Start Matched Betting from Home
This matched betting guide is for beginners who want to place their first bet safely, but have no idea how matched betting even works.
Matched betting is a completely legal, tried and tested way to make money online while you’re at home. It basically turns the tables on the bookmakers, to give you their free bet offers, so you can’t lose.
If you’re doing it correctly, you will never lose any money, but you do need to take your time and be really careful to avoid any mistakes.
Make sure you understand fully before you deposit any money.
Sign up with Outplayed free today and they will help you make your first £40*.
If you are looking for more ways to make money from home then have a look at:
Outplayed Review: How to Make Free Money Matched Betting – This lays out exactly how to make £40 completely free from matched betting.
The Best Money Making Apps in the UK – These are the best money making apps in the UK right now. use them while watching TV or making dinner to start making a bit extra.
How to Get Free Money UK – You really can make free money online. Put some time aside to read how you can make free money right now.
What is matched betting?
Matched betting allows you to profit from the hundreds of free bets and promotions offered by bookmakers. This isn’t illegal or under the table. All the bookies advertise these offers to entice new customers in.
Matched betting is a great tax-free way to make money from home by using the free bets that the bookmakers offer.
How does matched betting work?
There’s two terms you need to know and completely understand to make sure you get your money back and more:
The Back bet
This is when you bet for a certain something to happen. So like “I bet Manchester United will win.” If this comes true, then you win the bet you placed and the winnings. If they lose or draw, you lose your money.
You can place a back bet with any bookmaker, like Paddy Power or William Hill.
The Lay bet
This is when you bet against something coming true. “I bet Manchester United will not win” is an example of a lay bet. If they do lose or draw, then you win.
You can only place a lay bet at a betting exchange, like Betfair.
Matched betting works because it cancels out the risk of your back bet by betting against yourself at the exact same odds. You are matching your bet.
Once you’ve made the first bet, the reward is paid out by the bookmaker. This is where you can make your money. So, for example, Betfred may offer £30 free if you deposit £30 etc
You now repeat the process and whichever way the event goes you win.
Try Outplayed free today and they will help you make your first £40*.
How Much Money Can You Really Make?
For each bet you match, you’ll be left with up to 94% of the free bet profit after the betting exchange take their commission, normally 5-6%.
You may lose a few pounds on your first bet. This is all recouped when you use your free bet.
What’s the risk and why isn’t everyone doing it?
Everyone could match bet, but it does take time when you start. There really is no risk, as you are covering yourself by betting for and against the same scenario.
The only risk is if you get it wrong. Everything needs to be doubled checked.
Try Outplayed free today and they will help you make your first £40*.
Can I lose money matched betting?
Like everything, yes you can if you don’t follow the terms and conditions of the deal or the correct instructions.
Making a mistake can also cost you money so making sure you do it step by step and slow, no rushing will help stop as many mistakes.
Don’t panic if yo don’t get paid straight away. These take time to deposit.
If you feel like you are getting hooked or it’s turned into a habit more than making money then it’s time to stop!
Gambling websites do NOT affect your credit rating but if you’re using your winnings to put a deposit on a house for example, then you may need to declare it.
Match betting is not a scam. It may sound to good to be and is understandable as this is how we all, in our heads, work out if something is to good to be true.
Match betting does work but like everything you just need to take it slow and make sure you do your research first.
Try Outplayed free today and they will help you make your first £40*.
Matched Betting Tools
These aren’t a must-have but do make life easier and quicker when it comes to matched betting.
Outplayed* offers you free use in till you make £40. This gives you enough time to work out if matched betting is really for you.
We use Outplayed as they offer loads of handy guides and walkthroughs. The system is really easy to use.
Read our full guide here about how Outplayed works.
They list all the offers known in the UK and help you to odds match, meaning you spend less time working out what to bet on and more time making money.
Matched Betting spreadsheet: This will help you track what’ve bet on, what you’ve won and the odds. You can download our Free printable spreadsheet one here or make your own.
In this guide, you will learn how to easily make £40. If you do this using the hundreds of free bet offers, then you can easily make thousands of tax-free cash!
Matched betting process
Make a new email address so you don’t get spammed, but also so you can see all the offers clearly in your inbox.
