Arbusers

Matched Betting is a smart betting technique to profit from all kind of incentives and promotions offered by bookmakers. Bookmakers, casinos, and poker sites implement their marketing strategies to lure new clients and encourage existing customers to play more. Part of these strategies enable bonuses and other incentives. One of the smart betting techniques that converts these bonuses into real money, is matched betting. The intention of the article is to bring a newbie, one step before placing his bets and successfully practising matched betting. Let’s build everything on solid ground.

Is Matched Betting Legal?

Yes it is. A number of bookmakers are vilifying Matched Betting and they have their reasons for that. Betting and gambling is a zero-sum game, and every profit for an educated bettor, is a loss for a bookmaker or an uneducated bettor. It is that simple. So, if you profit from Matched Betting, or any other smart betting technique (i.e Value Betting), this equals to less profits or even losses for the bookmaker. And this is the only reason why bookmakers vilify smart betting. In real life, Matched Betting is perfectly legal. In some countries, like the UK, it is tax free too.

Is Matched Betting Risk free?

No it is not. Many believe matched betting is a risk-free method of exploiting bookmakers, but this is not true. There are risks involved in this process and a smart bettor must be ready to deal with them. Let’s identify these risks:
1. Bookmakers are profiling players at every step they make, and when they identify you as a Matched Bettor, they might react by limiting your betting accounts. This limiting might take place before finishing with the Roll Over Requirement resulting to an unpleasant situation.
2. An aggressive bookmaker could go one step away, by delaying payments and give players hard times via KYC procedures. We have seen high street bookmakers acting like miserable street bookies.
3. Making a mistake when placing bets will cost money and nerves. Of course, there is always the possibility that a mistake turns in your favor resulting in the multiplication of your profits. A mistake in our favor is just as likely to happen as a mistake against us. But it is always better to keep your luck in your hands.
4. If you get addicted to the easy money of Matched Betting, you will not evolve and you will not educate your self to become a real sharp bettor, capable to profit even if there are no incentives around.

How Much Can You Make From Matched Betting?

No one knows. That depends on a number of factors. Bookmakers offer different incentives to different countries, as they profile nations too. It also depends on your capabilities and your resources. You can’t expect to exploit bookmakers to the maximum extend with minimal funds. Casino bonuses contribute to your profitability provided that you know how to take advantage of them. Last but not least, it depends on the streaks. Losing in soft bookmakers while winning in exchanges might contribute more profits. As you see, there are a lot of factors to take into consideration, but just to give you an idea of how liquid things are, I can tell you that £14000 was a moderate annual target for 2015, while today a good Matched Bettor will make £4-5000 per annum using his own accounts.

Bonus types and how to approach them

There is a huge variety of bonuses spawning from real cash to free bets, and cash back incentives based on volumes. Each type of bonus requires a different mathematical and practical approach. The approach and feasibility of each bonus are largely dependent on the rollover requirements, the odds, and the limits offered by the bookmaker. A rational smart bettor would examine all incentives through a mathematical prism to determine if there is any value. There are bonuses in the market that offer no value at all and should be omitted. Make no mistake, there are bonuses around that mathematically guarantee a loss to the player. Now, let’s examine some kind of incentives your bookmakers might offer you:

Stake returned: This is the typical free cash bonus offered by many bookmakers and casinos. A typical example of this kind of bonus would be ''We will double your deposit up to 50 if you bet 3 times the deposited funds and the bonus in odds higher than 2''. Ideally, in order to exploit this kind of bonuses perfectly and get the best value, you should combine matched betting with arbing to achieve the maximum profit. You will need to place a bet of the deposited amount and the bonus credited, at an event when the odds offer an arbitrage position. That means that you will need to lay this bet at an exchange like Betfair, or bet the remaining outcomes at another bookmaker with adequate limits. Like everything in sports betting there are caveats you need to take into consideration. A best case scenario includes the loss of your deposit and bonus and the winning of the laying bet in the exchange. If this doesn’t happen, keep in mind that you need to finish with the roll over requirement and that means you will need to bet again, and (possibly) again, before the bookmaker limits your account. Of course, you can always select not to take arbitrage odds, return some value to the bookmaker in exchange for some time (and probably another future bonus).
A stake returned calculator can be found here: here

