I still use this strategy from time to time, or when I got a decent free over from a bookmakers. But I did used a long period of time this strategy, in by betting starting days to get some free money. This helped me in my learning process and build my bankroll faster.
In the following article I will talk about my matched betting experience, about Match Betting Strategy as it was in the past, as it is in 2025, about the strategies drawbacks, and why I recommend it only in the beginning of your betting career.
What is Matched Betting Strategy ?
Matched Betting Strategy is the process of placing strategic bets to win regardless of the outcome. Most matched betting strategies involve taking advantage of free bets, which are commonly found through sign up and bonus offers.
In sport betting , bookies are offering betting bonuses to encourage new players to sign up for their platform or to keep their existing customers. Cash bonuses (ex : deposit 100 euros and get 100 bonus money ) need rollovers and it will help you in different strategies like Value Betting and Betting The Draw Strategy. Free bets also can be transformed in easy money if is done right. You only need some patience to learn and some knowledge. Then , it’s easy and not time consuming.
Matched Betting Strategy – How it works ?
Let’s work with an example : A bookmaker will give you a FREE 10 euro bet IF you place 10 euro bet on any event (or a specific event). But the trick is.. we don’t want to lose our initial qualifying bet of 10 euros, which is placed with our money.
To execute a Matched Betting Strategy, we need to place an arbitrage bet , on the same betting line, but on another bookmakers (not the same, of course) . For example :
– if you put initial qualifying bet on a player in a tennis game, you will look to bet the other player, on another bookmaker website, in such manner to obtain a profit or take a very small loss.
– in a hockey game you want to place the bet on Over 4.5 line , you will need to “cover your bet” using another bookie and place a UNDER 4.5 goals bet to make a sure bet.
– let’s say you want to put your money on a football HOME team to win, on a 1X2 line.. then, to be covered, you need to place a LAY bet on home team, on a betting exchange. You also have the option to cover your bet, using the DOUBLE CHANCE X2 (on another soft bookmaker, or using a sharp bookmaker ) to cover the both outcomes of this particular betting line.
When you receive the free bets into your account at initial bookmakers you’ll have 2 options:
1) To bet those free bets like that bookmaker hope, in such manner so you will lose : betting them on accumulator like normal punter.
2) To repeat the process described above, and get your hands on some easy money.
So, you maybe notice that Matched Betting Strategy is a MIXTURE between two strategies : Bonus Hunting Strategy and Arbitrage Betting Strategy. I suggest to read both articles, to make you familiar with both concepts:
Bonus Hunting Strategy – Full Professional Guide
Arbitrage Betting Strategy – Become a Professional Bettor
Matched Betting Strategy – How Profitable ?
But Bookies offer small free Bets, how matched betting strategy can be profitable ? . Yes, bookmakers (especially soft bookmakers) are offering between 10-50 euros in free bets. But do not forget some essential things :
Matched Betting Strategy – Still working in 2005?
Of course, sportbookies don’t like those bettors that hunt only for the welcome bonuses (cash or free bets) , open an account , take the bonus and leave. To limit this hunting for bonuses, bookies have implemented “harder to take” bonuses , ask for more documents for new players, or develop softwares that discover pattern and habits of player that open new accounts only for the purpose of taking the bonus, and leave their platform. We will talk about all of those.
However , taking FREE bets it’s easy, don’t require extra knowledge, but the basics, and don’t require too much time.
Matched Betting Strategy mixed with other strategies !
In my opinion this is a method to squeeze the most “juice” from this strategy . I wrote above how I combined this strategy, with Betting on Draw strategy.
1. Let’s say you want to test a strategy – What better way to test this without your money ?
OK, so you’d read a lot of articles, a lot of advices, you analysed a lot of statistics in order to create your own strategy. After you tested on paper, you have so positive results, so you decide to test it on money. Of course, you need some betting accounts, so why you don’t take advantage of sign-up offers cash money or FREE bets. This way, you got yourself some extra money to test your ideas.
2. Betting on our strategies or tips.
Ok, you’ve read about our strategies, and you decide to start betting on a strategy , on Value Betting , or Betting on Draws strategy, or just placing bets after our tips. You need bookmakers accounts and you need a bankroll, right ? So, , take advantage on their welcome bonuses and Free Bets. This way :
- if the bets / tips are winners , will win even more money
- if the bets / tips don’t win, you still don’t lose money, because you took advantage of FREE bets
On What Sports can I use the Bonuses ?
