PROS |
CONS |
- Provides better engagement and entertainment
- Quick bet outcomes and instant results
- Has the potential for frequent wins due to the several markets available
- Creates opportunities for strategic betting that capitalizes on in-depth knowledge of the sport
|
- High potential for losses due to the higher frequency of bets
- Limited time to analyze and make decisions
- Latency or time lag of streaming can be disadvantageous with a poor network connection
- Micro betting poses a high risk for problem gamblers
|
Is Micro Betting Worth It?
Micro betting offers an interactive way to engage with sports betting, especially for those seeking instant results. It is available for various sports, including football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, and more.
With the right approach and strategic mindset, micro betting can be worthwhile. While there are some drawbacks, the benefits outweigh them.
