Lay Betting Tips : How To Win On Betfair ; Is Backing Or Laying Your Thing?

The bookmakers make millions of pounds profit each year by simply taking bets from people who want to 'back' the outcome of an event because they think it will win. This is the traditional way of back betting. If the bet wins then the bookmaker pays out your winnings, if the bet loses the bookmaker keeps your stake money. You become the 'backer'.

A 'layer' is the complete opposite of a 'backer' – it's basically the same as playing the role of the bookmaker. Since the introduction of betting exchanges such as Betfair, you now have the unique opportunity to lay bets in the same way as a bookmaker. If the outcome of the event that your lay bet does indeed lose, then you get to keep the stake money just like the bookmaker. You become the 'layer'.

As people say "you don't see a poor bookie very often".

Therefore, you might want an answer to this question:-

If you can make money from lay betting in the same way as a bookie, by being a 'layer', why would anyone want to be a 'backer'?

The answer depends mainly on your own personality and what your expectations from lay betting and gambling are. Let me explain…

Typical 'backers' attitude : Someone looking for a 'quick fix', knowing that each time they make a back bet the odds are stacked firmly against them, they are lured into 'backing' based purely on a hunch, or a betting tip, maybe from a mate at work. For handing over a relatively small amount of cash, combined with the exciting prospect of a possible good win looming, the temptation can be simply too much to resist.

If you enter a bookmaker's premises you will often observe many 'gamblers' with their lists of lucky numbers, betting tips, hot tips etc, going about the same routine always used to make their selections. A couple of minutes before each race, they hurriedly glance through the race card, make their selection then run to the counter to place their back bet, then usually watch it lose. The strange thing is that they follow this same pattern race after race, day after day, week in week out – and the bookies love them!

Now, I realize that not everyone fits into the above categories. Sometimes, 'backers' will put in that extra effort needed, to help them arrive at their betting selections, by studying form, analyzing stats, or maybe you have access to good quality betting tips and advice etc.

You may fall into this category because you have developed your own unique method for selecting that really hot horse in a race, or statistics might be your thing, giving you a profitable edge to your favourite sport before you decide on that all important back bet. If so, I wish you luck because you have done extremely well, but you are very much in the minority.

Typical 'layers' attitude : There is one very important thing that most 'backers' and 'layers' are likely to have in common – they both want to make as much money as possible in the shortest possible amount of time. Whilst that is true, there are vital differences, the 'layer' now has access to the Betfair lay bet, therefore is more likely to be better prepared and more patient, while not expecting to make a killing from just one lay bet.

Patience will play a big part in all successful 'layers', their attitude to risk will be much better adjusted, knowing that their profit will come over a period of time by strictly following a good staking plan, they will only lay bet when their system indicates a strong lay betting opportunity.

Now we all know that it's much more difficult to pick a winner, than it is to pick a loser. Therefore, unlike the 'backer', the odds are stacked very much in the 'layers' favor as far as the probability of a successful lay bet is concerned.

However, the inexperienced 'layer' needs to be careful that they don't become over confident, by making lay bets on events that they know absolutely nothing about, or by falling into the trap of thinking that lay betting is easy.

On the other hand, the modern clued up 'layer' will stick rigidly to what they know and will only lay bet when they feel completely confident in their selection process. They will never lay bet with money that is needed for other important things like household bills, only using money that is set aside purely for their lay betting activities. Sticking rigidly to a good solid staking plan they will never over commit themselves.

If your aim is to be highly successful at lay betting on Betfair, you should be looking to achieve a win rate of around 9 times out of 10. This is realistically achievable. Remember you are looking for losers, not winners.

I do hope that you have enjoyed reading this article and it helps you to decide whether you are a 'backer' or a 'layer'.

As you have probably guessed by now, I am definitely a 'layer'. Which one are you?