Betfair is recognized as the top destination for professional punters and traders because it is firmly established as the best betting exchange in the entire industry. Since its establishment in 2000, the Betfair betting exchange revolutionized online gambling by implementing a model based on poker or the stock exchange, allowing players to bet against one another. The key reasons for its prominence include high odds, a wide variety of bets, high liquidity, steadiness, and credibility. Professional bettors leverage the exchange as a crucial tool to monitor market trends and effectively sell their bets.
But what separates a professional Betfair trader from an average bettor? The answer lies in mastering a few extremely profitable Betfair trading strategies.
Key Football Betfair Strategies That Deliver Results
Football is a fertile ground for sophisticated trading. The strategies outlined below are proven to be effective:
1. Lay the Draw/Back Score Draw
This strategy has gained significant popularity—so much so that it now manages to affect odds movements across many betting exchange sites. Its fame results from its effectiveness and simplicity.
- The starting bet is to lay the draw, meaning you are wagering that one team will win the tie. If one team goes ahead by two or three goals, the position is usually secure.
- However, if a team is only one goal ahead with less than 15 minutes remaining, it becomes necessary to back the draw. Your best option is to back the current score (which may be offered around 6.50, and sometimes exceeding 10.00 depending on the opponent’s strength).
- While you could also back other exact score draw results to limit risk further, this choice will generally diminish your profit in the long run.
2. BTTS, Over 2.5, and Draw Scores Combination
This is a more complex exchange strategy where you take advantage of multiple bets on the same match, aiming for a nearly 50% profit of your initial stake. Focus on games with a strong possibility of both teams to score and a high likelihood of reaching a third goal.
The construction of this strategy involves looking up matches where the odds for both BTTS (Both Teams To Score) and Over 2.5 goals are over 1.80.
| Bet Selection | Stake Percentage | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| BTTS “Yes” | 42% | Main backing selection. |
| “Over 2.5 goals” | 42% | Main backing selection. |
| 0-0 Correct Score | 8% | Coverage (odds should be over 11.00). |
| 1-1 Correct Score | 8% | Coverage. |
If both teams score at least once (as you have also backed the 1-1 draw), you will secure a profit of at least 48.9% (or higher if initial odds are greater than 1.80). Remarkably, you can even make money from a goalless draw (about 25% profit). You only lose your entire stake in the case of a 1-0 or 2-0 win for either team. In 10 of 15 different scores, you win about 50% of your stake.
3. Scalping: Grinding Small, Certain Profits
Scalping is a trading strategy that originated in horse racing but has been successfully implemented in other sports, including soccer, over the last five years. It can be described as a way of grinding, producing small but nearly certain profit margins.
The core concept is simple: you back a result (e.g., a home win at 2.40 odds) and then sell the same bet at slightly lower odds (e.g., 2.30 odds) in a short time frame, often less than five minutes. For instance, staking €200 at 2.40 and selling minutes later at 2.30 yields a €20 profit immediately. It is vital to note that this requires a lot of self-control and discipline, as rookie punters who try to scalp every match frequently face disastrous results.
4. Under 2.5 Goals/First Goal
This is a slightly more complex Betfair strategy requiring two specific bets and accurate timing.
- First Bet: Back a goal to be scored during the 0-10 minute window (or 0-15 min. on some bookmakers). This option is generally offered at odds higher than 10.00.
- Second Bet: Back the Under 2.5 Goals market with an amount equal to ten times your first bet (e.g., €10 on First Goal, €100 on Under 2.5 goals).
If a goal is scored in the first minutes, you win the first bet. If no goal is scored in the first 10 or 15 minutes, you lose the first bet, but the odds on the Under 2.5 Goals market will have dropped significantly enough to cover the lost stake and offer a profit upon laying the under bet. The obvious danger here is losing the First Goal bet without managing to lay the Under 2.5 Goals bet on time, which risks losing both bets.
Trading Strategies for Other Sports
The principles of trading apply across different sports markets:
Tennis: Lay the Server
This strategy is highly effective in matches involving equal strength opponents, particularly in women’s games. While traditional bookmakers often give a slight statistical advantage to the player serving, statistics suggest that the winning-losing percentage of the server in women’s matches is actually close to 50%. By laying the server (or backing the non-serving player to win the game), traders capitalize on this insight. Many traders opt to sell their lay bet if the receiver gains a two or three-point advantage (e.g., 0-30 or 15-40).
Tennis: Under Games at the Second Set
Based on extensive statistical research, this strategy focuses on matches featuring a strong pre-game favorite. If the first set goes beyond 10.5 games (e.g., 6-4, 7-5, or tie break) and the favorite eventually wins, the underdog often loses confidence due to disappointment. Consequently, the favorite typically enjoys a much more relaxed and shorter second set, leading to an ‘Under Games’ win.
Horse Racing: Covering Multiple Favorites
In a typical horse race involving more than eight horses, selecting only one winner is very risky. In a 10-horse race, for example, there are usually 5-6 horses offered below 11.00 odds. Based on three years of research on Betfair horse races, covering all these favorites with respective stakes offers a vast 94.34% winning percentage. Although the profit margin is small (6% to 8% of the total amount per race), it guarantees long-term success.
The Importance of Cash-Out and Discipline
Another popular grinding technique, the Cash-Out betting strategy, was the precursor to the cash-out option now common on traditional bookmakers. It involves placing a wager that is likely to be confirmed at some point and waiting for the opportune moment to sell your stake.
The true edge lies in distinguishing between a gambler and a trader:
- If you back an underdog that scores first, a trader is composed and less greedy, selling the bet when the profit meets pre-defined criteria to eliminate risk.
- A gambler often delays selling, feeling that cashing out early would cheat them out of potentially greater money.
Successful trading, especially with complex strategies like “BTTS, Over 2.5 and Draw Scores,” ensures that the odds are difficult to manipulate, leading to consistent payouts. The most successful traders invent a working strategy and follow it with discipline.