In the world of Matched Betting, Underlaying is a specialized strategy used to protect your bankroll when you have high confidence in a favorite or are playing a specific promotion. While a standard match balances your profit and loss across all outcomes, an underlay shifts that balance to favor the “Back” win.
By using an underlay, you ensure that if your horse or team wins at the bookmaker, you suffer zero qualifying loss. This is particularly effective for “Bet Club” qualifiers or when betting on heavy favorites where you want to preserve your full stake for the bonus. Use our tool to find your underlay stake instantly.
Underlay Stake Calc
Underlaying is a strategy where you set your lay stake equal to your back stake. This ensures £0.00 loss if the back bet wins, but a higher loss if it loses.
How to Use the Calculator
This tool helps you execute the “Zero Loss” strategy without complex manual math:
- Enter Back Stake: Input the amount you have wagered at the bookmaker (e.g., 10).
- View Underlay Stake: The calculator identifies the corresponding lay stake required to neutralize your loss (e.g., 10.00).
- Compare Outcomes:
- If Back Wins: Your bookie profit and exchange loss cancel each other out exactly (£0.00 loss).
- If Lay Wins: You will incur a slightly higher qualifying loss than a standard match, but you have successfully “underlaid” the risk.
When Should You Underlay?
Underlaying is a powerful tool in a matched bettor’s arsenal, specifically for:
- High-Odds Favorites: When the back odds are very low and you expect the favorite to win comfortably.
- Price Boosts: To maximize profit if the boosted selection hits.
- Qualifying Bets: To “get through” a qualifier for free if the favorite wins, keeping your bankroll intact for the free bet.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the difference between an Underlay and an Overlay?
An Underlay ensures you lose nothing if the “Back” bet wins. An Overlay is the opposite; it ensures you lose nothing (or make more) if the “Lay” bet wins. Most bettors choose to underlay on strong favorites and overlay on outsiders.
Is Underlaying riskier than standard matched betting?
It is not “riskier” in terms of losing your whole stake, but it does increase your potential qualifying loss if the favorite loses. It is a tool for managing variance rather than a way to gamble.
Do I need to account for exchange commission?
In a true underlay where Back Stake = Lay Stake, the commission on the exchange doesn’t affect the “Back Win” outcome because you haven’t made a profit on the exchange to be taxed. However, the commission will slightly increase your loss if the “Lay” bet wins. Our advanced Matched Betting Calculator can help you fine-tune these exact decimals.