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What is Matched Betting?

Matched Betting Explained

There are plenty of sports betting strategies for players in the US to choose from, but none are quite as effective as the matched betting strategy where players can all but ensure a profit.

If you need matched betting explained to you, you have come to the right place. In this matched betting explained guide, we take you through the finer details of how to use a matched betting strategy and the steps you will need to take to use it effectively. We even give you an alternative betting strategy to use as well and explain why you need it.

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Matched betting meaning and how it works

Having matched betting explained to you is actually not as difficult as you might think. The concept can appear foreign and strange to those that have never seen it, but in reality, it's actually quite simple. There are just a few things to remember to make sure that you execute a matched betting strategy correctly. So, how does no risk matched betting work?

Well, matched betting is relatively straightforward and it can be the most profitable betting strategy. The premise of the strategy is for players to ensure that they walk away with a guaranteed profit. How can you possibly guarantee a profit when it relates to sports gambling though? With relative ease, actually. If you know what to do.

Matched betting explained - getting started

When it comes to matched betting, sure wins are what you are looking for. The key lies in placing a back bet and a lay bet. A back bet is your standard type of bet, you place your wager on a team to win a match. Simple. On the other hand, a lay bet is when you are placing a wager on a team to lose. You will thus place a back bet and a lay bet on the same match to make sure you are covering both outcomes but on two different platforms. You will place your back bet with a standard online sportsbook and your lay bet with what is known as a betting exchange. However, that is not where the matched betting strategy ends.

In order to ensure that you are making a profit, a matched betting strategy requires that you make use of free betting picks today, either for new players or for existing customers on these sportsbook platforms.

Something to keep in mind here is that you will have to place a qualifying bet before you get your hands on your free bet offer. The key point here is that you are going to take a small initial loss on your qualifying bet in order to get access to the free bet offer. Don't let that dissuade you though as you will be getting that loss back and a profit with your matched betting strategy once you claim the free bet offer.

The finishing touches

You will use your newly acquired free bet bonus on your back bet at a standard online sportsbook and then place your lay bet on the same match but with a betting exchange. This means you have 2 separate bets (one backing and one laying) with 2 different sportsbooks (a standard sportsbook and a betting exchange). The trick is to make sure that the odds and spreads you are placing your bets on at least amount to decent value or at the very least some kind of profit. You do not need to be a sports betting math genius because you can do this by using a matched betting calculator. This will make your life so much easier and will show you exactly how much you need to wager in order to ensure that you make a prior from your matched bet.

So follow our simple steep and very soon you will be a master of how to win at betting every time.

Matched betting explained in steps:

Let's take a summarized look at what matched betting is in brief steps:

  1. Sign up for an online sportsbook that offers a free bet bonus
  2. Use a matched betting calculator to help you find the most valuable odds and spreads for your matched betting strategy.
  3. Then claim the bonus and place your qualifying bet
  4. Once the bet settles, place your newly acquired free bet offer on a match
  5. Then sign up to a betting exchange and place a lay bet on the same match (covering both outcomes)

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This is unfortunately where things get tricky. While you can have matched betting explained to you in full, you won't actually be able to use this strategy at this point in time in the US. There is no law that expressly says that matched betting is illegal;  however, there are no betting exchanges available in the US.

A betting exchange cannot operate across state lines due to federal law in the US. The fact that player bases are fairly small in the grand scheme of things in each state, there is no viability for a betting exchange to exist at this point in time. As such, there is no possibility for players in the US to execute a matched betting strategy as there is no platform for them to palace their lay bet with. This is simply the current reality of betting exchanges in the US right now.

Is this ever going to change?

It is always difficult to speculate on what may or may not happen in the future, especially when it comes to US gambling laws. We love a good winning betting strategy which is why we are still holding hopes for a change to the laws in the future. For now, though, this law is unlikely to change for some time as there aren't even any talks to make amendments to the federal law at present. So, where does that leave sports betting fans in the US that are looking to use a matched betting strategy? Well, while having matched betting explained is still a good thing for you to keep in your back pocket, you will be needing an alternative that can be used in the US at present.

