All You Need to Know About Micro Betting – A Guide

While none of the best online sportsbooks in the US have been created equal, they often cover a similar range of sports and betting markets. For example, most US sportsbooks now offer so-called “micro betting” markets, which have been popularized by major brands like DraftKings and remain synonymous with NFL and NBA wagering.

Micro betting is also a subset of in-play betting, which enables you to wager on individual matches as they unfold. It also unlocks a potentially huge range of betting lines, which are subject to highly volatile and fluctuating odds. But what exactly do we mean by micro betting, and how can you leverage this fast-growing market to your advantage?

• What is Micro Sports Betting?
• How Does Micro Gambling Work?
• How Does Micro Betting Work in Different Sports?
• What are the Advantages of Micro Betting?
• Creating a Viable Micro Betting Strategy?

What is Micro Sports Betting?

Back in 2022, leading US sportsbook DraftKings entered into a lucrative, multi-year deal with Simplebet. The goal here was to deliver burgeoning micro betting markets to DraftKings customers on a mass scale, particularly across sports such as basketball, baseball, American football and soccer.

As a result, you can access an average of 2,320 NFL micro betting markets alone at DraftKings. The majority of these bets are focused on individual play outcomes, such as the number of yards thrown or passes completed during a regular season game. More established micro bets of this type include the identity of the player who will score the next touchdown or field goal, with this introducing a fascinating dimension to traditional player prop betting.

Before this deal, micro betting was a relatively niche vertical, and one that enabled bettors to wager on in game-events that weren’t directly correlated to the final result. As a result, it provided a unique and potentially lucrative alternative to win market betting, with the term ‘micro’ referring to potential small and single moments in matches that are likely to reoccur time and time again.

While the fundamental nature of micro betting remains unchanged since DraftKings’ multi-year deal with Simplebet, this market has seen significant growth in popularity and accessibility. This growth has also been empowered by advancements in technology, which have enabled sportsbooks to process larger swathes of performance data in real-time and publish constantly fluctuating odds.

How Does Micro Gambling Work?

In order to flesh out the answer to the question “what is micro betting?”, it’s important to provide context through concise examples. For example, you may be inclined to target a Major League Baseball (MLB) game when engaging in micro sports betting, as this type of event will unlock multiple pitches, hits and strikes that occur in-game.

Let’s say that Dodgers’ star Mookie Betts was stepping up to the plate against the San Francisco Giants. This MVP is one of the sport’s hottest and most consistent hitters, while he’s leading the Majors in 2024 with five home runs, 15 hits, 11 RBIs, 14 runs and a 1.167 slugging percentage. So, you may be tempted to place a micro bet on Betts striking the next hit in the game, at potentially short odds that imply a high probability of success.

Conversely, let’s say that Spencer Strider of the Atlanta Braves is delivering the next pitch in a match. Strider has been one of the best performing pitchers in the 2024 Majors, after leading the way for strikeouts (281) last year. In this case, you may want to bet on the outcome of the next pitch and predict a strikeout, once again at relatively short and favourable odds.

In either instance, you’ll have to place your micro bet quickly and pay close attention to the constantly fluctuating odds. It’s therefore highly recommended that you watch or stream the action in real-time when engaging in micro gambling, as this will help you to make informed picks and wager at the optimal times. We’ll touch more on this later in the guide.

How Does Micro Betting Work in Different Sports?

The application of micro sports betting and the types of wager available varies from one discipline to the next. Remember, this market is also more suited to specific leagues, including the NFL, NBA and MLB. So, let’s a closer look at how micro betting works in relation to these competitions and the sports that underpin them.

• The MLB: We’ve already discussed micro betting in the MLB, particularly fast-paced wager like the outcome of the next hit or pitch. However, this statistic-rich sport delivers a number of alternative micro markets too, including selecting one team to score more during the first innings or betting the over/under regarding the total number of goals scored. You can also make multiple bets pertaining to the result of the next pitch or pick the next batsman to hit a run.
• The NBA: Basketball matches are particularly fast-paced, creating a slightly smaller range of potential micro bets when engaging in this type of live wagering. However, you can still access various micro betting markets when watching individual matches, such as picking the next player to sink a two or three-pointer on-court. Interestingly, the three-point micro bet is more lucrative due to significance and scarcity of this type of event, while you’ll have more opportunity to execute this in-game wager.
• The NFL: When it comes to micro gambling in the NFL, you’ll be able to access the biggest and most diverse range of micro bets. The most popular examples include betting on the type and outcome of the next play, the next drive result and whether or not a player will make or miss a field goal. Just note that next play betting offers a number of potential variables, as teams can score, turn over the ball or punt the ball during the subsequent drive. Wagering on the outcome of the next field goal attempt also affords you limited time to make your selection.
• Soccer Betting: Given the range of soccer tournament available globally and the pace of the game, it’s also ideally suited to the demands of micro wagering. Popular soccer-based micro bets include the identify or time of the next goalscorer, as well as picking the number of shots or corner kicks that will be recorded within a fixed timeframe. There are plenty of soccer team and player props included in the micro betting vertical, some of which offer particular value if you have extensive knowledge of the competing teams and players.

