Bookmaking Calculator
Calculate your liabilities and potential profit when laying bets on an exchange
Input
Number of Selections: 3
Results
Enter valid odds to see results
What is Bookmaking on Exchanges?
When you lay bets on a betting exchange, you're essentially acting as the bookmaker. Instead of backing an outcome to win, you're offering odds to other bettors and accepting their bets. If they lose, you keep their stake. If they win, you pay out their winnings.
This calculator helps you understand your liability (what you'll lose if a selection wins) and potential profit (what you'll win if all selections lose) when laying multiple bets.
Understanding Key Concepts
Liability
The amount you'll lose if a selection wins: Stake × (Odds - 1)
Overround
Your book percentage - should be over 100% for a profit margin
Max Liability
The worst-case scenario - your maximum potential loss
Potential Profit
What you keep if all selections lose (stakes minus commission)
Risk Management Tips
Laying bets carries different risks than backing. Here's how to manage them effectively.
Best Practices:
- •Know Your Liability: Always calculate your maximum loss before placing lay bets
- •Maintain Overround: Aim for 101%+ overround to ensure a profit margin
- •Diversify Stakes: Don't put all your liability on one selection
- •Account for Commission: Remember that commission reduces your profit, not your liability
- •Set Limits: Never risk more than you can afford to lose on a single market
How It Works
When you lay bets on an exchange, you're acting as the bookmaker. This calculator helps you understand your liability (what you'll lose if a selection wins) and potential profit (what you'll win if all selections lose). The overround shows if you have a profitable book - it should be over 100% for a profit margin.
Example
If you have £300 total stake to distribute across 3 selections with odds of 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0, each selection gets £100. Your maximum liability is £300 (if the 4.0 selection wins). If all lose, you keep the £300 minus commission.