Matched Betting​

Content curated from and authored by Clear Data Sports

With middle betting, we are trying to thread the needle between two individual point spreads. It requires patience and deep knowledge of the sport. With matched betting, we are using two completely different betting services. It requires patience too, but almost no knowledge of the sport is necessary.

What Is Matched Betting?

Matched betting is a genius strategy in that it is completely risk-free. So in that respect, you can’t even call it gambling. Instead of trying to find a team in which to place a winning bet, you are instead hunting for the best free bet bonus being offered by online sportsbooks.

And the reason knowledge of the sport isn’t necessary is because once you find your free bet offer, you will be wagering equal amounts on both sides of the bet.

In that respect, this is another variation of hedging your bets, but you are only putting up half the stakes. The other half is being provided by the sportsbook.

How To Place A Matched Bet

The very first thing you need to do is find a free bet offer from a sportsbook and then research its details. Make sure you understand what is required to unlock the free bet. These may be time (30 days is standard), amount of the bet, and require the bet have odds at or above a particular threshold.

Then choose your wager that will unlock your free bet. If it’s a dollar-for-dollar match on a free bet up to $500, then bet the whole $500 (assuming you have the money to front the bet). But for the sake of this tutorial, let’s call it $100.

You place a $100 bet, and it unlocks a $100 free bet. Important to note: only choose bets with two possible outcomes. Futures bets do not work.

Now find the opposite bet at a betting exchange. At an online betting exchange, you bet against another person, and not against a sportsbook, so the juice you pay is less.

Then place exactly $100 on that opposite outcome. One of the bets will win, and one of the bets will lose, but you have a free $100 in your sportsbook account, thanks to the free bet.

Now that you have a free $100 to wager with, start looking for long odds. Make a longshot moneyline wager that potentially might pay big. If it hits, you can really score, and it loses, no big deal because you also covered yourself by betting the opposite.

Is Matched Betting Legal?

It may feel like you are exploiting a loophole in the system, but this strategy and these types of bets are completely legal wherever sports betting is legal.

You may find it harder to locate a legal sports betting exchange in your area, as they are limited in the United States. But in that case, you would just pay the extra juice and use another sportsbook to lay your matching bets (hopefully one that also comes with its own matching free bet).