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What is
Lay Betting

What is Lay Betting? A Complete Guide for Matched Bettors

Lay betting is essential for matched betting, where you bet against an outcome instead of backing it. It allows you to hedge against free bet offers and guarantee profits, regardless of how the event turns out.


What is Lay Betting?

A lay bet is a bet placed on the outcome of an event not happening. For example, if you place a lay bet on a team to lose, you’re betting against their victory. The term “lay” means offering odds for someone else to take, effectively acting as the bookmaker.


How Does Lay Betting Work?

In lay betting, when you place a lay bet, you’re taking the opposite side of the back bet. For example, if someone places a back bet on Team A to win, you could lay that bet, betting that Team A will not win (either Team B wins or the match ends in a draw).


Why is Lay Betting Important for Matched Betting?

Matched betting involves using back bets (bets for an outcome to happen) in combination with lay bets (bets for an outcome not to happen) to lock in a profit, no matter the result of an event.


The Role of Lay Betting in Matched Betting

When using lay betting for matched betting, you’ll generally place a back bet at a bookmaker on one outcome (e.g., Team A winning) and place a lay bet on a betting exchange (e.g., Betfair, Smarkets, or Matchbook) against that same outcome.


Lay Betting Exchanges: Choosing the Right One

  • Betfair: The most popular exchange for matched betting, with high liquidity and competitive odds.
  • Smarkets: Known for a low commission rate (2%) and strong liquidity.
  • Matchbook: Offers low commission rates and a clean user interface, making it a growing favorite.
  • Betdaq: Known for competitive odds, though its liquidity is slightly lower than the other exchanges.

Overlaying vs. Underlaying in Lay Betting

Overlaying is when you lay a bet with a larger stake than your back bet, increasing your liability but providing a chance to make more profit. Underlaying is when you lay a bet with a smaller stake than your back bet, reducing your liability but also limiting potential profits.


Lay Bet Calculator: A Handy Tool for Matched Bettors

A lay bet calculator is crucial for determining how much you need to lay on the exchange to cover your back bet. It helps calculate your lay stake, your potential profit, and the liability of your lay bet.


What Should You Consider When Choosing a Betting Exchange for Lay Betting?

  • Which exchange offers the best odds for the event you’re betting on?
  • What is the commission rate? A lower commission means more profits for matched bettors.
  • Do you need to lay multiple bets? If you’re laying an accumulator (acca), check the exchange’s support for multiple selections.
  • What is the liquidity like? Higher liquidity means more chances to place larger lay bets without affecting the odds.

Conclusion

Lay betting is an essential tool for matched bettors. It allows you to bet against an outcome and hedge your bets to guarantee profits from bookmaker promotions. Whether using a lay bet calculator or learning how lay bets work, understanding this concept is key to making the most of your matched betting experience.

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