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Whether you are using Betfair for matched betting or other strategies, if you can’t access their platform for any reason, you will need a great alternative.
In this article, you can find some great Betfair alternatives or access to their odds through alternative services.
Which are the best Betfair alternatives?
Using a sports betting brokerage is the best solution for using exchanges like Betfair in alternative ways. You can have access to new Pinnacle, Betfair, and other asian bookie, exchange accounts with lower commission rates than at traditional accounts.
Betting agents are great Betfair alternatives because they are available in many countries. They offer the same odds and also give you access to odds from sharp bookies that potentially have even better prices.
Another great advantage of these Betfair alternatives is the higher maximum stake in the majority of cases. This advantage does not apply to exchanges where the maximum stake depends on the liquidity offered by other bettors.
Check my detailed article about the recommended betting broker services.
Is matched betting without Betfair possible?
Betfair is a safe and easy solution for matched bettors to hedge their bets. But matched betting is possible even without Betfair.
Most guides on matched betting advocate using Betfair as the go-to platform to hedge your initial bets. For many possible reasons, Betfair is not accessible for many players.
For them finding a Betfair exchange alternative to hedge bets is an important step in succeeding with matched betting.
Why would you not use exchanges like Betfair?
Betfair is not available as a licensed betting operator in many countries. For this reason, many bettors are not able to use their services.
Even though matched betting requires a site where you can hedge your initial bet, there are alternatives and even other strategies that do not require Betfair.
This strategy is possible even without bookmakers. Have you ever heard about matched betting on casino offers?
Reasons for using Betfair alternatives
1. Exchanges like Betfair are not available in your country/state because of local regulations
This is the main reason why a lot of bettors can’t take advantage of good opportunities offered by Betfair for example.
2. The odds are not high enough
In most cases, you can find the best odds at exchanges. This free market is making it available to offer odds closest to the real probability.
This means the majority of bookmakers are offering smaller odds on the same outcomes.
But in a lot of cases, the market/ league you want to place bets on is not popular enough. Many markets at Betfair for example are used by only a few bettors.
The less money is flowing into a market the smaller the odds will be.
Hedging your bets with a loss of 5% – 7% is not called matched betting, only a waste of time and money.
3. The markets/matches/leagues you are looking for are not covered by exchanges
Matched betting without exchanges is possible, and in many cases can be significantly profitable. The best and easiest method is dutching.
You might also want to read my relevant article about matched betting software in the UK. In this article, I have covered the top oddsmatchers in a detailed comparison table as well.
Is dutching a Betfair alternative?
If you are not able to use Betfair or you don’t want to, you probably thought about this option.
What is hedging at exchanges? Basically, betting against your initial bet for the bonus.
If there is an option at Betfair to bet against something, why wouldn’t other bookies have a similar one?
The process of dutching is simple. You place a bet on the bookie to get the bonus and cover the other outcomes at another one.
This betting process across the bookies is not a new technique. It is the basic idea behind arbitrage betting.
It is logical if you can place a bet on a team, there is an option to bet on the opponent at another bookmaker.
This betting strategy is 100% legal, but not liked by the bookmakers. But if you are doing it in the right way, they won’t find out.
You can also read my detailed article on matched betting alternatives where I speak about each strategy similar to matched betting.
Pros of matched betting without Betfair
1. Having access to better odds at Betfair alternatives
The bookies compete with each other, and they are motivated to attract more and more customers.
One of their options is to offer better odds than the competition.
Another factor in offering different odds is the way of generating them or the odds provider they are using.
Either way, the bettors are profiting from this difference between bookies.
In most cases when you hedge a bet at Betfair, the odds will guarantee a loss of 0.5% – 2% on your bets on average.
But if you have the possibility to find the best odds to cover your initial bet, this percentage can be reduced. Only by this, your income can grow in the long run.
Because of this odd difference, there is the possibility to place arbitrage bets.
They can appear when the opinion between bookies is so different that no matter which outcome wins, you can make a profit on your bets.
For example, placing a bet on under 2.5 goals on football on odds of 2.05 and covering the other outcome (over 2.5) at another bookie on odds of 2.05.
2. Having access to more markets at similar exchanges to Betfair
Using simple bookmakers and not exchanges means you have more possibilities. The average bookie is covering way more markets than Betfair for example.
This means you have better chances of finding a good opportunity to cover your bets.
3. Not paying commissions for exchanges
Using only exchanges to hedge your bets is making your possibilities limited. Every time you place a bet, you are completing bonus requirements at only one bookmaker. So, in the long run, you have to fight the same battle against every bookie.
Have you ever thought about working the same amount of time, but doubling your profits?
Well, if you are not using exchanges, it is possible.
Why would you cover your bets at Betfair if you can do the same at another bookie with a bonus?
