Matched Betting Explained
How matched betting turns a bookmaker free bet into cash whatever the result, with a real example: backing Arsenal to beat Chelsea at William Hill and laying it on Betfair.
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About this video: Matched Betting Explained
Matched Betting Explained is a short narrated video guide from Sports and Casinos. How matched betting turns a bookmaker free bet into cash whatever the result, with a real example: backing Arsenal to beat Chelsea at William Hill and laying it on Betfair.
In addition, the video runs for 1 min 54 sec and works on any phone, tablet or computer. For example, you can use the chapters above to skip straight to the part you need. After that, read the full written guide for worked examples and answers to common questions.
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Read the transcript
Matched betting turns bookmaker free bets into cash, whatever the result. Let's walk through a real example.
Say William Hill offers new customers a ten pound free bet when they bet ten pounds. Arsenal are playing Chelsea, and Arsenal are two point oh to win.
First, the qualifying bet. You back Arsenal to beat Chelsea with ten pounds at William Hill. That's your back bet.
Then, on the Betfair exchange, you lay Arsenal at two point one. Laying means betting that Arsenal will not win, so a draw or a Chelsea win both pay out. A lay stake of nine pounds seventy-six balances the two bets.
If Arsenal win, you're up ten pounds at William Hill and down ten pounds seventy-three on Betfair. If they don't win, you lose your ten pounds at William Hill, but win nine pounds twenty-seven on Betfair after commission. Either way, you're down just seventy-three pence.
Now your free bet arrives. Find a game coming up soon, for example Leeds against Manchester City, with Leeds at five point oh to win. Just like before, you back Leeds with your free bet at William Hill, then lay Leeds on Betfair at five point one, with a lay stake of seven pounds ninety-two.
Whatever the result, you lock in about seven pounds fifty. Take off the seventy-three pence qualifying loss, and that ten pound offer has made you nearly seven pounds.
Matched betting is legal in the UK. A calculator works out the lay stakes for you, and services like OddsMonkey and Outplayed list every offer with step-by-step guides. You'll need an exchange account and a little starting money.
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