What are the Advantages of Micro Betting?

In order to make a compelling case for micro betting for beginners, it’s also important to understand the advantages of this type of wagering. There are several that stand out, depending on your wider betting strategy and how frequently you choose to wager your hard-earned cash!

• It Unlocks Optimal Flexibility: Perhaps the main benefit of micro betting is the incredible level of flexibility that it offers. It certainly unlocks a broader range of live betting markets during specific games, outside of traditional money lines, points or goal spreads and various over/under lines. So, you’ll have a far greater range of options when choosing how to bet, which is ideal for knowledgeable bettors who have a comprehensive understanding of certain sports.
• All Micro Wagers are Settled Quickly: As micro bets are focused on the various events that can occur during a particular game, they tend to be settled quickly and shortly after they’re placed. For example, if you back the over/under on the number of corners that will be won in a soccer match during the next 10 minutes, your wager will be settled one way or another just as soon as this timeframe has elapsed. This can deliver continual boosts to your bankroll when you wager successfully.
• Reduced Risk Over Time: Most informed micro betting strategies require you distribute your fixed bankroll across a much larger selection of wagers. This reduces your exposure to risk, by minimizing the amounts that you lose per individual wager. Arguably, this can make bankroll management far easier and better safeguard your interests as a casual gambler. This also enables you to create an optimal betting experience that’s safe, entertaining and rewarding.

Creating a Viable Micro Betting Strategy?

Now that you understand the advantages of micro betting and the types of wager available, you can start to formulate an effective gambling strategy. This can include various elements, betting systems and methodologies, each of which determine how you select outcomes and set individual bet units. Here are some tips to help build your micro wagering strategy!

• Understand the Importance of Bankroll Management: As with any type of betting, you should never wager more than you can comfortably afford to lose when engaging in micro wagering. However, managing your bankroll can prove challenging when placing micro wagers, due to the sheer number of markets and opportunities available. We’d recommend that you commit a fixed percentage of your wider bankroll towards micro betting, while targeting specific lines that offer optimal value.
• Use Modest Unit Bets for Micro Wagering: Another way of successful managing your micro betting bankroll is to set a modest and nominal unit bet. This ensures that your bankroll can be stretched as far as possible, while it also helps you to further minimize your risk of loss (which is prevalent across all markets and wager types). Although you can start to increase your unit bets depending on implied probability values and experience, opting for caution is highly recommended here.
• Prioritize Low-Risk Micro Bets: On a similar note, it’s much better to prioritize short priced micro wagers that have a high implied probability of winning. While this requires you to comprise in terms of the potential returns on offer, it reflects the volume of micro wagers that can be placed while helping you to further minimize the risk of loss. For example, MLB bettors may identify low-risk wagers on the outcome of the next pitch, based on a pitcher’s ERA or the hitting average of the next batsman up to the plate. This can unlock more likely winners and trigger incremental gains over time.
• Bet on the Action as You Watch it: We’ve already touched on this, but it’s highly recommended that you only place micro wagers on matches and events that you’re watching live. Ideally, you’ll stream the action from the betting site where you intend to wager, as this streamlines the process of selecting markets and executing in-play wagers. By also targeting games that feature the teams and plays you’re most familiar with, you can make even more informed picks and maximize your potential returns.
• Keep Records of Your Micro Bets and Their Outcomes: While this is recommended for all types of wagering, it’s particularly effective (albeit challenging) in the case of micro betting. This enables you to track outcomes across a huge selection of micro wagers, as you look to calculate your average returns and whether you’re winning or losing overall. If you find that you’re losing a disproportionate number of bets, you can also evaluate the data to see what can be done differently going forward. Key datasets to capture include the type of wager placed, the sport, the odds, your stake amount and the profit/loss recorded.

The Bottom Line

So, there you have it: our comprehensive guide to micro betting and why it’s so appealing in 2024. Certainly, the flexibility and quick settlements associated with micro wagering provide a stark contrast to traditional betting markets, while they also enable you to minimize your exposure to risk in real-time.

Of course, you’ll need to make a personal decision about whether micro gaming is right for you. However, there’s no doubting that micro bets offer access to a significant range of additional lines and markets, which are capable of enriching your online betting experience across different leagues and sports.