Matched Betting - The Theory

Betting

There are two sides to every bet – you and the bookmaker.
When you place a bet at a bookmakers (bookies) like Ladbrokes or Coral or William Hill you are betting them that "something" will happen.  When the bookie takes your bet they are betting you that the "something" will not happen.  Either you will win or the bookie will win.

Bookies
and
Exchanges

There are many hundreds of bookies online now where you can place bets.   But there are also several sites called Betting Exchanges like Betfair and BetDAQ where you can also be the bookie and take people's bets. It is because you can act like a bookmaker that makes Matched Betting work.

Bookies
Free Bets

To entice you to join most online bookies offer free bets.  For example “Sign up with us and after you’ve placed your first bet of £25 or more we’ll give you a free bet worth £25”.  By Matched Betting you can turn that free bet into free money.

How Matched Betting Works

What you don't want to do is sign-up, place your first bet of £25 and maybe lose it just to get a free £25 bet that you'd maybe lose as well.  This is called gambling. Matched Betting is betting but it is not gambling.

What you do is:
1. Place our first £25 bet without risking losing it
2. Place the free £25 bet so we're guaranteed to win.

Sounds impossible? No! Its very possible. Matched Betting makes this possible.

Next ... How To Do Step 1 and 2