Matched Betting Calculator

Calculate lay stakes to extract risk-free profits from bookmaker bonuses and free bets.

Matched Bet Calculator

Enter your back bet details and exchange lay odds. Choose Normal mode for qualifying bets or Free Bet mode to convert free bet credits to cash.

Normal: qualifying bet with real money. Free Bet: converting free bet credit to cash.
Amount of your back bet or value of your free bet.
Decimal odds at the bookmaker (e.g., 3.00).
Decimal odds to lay at the exchange (e.g., 3.10).
Commission charged by the exchange (e.g., 2% for Betfair).
Used for display formatting.

Understanding Matched Betting

Matched betting is a technique that takes advantage of bookmaker promotions to generate guaranteed profits. By covering all outcomes with opposing bets, you eliminate risk.

Qualifying Bets (Normal Mode)

Qualifying bets unlock bonuses or free bets. You accept a small loss (typically 1-5% of stake) to earn a larger free bet. The formula ensures balanced outcomes: LayStake = (BackStake × BackOdds) / (LayOdds - Commission).

Free Bet Conversion (SNR Mode)

Free bets (Stake Not Returned) only pay out winnings. You convert them to cash by laying at the exchange. Higher odds mean better conversion rates - typically 70-80% of free bet value becomes real profit.

Maximizing Profits

  • Use odds matching tools to find close back/lay prices quickly.
  • Track all bets in a spreadsheet to monitor ROI and bonus progress.
  • Be aware of gubbing - vary bet types and don't only bet on obvious matched betting markets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, matched betting is completely legal. You are simply using bookmaker promotions as intended and hedging your bets at exchanges. However, bookmakers may limit or close accounts of suspected matched bettors.

SNR (Stake Not Returned) free bets only return winnings, not the original stake. SR (Stake Returned) free bets return both stake and winnings. This calculator uses SNR mode which is most common.

Profits vary based on available offers. New bettors can typically make £500-1000 from signup offers alone. Ongoing promotions can generate £100-500 per month with regular effort.