Stake not returned: This is another popular incentive offered by bookmakers and casinos. It is also called free bet. A typical example would be ''Place a bet of 50 and if you win will will return to you all profits, but not the free bet''. Again, like the stake returned case, in order to extract maximum value, you should combine matched betting with arbing. A typical return for a matched bet where the stake is not returned is 90%+ of the free bet offer amount. However, a smart bettor would prefer placing an arbitrage bet at the highest possible odds, in order to bring the return at the astonishing 100%+ of the free bet. To make a long story short, provided that your bankroll and the liquidity of the exchange are enough, you should back a bet on a bookmaker at the highest possible odds and lay it at the lowest possible odds on an exchange. Again, the best case scenario includes the loss of your deposit and bonus with the bookmakers and the subsequent winning of the laying bet in the exchange. If this doesn’t happen, be extra careful and fast to finish with the roll over requirement.
A stake not returned calculator can be found here


Volume based bonuses: This is a rare but very valuable bonus these days. A typical example would be ''We will give you a cash back of 0.01 for every 1 bet you place with us''. It is crystal clear, the more you bet, the bigger your bonus, but before placing any bet, you must make sure that your action comes with value that mathematically guarantees a long term profit. Again, this kind of bonuses should be combined with arbing, value betting or any other smart betting technique. A cash back from sharp bookmakers and exchanges is particularly valuable, and that is why we secured tis kind of cash backs for our members for any Betfair, Pinnacle and other sharp bookmakers volumes through agents. Read some more here: Sharp bookmakers and exchanges cash back

Any other bonus: It is true that a bookmaker’s would go to extremes in order to lure customers. Some incentives might be characterised as exotic, not included in any category we mentioned so far. If this is the case, then feel free posting in our forum and we will examine the value and the feasibility of your bonus.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNauuqB6YlU


Matched Betting services

During these last years we noticed the emerge of Matched betting services. They became ver popular, especially in the UK. But we believe these services made a real damage in the industry because they brought matched betting and bonus hunting to an industrial level. Imagine 50.000 bettors, placing the same bets within the next 5 minutes after an alert received by these services. How healthy is this? How long do you believe your betting accounts will stay alive if you bet the same events, the same stakes, at the same times with almost everyone else? Of course, if you are a mug bettor with no intention to dig further, this is the way to go. But we believe, if you are already here in arbusers, you are looking for something more than this. Matched Betting services do not allow you to evolve as a sharp player.

Every bonus counts

Unfortunately, it is not only Matched Betting services that damaged the industry. Many bonus abusers exploit bookmakers at the industry level too. There is an ongoing discussion in our forum about what we call ‘’locusts’’ and the damage they create to every smart bettor. Incentives are now much lower compared to some years ago. For many, matched betting has been the point of entry into the smart gambling scene. The smart bettor will come to realise that higher odds are the best bonus they could possibly have.
They will also realise that even the last penny counts in this business.

Feel free to ask your questions in our forum. Difficult questions are a challenge for our community.

What's the best way to wager such bonuses?

This bonus is offered by this bookmaker:

mobile.sportsbetting.ag/

Terms and Conditions

50% Welcome Bonus

A MINIMUM deposit of $55.00 is required to qualify for the bonus.
You will receive a 50% bonus on your qualifying first deposit only.
Deposits made via Neteller or Skrill do not qualify for this bonus
The maximum bonus per deposit is $1,000.
There is a 10x (ten times) rollover requirement associated with this promotion.
In order to receive a bonus you must use promo code SB1000 in the cashier while making your deposit.
You must use any existing free plays already in your account before claiming any new free plays.
All free plays expire in 30 days unless otherwise stated. At the 30 day mark, any unused free plays will disappear from your account
This promotion is non-transferable.
The free plays you earn are for the sportsbook. They cannot be used in the Racebook, Casino, Poker, or Live Betting.
SportsBetting reserves the right to alter or amend the Terms and Conditions of this promotion at any time without notice.
Please see SportsBetting's General Rules for additional Terms and Conditions regarding bonuses.
No withdrawals can be made within 30 days of claiming this promotion.

"..A typical return for a matched bet where the stake is not returned is 90%+ of the free bet offer amount.."

