Matched Betting - A Worked Example

At this point you'll understand the general principles of Matched Betting.  Lets see in a bit more detail how it works in practice.  This time we'll include the odds and to start with we'll assume that the Bookie's odds and the Exchanges odds are the same.

Team A

vs

Team B

In the football match between TeamA and TeamB you reckon TeamA will win so you bet the bookie £10 that TeamA will win.  The bookie is so confident that TeamA will not win he has set his odds at 4.0 (3/1) which means if TeamA wins he’ll give you back £4 for every £1 you bet. (If you're used to fractional odds this is the same where, for odds of 3/1, the Bookie would give you £3 for every £1 you bet and also give you your original stake back)

There are two possible outcomes of the football match – either TeamA will win or they will not win.

Lets do the MB 2 Step. 

Remember in Matched Betting your always doing a pair of bets - one at the bookies where you are the punter (BACKing) and one at the exchange where you are the bookie (LAYing).

Step 1

Place our first £25 bet without risking losing it

You place a £10 BACK bet at the bookies at odds of 4.0 on TeamA winning AND AT THE SAME TIME place a £10 LAY bet at odds of 4.0 at the Exchange on TeamA not winning.

Outcome 1: If TeamA does win
Your Profit at the bookies = £30
Your Loss at the exchange = £30 (remember you are the Bookie)
Your Overall profit/loss = £0 (£30 - £30)

Outcome 2: TeamA does not win
Your Loss at the bookies = £10
Your Profit at the exchange = £10
Your Overall profit/loss = £0 (£10 - £10)

So whether TeamA wins or does not win you have lost £0.
Congratulations! You have just qualified for the free bet without losing any money!

Step 2

Place the free bet so you're guaranteed to win

Having done the qualifying bet without losing any money, you now repeat the process only this time you use the free bet at the bookies for the BACK bet and your own money for the bet at the exchange.

The Bookie has given you a free £10 bet. The event you have chosen for your second Matched Bet is TeamX playing TeamZ and the odds for TeamX to win are 3.0 at the bookie and also 3.0 at the Exchange.

In Step 2 – You place the £10 free bet at the bookies at odds of 3.0 on TeamX winning AND AT THE SAME TIME place a £10 LAY bet at odds of 3.0 at the Exchange on TeamX not winning.

Outcome 1: TeamX does win
This is a win at the bookies and a loss at the exchange. Your Profit at the bookies = £30 (the £10 free bet + £20 profit)
Your Loss at the exchange = £20
Your Overall profit = £10
 

Outcome 2: TeamX does not win
Your Loss at the bookies = £0 (its a free bet)
Your Profit at the exchange = £10
Your Overall profit/loss = £10  

Whether TeamX wins or not you've just made £10!  

In reality there are a several things you need to take into account which affect how much your LAY stake should be to guarantee your profit. 

What Are These Factors ...