You could keep betting up to £ at 3. What we are viewing is known as market depth and is a display of liquidity, being how much money can you get matched at the current odds. Each betting exchange site is slightly different and in this example we are going to use Betfair to show step by step how to place a bet:.
Choose the sport that you wish to bet from either the header if it is a major one such as football, horse racing, tennis, or golf, on the left hand sidebar which lists absolutely everything. Once in the relevant sports section, you will then have several options to help you find your desired match.
In this example for football Betfair have given quick links to what you are most likely to want. C: If you are betting on a niche game that does not fall into either of those categories then you also have a link to view All Football.
D: Helpfully if time is of the essence, they also list the major leagues where games are due to start next, so if it is 10 mins before kick off chances are the Premier League game you are looking for will be one click away shown in the middle of the page.
Once you see the game you want to bet on you click on it, which will bring up the betting menu for all the bets which can be placed on that match.
A: Match odds, this is who will win the game which is by far the most popular type of bet and why it has prominence. C: On the left you have the full list of everything which you can scroll through and click on the one you want to bring up the odds details.
For this example we have chosen the match odds, and there are 6 possible bets that we can make, three blue back bets, and three pink lay bets we will explain the difference shortly.
For this example we want to bet that Bayern Munich will win the game so we will click on the blue betting on their row, which is showing us odds of 1. The betslip will open with the odds entered for you.
All you have to do is put in your desired stake amount and click on the orange Place Bet button. This will submit your bet.
You will know if it has been confirmed and is definitely on as it will be displayed as a "matched bet" on your dashboard, as well as the market showing your Net positions.
Below is what your bet slip will look like when you place a back bet at any of the betting exchanges, they all have these three variables Back, Stake, Profit. If you were to bet £10 at 3. Once bets have been submitted and matched it is very important that they are matched then the betting interface helpfully displays in green and red your Net positions on the market.
This is all you have to do and all you have to know about to place a standard bookmaker back bet. However, someone once said, "A betting exchange is a tool for taking money from the impatient and giving it to the patient".
It is very true! Below we can see that you can actually control what odds you are willing to accept and can change the 3. That bet is now entered into the system and you can see it displayed in the "lay column" the red box now.
It is not matched yet, but it is there waiting for someone who wants to take a £10 bet on Bournemouth to win, to accept that bet. By accepting a Lay bet you are essentially acting as a bookmaker, and we will look at that now.
Betting exchanges allow normal punters to try their hand at being bookmakers and that is what "laying" bets is all about. The pink boxes are displaying how much money people are willing to bet on each outcome IF they get given the odds which they are asking for.
When you accept a lay bet you will need enough money in your account to cover the worst case scenario which can be a lot more than the stake amount you would be used to needing. Whoever accepts lays that bet though will need £ in their account, in case it has to be paid out as a winner. If it is not and the lay bet wins, then they can keep the £ You can see the match odds so what will the outcome of the match be between Norwich City and Wigan Athletic.
If you look at the draw you can see that someone or many people collectively want to bet £55 on the Draw IF someone will give them odds of 4. If you think that it will not be a Draw you can accept an amount of up to £55 on that and have it matched instantly. BUT remember you will need a lot more than £55 in your account to do so.
We have decided in this example to take somebody else's £10 bet on the Draw. To do that we are risking £31 as that is our liability the amount we stand to lose. You can see from the above image our Net outcomes. If it is a Draw then we lose £ If it is not a Draw, we do not care who wins, as long as somebody wins then we will profit £10 from this bet.
Because we are using a betting exchange site we do not have to accept somebody else's bet, we can actually act like a bookmaker and offer potential bets to other people. Instead of laying at odds of 4. This has a liability of £30 now, so it is better for us. The bet is not matched instantly but you can see that it is now available to anyone wanting to back the Draw, they can take our bet if they want to.
Because we are lay betting to submit any bet you will need an available balance large enough to cover your worst case result.
You can combine liabilities by laying more than one selection, but that is perhaps the topic for another day. With a betting exchange, it is possible to bet on almost anything, the only thing you can definitely not bet on is whether someone will die or not.
That is pretty much the only restriction there is. Other than that the exchange are likely to have a market for it if there are two or more people who want to bet on it, and if there is not the sport or event you want to wager on listed you can contact them and they will probably add it.