Let's say that i am offered a "stake not returned" free bet of 10 euros and i find a non arb game with odds 2.00 / 2.00.

i have to bet on team A the free bet of (10) euros at 2,00, and then i have to bet on team B (5) euros real money at 2.00 in order to  secure  (5) euros equal profit, whatever is the result.  But  this is only 50% of the free bet and i think is the max % you can get.

Could you please give an example how the 90%+ could be achieved ? - Thank you.

The way to Go Here is with Higher odds. Typically Outsider bets or correct Score or Ht/ft bets .

If you get a snr Bonus of 10 Euro

Lets assume you find odds of 10 (9/1) and you find the Same lay odds on an Exchange . Backing 10 @10 gets you 90 Euro payout since they keep the stake. If you lay 9,- @10 you pay Out 81,- If the Bet goes on to win . If the Bet is a loser you won 9,-

peny22 wrote: A MINIMUM deposit of $55.00 is required to qualify for the bonus.
You will receive a 50% bonus on your qualifying first deposit only.
Deposits made via Neteller or Skrill do not qualify for this bonus
The maximum bonus per deposit is $1,000.
There is a 10x (ten times) rollover requirement associated with this promotion.
In order to receive a bonus you must use promo code SB1000 in the cashier while making your deposit.
You must use any existing free plays already in your account before claiming any new free plays.
All free plays expire in 30 days unless otherwise stated. At the 30 day mark, any unused free plays will disappear from your account
This promotion is non-transferable.
The free plays you earn are for the sportsbook. They cannot be used in the Racebook, Casino, Poker, or Live Betting.
SportsBetting reserves the right to alter or amend the Terms and Conditions of this promotion at any time without notice.
Please see SportsBetting's General Rules for additional Terms and Conditions regarding bonuses.
No withdrawals can be made within 30 days of claiming this promotion.

Before anything else you must find out if this bookmaker is reliable enough to hold a bigger balance, because a bonus like this mind end with a very big balance in this bookmaker.
Then you have to find out of this bonus is rogue enough to limit your bets before finishing this huge roll over requirement.
Lastly, it is not clear if the bonus is cash, or free play. The text is dubious, and I would send them a question to determine the nature of the bonus.

cem wrote: "..A typical return for a matched bet where the stake is not returned is 90%+ of the free bet offer amount.."

Let's say that i am offered a "stake not returned" free bet of 10 euros and i find a non arb game with odds 2.00 / 2.00.

i have to bet on team A the free bet of (10) euros at 2,00, and then i have to bet on team B (5) euros real money at 2.00 in order to  secure  (5) euros equal profit, whatever is the result.  But  this is only 50% of the free bet and i think is the max % you can get.

Could you please give an example how the 90%+ could be achieved ? - Thank you.

Firstly, I would select an arbing bet at very high odds.
See the following example.
Bet the free bet at odds 10. (10x10)-10=90
Then bet the other way around. 80.36X1.12=90
The total profit is 9.64, bringing the value of your free bet to 96.4%.
For simplicity reasons, I selected not to lay the bet.

autobetting wrote: The way to Go Here is with Higher odds. Typically Outsider bets or correct Score or Ht/ft bets .

If you get a snr Bonus of 10 Euro

Lets assume you find odds of 10 (9/1) and you find the Same lay odds on an Exchange . Backing 10 @10 gets you 90 Euro payout since they keep the stake. If you lay 9,- @10 you pay Out 81,- If the Bet goes on to win . If the Bet is a loser you won 9,-

Exactly. I selected the back/back bet so it would be easier for everyone to understand.
Thank you.

@ Arbusers & Autobetting

I never thought about it.. Thank you.!

Is it profitable to wager bonuses in the form of free bets for American and Canadian players? An example of a bonus is a free bet of 250$. The conditions are a turnover of 12 times. What's the best way to turn it? Does anyone have any idea

peny22 wrote: Is it profitable to wager bonuses in the form of free bets for American and Canadian players? An example of a bonus is a free bet of 250$. The conditions are a turnover of 12 times. What's the best way to turn it? Does anyone have any idea

make an arb with the deposited amount and the bonus, betting on the underdog with high odds, and at the other end betting on the favorite with low odds. the problem with this is that if the underdog wins you need to roll over completely but you will still have done it a few times because you will have won the first bet, but you still need to have money left over to roll over.


