Back and lay betting
Here's what happens to your money when you back and lay the same team.
A £10 example
Back Team A at the bookie, then lay Team A on the exchange. Both bets are on the 90-minute result, including stoppage time but not extra time.
We'll use 2% exchange commission and assume you have no other bets in that exchange market. Use your own account's rate when you calculate a real bet.
- Back £10 at 3.00.
- Lay odds: 3.05.
- Lay stake: £10 × 3.00 ÷ (3.05 − 0.02) = £9.90, rounded to pennies.
- Liability: £9.90 × (3.05 − 1) = £20.30, rounded.
You need £10 at the bookie and about £20.30 at the exchange. It's the liability you need in your exchange balance, not just the £9.90 lay stake.
What happens next?
| Result | Bookie profit/loss | Exchange profit/loss | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team A wins | +£20.00 | −£20.30 | −£0.30 |
| Team A draws or loses | −£10.00 | +£9.70 after commission | −£0.30 |
Either way, this pair costs about 30p. The bookie's £30 payout includes your £10 stake, so the profit there is £20. The £20.30 liability covers the exchange loss; you don't pay it twice. Rounding can make a penny's difference.
Placing the bets
Check the same match, team, market and settlement rules on both sites. Make sure the prices are still available for your stakes.
After placing the back bet, check what the bookie accepted. Then place the calculated lay and confirm it's fully matched. Clicking to place a lay doesn't mean someone has matched all of it.
Already backed, but the lay odds moved?
Keep the back bet's actual odds and stake. Recalculate for that same bet using the new lay price and any lay stake already matched. Don't pick a new team or place the back bet again.
If you're unsure what's already placed or how much you could lose, pause and ask support with both confirmations.
Free bets use different maths. Next: Complete your first offer.