Advancing technology means that legal online sportsbooks can get creative for their customers. This means that the number of betting options continues to grow. Previously, one of the only ways to place a bet was to be at a physical location and get the wagers in prior to the start of a game. That is no longer the case in a growing number of states, with Ohio on its way to being one of those.
Now, you can bet on games and events that are taking place in real time. This practice is known as live betting or in game betting. In this guide, we’re going to go over a subset of that — micro betting. Micro betting involves wagering on a specific moment in a game that is about to happen and will not last long.
What is micro betting?
Micro betting essentially combines live betting with prop betting. With live betting you can place wagers as a game is going on. Prop bets, meanwhile, rely on certain things happening that may not necessarily be directly related to the final outcome.
A micro bet provides instant action with a bet that you will win or lose quickly. Instead of waiting for the final score of an NFL game, you could bet on the outcome of the next drive. Or, for a wager on an MLB game, you could place a micro bet on how the next at-bat will play out.
Micro betting can involve quite a bit of luck since you’re betting on something so small. Those who put in the research, however, could find it to be an entertaining endeavor. Odds and numbers will change by the second, so bettors need to be quick in getting their wagers in.
Which Ohio sportsbooks offer micro betting?
Micro betting works well with an Ohio sports betting app, as you can pull out your phone while you’re watching a game and get the bet in quickly. Sportsbooks are in an extremely competitive industry right now as they battle for customers, which is great news for sports bettors. Not only can you claim a variety of promotions at various Ohio sportsbooks, but you’ll also have access to entertaining options like micro betting.
Many of the top books will be available in the state of Ohio, including DraftKings Ohio, FanDuel Ohio and BetMGM Ohio. Each will offer an app, so you can navigate through the betting options without much confusion. With as much competition as there is, if one sportsbook is offering a new type of micro bet, it’s highly likely the rest of them will get on board, as well.
Which sports have the best micro bets available?
Just about every major sport that is available for users to bet on will include micro betting. Many bettors like to wager on multiple sports based on the time of year, so it’s smart for sportsbooks to offer a variety of micro betting options.
You could find micro bets available for sports like baseball, basketball, football, hockey, soccer, golf, tennis and more depending on how big the particular game or event is. If there’s a way to micro bet on a sport and there’s enough interest from the public, sportsbooks will likely offer some sort of option.
Of the sports that consistently offer micro bets, something like baseball is probably the best in terms of the number of options. Baseball is a sport known for its statistics, so it lends itself perfectly to micro betting. Additionally, the action is not as constant as in a sport like basketball. Because of football’s popularity in the US, it will have plenty of micro betting options, as well.
What are the most popular micro bets?
Now that you have a good understanding of what a micro bet is, here are some examples that you could find on legal US sportsbooks:
MLB
As mentioned above, baseball is a popular sport for micro betting. Here are some of the top options:
- Inning moneyline or total: Rather than betting on the outcome of an entire game, you can wager on which team will score more runs in the upcoming inning or the total combined runs for the inning.
- Team to score in listed inning: Bettors can place an MLB wager on whether a team will score in an upcoming inning.
- Result of at-bat: Rather than betting on innings, you can wager on individual at-bats.
- Result of pitch: If you want extremely rapid action, you can bet on what will happen on the next pitch, but you’ll have to be quick to place your wager.
NFL
The NFL is the king when it comes to sports betting in the United States. Here are some popular micro betting options for NFL wagering:
- Next play result: What will happen on the next snap?
- Next drive result: This can be easier to handicap than the next play’s result thanks to statistics like points per drive.
- Field goal make/miss: Decide whether the kicker will make or miss an upcoming field goal, taking into account things like the weather and the kicker’s recent performance.
NBA
Micro betting can be difficult with the near-constant action of the NBA. Bettors need to be quick in getting their basketball wagers in while still being up to date on what is happening in the game. A potential example of an NBA micro bet would be whether the next free throw will be a make or a miss.
NHL
Like the NBA, the NHL is a free-flowing game, but the obvious difference is significantly fewer points in hockey. This can make it easier to place micro NHL bets without a need to be as up-to-the-second as you are in the NBA. A popular NHL micro bet is which team will score the next goal.
