Matched Betting is a way to convert sportsbook promotions into withdrawable cash. Examples include promotions such as Sign-up offers, Deposit Matches, Free Bets, Profit Boosts, and many more. Not to mention it's a great way to make money online. It can even turn into a side hustle.
How does it work?
Sportsbook promotions tilt the odds and payouts in the favor of the bettor. To profit from these promotions, you place one bet using your promotion and then place a ‘hedge’ bet with a different sportsbook. These bets are ‘matched’ in a way that guarantees a profit, no matter which outcome happens.
Note that Matched Betting is different from gambling. Gambling means that you can lose money if a certain outcome happens. With Matched Betting, you don’t care what happens because you make the same amount of money either way.
Why do sportsbooks do this? (This sounds too good to be true.)
Sportsbooks offer promotions to get new customers and retain existing ones. They know that in the long term, they will make money off of the average gambler. It’s not that different from bank and credit card sign-up offers, except there’s a lot more money to be made.
How much money can I make doing Matched Betting?
You won’t be able to quit your day job, but it can be a sizable side hustle. A lot depends on how much money you can commit to Matched Betting to start with and what sportsbooks are available in your state. A lot of DarkHorse Odds members clear $1,000 every month. Some do much more than that.
Who is Matched Betting right for?
Matched betting is great for anyone interested in a profitable side hustle. You need to be in a State (or Province) that allows online sports betting and you need to be of legal age to place sports bets.
Is it possible to make Matched Betting into a side hustle?
Of course. Matched betting is a great way to make money online, but it's highly unlikely you can make a full-time living from matched betting.
What’s the catch? Is there any risk?
There’s no catch. The biggest risk to be aware of is human error. For example, placing a bet on the wrong team or with the wrong amount. So, don’t rush, take the time to understand the promotions, and double-check your bets.
If you are new to Matched Betting, we recommend starting with sportsbooks that have smaller signup bonuses. Check out our other guides for the various sportsbook promotions and how to get started.