More About Lay Betting
Lay betting on exchanges helps you hedge or trade positions by opposing your original pick. Use it to balance outcomes, reduce variance, and, when prices allow, lock in profit after commission.
How Lay Betting Works (Stake, Liability, Commission)
When you lay a selection, you accept someone else’s back bet. Your potential loss is the liability: (Lay Odds − 1) × Lay Stake. Exchanges charge commission on net winnings when your lay side wins. Our Lay Bet Calculator derives a practical, commission‑aware lay stake and shows profits for both scenarios.
Lay Betting Strategies
- Equal‑profit lay: target similar profit whether the back or lay side wins (after commission).
- Skewed lay: favor one scenario (keep more EV on your original edge) while capping downside.
- In‑play trading: exploit price swings but ensure liquidity and confirm matched stakes.
Risks & Considerations
- Commission and partial matches can reduce or distort the intended hedge.
- Low liquidity or stake limits may prevent full execution at quoted odds.
- Rule differences (voids, cancellations) across books and exchanges can break parity.
Practical Tips
- Compare multiple exchanges and bookmakers for best opposing prices and lower fees.
- Track stake, odds, commission, and resulting guaranteed profit to refine timing.
- Round stakes sensibly and recheck liability to avoid unexpected exposure.