The core columns
- Event and selection — the fixture and which side of the market is quoted.
- Bookmaker and back odds — where you'll place the qualifier.
- Exchange and lay odds — where you'll place the hedge.
- Rating — the estimated retained percentage of your stake, all fees included.
Filters that matter
Filter by bookmaker (only show the one you're qualifying with), by offer type (qualifying / free bet SNR / free bet SR), and by minimum rating (98% for qualifiers, 80% for free bets).
Time-to-kick-off filters keep you away from imminent-off horse racing markets where prices move too fast. Set a minimum of 30 minutes for beginners.
Sport filters help you avoid markets you don't understand — e.g. Asian Handicap football, Cricket Super Over — until you've gone through the basics on the mainstream markets.
What the rating actually measures
Rating is the calculator's estimate of what percentage of your back stake you'll retain after the qualifier settles. 100% means zero qualifying loss. 98% means about 2p per pound. 80% means you're overpaying — hunt for a better market.
The rating already includes exchange commission. You don't need to add commission on top of it.
Using it in practice
- Set filters: bookmaker, offer type, rating threshold, time-to-kick-off, sport.
- Sort by rating descending.
- Click into the top result — the matcher opens the calculator with the prices pre-filled.
- Cross-check the bookmaker's live odds and the exchange's live lay volume before placing.
- Enter your stake, note the returned lay stake, place both bets within seconds.
Kelly's tips
- ✦Cross-check the bookmaker's live odds before placing. Matchers can lag by a few seconds.
- ✦Keep the exchange tab open on the same market so you can lay the instant your back confirms.
- ✦Bookmark the matcher's advanced calculator page — it handles free bets, each-way, dutching, and boosts with the same interface.
Common mistakes
- ✕Trusting a 100% rating without checking the market variant matches.
- ✕Placing based on stale data — refresh before every bet.
- ✕Ignoring the time-to-kick-off filter and getting caught by a suspended market mid-placement.
FAQs
Do I need a paid subscription for a decent odds matcher?
Free trials work for the first few offers; the paid tier pays for itself once you're doing multiple offers per week.
Is the matcher's rating ever wrong?
The calculation is deterministic. The rating can lag if bookmaker prices move faster than the scan — refresh before placing.
Should I always take the highest-rated market?
Not always. Sometimes a slightly lower rating with much better exchange liquidity is safer.
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