How I Made £5,000 from Matched Betting in the UK (And How You Can Too)

Is Matched Betting Too Good to Be True?

I used to think so too.

I first heard about matched betting a few years ago through side hustle communities. People were claiming they were making hundreds—sometimes thousands—just by placing clever bets. I thought, This sounds dodgy. But after successfully earning money from things like bank switches and market research, I decided to give it a proper go.

Now? I’ve made over £5,000 from matched betting—and I’m still going.

It’s legal, tax-free, and if you do it right, there’s no gambling involved. Here’s exactly how it works, what I do each day, and how you can get started—today.

What Is Matched Betting?

Matched betting is a way to make money from the free bet offers that UK bookmakers give to new and existing customers. It works by placing two bets:

• A back bet with the bookmaker (e.g. “Team A to win”)

• A lay bet on a betting exchange (e.g. “Team A NOT to win”)

These two bets cancel each other out—so no matter the outcome, you’ve covered all bases. When you use a free bet, you keep the profit.

✅ Completely legal
✅ Tax-free in the UK
✅ Not gambling when done correctly

How Much Money Can You Make?

Here’s what I’ve earned so far:

• £5,000 total profit

• £1,095.90 in my first month

• £915 in one recent month

• £1,065 in another

The amount I earn now varies depending on how much time I put in. Some months I make £500, others it’s closer to £1,000.

👉 Want to see what’s possible? Try the 7-day free trial with Outplayed (affiliate) – I made *£129.93 in my first week.

Below you'll see a snippet from my profit tracker. It shows my bets for my first four days of matched betting. You'll see that I lost a tiny amount of money on each of my initial bets with a bookie, but then I made a guaranteed profit with the free bets. Overall I'm always in profit.

What You Need to Get Started

You only need a few basics to get started:

• A UK address and ID

• A bank account

• Starting float of around £50

• Access to a laptop or desktop

• Sign up for a 7-day free trial with Outplayed (affiliate)

Step-by-Step: How to Start Matched Betting

1. Sign up for the free trial
   Outplayed will guide you through your first offer with clear step-by-step instructions and videos.

2. Place your first £5 bet
   You’ll place one bet on a bookmaker site and one on a betting exchange (they’ll show you how to do both).

3. Repeat the welcome offers
   Work your way through each of the sign-up offers. They’ll teach you the core skills and give you lots of quick wins.

4. Track your profits
   Outplayed’s built-in profit tracker makes this easy. I also use the Notes app on my phone to jot things down.

My Daily Matched Betting Routine

I typically spend about 30 minutes a day—sometimes less. Here’s how I fit it around my NHS job:

• Morning: I place my bets before work (usually takes 10–15 minutes).

• Evening: I check results, update my tracker, and plan for the next day.

As you gain confidence, it becomes second nature—you’ll place bets in minutes.

What About Mistakes?

The biggest beginner mistake? Rushing.

⚠️ Don’t skip instructions.
⚠️ Don’t guess what to do next.
⚠️ Always wait until your first bet settles before moving on.

If you follow the steps, you will not lose money. I learned everything from Outplayed’s short videos and used their helpful Facebook group when I wasn’t sure.

And the customer service team? Genuinely amazing. I’ve screenshot bets and asked, “Am I doing this right?”—and they’ve always replied kindly and clearly.

What Offers Do You Do?

🔓 Welcome Offers

These are where you start—and where I made my first £1,000.

🔁 Reload Offers

Once you’ve completed the sign-ups, you move on to ongoing “reload” offers.

🐴 Horse Racing with Pro Tools

Now, I mostly use horse racing tools inside Outplayed to guarantee daily profits.

🎰 Casino Offers

Some of my most exciting moments came from casino sign-up offers:

• I once won £279

• Another time, I hit £540 in one go!

• Last month I won £119 in one spin!

Is It Really Risk-Free?

Matched betting is not gambling when done properly. It’s a mathematical method that uses free bets and odds to guarantee a profit.

💡 Think of it as using clever maths to beat the bookies at their own game.

That said, it’s not for everyone.

Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Do This?

✅ Recommended for:

• Anyone in the UK looking to earn extra money

• Busy professionals

• Students or parents

• People on maternity leave

❌ Not recommended for:

• Anyone with a gambling addiction

• Anyone who struggles to follow instructions

What I Love Most

• The consistent income

• The flexibility—30 minutes a day is doable for anyone

• That I’ll always have this as an income stream

Matched betting has allowed me to pay off debt, build a £1,500 emergency fund, and save for two upcoming holidays—Lisbon and London!

My Advice to You

🎯 Don’t wait like I did.
🎯 Try it risk-free.
🎯 See if it clicks for you.

Click here to try the 7-day Outplayed trial (affiliate)

You are not tied into anything. You can earn back your trial cost in a single day and decide if it’s right for you.

Final Thoughts

I truly believe matched betting is one of the best side hustles in the UK in 2025. It’s fast, flexible, and proven—and if you follow the steps, it works.

Sine I started I've got my husband doing it, both my sisters doing it, and my friends doing it! Come and join us making loads of extra money every month!

If you give it a go, I’d love to hear how you get on.
And if you’re curious but nervous—drop me a message on Instagram and I’ll happily talk you through it.

p.s. If you sign up through my link, after 30 days we will both get £30 sent to our PayPal accounts - some extra profits for both of us!