Betting Exchanges 2021
Are you a fan of sports betting but tired of the same old way of betting? If you were on the lookout for a better and more valuable way to bet on sports, you are in the right place. We examine the concept of betting exchanges and how they can help you win more and make better bets. Keep reading and find out more about the best alternative you can find to the traditional sports betting sites.
What is a Betting Exchange?
Sports betting is one of the favorite pastimes and hobbies of millions of people. However, there are many different ways to bet on sports. Most punters are used to traditional sportsbooks. Betting exchanges offer an alternative to the traditional way of betting in many ways.
The concept of a betting exchange is one that comes closest to two people betting against one another. Unlike a betting site where the bookie guarantees wins, an exchange simply facilitates betting between players. If one player bets on a certain outcome, another must match the bet from the other side in order for it to stand.
The betting exchanges only take a small portion of all bets made as a facilitation fee. For the actual players, this means better odds, bigger wins and oftentimes a chance to guarantee a small profit. A betting exchange is the playground of many successful sports bettors. For many reasons, professionals often turn to an exchange instead of a classic betting site.
If you have never encountered the concept of a betting exchange, we will explain it in more detail. The main differences between a betting exchange and a sportsbook are covered next.
Exchanges vs. Sportsbooks: Major Differences
Betting exchanges and sportsbooks are often run by the same operators. However, the two offer quite different experiences. While a sportsbook offers players a chance to bet against the actual operator, an exchange makes it possible for players to bet between themselves. This wagering is done through the process of backing and laying certain bets.
The major downside of a sportsbook can often be the inability to place large bets on certain markets. At an exchange, you can bet any amount you want. The only condition is that someone lays money against your bet. At large exchanges, it is often easy to find markets where massive bets can be made, especially on major sports betting events.
A betting exchange does not take any risk in taking players’ bets. Instead, it only facilitates the bets for the actual players. For this reason, the margins they take are smaller, and player profits often larger when their bets do land. This makes a betting exchange ideal for the more serious punters. To summarize, the main advantages of a betting exchange include:
- Ability to place large bets
- Larger winnings
- Bet “against” something happening
- Take advantage of shifting odds
- Guarantee wins with matched betting
All of this is not to say that classic sportsbooks are not still worth using. A betting exchange will not be a great place for players looking to bet on less popular games or markets. Likewise, accumulator betting is something that sportsbooks are still best for. In the end, the choice between an exchange and a sportsbook comes down to player’s preferences and betting style.
Backing & Laying at Sports Exchanges
We already mentioned the words backing and laying in this article. But what do they really mean in terms of betting exchanges? Backing means supporting a bet, like you would at a classic sportsbook. For example if you back Chelsea to win against Manchester United, you are simply betting on them to win the match. However, if you lay money on the same bet, you are betting that Chelsea will not win, regardless of the outcome.
When a player backs a bet at a sports exchange at certain odds, other players must lay money against this bet. Otherwise, the bet will not be taken or will only be taken in part. This is because the exchange will never pay any winnings out of its own pocket. Remember, you are betting against other players at a sports exchange, not against the operator.
The betting odds at a sports exchange are constantly shifting. If a person backs a bet at certain odds, the other side will need to lay the money to cover his potential winnings. However, punters can wait to lay money at better prices, making an exchange more similar to a stock exchange than a classic sportsbook. You can consider betting at a sports exchange similar to investing in a stock portfolio.
Matched Betting Explained
Betting exchanges open up room for an interesting concept called matched betting. Matched betting is 100% legal and allowed and it is a way to make a guaranteed profit with sports betting. Of course, there are some limitations to that, which we will cover in this section.
In order to make a matched bet, the player must cover all the possible outcomes of one betting market. However, this is done in a way where every outcome shows at least a slight profit. There are two ways this can be achieved. One is by backing a bet early and then laying money against your own bet later at better odds. The other, and safer way, is by placing a bet at a sportsbook and laying money against it at an exchange, when the odds are favorable enough so that the two bets cancel each other out, and show profit on top.
In order to be able to participate in matched betting, it is best to sign up to all the available betting exchanges in South Africa first. Secondly, you should have an account with many different sportsbooks. By monitoring the odds for some major games and markets, you can come across sure bets which simply require you to act fast and cover all the basis, thus guaranteeing yourself a profit. The concept is also known as arbitrage betting.
Sign up with a Betting Exchange Now
Betting exchanges offer a sports betting experience different to all others. The ability to wager against other players makes betting at an exchange more exciting and competitive. If you are looking to take your sports betting game to the next level, sign up to a betting exchange and explore this unique way of betting for yourself. Pick any exchange from our betting exchanges list and sign up for a free account now.
A betting exchange takes bets from players on both sides of a betting market. Players back bets to land and lay money against it, thus competing against each other. All bets must be covered by other players in order to be accepted and paid out and the exchange takes a small commission for facilitation.
There are many different betting exchanges that players can sign up with. However, it is best to sign up with one of the larger betting exchanges as liquidity is extremely important in this form of betting. All your bets must be matched by other players in order to be active, so make sure you choose a good exchange.
There are several ways one can win money at a betting exchange. The classic way is to simply back the bets you believe in. However, backing and laying bets can also lead to certain profit if done right, as you can use multiple bookmakers and exchanges to ensure profit regardless of a bet’s outcome.
There is no single betting exchange that can be considered the absolute best. However, any big betting exchange out there will satisfy the needs of most punters. The most important factor to look for in a betting exchange is certainly the liquidity, as more players means more wagers made on both sides of the betting markets.
While some bonuses are available at betting exchanges occasionally, you should not expect a classic bonus at most. This is because you are not wagering against the operator and bonuses are harder to justify in this case. Certain promotions do still exist at major exchanges.