A few examples of sports with the most turnover amount of bets which you can also bet on are listed below. Remarkably, by a very very large amount, the most turnover ever on any exchange market ever has been the Presidential Election race between Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
This was three times as much as the next twice the next highest amount staked on a market which was just shy of £m on the previous US election in The main reason for this it must be said is that those figures record turnover, not exposure, and the majority of people betting on that market would be trading.
The backs and lays would cancel each other out of course so two £10 bets could cancel each other out but would still count as £20 in turnover. The other reason for such a vast amount of bets paced is the length of time the market was open for, the majority of events only see bets placed on them in a week or two window, the US Presidential election market was open and active for four years.
The largest amount ever placed on a Horse racing bet was the Diamond Jubilee stakes back in , £ Overall though the sport of horse racing has the most turnover on exchanges.
This is due to the sheer number of races being run all day, every day. Another major sporting event that receives a huge amount of bets every year is the NFL Superbowl. The regular season does not attract much betting attention but when the Superbowl is played, this becomes one of the most bet upon sporting events of the year.
There are not very many boxing matches, in comparison to sports like football, horse racing, etc, etc with hundreds of things to bet on every week. When there is a boxing card though, the headline events often attract big bets, very, very big bets, and by far the best value can be had on the betting exchanges.
When there is a large boxing event and you want to bet big you really have to do it at one of the betting exchanges. The last sport which we will look at, but certainly not the least is football , or soccer as some like to call it.
Betting exchanges list many many games from many more leagues in many more countries than other bookmakers. The main reason for this is of course that they themselves do not have to research and price up the markets, so it is of no risk to them to do so.
The same applies for the number of markets per game although many bookmakers now having "request a bet" is changing this. It is also likely that for the vast majority of games the betting odds will be better, certainly on the long shots, and in terms of betting limits, well there are none.
You will only be limited by the market liquidity but for a Premier League games this will be hundreds of thousands, if not millions of £s.
The above are just a few of the biggest exchange betting markets and some of the sporting highlights which can be bet on at the exchanges. In total there are around 30 sports listed across the four UK betting exchanges and they are:. American Football, Athletics, Aussie Rules, Baseball, Basketball, Boxing, Cricket, Cycling, Darts, Esports, Football, Gaelic Games, Golf, Greyhound Racing, Hockey, Horse Racing, Ice Hockey, Mixed Martial Arts, Motor Sport, NetBall, Politics, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Snooker, Special Bets, Swimming and Tennis.
Betting exchanges all have a huge amount of sports for you to bet on and then a huge amount of games for each sport and then again a huge amount of markets for every game. It is easy to get carried away and try exchange betting on everything there is and that is likely to be a mistake.
It is better to only place bets on sports that you have a thorough understanding of unless it is something you are watching and you are betting In play purely for fun. If you are taking your betting seriously then you will not have time to become an expert at everything so focus on the sports, the teams, and the players you follow closely.
Some people can be impulsive and rush in when it comes to placing bets. It is very likely and it is our experience that to be successful you need to be patient and watch the markets waiting for the odds to come to you and match your queued bets. If you are impatient then as we have said before you are just slowly giving your money to people who are patient.
The amount of statistics and data that is in the palm of your hands when you hold a smartphone, and available almost instantly at a few taps of the screen, is mind blowing. There is no reason not to do your homework and research the form, maybe the weather forecast, and certainly the news surrounding the teams or players you are betting on.
This information can have a huge impact on what odds you will accept, how much you will stake, and even if you will bet on that market at all. It is also important to research and know the ins and outs of all the best betting exchange sites so you can be fully in control of your bets.
It is a good idea to know exactly how to deposit quickly it may be important , how to navigate to your desired market, how to control the bet slip panel and how to know and check your current positions. Another thing that changes is when you are In play betting some sites match your bets after a set length of time delay and others wait for the end of that phase of play, knowing what happens at the bet exchange you are using is a good idea.
The layout of every betting exchange is slightly different so it is a good idea to know them all. This is not necessarily realistic.
Although it is possible and "some" people do it, yes sure, but it wont be you. It is like if your 10 year old cousin asks if one day he could be a Premier League footballer, it is possible, sure, but do not be so upset if you do not make it hey kid.
Whenever you lose and you care about it, have the rest of the day off. Never, ever bet when you are angry or emotional or wanting to win money back which has just been lost. Unlike a lot of other betting companies, Spreadex also provide a financial trading option for anyone interested in that sector.
Matchbook have a sterling reputation as one of the best in the business, and for good reason too. We love the fact that there are numerous betting markets available from all around the world, including all our favourites such as football, cricket, boxing, and golf.
