Has VAR Affected In-Play Betting? 2023

VAR is currently used for four categories of potential decisions that could need to be made throughout a given match. These are:

• Goal/no goal – this is particularly applied to fouls, handballs, and offsides.
• Red cards – for example, violent conduct or the use of threatening and offensive language or gestures towards a referee or another player.
• Penalty/no penalty – especially in terms of fouls or the location of a foul.
• Cases of mistaken identity – for example, if the referee awards a red or yellow card incorrectly.

This is to make the game fairer and uphold the rules of football, however VAR has still been heavily criticised for a multitude of reasons. We will explore these throughout this article.

In-Play Betting:

In-play betting is where you place a wager once the match has already begun. Betting sites will vary massively in their prices and odds offered as these prices change rapidly and extremely frequently. In-Play betting is a popular and commonly utilised strategy for avid Irish punters wagering on football matches, for example within the World Cup, and is offered by almost every sports betting site. 

Let’s start by taking a closer look at the pros and cons of VAR technology.

Pros:	Cons:
VAR helps referees come to objective decisions. For example, it could be the decider of a penalty given in football matches or determine handball plays and offside calls.	VAR disrupts the sport. It stops the play and costs betting sites in terms of user excitement. It causes the game to lose momentum.
VAR maintains player discipline which is a key aspect of any sport. Although referees are present to ensure fair play, it is possible for them to miss vital moments from the game due to its fast-paced nature. This can significantly impact the game’s outcome. VAR ensures that no situation within the game can go unnoticed.	It is still possible for VAR to make decisions that are incorrect. Unfortunately, nothing can be absolutely, 100% perfect all the time. Whilst the technology provides a completely accurate review of what happened, the VAR team might still interpret the circumstance incorrectly which leads to controversy and disproval from football and gambling fans.
It avoids controversial decisions. Referees have throughout their history been critiqued for their decision making and have often been accused of being biased towards certain players or teams. Without guaranteed fairness, it is almost impossible for football fans to enjoy watching or betting on the matches. VAR removes the subjectivity behind decions.	VAR has been said to cause referees to rely too heavily on technology. The decisions of referees will always be seen as important for football matches, regardless of any new technology used. Football relies on referees having a high level of knowledge and expertise, and with VAR, some referees may lose confidence in their ability to make fair decisions. It is also speculated that it has led to referees paying less attention to the matches.
VAR played a crucial role in implementing a zero-tolerance policy regarding encroachment during penalties.	VAR disrupts in-play betting. For example, when bets are suspended due to VAR decisions being made. This sometimes discourages punters from taking part in in-play betting.

How could VAR change football and football betting?

• VAR has prompted discussions on the need to potentially alter the rules of football to accommodate for its impact on in-play. For example, the handball regulations and offside rule have been revaluated to provide more clarity on the rules. This also makes it easier for betting sites to continue to offer promotions and higher odds, as the game is much less subjective so users can bet with confidence that the game will be fair.
• VAR has helped to reduce human error as much as possible, making both the game and betting fairer and more reliable.
• Betting sites have introduced VAR specific bets and promotions to encourage users to continue taking part in in-play betting. For example, many betting sites will refund your wager if your bet is suspended due to VAR technology. Furthermore, if a goal is cancelled or retrospectively awarded due to VAR, bets are often voided by betting sites.

How you can use VAR to your advantage when betting in-play:

Betting sites are extremely aware of how VAR can impact their betting markets and potential rewards. This makes it more difficult to win from in-play bets. For example, betting sites have begun to suspend markets when a VAR incident happens, rather than waiting for the official VAR announcement to provide the outcome.

• Bet on teams that are showing strong momentum.
• You could also benefit from betting on teams who have just suffered from a VAR decision. If a team is not performing well, betting sites will increase the odds available for wagering on them because they are deemed less likely to win. Therefore, VAR can work to your advantage when betting live.
• If you see a blatantly obvious penalty that has been missed by the referee, you can bet that VAR will intervene once the ball has gone out of play. These bets often offer great rewards.
• Consider the impact of VAR on team morale. If a goal is disallowed due to a VAR intervention, players often lose momentum and motivation which could cost them the game. On the other hand, this could have the opposite effect and motivate them further leading to their win – you can bet on either outcome.

Betting sites that offer specific VAR, In-Play betting options:

Vbet	Vbet is one of the leading betting sites in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. It offers regular promotions on bets involving VAR and over fifty sporting events available to wager on. They also offer great odds and a competitive pricing system. In terms of a welcome bonus, new users can claim €10 worth of free bets, a €10 casino bonus, and 20 free spins when they place an initial bet of at least €10.
Bet365	Bet365 is one of the most popular betting sites in the world. In terms of in-play and VAR betting markets, it offers multiple card and penalty betting options. Bet365 has a great live streaming feature, allowing its users to watch their bets play out as they happen, feeling the excitement surrounding the game. It offers new users €30 in free bets when they place an initial bet of at least €10.
Unibet	On their first bet, new users are eligible for up to 40 euros worth of money back in the form of free bets if their initial bet is unsuccessful. They offer great odds on cards, and a huge range of betting options on the Premier League.