Basically , you need to read the bonus and FREE bets rules very carefully. Usually, you can bet on any sport, but bookmakers will announce if they offer the FREE BETS of football, or tennis or other Sports. Some bookmakers are offering free bets on Horse racing for example. Especially for those free bets, you need a betting exchange account to successfully make a matched betting, by laying your bet.
Some bookies are offering just for PRE-MATCH bets, for example. Some of them, offer FREE bets only for LIVE betting. You need to know this details. To place the opposite bet on LIVE bets, it’s the same process, but you need to move quicker, as the odds move faster or specific events can appear in a live game (goals, penalties or red cards).
Also, a lot of bookmakers are requiring a minimum odd to place your qualifying bet or your FREE bet . Some of the bookies can ask a roll-over of the winnings of a FREE bet 1-2-3 times. You will use the same tactic for this , finding a betting market where to place your arbitrage bet for cover the other possible outcome !
FREE Bets – Existing Customers
Bookmakers don’t give FREE bets only for new members. They use to throw those FREE offers for existing members quite often ! I had accounts at some bookmakers than gave me 10-20 euros FREE bets each week. Betano is such example. Especially when big fixtures occur, like big Premier Leagues games. Bookmakers like Unibet are giving free bets for big tennis tournaments. Don’t miss those, as they are easy , very easy to take.
Depending on your location or your betting habits, soft bookmakers are giving free bets on your favourites sports, even on horse racing events, like Cheltenham offers.
This is another way to get some extra cash. Personally, over time, I took more free bets from already opened accounts at different bookies, than from opening new accounts at new bookmakers. Why ? Because while bookies KNOW that professional bettors use this matched betting strategy, they don’t really know who is using this strategy of matched betting. This, of-course if you use your head , or, my knowledge. And I will share my MATCHED BETTING SECRET TRICKS with you for FREE at the end of this article.
Pros and Cons of Matched Betting Strategy
Let’s start with the Pros:
1) It is VERY profitable if combined with additional strategies . I recommend to do this , because it will help you with increasing your bankroll very fast. Bankroll that you can use then of other strategies, like arbitrage betting or value betting.
2) It is VERY profitable when using different websites or tools that collect ALL free bets offers from different bookmakers . This way you’ll have all the offers in one place, just ready for you to collect them. This will save you precious time than if you’d search for new offers everyday by visiting bookmaker’s websites, or search them with google. This means only one thing: More money in your wallet ! I will describe this tools after the disadvantages of this matched betting strategy, which are not too many.
3) It is maybe the EASIEST Betting Strategy you can find. So, it is recommendable for bettors with less experience, and wants to make some extra-cash. Also it can be used in your free time, don’t require too much time, even if you search offer manually. If you use those websites that collects the offers for you, in 30-60 minutes per day it can make you more money than if you go to a daily job.
4) It’s is RISK FREE . When done correctly, you cannot lose money. Why ? Because rather be a betting per-say , you in fact are using a mathematical method to cover your other outcome possibility, so your bet cannot lose ! The only way you can loose, is by your human error, for example , if you cover on another game by mistake, or using another betting market. Don’t laugh, it happening even to be to place my FREE bet on Over 2.5 goals line.. and on the other website to cover my bet on UNDER 1.5 goals betting line. And ofcourse , the match ended exactly in a 1-1 stalemate , making me to lose both bets !
5) It is LEGAL. Well, bookmakers can cry as much as they can if they don’t like their members to take advantage of their bets in this way, but IT IS NO LAW IN ANY COUNTRY OF THE WORLD TO FORBID THAT! I sometimes check blogs and website that provides security software / updates / informations for bookmakers platforms and websites. Also that is why I know so many things to avoid some of them restrictions.
And they ADMIT that these strategies are LEGAL (matched betting strategy, arbitrage or value betting) . But still they add them rules and conditions and penalties against bettors that use them, in their rules and ToS (Terms of Service). They can limit those accounts that use different strategies, but in the eye of the LAW OF ANY COUNTRY, using any of these strategies are perfect legal !
