What is the meaning of lay and back in betting


When you place a bet at an , you are backing an event to occur. You’re backing a horse to win a race, a team to win a match or a player to defeat their opponent.


Remember, Bookmakers profit from laying bets. Hence, their odds tend to be underpriced for Backers. Therefore, aim to lay bets at odds close to those offered by Bookies.

On the Betfair Exchange, when you place a lay bet, you are effectively acting as the bookie and offering a price that other people can place a Back bet with you.

In a nutshell, a lay bet is when you back an event NOT to happen

For instance, if you believe the true odds of an outcome are 3.0 (implying a 33.33% chance of occurring) and the lay price in the market is 2.5 (implying a 40% chance), then it’s a favourable lay bet. This is because the 2.5 price offers great value for layers but poor value for Backers.

Scout around for the best (lowest) lay odds. Additionally, consider requesting (queuing) lower prices on the betting exchange to reduce your liability—although there’s no guarantee of getting matched if your odds are too low. Nonetheless, making price requests helps reduce the payout amount to Backers in case of a win.

When you’re backing, targeting the highest odds is pivotal to maximise value and diminish the bookies’ edge. Conversely, when you’re in the role of the layer (or the Bookie), opt for the lowest possible odds on your lay bets.

When you place a lay bet, your stake gets matched with other traders on the exchange who want to “Back” the same selection to win. This means you take on a risk, referred to as the “liability,” which is the potential amount you might have to pay out to those who backed against your stake. The liability of a lay bet hinges on both the stake and the agreed odds with the punter.


Back to lay arbitrage betting strategy

A differs from a traditional bookmaker because you bet against other bettors instead of the bookmaker. This feature allows you to both back a bet and lay a bet on the same platform. For example, on the, you can offer your own odds and take on the backers’ stakes, just like a bookmaker. One additional perk of betting exchanges is that profitable bettors won’t get limited or restricted as they often do with traditional bookmakers. This means you can continue to place matched bets, whether it’s on football or horse racing, without worrying about account limitations.

Lay Bet Calculator: Calculate how much you need to lay

A lay bet flips the typical betting dynamic, with the bettor assuming the role of the bookmaker, betting against a specific outcome. Rather than backing a particular team, player, or horse to win, the bettor is essentially betting that the outcome will not happen.

Welcome to the Laybet calculator website

Etsitään vieläkin isommat kertoimet! Pörssin vastavedon kertoimen pitäisi olla kuitenkin edelleen suht lähellä (vedonlyöntisivuston) back-kerrointa. Hyvät kertoimet ilmaisvetoon ovat esim. 6.5 ja 7 Lay.

Why and how to Lay bet on the Betfair Exchange

Similar logic works for sport. Let’s say the odds for Jordan Spieth to win the Masters Tournament are too short, but you don’t know who else to back. Place a lay bet on Spieth and you are backing any of his opponents to win instead. Sounds easier, right?

How to Calculate Lay Bet Winnings | Arbusers

For many novice punters, lay bets might seem daunting at first glance. However, the process of placing them and calculating potential payouts is straightforward. Let me walk you through it using Betfair, the leading betting exchange.

Matched Betting Calculator – Google Play ‑sovellukset

Let’s say there’s a football match between Team A and Team B. You place a back bet on Team A to win at a traditional with odds of 2.50. You then head to a betting exchange like Betfair and place a lay bet against Team A at odds of 2.60. Here’s how the outcomes can play out: