Matched betting

[hallamblue]

That definitely goes on but it’s still wrong to say the bookies always win - gambling for most people is a fun hobby to have and from time to time you can win a few quid

Over 90% of gamblers lose, and thanks to the internet the bookies know who the 10% are and close their accounts. Even Betfair which started out as a fair site is now owned by Ladbrokes and takes a massive commission from winning punters.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Not true

If you do win for a short spell, it'll catch up.

If you're in the tiny %, you'll have your account closed.

 

[Dddddd]

If you do win for a short spell, it'll catch up.

If you're in the tiny %, you'll have your account closed.

Not necessarily- I’m just a bog standard hobby gambler but have had a few ok random wins over the years which have put me ahead

The bookies probably class my bets as “mug bets” which is why they’ve never closed my accounts

Plenty of people I know run round at about evens, maybe a few quid down one year and maybe a few quid up the next

Not all gambling is problem gambling just as not all drinking makes you an alcoholic

The original thread was about matched betting and a few of the replies show it can be a profitable approach

 

[Lobworm]

If you do win for a short spell, it'll catch up.

If you're in the tiny %, you'll have your account closed.

Spot on. I mentioned earlier about the PP offer for live games about a decade ago. Bet £10, get free £10 in play. So before the game you find something where the back/lay odds are low and closely matched and make your qualifying bet, resulting in a 50p loss or thereabouts. Then the free money comes in, and you take your time at half time, and find something where the back/lay odds are somewhere around 5 or 6/1. One time the odds at HT were rubbish, I couldn't get back/lay odds that were close together, so I ended up going for some way out next/final goalscorer at silly odds... then **** me, it only went and won (at the bookie). I withdrew the money, next week, same again, a qualifying bet at low odds, but another outsider won using the free money. Two outsiders in 2 weeks, BANNED and labelled a 'bonus abuser'.. had to sign the register* and everything.

*not really

 

[hallamblue]

Not necessarily- I’m just a bog standard hobby gambler but have had a few ok random wins over the years which have put me ahead

The bookies probably class my bets as “mug bets” which is why they’ve never closed my accounts

Plenty of people I know run round at about evens, maybe a few quid down one year and maybe a few quid up the next

Not all gambling is problem gambling just as not all drinking makes you an alcoholic

The original thread was about matched betting and a few of the replies show it can be a profitable approach

I think that's fair, if you land a couple of Lucky 15s you won't get your account closed. However if you bet in singles and have an idea what you're doing they don't want you, and why would they with mug punters all trying to land 10 team football accumulators

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Not necessarily- I’m just a bog standard hobby gambler but have had a few ok random wins over the years which have put me ahead

The bookies probably class my bets as “mug bets” which is why they’ve never closed my accounts

Plenty of people I know run round at about evens, maybe a few quid down one year and maybe a few quid up the next

Not all gambling is problem gambling just as not all drinking makes you an alcoholic

The original thread was about matched betting and a few of the replies show it can be a profitable approach

Most people who think they're up over a prolonged period, aren't.

And remember, you tend to only hear about peoples wins rather than their losses.

We used to have an affiliate deal with Paddy Power. Over the years we had quite a few accounts who signed up to our Paddy Power affiliate deal.

As I become more aware of gambling in general - and once I realised there wasn't one single person who signed up from our links, who was in profit after 10+ bets. Not one. I then stopped activating/promoting Paddy Power.

Eventually, Paddy Power closed our account because we weren't giving them new sign ups. At this stage you see, we were only taking money from them - a % of the signup referrals. Guess what they did then? They did what all bookies do - close accounts of people who take their money. I repeatedly asked why, they just blocked/ignored.

Each to their own, especially to those who enjoy the odd flutter. I've done a few accumulators over the years - but for me, it's a mugs game.