The main site and the app are both aesthetically pleasing, not to mention technically sound. In addition, improved security measures such as SSL encryption and responsible gaming tools allow for greater peace of mind when placing bets.
For instance, their app now locks your account after three failed password attempts for greater protection; but worry not, if you've simply forgotten your details, all you have to do is contact customer service to get back in the game again.
For an overview of Matchbook's high levels of user satisfaction, simply check out the reviews on their app — you don't just have to take our word for it! Some of that satisfaction must be to do with their fantastically competitive commission policies, available on both the site and app.
There are also regular Bet10 Get10 promotions for existing customers on a variety of sports, including greyhound racing. Any losing bets will not be charged any commission. Make no mistake, in terms of both experience and generosity, Matchbook has few peers to contend with. Another highlight is the great number of statistical details available across their betting markets.
This doesn't extend just to sports, but also to the political sphere as well, with an exceptional coverage of political betting markets on elections around the world. This statistical focus offers a different angle to the usual betting exchange.
Smarkets use their vast knowledge to great effect, offering customers unique wagering opportunities alongside tactical advantages.
The sports betting available on the exchange is top-tier, with a broad variety of creative and interesting markets across a huge selection of leagues and sporting disciplines, livestreaming and bet builders to make things interesting. And all this is balanced out by a fantastically breezy and user-friendly site design, which somehow works even better on the app!
BETDAQ is one of the best betting exchange options for sports betting enthusiasts, mixing great site and app design, fantastically broad and detailed sports markets and coverage, and consistently generous promotions.
BETDAQ is commission-free on all markets apart from football, horse racing, greyhound racing, cricket, and virtual sports. Furthermore, apart from Betfair, BETDAQ is the only other betting exchange which offers a public API.
With a great range of sports betting markets and competitive odds, we rate BETDAQ as one of the top three on the market. They also have a separate website called BETDAQ Tips , where interested players can find detailed trading articles and the latest information about market movers.
Put simply, BETDAQ go above and beyond in terms of useability, promotions, statistics, competitive rates, and odds, all of which provide everything you need as a punter! Despite immense and growing competition, Betfair Exchange is still among the best in the industry.
The site houses one of the most extensive ranges of markets for platforms of its kind, along with some of the most competitive odds online. Because an exchange can provide more betting options the more people utilise them, part of their abundance of betting options therefore comes down to their sheer popularity, which is something very few others can compete with.
Betfair is considered the best betting exchange for backing with big stake liquidity , and are especially popular for their football and horse racing markets. Betfair Exchange also offer an API system and integrated trading tools, which enable you to gauge in-depth data for betting markets and help you determine how the odds are drifting, or may drift.
This is also made surprisingly easy on the app. You can argue — considering all the creative and statistical depth, alongside the sheer number of features and markets — that Betfair Exchange remain the absolute finest out there.
Use our handy hedge betting calculator to find out in seconds how much you can make when backing and laying on a bet exchange. There are a lot of elements to consider when choosing the right exchange platform to suit your own needs and preferences.
Here are our top tips for deciding which to use. When signing up for a betting site, prioritise value for money by choosing an exchange offering the best odds. To do this, carry out an odds comparison by using available services online or through personal analysis.
Our research reveals Betfair Exchange as the top choice for competitive odds in football and horse racing.
Remember, timing is crucial in exchanges due to fluctuating values. Are you a new customer? If so, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for top welcome offers across the board, which often include free bets.
Our research shows Betfair Exchange and Matchbook both offer a risk-free bet up to £20, refundable if the first wager loses. While standard in the industry, these offers are more competitive than others. If we had to choose between the two, Matchbook stands out for its overall product quality and recent improvements.
A great betting exchange offers a wide range of betting options beyond simple wagers on outcomes, matching the variety found in traditional sportsbooks. Betfair Exchange, with its established expertise, slightly edges out the competition in our assessment. Betting exchanges charge a commission for facilitating bets, but the rates vary.
The most competitive exchanges charge a low percentage only on successful bets. In this respect, BETDAQ stands out by offering zero commission on Saturdays, though it's unclear if this is a permanent feature at the time of writing. In a bit of a hurry? Our below table sums up the key features and benefits of the top betting exchange sites in the UK.
Before you try out exchange betting for the first time, be sure that you fully understand the concepts of backing, laying, and matched betting. Keep in mind also that different exchange sites come with varying commission rates.