Sign up to Betfair. They’re a betting exchange, so this means you can lay your bet and cancel out any risk. Betfair is the only place where you can bet against other people, so this needs to be done first.
Remember to check your inbox, as they sometimes send offers to new customers.
Try Outplayed free today and they will help you make your first £40*.
Sign up to another bookie
There’s loads of offers around. Start with a small one, like someone offering £20 free bets when you bet £5.
Remember to check the terms and conditions. Are there any restrictions? Expiry dates? Will you get the free bet back? (Most you don’t, which is fine, as you still make a nice profit without it.)
Once you’ve signed up, you’ll be asked to deposit £5 to qualify for the free bet.
Decimal Odds
Once logged in to your bookie of choice, change the odds to decimals, as this helps you compare them to Betfair. It’s vital that you do this!
Try Outplayed free today and they will help you make your first £40*.
Place Your Bet
It’s easier to start with a sporting bet, like football or horse racing which has the closest odds on both bookies sites.
Lay odds can on Betfair are the red boxed, not the blue. If you’re struggling to see the red box, then go to the top left and click exchange.
Some offers will have terms that state you must pick odds of greater than something. It’s better to choose your bet with low odds when you start, so something like 1.4 to 4.1 if you can.
At this step it’s best to use an odds matcher tool like Outplayed, who matches the odds for you.
EXAMPLE: So if you’re using Coral, you would bet Manchester United to win there with odds of whatever they are, lets say 1.80 for this, and lay the same bet on Betfair with their odds.
For this example, our odds matcher, Outplayed, says we would lose 11p on this qualifying bet.
You would then deposit your £5 which means you can unlock the £20 free bet.
Go to Betfair and deposit £5 into your account.
Again, on Coral, place your £5 bet on Man United to win at odds 1.80. This then brings up your betting slip.
On Betfair, find the same match, and click on the lay odds of 1.80. This is the red button. Type in £5.14 under “Backer’s Stake.” This is your lay stake on Man United to win.
Try Outplayed free today and they will help you make your first £40*.
Your Free Bet
So whichever way the game went, I would be down 11p but up by my £20 free bet.
Whatever the outcome, because you have matched your bet, you will have close to your initial deposit back but in both accounts.
Then your Coral account, for example, would be credited with your free bet.
Place a new bet at higher odds.
Now you go back and use the free £20 bet instead of the £5 one.
You may have to use the £20 in 4 separate bets, but that’s fine, just place them on the same event as separate bets.
Place a bet using greater odds to help increase your profit. Remember: the bigger the odds, the more you’ll need in your Betfair account to lay.
EXAMPLE: Leicester vs Tottenham with back odds of 5.0 and lay odds of 5.20.
Go to Betfair make sure you have at least £65 in your account. (Don’t worry, you will get all of this back!)
Go to Coral and place your £20 free bet on Leicester to win at odds 5.00. Make sure you click on your free bets.
On Betfair, find the same match. Lay the odds 5.20, the red button, and type £15.53 under “backer’s Stake.” This is your lay stake on Leicester to win.
On this free bet you’ll make a profit of £14.77 regardless of what happens.
Try Outplayed free today and they will help you make your first £40*.
Related Posts:
- This is Matched Betting Explained for 2022
- Making Money With OhMyDosh
- 31 Work From Home Jobs for Mums
Matched betting profit
Now it’s time to cash out.
In the 30 minutes it’s taken me to do this, I’ve earned £14.66 (I’ve taken off 11p that I lost at the start.)
That’s an hourly rate of £29.32. Not bad.
Free Bets
There’s always loads of offers around including reloads. For these you’ll need more money in your pot, maybe around £1000.
If you can give 1-2 hours a week to matched betting and use this guide, you can easily make anything from £500 upwards a month.
Have a target and try to beat yourself.
Have you tried matched betting before? Do you like it? Do you think it’s worthwhile?
Laura x
If you enjoyed this post and would like some more money making ideas from home, including ways to freelance, start a blog or even earn from your phone, then head over to my making money section here on Savings 4 Savvy Mums where you’ll find over 30 money making posts dedicated to helping you earn more from home and become more financially stable as a family. There’s also tips in my Money Saving Mums Facebook group. You could also pop over and follow my money making Pinterest boards for lots more ways you can earn money from home; Money Making Mums and Working from Home Jobs for Mums.
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