Station Casinos recently revamped their STN Sports betting app, most notably introducing in-play betting. This feature allows bets to be placed during live games. While most sports book operators provide full, partial, and in-game betting options, only a few offer in-play betting while the game is ongoing.
In-game vs in-play wagering
There’s a nuanced distinction between in-game and in-play betting. In-game betting involves odds for a game changing during pauses such as timeouts and commercial breaks. On the other hand, in-play betting is continuously available throughout the event and gets updated after nearly every play in a game.
In-play betting is well-liked in Europe and is now starting to gain traction in the United States. The sports betting company, William Hill, initiated operations in the US in 2012, playing a significant role in introducing a new epoch of sports wagering. Presently, in-play betting makes up around 25 percent of all bets placed at William Hill’s sports books.
Station Casinos aims to elevate in-play wagering with their latest update to the STN Sports app, an improvement that is commendable both visually and functionally.
The software provided by Miomni and Stadium Technology Group presents more alternatives compared to other sportsbook operators. Unique to this app is the live scoring feature, not offered by others, enabling you to monitor score updates just by watching the app, even if you’re not viewing or listening to the game. Additionally, every wagering option in the menu updates after each play.
In-play wagering with STN Sports
Upon opening STN Sports, you are now presented with the main menu from which you can make a selection:
- Regular sports betting
- An improved horse racing section
- Parlay cards
- In-play wagers
The In-Play section contains a notification that informs you of the number of games available at any given moment. By clicking on the In-Play icon, you can see the games that are currently available and those that will become available once they start.
Most sports that you can already bet on, offer in-play opportunities, including:
- Basketball (college and pro)
- Football (college and pro)
- Hockey (pro)
- Soccer
- Tennis
Each sport’s primary In-Play page displays live scores, ideal for those who prefer to watch and bet on close games or blowouts. This is a unique feature not available on other apps.
The real-time score is updated on the individual In-Play game screen (as shown below). The range of betting opportunities varies depending on the sport, matchup, and the time you view the game or match. However, not all games played in a day are available for in-play betting. Therefore, the notification on the main screen In-Play icon is quite handy.
Each game comes with varying in-play wagering opportunities. For instance, a mid-week hockey game featuring the New York Rangers and the Chicago Blackhawks had 42 different in-play wagering options. On the other hand, the football game between Western Michigan and Northern Illinois happening concurrently only provided 16 in-play betting opportunities.
Types of in-play wagers at STN Sports
All in-play betting options are tied to the game in progress and do not involve player propositions. Some potential in-play betting opportunities could include:
- Complete game point spread and moneyline
- Point spread and moneyline for half game
- Total points scored in the entire game
- Total points scored in half game
- Quarter or period totals
- Bets on three outcomes (victory, defeat, tie)
- Margin of victory
- Team that scores X points first
- Team to score first
- What type of scoring event will occur next, such as a touchdown, field goal, or safety in football?
The latest In-Play wagering feature appears to revolutionize mobile sports betting. In the future, this software will be accessible for other sports book operators who utilize the Miomni and Stadium Technology Group software.
Included among those sports book operators are:
Every sports book operator has the ability to tailor the odds they present, so anticipate an in-play menu that is roughly the same size as the regular sports book betting menu.
The Station Casinos app is still undergoing upgrades. Soon, the horse racing section of STN Sports will provide live and replay video for those betting on races. In addition, sports bettors will have access to live stats and pre-game articles.
