What is Lay Betting and Laying in Gambling?

What is Lay Betting?

Lay betting is an option on exchanges like Betfair where bettors can play the bookmaker, offering odds to sell a bet instead of to back a bet. It is one component of matched betting, where punters both back and sell bets on the same game to guarantee winning. It is a type of bet that is placed when you are selling a bet, rather than buying a bet. It is generally placed by punters who play the role of bookmaker, hence "lay betting". It also goes by the terms of matched betting, arbitration or arb betting.

Lay Betting Explained

Lay betting (also known as lay bet matching, arb betting, double betting and matched betting), is a betting technique used by individuals to profit from free bets and incentives offered by bookmakers. It allows punters to sell bets instead of the usual odds in backing a bet. Lay Betting is an option on exchanges where betters play the role of a bookmaker, but offers odds to sell a bet instead of the odds to back a bet. Laying a bet offers a method of betting against the odds of an outcome, instead of for it. It is also known as a "back bet".

  1. Example of Lay BettingFor example, instead of betting on (backing) Chelsea to win the Premier League, you lay Chelsea. This means you would win your bet if anyone other than Chelsea wins the title. Essentially, when you lay an outcome, you act like a bookmaker. You are betting against other users.
  2. Lay BettingLay Betting is the option on Exchanges such as Betfair where punters can play the role of a traditional bookmaker but offering odds to sell a bet instead of the usual odds to back a bet. "I bet you won't get a bullseye"; "I bet you won't finish all that"; "They'll never win if he plays."
  3. Learn About Betting ExchangesLay Betting is the option on Exchanges such as Betfair where punters can play the role of a traditional bookmaker but offering odds to sell a bet instead of the usual odds to back a bet. "I bet you won't get a bullseye"; "I bet you won't finish all that"; "They'll never win if he plays." The emergence of betting exchanges such as Smarkets have made lay betting more popular and helped change the way people gamble. Exchanges have paved the way for cash-out options, an in-play markets, which almost every major sportsbook now offers.
  4. How Matched Betting WorksLay betting is largely what makes matched betting possible, or at least much easier. Because matched betting relies on the punter placing bets on two opposite outcomes (a binary bet), one half of the bet will be a lay bet, most likely on an exchange. Working out how much to stake on each half of the bet – how much to back and how much to lay – is the tricky bit.That is where Profit Accumulator's betting calculator comes in particularly useful. Members can also access oddsmatching software, which will automatically flag up instances where they lay price is higher than the bookmaker price – an arbitrage bet opportunity.
  5. Learn About Profit, Liability And LiquidityThe most important thing to understand about laying a bet is that the profit (amount you could win) and liability (how much you could lose) are different to a traditional bet.Placing £10 on a 5/1 shot will win you a profit of £50. Straightforward.In effect, the formula is reversed when it comes to laying.To make a profit of £10, the layer would have to be willing to risk £50.Liquidity is the amount of money available to back or lay in a given market.This is because exchange betting is between users, rather than a better and bookmaker.The Premier League outright market has higher liquidityA volleyball market on Betfair with low liquidityThe amounts available will depend on how popular the markets are. For example, the amounts available on a Premier League football match are likely to be higher than a minority sport. When backing or laying, it is important to check there is enough liquidity in the market at the price you desire, otherwise some or all of your bet might not be ‘matched’.If you are new to exchange betting, Betfair have a very useful beginners’ guide available as an ebook.Betfair also has a ‘what if’ option, to allow you to test the outcomes of a bet and see whether your selection would return a profit or a loss.
  6. Discover That Lay Betting Guarantees a ProfitA little like hedging, lay betting can be used to reduce risk and, in some cases, guarantee a profit.A shift in circumstances and odds can present opportunity to lay a selection you have backed or vice versa. For example, you back a football match to be a draw at odds of 3.8 with a stake of £100 – the potential profit is £280. At half-time the game is still 0-0 and nothing much at happened, the odds of a draw will have shortened, say to 3.0.If you chose to lay at this price to win £126.67, your liability would be £253.34.If the match is a draw, you win £280 but lose £253.34 that you laid, meaning a £26.67 profit. If the match is not a draw, you win £126.67, minus your £100 stake, also resulting in a profit of £26.66. The fact that you are guaranteed to profit with matched betting makes it one of the best ways to make money online.
  7. Learn About Decimal OddsLay betting odds on exchanges are often displayed as decimals, rather than fractions favoured by most British bookmakers. Decimal odds are used because they are more accurate than fractional odds and offer more transparency to the user. If you are not used to dealing with decimal odds, they can look a little confusing.One aspect of decimal odds to understand is that the backer’s stake is included. So odds of 2.00 are evens (1/1), with the stake counting as 1.00 and odds of 3.00 is 2/1. To convert fractional odds to decimal, divide the first figure by the second figure and then add 1.00. For example, 11/4 is 11 divided by four, which is 2.75, plus 1.00, equals 3.75. To convert decimal odds to fractional, subtract 1.00 and convert to a fraction, reducing to the simplest form. For example, 1.75-1 = 75/100 or 3/4.

