MATCHED BETTING

Matched betting is the practice of employing differing offers from multiple bookmakers to generate consistent profits.

By accepting welcome offer packs from a range of bookmakers and/or promotional offers, you are able to place ‘free bets’. You then ‘match’ these bets on a betting exchange so as to ensure you make a nominal profit, irrespective of the actual outcome of the sporting event you are betting on.

Matched betting relies entirely on the figures, whereas traditional betting forms are reliant on the punter’s ability to predict the outcome. When done effectively, matched betting guarantees some form of profit.

Despite the fact that it is billed as a ‘no lose’ scenario for punters who get it right, matched betting is not against the terms offered by most leading bookmakers.

HOW DOES MATCHED BETTING WORK?

Matched bets in football, for example, involve placing a bet to win on Team A with a bookmaker. You then counter this bet with a lay bet on Team A to either lose or draw the match via a betting exchange.

You could use a lay bet calculator to help dictate how much should be staked on the win bet and lay bet respectively to guarantee profit.

Alternatively, there are various resources online that can assist with this side of matched betting.

SMALL PRINT

When you are using promotional offers and/or joining offers to facilitate matched betting, you should look out for the criteria involved in these offers.

All of these elements should be carefully reviewed before you begin. The terms and conditions are an integral part of the matched betting rules.

EXAMPLE MATCHED BET

Here is an example of how you might use matched betting when signing up to a new bookmaker account.

Typically, you might be offered a free bet to the same value as your first bet after sign-up. You will match your first bet to ensure you do not lose money.

Once this match is completed, you will receive a free bet worth £10. You then repeat the steps above on another football match to earn your guaranteed profit.

Say you place the £10 free bet on Arsenal to beat Chelsea at 3/1 and match the same bet on the exchange as a lay for £30.

If Arsenal lose or draw the match, you lose the £10 ‘win’ free bet you placed. However, your ‘lay’ bet wins on the betting exchange, meaning you win £10 there. Therefore you would have achieved a profit as such: £10 (from the lay bet) = £10 profit (while the free bet is lost – but this was never your money to begin with).

This is where matched betting differs from conventional betting. It requires some understanding as well as time to uncover the offers and promos available, but you can be sure you are going to win…every time

This handy guide was actually written by a bookie! Thanks 🙂