6) Low Startup Costs. With a modest initial investment of as little as 50-100 euros, almost anyone can enter the world of matched betting. It is one of the most accessible and cost-effective side hustles in the betting world.
7) Highly Flexible: Matched betting is entirely flexible to your schedule, lifestyle and location. You can make money from matched betting anywhere with an internet connection
Now, let’s see the Cons:
1) You need to use another bookmaker where to place your opposite bet to cover your qualifying of free bets. Preferably to have account at at least one betting exchange and / or sharp bookmaker. Also having an account with a betting broker will be a HUGE advantage. I will explain in a minute why.
2) FREE bets are offered in a HUGE procent (maybe 99%) by soft bookmakers. Betting exchanges rarely give free bets, and I personally never saw FREE bets offered by sharp bookies.
3) Sometimes bookmakers require documents and KYC verification for newly created betting accounts, especially if they think the account was created only for the purpose of bonus hunting. We will lose some time when sending those.
4) To create accounts and to manage them, it’s time consuming. I suggest keep a strong evidence of all your account details in excel files
Tools used for Better Strategy.
In chapter I will provide you with some tools and websites that help you to give to this Matched Betting Strategy, a new dimension. These websites collect all the offers from different bookies, and present them to you in one place. This will help you :
- take more free bets than if you’d search for offers manually. This means MORE MONEY
- save your time. This means MORE MONEY for you
- they give you access to trials offers when you can make very quick 30-60 euros , to test them. Some of them give possibility on FREE accounts, but limited offers are presented there.
- access to updates / news regarding the bookmakers environment. Also some of them have members forums where you can learn from other bettors experience, enhancing your own knowledge.
Now, let’s see which are those websites / tools:
1) OddsMonkey (From £21 / month, Free trial available) – Read Review Here
2) Outplayed (From £29.99 / month, Free Trial Available) – Read Review Here
3) ProfitDuel (US Only, From 41 $ / month) – Read Review Here
EXTREM Match Betting Strategy – 8 SECRET TIPS and TRICKS
For a limited time, we will offer those TIPS and TRICKS for free for our members. These tips and tricks are based on our experience of 15 years in applying almost all strategies that can exist in betting.
Why it is important to learn from our betting experience ? Well, for several reasons, actually:
1) to enhance your knowledge
2) save time in the learning process
3) to not repeat our mistakes
4) to avoid as much as possible limitations by soft bookmakers.
OK, so let’s begin !
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1 / 8) In Match Betting Strategy you need many bookies accounts, so keep evidence
You may remember username and password for 3-4 bookies, but when you have like 50 opened accounts at different bookies , you’ll lose credentials for sure. Make an excel file and keep records for each bookie that you have account with. Keep details like username, secret questions and answers for security, in fact, every details about that account.
For those who are really committed to apply this strategy in a professional way, I suggest to keep track of bets / profits / all activity in an excel file. This is coming in handy in the learning process , help a lot at overall performance and helps improvement of the strategy.
2) Verify your email on daily basis !
Many of the bookies keep giving you free bets on weekly basis, or when big events or tournaments are having place ! I always verify my email , because I have accounts with tons of bookies, and daily I receive offers from some of them ! If you add them up, in a month, you will notice HUGE increases in your revenue.
3) NEVER Use same bookmaker to place your insurance bet !
When you place your insurance bet (opposite bet to cover the other outcomes ) , use different bookmaker , not that one who gave you the free bet ! It is better in fact to know what bookmakers are owned by the same company. For example, if you get a free bet and place it on a betting line on BWIN, do NOT place the insurance bet on Gamebookers. Their owner is the same, so may share the same user database, or exchange informations between them. They will notice your strategy 100% !
4) In fact, use A BETTING EXCHANGE or a BETTING BROKER to place your insurance bet !
This way you will be sure 100% that they not exchange data information with the bookmaker that gave you the free bet offer ! You can also use SHARP BOOKMAKERS .
5) Another TIP to avoid detection from Bookmakers :
If possible, use TWO devices (PC , laptop, tablet, phone) with TWO different IP’s for this strategy :
– One device is used for managing the bookmakers that give you free bets, for those accounts, and use that device placing the FREE bets or qualifying bet.
