Betfair Lay Betting Strategies That Actually Work

Laying is where Betfair traders make real money. While everyone else backs favorites, smart traders lay overpriced selections and profit when they don't win.

Lay Betting Essentials

Lay = bet AGAINST an outcome (profit if it doesn't happen)
One lay bet covers multiple outcomes
Manage liability carefully (can be 10x your stake)
Best opportunities: overpriced favorites, weak form
Start with low odds (1.50-3.00) while learning

Why Lay Betting is Powerful

Traditional backing: One bet, one way to win

Laying: One bet, multiple ways to win

Example:

Lay Manchester United to win = profit if they lose OR draw
Two outcomes covered with one bet

The Lay Advantage

Backing Liverpool (one outcome):

Win if Liverpool wins
Lose if Liverpool loses or draws

Laying Liverpool (two outcomes):

Win if Liverpool loses
Win if Liverpool draws
Lose only if Liverpool wins

Better odds of winning with lay betting

Managing Liability

Liability = your maximum loss when laying.

Formula: Liability = Stake × (Odds - 1)

£10

Lay at 2.00

£40

Lay at 5.00

£90

Lay at 10.00

Safe practice:

Start with odds 1.50-3.00 (low liability)
Avoid risking more than 5% of bankroll
Calculate liability BEFORE placing bet
Use Traderline's automatic calculator to avoid mistakes

Strategy #1: Laying Overpriced Favorites

The setup: Market overestimates a favorite's chances.

Favorite Lay Strategy

Identify:

Favorite at 1.50-2.50
Weak recent form (lost 2+ of last 5)
Tough opposition
Unfavorable conditions

Action:

Lay at current odds
Wait for odds to drift
Back at higher odds (optional)

Strategy #2: Laying After Early Success

The setup: Selection starts strong, odds shorten, then performance drops.

In-Play Lay Example

Football:

Team scores early goal
Odds shorten from 3.00 to 1.80
Team sits back, opposition gains control
Lay at 1.80, odds drift back to 2.50+

Tennis:

Underdog struggles but wins first set
Odds shorten from 4.00 to 1.70
Favorite is dominant early in the second set
Lay at 1.70 - 2.00, odds drift to 3.00+

Key: Identify unsustainable performance levels

Strategy #3: Laying the Draw

The setup: 0-0 draw with time running out.

How it works:

Draw odds shorten as time passes with no goals
Lay draw at short odds (1.50-2.00)
If goal scored, draw odds drift dramatically
Lock in profit

Risk: If match stays 0-0, you lose

Best when:

Both teams attacking
High-scoring teams
Open, end-to-end game

Draw Lay Warning

Don't lay draw if:

Both teams defensive
Low-scoring matchup
Teams happy with draw
Weather conditions favor 0-0

Strategy #4: Correct Score Laying

The setup: Lay unlikely scorelines at high odds. Best for: Experienced traders only (high liability risk)

Markets for Lay Betting

Best markets (highest success rate):

Match Odds: Lay overpriced favorites
Over/Under: Lay overs in defensive games
Both Teams to Score: Lay in low-scoring matchups

Medium difficulty: 4. Correct Score: Lay unlikely scores

Avoid (too risky): 5. First Goalscorer: Too unpredictable

Risk Management for Lay Betting

Common Lay Betting Mistakes

Avoid These Errors

1. Laying low odds: Larger profits (but the market will quickly bleed your position on time-based events)

2. Laying high odds: Massive liability risk

3. Overconfidence: Laying everything that moves

4. Ignoring form: Laying based on gut, not data

When NOT to Lay

Avoid laying when:

Odds are too low (<1.20) - risk/reward terrible
Odds are too high (>50.0) - liability could be too dangerous
You have no edge - don't lay randomly
Liquidity is low - can't exit if needed
You're emotional - stick to strategy

Lay betting is powerful but requires discipline. Master liability management, start small, and scale as you gain experience.