Example of Lay Betting

For example, instead of betting on (backing) Chelsea to win the Premier League, you lay Chelsea. This means you would win your bet if anyone other than Chelsea wins the title. Essentially, when you lay an outcome, you act like a bookmaker. You are betting against other users.

Lay Betting

Lay Betting is the option on Exchanges such as Betfair where punters can play the role of a traditional bookmaker but offering odds to sell a bet instead of the usual odds to back a bet. "I bet you won't get a bullseye"; "I bet you won't finish all that"; "They'll never win if he plays."

Learn About Betting Exchanges

Lay Betting is the option on Exchanges such as Betfair where punters can play the role of a traditional bookmaker but offering odds to sell a bet instead of the usual odds to back a bet. "I bet you won't get a bullseye"; "I bet you won't finish all that"; "They'll never win if he plays." The emergence of betting exchanges such as Smarkets have made lay betting more popular and helped change the way people gamble. Exchanges have paved the way for cash-out options, an in-play markets, which almost every major sportsbook now offers.

How Matched Betting Works

Lay betting is largely what makes matched betting possible, or at least much easier. Because matched betting relies on the punter placing bets on two opposite outcomes (a binary bet), one half of the bet will be a lay bet, most likely on an exchange. Working out how much to stake on each half of the bet – how much to back and how much to lay – is the tricky bit.

That is where Profit Accumulator's betting calculator comes in particularly useful. Members can also access oddsmatching software, which will automatically flag up instances where they lay price is higher than the bookmaker price – an arbitrage betting opportunity. Make sure to check out our beginners matched betting guide.

Learn About Profit, Liability And Liquidity

The most important thing to understand about laying a bet is that the profit (amount you could win) and liability (how much you could lose) are different to a traditional bet.

Placing £10 on a 5/1 shot will win you a profit of £50. Straightforward.

In effect, the formula is reversed when it comes to laying.

To make a profit of £10, the layer would have to be willing to risk £50.

Liquidity is the amount of money available to back or lay in a given market.

This is because exchange betting is between users, rather than a better and bookmaker.

The amounts available will depend on how popular the markets are. For example, the amounts available on a Premier League football match are likely to be higher than a minority sport. When backing or laying, it is important to check there is enough liquidity in the market at the price you desire, otherwise some or all of your bet might not be ‘matched’.

If you are new to exchange betting, Betfair have a very useful beginners’ guide available as an ebook.

Betfair also has a ‘what if’ option, to allow you to test the outcomes of a bet and see whether your selection would return a profit or a loss.

Discover That Lay Betting Guarantees a Profit

A little like hedging, lay betting can be used to reduce risk and, in some cases, guarantee a profit.

A shift in circumstances and odds can present opportunity to lay a selection you have backed or vice versa. For example, you back a football match to be a draw at odds of 3.8 with a stake of £100 – the potential profit is £280. At half-time the game is still 0-0 and nothing much at happened, the odds of a draw will have shortened, say to 3.0.

If you chose to lay at this price to win £126.67, your liability would be £253.34.

If the match is a draw, you win £280 but lose £253.34 that you laid, meaning a £26.67 profit. If the match is not a draw, you win £126.67, minus your £100 stake, also resulting in a profit of £26.66. The fact that you are guaranteed to profit with matched betting makes it one of the best ways to make money online.

Learn About Decimal Odds

Lay betting odds on exchanges are often displayed as decimals, rather than fractions favoured by most British bookmakers. Decimal odds are used because they are more accurate than fractional odds and offer more transparency to the user. If you are not used to dealing with decimal odds, they can look a little confusing.

One aspect of decimal odds to understand is that the backer’s stake is included. So odds of 2.00 are evens (1/1), with the stake counting as 1.00 and odds of 3.00 is 2/1. To convert fractional odds to decimal, divide the first figure by the second figure and then add 1.00. For example, 11/4 is 11 divided by four, which is 2.75, plus 1.00, equals 3.75. To convert decimal odds to fractional, subtract 1.00 and convert to a fraction, reducing to the simplest form. For example, 1.75-1 = 75/100 or 3/4.

Also read about make money from matched betting and extra place calculator