Lay betting is a powerful yet underappreciated strategy in the world of sports betting. Unlike traditional bets where you support an event to occur, here, you bet against an outcome. You take on the role of the bookmaker. If the event you bet against does not happen, you collect the winnings.
When you place a lay bet, you are wagering on the "non-victory" of a team, horse, or athlete. For example, in a horse race with 10 horses, by placing a lay bet against a specific horse, you win as long as that horse does not finish first. If you bet against a football team, you are betting against their victory, and a draw or loss will earn you money.
The great advantage of lay betting is that you cover multiple outcomes: as long as your selection does not win, you win. For example, in a football match between Manchester City and Chelsea, a lay bet on Manchester City means you win if Chelsea wins or if the match ends in a draw. This is a bet against a single outcome, so the probability of success is often higher than that of a traditional bet.
A key aspect of lay betting is the concept of liability. Unlike traditional betting where you stake a fixed amount with multiple potential winnings, here, you risk an amount based on the odds you set. For example, if you bet €100 against a team with odds of 4.00, your liability is €300 (100 x (4.00 - 1)). This means that if that team wins, you must pay €300 to the bettor who took your bet.
To succeed in lay betting, it is essential to effectively manage your liquidity. The key is to balance your funds to cover your potential liabilities. For example, when placing the previous lay bet with a liability of €300, you must ensure you have enough funds to cover that amount in case of a loss. This rigorous management minimizes risks and optimizes your returns.
Betting on a lay bet is only possible on a betting exchange platform such as Orbit Exchange, Betfair, or Betdaq. I have made a list here.
Indeed, these platforms act as intermediaries that organize the buying and selling of odds, creating a kind of market for sports odds. You can back an odds, meaning you buy it like on a traditional bookmaker, or sell it with the lay.
In blue, you bet normally; in pink, you sell the odds. The numbers under the odds are the sums of the liabilities of the bettors already engaged.
I have prepared a broader explanation of betting exchanges here. The exchange platforms are not accessible from all countries, and the best one, in my opinion, which is Orbit Exchange, is only accessible with a sports betting broker.
Here is the list of brokers I recommend:
| Rank | Name | Summary | Rating | Available Bookmakers |
View |
| 1 |
BetInAsia review
|
Trade at the best odds in real-time | 9/10 | Betfair, Pinnacle, SingBet, BetISN, Matchbook, SboBet, 3et... | Visit |
| 2 |
AsianConnect review
|
The reliable choice | 8/10 | Pinnacle, Sbobet, SingBet, Orbit + AsianOdds | Visit |
| 3 |
Madmarket review
|
The best compromise | 8/10 | Access to betting exchange with Orbit & Pinnacle through Probet42. Best real-time odds with Edge. 100% crypto. | Visit |
| 4 |
SportMarket review
|
Best odds guaranteed | 7/10 | Betfair, Betdaq, Ga288, IBC, ISN, Matchbook, Pinnacle, SBO, Singbet, ... | Visit |
A broker is an intermediary that provides access to betting exchange platforms as well as the best odds from a dozen partner Asian bookmakers in real-time, along with other services like Skype Betting or private access to certain operators. A sports betting broker does not limit the stakes of players and accepts winning bettors. You will not pay more in fees, and may even pay less. For example, Orbit Exchange takes liquidity from Betfair with a 3% commission instead of 5%. Registration is free.
One of the greatest advantages of lay betting is that you have a higher chance of winning, as you are betting against a specific outcome. In markets with three possible results (like football), you cover two outcomes with your lay bet. This increased probability of success attracts many professional bettors, especially when they detect an overestimation of the odds on certain teams or athletes.
Moreover, with betting exchanges like OrbitX, you often benefit from better odds than those offered by traditional bookmakers. Exchanges operate in a free market where bettors compete to offer the best odds. Thus, you can often find more profitable opportunities than on standard betting platforms.
However, lay betting is not without risks. The need for a large reserve of funds to cover potential losses can be a barrier for some. If you place a lay bet at high odds, you will need to tie up a significant amount to cover your liability.
Another disadvantage is the dependency on matching bets. On a betting exchange, for your lay bet to be validated, another bettor must accept your bet by backing it. If no one takes your bet, it will not be counted, which can be frustrating.
To succeed in lay betting, you need to spot opportunities. This involves:
By placing a "back" bet on a traditional bookmaker and a lay bet on an exchange, you ensure coverage of all outcomes and can cash in on bonuses. This requires specific tools to accurately calculate stakes, but it is a proven method for generating consistent profits, especially for seasoned bettors.
If you have any other questions, write to me at [email protected] or participate in the forum on Betting Exchange.