– Another device with a different IP, keep it ONLY for placing the insurance bet on the betting exchanges or using a betting broker, which I recommend the most (I will explain why at point 6)
You may ask why. Well, that is to avoid the bookmaker ability to see what other pages you have opened in the same time. Some of them have scripts that can do that, it’s easy. So, if they can see that you have an opened a betting exchange page in the same time, they may think you are using this Matched Betting Strategy. They will stop giving you FREE BETS, or, in rare cases, they can limit your account.
6) The best way to place an insurance bet is with a BETTING BROKER
I am using this solution. Works BEST for me. If you’d read the BETTING BROKER explanation article, you will understand:
– Using a broker agent, I will have access to more sharp bookies and betting exchanges
– I use only one agent account for more bookies, so… the wallet is only one, so all money comes into only one account It is easy to manage, no need to transfer between accounts.
– Having access to more low-margins bookmakers, help me to place my insurance bet quickly, and with a small profit , on a small loss (1-2%, I can live with that)
– Betting brokers DO NOT SHARE your details regarding your bets, with NOONE. So, you are safe, if you wager your FREE BETS on the biggest games, on main lines, NO bookmaker will know that you apply this strategy.
7) Don’t lose time looking for the perfect arbitrage bet !
Exactly this is the difference between Arbitrage Betting Strategy and Matched Betting Strategy . In arbitrage betting, your arb need to be as biggest as possible in percent . You don’t usually place arbs with under 1% profits..
In Matched Betting , personally , I don’t care about the sure bet’s profit percentage. I place it on even , or (usually) I take a small loss. Why ? because it is FASTER !
You can take 10 Free bets in 1 hour , searching for each FREE bet the perfect arbitrage bet, with profit of 1-2%.. Or.. you can place 30 free bets in 1 hour, placing them on not-so-perfect arbitrage bets, with some decent losses.
For example : You place a FREE 10 euro bet , on Over 2.5 goals, on odd 2 . So, to get even, you need to place the insurance bet on Under 2.5 , at MINIMUM odd 2.
But what is happening when I place on a betting exchange or at a betting broker , the same bet, on odd 1.95 ?
This will happen : We will take a 25 cents loss in the arbitrage bet. We just made 10 easy euros, so , what is the problem in taking a 25 cents loss ? Seriously ?
If you follow all these guidelines, and use an website (like OddsMonkey, ProfitDuel or Outplayed) that give you all offers on a plate, into your account, like I described above, if you don’t lose time with finding the perfect arbs, you will see that you will place like 50 free matched bets in 1 hour. Oh, I forgot , you will need a subscription for those websites platform, which is like 20-30 euros per month . Which will be paid in first 2-3 free bets, in like.. 5 minutes , for god sake 🙂
8) Use high odds for FREE bets. Loose them !!!
What ???? This is my prefered method, friends ! Choose to bet your qualifying bet on odds minimum 5 . I use odd 7-8 or even more. Why ? Well, most of the offers give you free bet, IF YOU LOSE your qualifying bet. I do the same with the FREE BETS that I receive . I place it on odds MINIMUM 7-8 . This way , I transfer all the money, and all the Free bets value, into my betting exchange or into my betting broker account. They don’t care anyway how much I win or withdraw ! They don’t limit me !
Example : If I bet on the underdog in a tennis game or whatever, on odd 10, I will place my bet using a betting agent on the favourite, on odd 1.11 to break even , and I tell you , in 95% of the situations, I will find that odd !
For covering my FREE 10 euro bet , I need to place an insurance bet at my Broker Agent, or a betting exchange of 90 Euros, on odd 1.11
But, mathematically, in 9 from 10 situations, I will WIN the bet at the betting broker, transfering my money there. What is happening then with my bookmaker account where I lost my free bet ? Well, the bookmaker will see how unlucky I am , and they will give me another free bet in 1 week or so. That’s verified by by me hundreds of times.
What will happen if I win the FREE bet on odd 10, in my bookmaker’s account ? Nothing, you will receive 90 euros, because this is the real winning, and it’s like you just transferred 90 euros from your betting broker account. If you don’t need to rollover that winning, you can withdraw it right way, you were just a lucky winner of an 10 odd . If you have another strategies that you apply, use those money, this way , bookmaker will see activity on your account, so… more FREE bets will be coming your way !
Alright .. that being said.. happy hunting for free bets !
