After finding out about the potential goldmine that is matched betting, many people want to know: can you do matched betting long term?
The answer is yes – and no. Plenty of matched bettors have been at it for years, and there’s no reason why you couldn’t do the same.
However, you need to be aware that it does get harder (and generally less profitable) as time goes on, and eventually, most people reach a point where the money dries up.
But don’t let that put you off! Matched betting is an incredible side hustle which can net you thousands of pounds tax-free while it lasts, and there are several savvy strategies to keep your profits up for longer.
Let’s take a look:
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What is matched betting?
In a nutshell, matched betting is a smart strategy that lets you make money from bookmaker promotions. How does it work? Well, it’s all about taking advantage of the different odds offered by bookmakers and betting exchanges.
Here’s the basic idea: you place two bets—an ordinary “back” bet with a bookmaker and a “lay” bet on a betting exchange. By covering all possible outcomes, you remove the risk typically associated with gambling. Instead, you’re using the bookmakers’ free bets, bonuses, and promos to guarantee yourself a profit.
Remember, it’s always helpful to rely on a trusted matched betting service or software to help you find the best opportunities and maximise your profits. Here’s the one I use and recommend.
Matched betting is available to anyone over the age of 18 in countries where betting is legal. But here’s an important heads-up: If you have a history of gambling addiction or struggle with self control, matched betting is not for you.
Your well-being is paramount, and it’s crucial to prioritise it above anything else. So, if you find yourself at risk of developing problematic gambling habits, it’s best to steer clear of matched betting or any form of gambling. Remember, there are plenty of other ways to make money that don’t involve betting.
Matched betting short-term: easy wins
Let’s talk about short-term success in matched betting. Brace yourself because the potential for fast profits in the beginning is truly exhilarating. When you’re just starting out, the opportunities are crazy, and new matched bettors are often blown away at how easy it is to make those first few hundred pounds!
The key to those sweet initial gains is taking advantage of sign-up offers. These offers are like a welcome party where bookmakers hand out free bets and bonuses to entice new customers. These are some of the easiest, and most profitable matched betting offers you will come across.
There are over 50 different sign up offers to do and most people net in the region of £500-£600 working through them all. You can generally do this in one or two months, depending on the time you can invest, your starting bankroll (more money upfront = more offers you can do at one time) and your general speed/confidence.
That is awesome! £600, very quickly, totally legit, and did I mention it’s tax free?! (Matched betting income counts as gambling wins, which you don’t have to declare.)
Many people stop there, and that’s a sound option. £600 extra cash for a holiday, to pay down some debt or add to your savings. Not bad at all.
Now, if you do want to continue past the initial sign up offers, it is absolutely possible – but it gets harder. Let’s find out why.
Matched betting long-term: why does it get harder?
Gubbing
One of the first challenges you’ll encounter is dealing with account restrictions, a.k.a. the dreaded gubbing. As you start racking up those wins, bookmakers might catch on and limit your betting options.
It feels like hitting a major roadblock, but it’s not the end of the world. There are ways to reduce the risk of gubbing, and also ways to profit from gubbed accounts, as I look at in this post. Still, as you get gubbed from more and more of the big sites, it does have an impact on your earnings.
Advanced strategies
Next up, you need to level up! Yes, there are endless ‘reload’ offers for existing customers, but fewer of the super simple ‘bet and get’ offers. If you want to keep your profits up you need to learn new techniques: 2-ups, extra places, acca insurance, price boosts and more.
It takes time to learn these advanced techniques (although Outplayed has resources on all of them), and also they can take more time to do. Unlike ‘bet and gets’, where you are guaranteed a profit every time, strategies such as 2-ups and extra places only pay out if certain triggers are met. This means you have to place large numbers of bets to keep the profit snowball rolling.
Lower value offers
Also, whereas the sign-up offers are usually very generous (£7-£15 profit from one offer!) the reloads are typically lower value – often just £2 or £3.
A lot of people see the low EV and can’t be bothered. But again, it’s a numbers game: you should be pretty fast by now, so aim to complete as many offers as you can, as quickly as you can. Just a few £2/£3 offers per day can add up to £200-£300 in a month.
Bankroll
Keeping a decent bankroll is vital for long-term success. You need funds to place your bets and take advantage of opportunities. Tempting as it is to withdraw everything you make, you won’t be able to take part in the bigger offers without the bank.
As you progress, be mindful of managing your bankroll wisely, reinvesting profits, and ensuring you have enough ammunition to continue making those sweet profits.
