Q1: Is matched betting legal?

It is legal for anyone over the age of 18

Q2: Gambling is very risk, what makes this different?

Matched betting covers all potential outcomes of an event, therefore whatever the result of a match you will profit. Therefore all the risks involved in gambling are taken out. If you are unsure of why this is, please read my guide.

Q3: How much money can I make?

It is very easy to make between £500 and £1000 per month indefinitely, for less than an hours work 3 days a week. The amount you can make depends on the amount of time and effort you put in. For example, I know one person who has made over £40,000 in the past 3 years.

Q4: There are only a limited number of sign-up bets, how do I continue making money?

In order to entice you to gamble more, bookmakers will offer you re-load bonuses, i.e. if you deposit more money into your account they will match it with a 20% to 100% bonus free bet. On these offers the same principles apply as to your account opening matched bet. There are also other offers, for example many bookmakers will give you a free bet on your birthday or at Christmas some run advent calendars and each day there is a different bonus. There are endless promotions offered by bookmakers in an effort to try to get you to gamble more. As long as you stick to the roles this is all profit.

Q5: How much money do I need to get started?

I would say minimum £50. However, the more you start with the more matched bets you can do. Having said that starting with a little and letting it build up is advisable, you can start doing more bets at once, when you have a good handle on the concept.

Q6: What is a good return percentage on the free bets?

For a stake returned (SR), you should aim for at least 95%, i.e. a return of £24 on a £25 free bet. A good 'stake not returned' free bet (SNR) you should aim for about 80% return of the free bet, i.e. £20 return on a £25 free bet. The higher the odds you use on an SNR bet the higher you returns. Please click her to see my odds:return table.

Q7: Why do you make a better return from a SR compared to an SNR bet?

On a SR bet as you get to keep the stake of the free bet you receive more money. You therefore you have to take this into account when laying on betfair and so you will have to lay a higher amount than an SR bet, in case your bet wins at the bookmaker rather than betfair. Don't worry the odds calculator spreadsheet automatically works the amount you need to lay for you, so you don't need to.

Q8: Can the odds change after I have placed a bet?

Once you have confirmed your odds with the bookmaker or exchange, those are your odds and the stay the same.

Q9. Can I cancel a bet?

You cannot cancel a bet, unless it is a gross error that is obviously not in your normal pattern of betting. The best thing to do is try and lay off any mistakes using betfair.

Q10. What is the difference between fractional and decimal odds?

Fractional odds are how odds have been traditionally displayed in UK and Irish bookmakers. Decimal odds are how betting exchanges display their odds. All bookmakers website's have the ability to  view their odds in decimals, which is recommended for consistency.  AN example of odds conversion is 2/1 converted into decimal is 3.0, the size of the fraction, 2, plus 1. Another example 1/3,  is .33 plus 1 =1.33