What happens if my bonus bet loses?

This is one of the most common concerns for people just getting started, and it is completely understandable. How can you make money if the bet doesn't win?

This is where matched betting is truly superior to other strategies.

When you place a back bet at a bookmaker using a bonus bet, you also place a lay bet on Betfair that covers the other outcome. If the bonus bet loses, the Betfair lay bet wins. As the bonus bet didn't use your own money, this leaves you with a profit.

If the bonus bet wins, the bookmaker pays out your winnings. You'll make a loss on the Betfair side, but because of the way the lay stake is calculated, this loss will be less than the winnings amount and you'll still be left with a profit.

The profit amount is the same either way. That is the whole point. Matched betting does not rely on your bonus bet winning or losing. The profit is locked in by covering both outcomes before the event starts.

Our calculators handle all of this automatically. Enter your odds and bonus bet amount and the calculator will show you exactly how much to lay and what your guaranteed return will be.