Industry changes
Lastly, most long-term matched bettors agree that it is getting harder, simply because there aren’t as many good offers as there used to be. I don’t know if this is because bookmakers are wising up to the matched betting game or they’re just feeling the pinch themselves, but they certainly seem to be stingier with the offers and quicker to restrict accounts.
Nobody knows what the future holds for the betting/matched betting industries, so it’s not wise to count on things staying the same forever.
Tips to stay profitable matched betting in the long term
Master the advanced techniques
If you want to stay profitable after the sign-ups, it’s essential to add more strings to your bow.
Explore advanced matched betting techniques like each-way betting, extra places, 2-ups, accumulators, dutching, and price boosts. You don’t necessarily need to master all of them right away – many people just specialise in one or two types of offer – but watch all the tutorials on Outplayed, test them out and find what works for you.
From following many discussions on matched betting earnings in the Outplayed forums, I’ve found the people who stick to the easy ‘bet and get’ offers tend to be stuck at around £100-£200/month, whereas the people who are earning £300+ mostly do advanced offers.
Look after your accounts
Take measures to minimise the risk of gubbing, such as careful mug betting, avoiding suspicious betting patterns, spreading your bets across multiple bookmakers, and using a variety of sporting events.
Grow your bankroll
Maintain a sizable betting bankroll to ensure you have enough funds to take part in as many offers as you have time for. Set aside a portion of your profits to reinvest, while also keeping a reserve for potential losses and bankroll fluctuations.
Learn from the community
Matched betting is constantly evolving, so it’s crucial to stay updated with the latest strategies and techniques – plus the insider chat on which bookies are gubbing everyone this week and where the best offers are. Join matched betting forums and Facebook groups (I recommend Outplayed for both), read reliable blogs, and engage with the matched betting community to keep learning.
Casino
Expand beyond sports betting and explore other avenues. Do not neglect online casinos and bingo offers! Casino wins are less predictable than matched betting but over time you are likely to see some big wins that make it worth the effort.
Speed up!
As we mentioned above, it’s a numbers game at the higher levels. You want to be doing as many offers as you can, so get fast – without compromising accuracy, of course. It can help to have two monitors, and use as big a screen as possible unless you are totally confident (it’s possible to do matched betting on your phone, but it’s fiddly and takes longer scrolling and switching between tabs).
Be organised
Use your time efficiently. Have a daily routine, plan your betting activities in advance, focus on high-value opportunities, and use matched betting services or software to streamline the process.
Positive mindset
Matched betting can have its ups and downs, so maintaining a positive mindset is crucial. Stay disciplined, remain patient during losing streaks, and keep track of your successes to stay motivated.
Matched betting long term FAQs
Is matched betting legal in the UK?
Yes, matched betting is 100% legal in the UK. It is a legitimate strategy that takes advantage of bookmakers’ promotions and does not involve any form of illegal activity. However, it’s essential to adhere to the terms and conditions of the bookmakers and betting exchanges.
Can you make a full-time income from matched betting?
While it is possible to make a decent extra income from matched betting, it is generally not sustainable as a full-time job in the long term. Matched betting profits can vary massively month-to-month, and there are many risks such as account restrictions. Some people are ‘professional’ matched bettors but they generally run multiple accounts, which is against T&Cs.
How much can you make matched betting long term?
The amount you can make from matched betting long term depends on various factors, including the number of offers available, the size of your betting bankroll, and the time you can dedicate to matched betting. Realistically, £200 per month is an achievable target for a casual matched bettor. £400-£500 is doable if you can invest the time and learn advanced techniques. Some matched bettors claim to see monthly profits of around £1,000 or more, but realistically this is challenging to achieve consistently.
Conclusion: matched betting long term
So matched betting can be profitable both in the short term and long term. But while the initial sign-up offers provide a fantastic opportunity for quick wins, it’s important to recognise that matched betting becomes a lot more challenging as time goes on.
Factors such as account restrictions, the need for advanced techniques, and diminishing offer values, all impact long-term earnings.
However, by mastering new techniques and staying smart, you can hopefully stay profitable in matched betting for several years. Just remember to treat matched betting as bonus income, and don’t plan on doing it for the rest of your life.
Approach matched betting responsibly and with realistic expectations, and you can make a whole lot of extra cash with matched betting – while it lasts.
If you are thinking of starting matched betting, I recommend Outplayed. They are currently guaranteeing earnings up to £250! Plus, you could make up to £40 this weekend with a free trial.