6 Matched Betting Myths You Need To Know the Truth About

Matched betting has finally reached the US, having been a popular side hustle in the UK and Europe for over a decade. But while the strategy has grown quickly the conversation around it hasn’t quite caught up.

As more states legalize online sports betting, more people are hearing about “promo conversion” for the first time. But despite the proven profitability of matched betting, there’s still a whisper of skepticism surrounding it.

It comes from the thought that matched betting sounds too good to be true, as well as other assumptions that don’t quite hold up once you understand how matched betting actually works.

So in this article we’re going to look at some of the biggest assumptions non-matched bettors have about the process and then we’ll do some myth busting!

Myth #1: It’s Too Good to Be True

This is the underlying belief behind most people’s doubts.

If something looks too good to be true (in that you’re getting something for nothing) people get wary. But matched betting really is the exception to this and the strategy exists as a clever way to convert sportsbook promos into real profit.

In this rapidly growing space, online sportsbooks compete aggressively for customers and welcome offers and bonus bets are one way in which they do that. All matched bettors do is use math to offset risk and convert these promos into real value.

Myth #2: You’re Basically Gambling Anyway

The assumption that matched betting is gambling puts a number of people off even taking a look at the strategy. But it’s that very strategy that ensures you are not gambling (when the matched betting process is properly executed).

Because matched betting involves placing wagers via online sportsbooks, it’s easy to see why people assume it is gambling. But it’s the difference in intent and execution which is what makes matched betting a completely different strategy.

The matched betting process in 3 steps

While gambling depends on luck and predicting outcomes, matched betting removes the uncertainties involved in trying to guess what will happen. This is done by covering every possible result through hedge betting.

Instead of trying to win a bet, the aim of matched betting is to extract value from a promotion while protecting your own wagers through hedging.

Myth #3: You Need Experience to Make It Work

A lot of people assume there’s a hidden skill barrier to matched betting. For example, they assume that you need to have advanced betting knowledge or experience, as well as a deep understanding of betting odds and sports.

That’s not the case at all!

Matched betting is procedural and it’s easy to learn. It just takes a bit of time to make sure you’re comfortable with the process. Once you understand the mechanics of placing a bet at one online sportsbook and its opposite at a secondary book, the process becomes repeatable.

Most beginners struggle to get their head around matched betting because it’s unfamiliar to them rather than because the process is difficult to pick up. But the good news is that you don’t have to figure matched betting out on your own.

A matched betting platform like ProfitDuel has offer guides and tutorials that walk you through the process, step-by-step. Their tools, such as Promo Convertor, also find the best matched betting opportunities and calculate the amounts you need to wager in order to unlock the most value from your promos. You literally don’t need to have ever used a sportsbook before.

ProfitDuel’s Promo Convertor tool on mobile. Previously the Dutch Matcher

Myth #4: Small Bankroll = Small Opportunity

While the amount of money you have to start matched betting with can affect the speed at which you’re able to complete offers, it doesn’t mean you have to have a certain sized bankroll to make money.

It is true that a larger bankroll allows you to move through offers faster and handle higher-value promotions but you can still earn a with a smaller bankroll.

Matched betting is one of the few side hustles where scaling is directly tied to reinvesting profits rather than taking on additional risk.

Myth #5: It’s Not Worth the Time

This usually comes from misunderstanding where the effort actually is. Usually the first few bets take longer because you’re learning how the process works.

There are a few different elements to matched betting which can take a minute to get your head around. For example, learning how to place qualifying bets, how to hedge correctly, and how to calculate stake amounts.

But once you’re comfortable with how matched betting works, the process becomes routine and you can do it faster. This means that you can earn more in less time.

Using tools to automate the matched betting process can also help you balance the time to profit ratio.

Myth #6: It’s the Same as Arbitrage Betting

While the matched betting and arbitrage betting strategies overlap in concept, the methods of execution are different.

Arbitrage betting depends on finding price gaps between sportsbooks odds and requires speed. It often produces thin margins which means building profits can be slow and can also flag your account if you regularly jump on arb opportunities.

Matched betting is driven by promotions and the profit comes from converting bonuses into cash, rather than from exploiting odds differences.

Matched Betting Myths Busted, Now it’s Time to Profit

Matched betting is a victim of hearsay. It sounds too good to be true, appears to be a bit too far out of people’s comfort zones, and utilizes sportsbooks which often have a bad rap themselves.

However, the truth is that anyone can do matched betting regardless of prior knowledge or experience and while it uses sportsbooks, it’s a completely unique strategy, separate from traditional sports betting.

But you don’t have to figure it out on your own. With a ProfitDuel membership, you can get:

• Access to current sportsbook promotions in your state.
• Guided walkthroughs for bonus bet offers.
• Built-in calculators to structure wagers.
• Software to identify favorable odds.
• A community focused on expected value rather than impulse.

Visit ProfitDuel today to find out more or start your trial and earn from your first promo conversion.

Credit

• Original article credit: ProfitDuel | Matched Betting Myths
• Author: Chris Allen, Matched Betting Expert at ProfitDuel

ProfitDuel is an educational platform, not a sportsbook or financial advisor. Results are not guaranteed, and vary based on individual time, effort, bankroll, and market availability. For more, please visit www.profitduel.com/marketingdisclaimer