Scalping is a betting exchange trading method that aims to take a tiny profit from very small price moves, often just one or two ticks. A scalper backs and lays the same selection within minutes, and then repeats that many times. This guide explains how scalping works, the tick sums behind it, worked examples, and the real costs that make it harder than it looks.
It builds on the ideas in our guide to greening up a trade, so read that first if the back and lay sums are new to you.
The short version
- Scalping means trading for very small price moves, usually one to three ticks.
- It works only on an exchange, because you need to lay as well as back.
- Most scalpers trade pre-match markets with plenty of money waiting to be matched.
- Each trade makes pennies, so commission and one bad trade can wipe out many good ones.
What is scalping on a betting exchange?
On an exchange such as Betfair, every price sits on a ladder of fixed steps called ticks. A scalper places a back bet and a lay bet one or two ticks apart, then waits for both to be matched. When they are, the difference between the two prices is the profit.
In other words, scalping is a very short back to lay trade. Instead of waiting for a team to score or a price to drift a long way, the scalper is happy with the smallest move the market allows. That’s why it suits busy pre-match markets, where prices move often but rarely jump.
How the tick ladder works
The size of one tick depends on the price. Betfair uses these increments, and other exchanges use similar ones:
| Price range | One tick |
|---|---|
| 1.01 to 2.00 | 0.01 |
| 2.00 to 3.00 | 0.02 |
| 3.00 to 4.00 | 0.05 |
| 4.00 to 6.00 | 0.10 |
| 6.00 to 10.00 | 0.20 |
| 10.00 to 20.00 | 0.50 |
| 20.00 to 30.00 | 1.00 |
| 30.00 to 50.00 | 2.00 |
| 50.00 to 100.00 | 5.00 |
| 100.00 to 1000.00 | 10.00 |
So a one-tick move at 1.50 is a change of 0.01, while a one-tick move at 5.00 is a change of 0.10. As a result, a one-tick scalp is worth more, in percentage terms, at short prices than at long ones.
Worked example: a one-tick scalp
Worked example
Before kick-off, you back the home team for £100 at 2.02. A few minutes later, the price shortens by one tick to 2.00, and you lay to close the trade.
- Lay stake: £100 × 2.02 ÷ 2.00 = £101.00.
- If the team wins: the back pays £100 × 1.02 = £102. The lay costs £101 × 1.00 = £101. Net: +£1.00.
- If the team does not win: the lay wins £101, and the £100 back stake is gone. Net: +£1.00.
Commission is then taken from the net win in that market. At 2%, that’s 2p, leaving 98p. At 5%, used here only as an example rate, it’s 5p.
A pound for a £100 stake sounds small, and it is. That’s the point of scalping: small gains, repeated many times. However, the same sums work in reverse. If the price drifts one tick to 2.04 and you close there, you lose about the same amount.
Green-up calculator
Enter your opening bet and the price you can close at now. The calculator gives the closing stake and your result on every outcome, before and after commission.
Green-up calculator
Worked example: a scalp that goes wrong
Worked example
You back £100 at 2.02, hoping for 2.00. Instead, team news breaks and the price drifts to 2.20 before you react.
- Lay stake to close: £100 × 2.02 ÷ 2.20 = £91.82.
- Your result on every outcome: £100 × (2.02 ÷ 2.20 − 1) = −£8.18.
That single loss wipes out about eight successful one-tick scalps. This is why scalpers watch the news closely and close losing trades quickly.
Where scalping works best
- Busy pre-match markets. Top football leagues and big horse races have plenty of money on both sides, so your bets get matched quickly.
- Short to mid prices. Ticks are smaller, so prices tend to move one tick at a time rather than jumping.
- Before the off, not in play. In-play markets can jump several ticks on a goal or a red card. They also have a bet delay, so the price can move before your bet is placed.
Thin markets are the opposite. If only a few pounds are waiting at each price, you may get matched on one side and not the other. Then you’re left holding a normal bet that you never meant to have.
The real costs of scalping
First, commission. Because each winning trade is small, commission takes a large share of it. Exchanges also have their own charges and premium rates for some heavy users, so read your exchange’s terms before you trade often.
Second, the risk is lopsided. You aim for one or two ticks, but a sudden move can cost ten. Therefore one bad trade can undo a morning of good ones.
Third, your time. Scalping needs full attention, and the profit per hour is often modest even for skilled traders. Many people find that a long-term approach based on price, such as value betting, suits them better.
The honest limits of scalping
Scalping does not make prices more likely to move your way. The market is full of other traders and automated bots trying the same thing, often with faster tools. So you need a genuine reason to expect the next tick to go your way, not just a hunch.
If you try it, start with tiny stakes and keep a record of every trade, including commission. Our guide to keeping betting records shows how. Above all, keep your trading money inside a fixed budget, as our bankroll management guide explains.
Before you open an account, check the exchange is licensed by the Gambling Commission.
Related guides
18+ only. Betting should be fun, and every bet can lose. Set a budget you can afford to lose and stick to it. For free, confidential support, visit BeGambleAware.org or call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.