I’ve done this for a long time, and based on my experience it is way more effective.
The steps are simple:
- Place a bet at the bookie with a bonus offer
- Cover the other outcome at another which is also offering a bonus
This way you will complete the requirements for two bonuses. I have to mention that this method is not working well with free bets.
With them, you have to choose high odds at the first bookie and hedge them at low ones that will not contribute to completing the bonus.
But if you are using simple deposit bonuses at both bookies with a roll-over requirement: It’s a perfect solution!
Cons of matched betting without Betfair & exchanges
Using another bookie to cover your bets is not as simple as it sounds.
You can face several obstacles:
1. The risk of getting limited is increasing
Betfair is a good solution for matched betting because you don’t have to be afraid of limitations.
But if you are using soft bookmakers, the chance of getting limited is in the air every time.
If you are not placing arbitrage bets (the profit on your bets is not close to/above 0%) the chance of getting caught for being a bonus hunter is still there.
One of the bookmakers has to offer odds that are a little bit overpriced, so you can cover your bets.
My opinion: if you are not running after arbitrage bets, you don’t have to be afraid of getting limited in a short time.
I don’t know where you are coming from. But if you are afraid about getting limited because of using overpriced markets I may have a solution for a lot of you.
One of the best bookies in the industry is Pinnacle Sports.
They have the best odds, closest to the real probability.
This fact lets them welcome arbitrage bettors and matched bettors too.
You can have high maximum limits on your bets and also without the fear of getting your account limited/banned.
Your only task is to make sure that they are legally available in your country/state.
2. Getting bonuses harder
Matched betting with exchanges is the most common strategy. Many services like Profit Maximizer and OddsMonkey were built to support this activity.
They are constantly searching for new bonus offers and betting opportunities too.
The biggest reason why someone would not use Betfair is that you don’t have access to it. You probably are in a similar situation similar like mine.
Using matched betting services in a country where the number of available bookmakers is limited is not necessary at all.
In countries like this, you have to find every bookmaker by yourself (in most countries you will find websites with a list of them).
After getting that list, you need to constantly follow your emails about new bonus offers.
But the biggest issue starts here.
How matched betting works with Betfair alternatives?
1. Make a list of bookmakers with bonuses
The first thing you need to do is to build a list of trustworthy bookmakers available in your country/state. For this, you will find a lot of blogs and websites only by searching on Google.
2. Find the best bookmaker scanner service for your needs
After getting the list with the bookies, you will have to find the best scanner software that includes these bookmakers.
OddsMonkey is a cheap option for dutching too, not only for exchanges.
But if your bookmakers are not covered by them, you have alternative solutions too. The easiest way of finding betting opportunities is by using sure bet scanner software.
They are scanning a lot of bookmakers but with the intention of finding overpriced markets. You can use their services by setting the maximum profit percentage to 0%.
This way it is harder for the bookmakers to flag your account for arbitrage betting.
Many of these websites have a free version. Their main goal is to support arbitrage and value betting. In their cases, the profit on bets should be over 1% – 2% at least. So, the majority of them are offering access to bets with a payout under 1% or 0.6%.
For matched bettors without exchanges or OddsMonkey, this free solution is a gold mine.
I used sure betting software, so in the following review, you can pick the one you like the most (after checking if they are scanning your bookies or not).
3. Follow the basic rules of matched betting
After setting up the accounts at bookies and depositing the money your next step is to apply the filters in the scanner services.
Find bets (preferably for pre-match) that have high enough odds for your free bets or for the roll-over requirements.
4. Use alternative ways of finding good bets for your bonus
In many cases, you won’t find good betting opportunities in the scanner.
For example, there will be an arbitrage bet with a profit of 0.3%:
- Over 3.5 on football at the first bookie with odds of 2.45
- Under 3.5 at another bookie with odds of 1.7
If you are planning to complete a Free bet, the higher the odds are at the bookie with the bonus, the more profit you can make.
Thinking a little bit more proactively, you have a good option. If there is an arbitrage opportunity on this over 3.5 market, it is very possible to find good odds on other betting lines too.
You can look at the over 5.5 for example. Your chances of getting good odds are very high.
5. Calculate your stakes
The betting strategy is slightly different, so you will need a different calculator too.s
Happy news: OddsMonkey has taught about this too. Their Dutching calculator will help you a lot. You can choose the type of your bet from Normal (simple wagering with deposit bonuses) to a Free bet based on your needs.
You can also take a look at my value betting guide to learn further strategies that don’t require Betfair.
Conclusion: Matched betting without Betfair
Exchanges like Betfair are taking an important role for matched bettors. Betting without them will result in slightly higher risks and you will need to use new software besides matched betting services. But there are some alternative sites that can help you bet even without Betfair