Golf
Golf is popular for micro betting thanks to how it plays. You could be watching a golf tournament and have plenty of time to bet between holes or even swings. If you want a micro betting option that is less fast-paced, golf betting could be a good pick.
Soccer
With how many soccer games will take place in leagues across the globe, you will find no shortage of soccer micro betting on your preferred sportsbook apps. Here’s a look at a few potential options:
- Next goal (three-way moneyline): Bet on which team will score the next goal, with neither being the third option.
- Next goal (two-way moneyline): Same as above, except betting on neither team is no longer an option. If neither team scores, bettors would get their money back.
- Total corners — listed time: Place a soccer wager on the total number of corner kicks in a given period of time.
Is micro betting the same as live betting?
Micro betting is a form of live betting because you bet while the game is taking place. While micro bets are live bets, however, not all live bets are micro bets.
A micro bet has to be a wager on something that will happen fairly quickly, as in the above examples. A traditional live bet may take longer for the outcome to occur — for instance, betting on the point spread in the second quarter of an NBA game.
Where to find micro bets
Micro bets will be fairly easy to identify once you have a good feel for the sportsbook app or apps that you use. The apps aim to make the betting experience as easy as possible because they want to attract wagers. DraftKings is one of the most popular options in the United States, so let’s go through where you can find the micro bets.
First, you would need to download the DraftKings Ohio app to your phone. Then, look toward the bottom of the screen where there is a button that says “In-Game.” If you tap that, it will take you to a section with games that are live at that time. From there, you can click the sport you’d like to place a micro bet on and tap the individual game to see options.
Once you tap the game you’re interested in, select “Live Props” from the top menu. There, you will see the list of micro bets you can make. When you find the right one, make your pick and type in how much you’d like to wager. You will notice it is important to get these wagers in quickly because the odds will change rapidly.
How to download a micro betting app in Ohio
Once you’ve created an account at an online sportsbook, you can download the app to your phone or use a web browser on the sportsbook’s website. You will need to provide some personal details to create your account, including your name, address, etc. Once you agree to the terms and conditions and receive a confirmation email, you may select your preferred payment method and add some cash to your account so you can start betting.
Which sportsbook(s) you use is up to your preference. However, there are benefits to having accounts at more than one online book. Odds will tend to be similar, but they also may differ from book to book. By registering for multiple accounts, you can shop around for the best odds for any bets you want to place. Additionally, some sportsbooks may have more or different micro betting options than others.
Micro sports betting drawbacks
The same basic principles apply to micro bets that would apply to any other wagers. If you’re new to sports betting, it’s important to understand how difficult it is to make a profit no matter how you’re betting. Sportsbooks will tilt things in their favor in a variety of ways.
Before diving into micro betting, do your homework, set limits for yourself, and identify the types of bets you want to make. If you think there is no value in trying to guess whether the next pitch will be a ball or a strike, stay away from those bets and go with something like how an at-bat will end or whatever else you determine could be worth risking money on.
Micro bets can be dangerous for some because of their rapid nature. If you bet on something that can be determined in less than a minute, you could be tempted to chase your losses by placing additional wagers over and over again. Before you know it, you’ve lost most or all of your bankroll. Setting limits and sticking to them is important for all wagers, but particularly for micro betting.
Ohio responsible gambling resources
Ohio Casino Control Commission
- The state’s overseeing entity offers valuable resources to foster responsible gambling.
This includes information about the Ohio Voluntary Exclusion Program.
Access to mental health resources is provided.
The commission offers a self-assessment questionnaire to help individuals identify potential gambling issues.
Information about treatment facilities in Ohio for problem gambling is available.
They provide contacts for both state and national gambling helplines.
Problem Gambling Network of Ohio (PGNO)
- An affiliate of the National Council on Problem Gambling, this nonprofit organization endorses responsible gambling.
PGNO offers treatment services for individuals grappling with gambling problems.
The organization regularly hosts educational webinars and professional development seminars for practitioners in the field of problem gambling treatment.