I have already done this a few times and once in a very unfortunate way trying to get the 700 bonus from the rivalo, I got 1800 but in a few weeks I managed to get everything out of it

arbusers wrote:

cem wrote: "..A typical return for a matched bet where the stake is not returned is 90%+ of the free bet offer amount.."

Let's say that i am offered a "stake not returned" free bet of 10 euros and i find a non arb game with odds 2.00 / 2.00.

i have to bet on team A the free bet of (10) euros at 2,00, and then i have to bet on team B (5) euros real money at 2.00 in order to  secure  (5) euros equal profit, whatever is the result.  But  this is only 50% of the free bet and i think is the max % you can get.

Could you please give an example how the 90%+ could be achieved ? - Thank you.

Firstly, I would select an arbing bet at very high odds.
See the following example.
Bet the free bet at odds 10. (10x10)-10=90
Then bet the other way around. 80.36X1.12=90
The total profit is 9.64, bringing the value of your free bet to 96.4%.
For simplicity reasons, I selected not to lay the bet.

That's a great example, arbusers.

arbusers wrote:

peny22 wrote: A MINIMUM deposit of $55.00 is required to qualify for the bonus.
You will receive a 50% bonus on your qualifying first deposit only.
Deposits made via Neteller or Skrill do not qualify for this bonus
The maximum bonus per deposit is $1,000.
There is a 10x (ten times) rollover requirement associated with this promotion.
In order to receive a bonus you must use promo code SB1000 in the cashier while making your deposit.
You must use any existing free plays already in your account before claiming any new free plays.
All free plays expire in 30 days unless otherwise stated. At the 30 day mark, any unused free plays will disappear from your account
This promotion is non-transferable.
The free plays you earn are for the sportsbook. They cannot be used in the Racebook, Casino, Poker, or Live Betting.
SportsBetting reserves the right to alter or amend the Terms and Conditions of this promotion at any time without notice.
Please see SportsBetting's General Rules for additional Terms and Conditions regarding bonuses.
No withdrawals can be made within 30 days of claiming this promotion.

Before anything else you must find out if this bookmaker is reliable enough to hold a bigger balance, because a bonus like this mind end with a very big balance in this bookmaker.
Then you have to find out of this bonus is rogue enough to limit your bets before finishing this huge roll over requirement.
Lastly, it is not clear if the bonus is cash, or free play. The text is dubious, and I would send them a question to determine the nature of the bonus.

Yes, it is a very reliable A-rated bookmaker with high limits. Yes it is a free bet. For example, we deposit $ 500 to $ 250 and we get a free bet. I only wager the free bet. The deposit remains untouched.

Cozetti wrote:

arbusers wrote:

cem wrote: "..A typical return for a matched bet where the stake is not returned is 90%+ of the free bet offer amount.."

Let's say that i am offered a "stake not returned" free bet of 10 euros and i find a non arb game with odds 2.00 / 2.00.

i have to bet on team A the free bet of (10) euros at 2,00, and then i have to bet on team B (5) euros real money at 2.00 in order to  secure  (5) euros equal profit, whatever is the result.  But  this is only 50% of the free bet and i think is the max % you can get.

Could you please give an example how the 90%+ could be achieved ? - Thank you.

Firstly, I would select an arbing bet at very high odds.
See the following example.
Bet the free bet at odds 10. (10x10)-10=90
Then bet the other way around. 80.36X1.12=90
The total profit is 9.64, bringing the value of your free bet to 96.4%.
For simplicity reasons, I selected not to lay the bet.

That's a great example, arbusers.

Theoretically, yes, that is the most efficient way to extract the best value.

But I think using freebets on high odds bets are a red flag exactly because of this - it shows you are not a mug.
I would advise using the freebet on the markets you will typically use in your account going forward.

It would be a shame to burn a new account for the sake of a couple of EUR

risilloch above is very much correct with it.
But in my view you can overcome this barrier by placing your free bet on a live market (if allowed), or a large pre game market.

Some US/offshore books let placing these freebets only on spread line, totals or ML with pre-defined max odds of +250 - +280 so read carefully the terms or ask a CS agent just to be sure