Exchange betting sites

Exchange betting advantages

Bettors like to use exchange betting sites because they can play the role of the bookmaker and have a greater chance of making a profit. Also, exchange betting sites will often provide better odds than a traditional bookmaker will.

When a traditional bookmaker determines the odds they will offer for a sporting event they always include a margin for profit. This is not the case with an exchange betting site. The exchange site makes its money from taking a commission on the bets that win. 

It is not possible for a bettor to place “lay” bets at a traditional bookmaker. Only the bookie can do this. Users can lay as many bets as they want at an exchange betting site. They have the option to place a conventional “back” bet or a “lay” bet which is more flexible than a traditional bookmaker.

Bettors often see that bookmakers overvalue a specific team in a football match for example. At a betting exchange, they can lay this team and will win if the team draws or loses. These betting opportunities are not provided by conventional bookmakers.

With the opportunity to place both “back” and “lay” bets, bettors can decide to hedge bets that they have made ensuring that they make a profit whatever the outcome of the event. Betting exchanges allow for the hedging of bets and will not block them as some bookmakers do with arbitrage bets.

The odds at betting exchanges are set by the users so everything is transparent.