Matched Betting

Mewtwo

One thing I don't quite get about this - are you guaranteed to be able to lay the bet? I've never used the betting exchanges so don't really know how they work.

Do the actual odds of the bet even matter at all?

Scudlink

Mewtwo wrote: »

One thing I don't quite get about this - are you guaranteed to be able to lay the bet? I've never used the betting exchanges so don't really know how they work.

Do the actual odds of the bet even matter at all?

Assuming there is enough money available on the betting exchange then you'll be able to lay the bet off (for example on Betfair the amounts availabe are in the pink boxes). On major sporting events (eg. Premiership Football) liquidity is never really a problem so laying off the bet isn't an issue.

With regards to odds, if it's a stake returned bet (SR) then you can bet at any odds but you need to try and make sure that the back and lay odds are a close match as possible. Taking odds that are far apart loses more money. Bear in mind that if you make bets at high odds you need more funds available to cover the lay bet liability (since you would win more at the bookie should the bet win, but would also have to pay out a similar amount on the betting exchange). Using low odds is generally better for a SR type bet but bear in mind also that often the bookie will have a minimum odds requirment before awarding a free bet (usually either odds of 1.5, 1.7 or 2).

If the bet is a stake not returned (SNR) then generally the higher the odds the more profitable it is. Since the free stake is not returned with any winnings you need higher odds to maximise your profit.

Have a good thorough read of the Gambling Introductry Offer Loophopes forum to get your head around how matching betting works. If necessary do severally 'dummy runs' on either paper or a spreadsheet so you understand it. Make sure you fully know what you are doing as mistakes can be very costly. It is a very profitable way of making extra cash.

Mewtwo

Thanks a lot thanks