Lay Bet

A lay bet is the opposite of a traditional (back) bet — you're betting that an outcome will NOT happen. Lay betting is available on betting exchanges like Betfair, where you act as the bookmaker. When you lay a selection, you accept another person's back bet. If the selection loses, you keep the backer's stake. If it wins, you pay out the winnings. Lay betting is essential for matched betting and trading strategies. Your liability (potential loss) is calculated as: (Odds - 1) × Stake. Lay betting offers opportunities to profit from events you think won't happen, providing flexibility not available at traditional sportsbooks.