If you are looking for high-stake liquidity, the best betting exchange for back bets in this regard is Betfair , while Smarkets is the best for lay bets. To mention yet another operator, BetConnect are a rather new exchange platform, having been launched in They are accepting commission-free lay bets, making their platform a rather intriguing prospect, to say the least.
As a summary, we've laid out the main differences between betting exchanges and conventional sportsbooks below. Meanwhile, exchanges charge a commission fee on winning bets that usually appears as a percentage e.
On a traditional sportsbook, the odds are fixed by the bookmaker themselves, and how competitive they are depends on the popularity of the betting market in question. On the other hand, at betting exchanges, you set the odds yourself, though the quality here also depends on the popularity of your chosen market, as you'll have to find someone to match the price you're offering.
A sportsbook does not involve the concept of backing and laying. Players bet on the outcome of an event as is provided by a betting site, and the platform has direct control over placed bets.
In contrast, at a betting exchange, you can choose to back or lay an outcome i. You will find reliable and verified information about betting exchanges on our site. Choosing the best betting exchange is the most important choice that every novice trader faces.
Many factors influence this choice which we will discuss below. First of all, let us show you the most popular lay betting sites that you should take into consideration.
We will present them later, as we want to point out that you should not be guided solely by the ratings. Before anything else, be sure to investigate the individual benefits that may significantly impact your choice. Betting exchanges, on the other hand, do not place bets themselves.
Instead, they rely on other customers to back and lay bets against each other. Sports exchanges are essential when using different strategies to make money trading.
The most popular strategy is, of course, matched betting , which yields a lot of profit if you prepare for it properly. Thanks to betting exchanges, we can easily place lay bets if we have previously placed a back bet at a traditional bookmaker. What is more, the exchange allows us to use other strategies such as scalping , swing trading, dutching and others.
Moreover, thanks to the markets on the exchange, we can find out how much money is going into a particular match. In case of huge interest and a lot of money in a lower league, we can deduce that:. In addition, on the exchange, we can also place our own — even higher — odds.
Whether they will be accepted or not depends on other players. This is a definite advantage, especially for those who make their money on sports trading. Lay betting is another positive aspect. It involves betting that an event will not happen. While we only place back bets with traditional bookmakers, the operator implicitly places a lay bet against us giving us their money.
At the exchange, we can bet both back and lay, which is a great advantage. You cannot bet that a given result will not take place at a bookmaker, can you?
The top 3 factors to consider when selecting a betting exchange. Putting liquidity at the top of the list is no coincidence.
It is the number one thing we should pay attention to from the very beginning. Liquidity refers to the total amount of money a gambler may bet on a specific betting exchange market.
This is the maximum amount that may be placed. A wager can only be matched if enough money is available to cover the opposite outcome. All other advantages will go to hell in a blink of an eye. For a fairer comparison of the exchanges placed on the podium, we present the liquidity on each exchange in the same market.
The rule is very simple and irrefutable — the more, the better. There are no exceptions. Trust the experts who have spent thousands of hours in online exchanges, and you will come out ahead.
The more markets you have, the more opportunities you have to trade, and therefore the greater your chances of making a profit. Online betting exchanges have one of the most diverse selections of markets to bet on.
From major sporting events to reality television, you can wager on almost everything that has a market available. When choosing the right exchange for us, we should pay attention to the number of available markets in the sport on which we will place the most bets.
Making money by sports trading is mainly about taking advantage of the best possible odds. The number of markets was checked at p. Unfortunately, the three zeros in the Betdaq column is not a mistake. As we all know, exchanges charge their customers with betting exchange fees in the form of commission.
The commission is only charged on the net winnings of bets. Yes, it is important, but not as much as the previous points. Hey, wait a minute! Pfft, and they call themselves experts? However, the critical factor in evaluating commission rates is in terms of playing on the exchange for an extended period of time.
Any offers and promotions that reduce commissions can be considered as an additional opportunity to maximize profits.
Hey, hold on! How is it possible?
The Smarkets betting exchange allows you to back and lay with the best betting odds and lowest commission on all major sports and politics Join BETDAQ for all your online betting! ✓BETDAQ Exchange ✓Sportsbook ✓Casino ✓New Customers Offers Best Sports Betting Exchange Sites in the UK – Reviewed · Spreadex · Matchbook · Smarkets · BETDAQ · Betfair Exchange. Betfair Betting Exchange