A matched betting alternative - expected value betting

There is another approach that US sports betting fans can take in place of a matched betting strategy. This alternative is known as E.V. betting or expected value betting. In a nutshell, expected value betting is a way to measure the probability difference between a bettor's expectations and the sportsbook.

Sports betting expert picks are always trying to find value in the odds and spreads with a sportsbook (or at least you should be). Expected value betting is the best way to try and make sure that you are making a profit over time (EV+). Where your average bettor is going to scramble through the odds and spreads at the last minute to try and find a suitable bet, an expected value bettor is going to analyze the odds on matches at the earliest opportunity. This gives them more time to find out if a certain set of odds and spreads is overvaluing or undervaluing a team or player. The sportsbooks can adjust theirlines as a match approaches its starting time which means that you could miss out on a value bet if you are not looking carefully.

There are plenty of factors to consider with positive E.V. betting which we address in a specific guide on our site. For now though, it's important to know that this is easily your best alternative to matched betting in the meantime. Expected value betting may not be the flashiest betting strategy and it may not even pay off big in the immediate term, but it is far and away the best approach for successful long term betting. Remember, online sports betting is a marathon, not a sprint.

Conclusion to our matched betting explained guide

Now that you have had matched betting explained to you, you will be ready should the day come where you can use this strategy in the US. You may even find yourself outside of the US in a country where you can employ the strategy, who knows. At the very least, you know the ins and outs of how to make money with sports betting by using a matched betting strategy at this point.

And while it may be disappointing that you can't use this kind of strategy in the US right now, remember that you can always use the expected value betting approach instead. Expected value is a fantastic alternative to matched betting and gives players that chance to improve their overall profits in the long term by assessing where sportsbooks have potentially undervalued or overvalued certain teams and players on their site.

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Matched betting explained FAQ 

As we have seen by now, the US can be a tricky place to understand all of the laws for online sports betting. Each state has the ability to make its own laws when it comes to sports betting. So, you need to understand where you can legally place your sports bets but then you also need to know if using a matched betting strategy is legal within these legal states as well. It may seem like a lot for you to take in but fear not, our matched betting explained guide will shed some light on the matters so that you know exactly where you stand with this kind of betting strategy.   

❓Is it easy to use this kind of betting strategy?

Every sports betting strategy has its own strengths and weaknesses. These strategies can also sometimes be better suited to more experienced players than newbie sports betting fans. Knowing which is which isn't all that difficult if you know what you are looking out for. As such, our matched betting explained guide shows you where your average matched betting strategy falls on this scale. If you are a new betting fan, you'll know if this is a betting strategy you can use by the time you finish reading.   

💲Can I use this strategy with a bonus offer as well?

There is nothing like getting your hands on a juicy welcome bonus when signing up to a new online sportsbook in the US. These offers can often be used in conjunction with your betting strategies to help you bring about a successful wager. However, not all betting strategies can be used with a bonus offer which is why our matched betting explained guide makes sure to shed some light on whether or not you can use a matched betting strategy with your average new customer offer on these sites. 

⚽Do I need a specific sportsbook to use this strategy with?

Some sports betting strategies will require you to use a sportsbook that gives you certain tools to use or at the very least, that doesn't restrict you from using certain betting types. If you are looking to use a matched betting strategy, you may need to find an online sportsbook in the US that allows you to do certain things without impediment. Our matched betting explained guide will let you know what kind of online sportsbook you should be using if you are trying to execute a matched betting strategy with your bets.

💵Do I need a large bankroll to use a matched betting strategy?

There are certain sports betting strategies that will require you to front up a decent amount of your own capital to make the strategy work in the long term. Of course, there are also strategies that require nec to no capital investment on your rpart. The point is, there are varying degrees in terms of bankrolling these strategies. Our matched betting explained guide to using a matched betting strategy will shed some light on what kind of the bankroll you might need to make this type of betting strategy work properly.   

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