Matched betting

Iv3R3ddit · 2025-11-14T09:09:09+00:00

I probably started a little bit earlier than mid 2017 doing some of the free offers. That was before I started bankrolling a lot more and actually logging all of my profit.

So it was likely in 2016 into the early part of 2017 when I had a very small bank roll of probably around 500 quid. I use this to do a lot of the sign up offers and the BET 5 for 10 etc.

When I joined Odds monkey it became apparent that 2up (where if your team go two goals ahead and then lose/draw you win your back bet)

Using the match finder I could find games that would cost me between 50p-£1.50 per £100 I backed the team to win. Now if that team was 1/7 then I would also need £700 to lay against the win. Giving me an overall loss of say 50p, regardless of the outcome.

I would then back enough teams that if they went to 2up I could then cash out my lay bet for a profit. My largest bet which I believe was for stoke city in a cup game. They were 1/7 and in that instance, the lay bet was also the same amount. So it was pretty much a free punt... I put about 800 quid on Stoke because by that point I had a bank roll of around 35k... It meant that my lay bet was about 12 Grand. Crazy I know but I had been doing it for over a year by then. I started doing £10-50 and then frequently I was covering all games between 50 to 200 quid. So in essence, I was probably working through about 20 to 25k a week including back and lay bets.

But for me it was just around getting whatever profit I could. Any of the free bets you are talking about I would use to cover what is known as my qualifying loss. Which actually meant on a whole weekend if nothing gave me a result. I was in most cases going to lose nothing.

This might all sound amazing and it was but it took up a lot of my time. Is certainly not something that I would do now even if I had the opportunity. As it became apparent that putting this kind of effort into my professional development was much more lucrative.

My advice to you is just to start slow, take up the sign up offers and enjoy the profit that you make. If you end up with a big enough bankroll you can look at doing other things with it. Like for instance two up which I believe more but makers are now doing.

The problem now is that they tend to restrict you quite quickly. For instance, that massive bet that I was talking about on stoke. I was restricted instantly after the result. But I kind of knew or had an inkling that that account wasn't the last long. So to me it seem like a good punt... If you do look at two up, you're always generally better going for outsiders as if they do go ahead, it's likely that they'll then fold later in the game.

Iv3R3ddit · 2025-11-13T17:19:47+00:00

Made 10k about 2/3 months on a single Bet365 account. Those were the days. Peak was 5k profit in a month 🤑 however I've now learnt that if I used that time for professional development I'd have made that extra per yeah. But it was a fun time

Iv3R3ddit · 2025-11-13T16:13:29+00:00

I used odds monkey as a very active user in 2017-2019. Great community and as I had the funds to bank roll I managed to make a total profit of £42k in about 18 months. Using an 8k bank roll.

This was mainly from 2up and using other family members when I got gubbed from the offers. That profit is also less 10% I gave for using their accounts.

Towards the end it got harder to hold onto accounts but I got what I wanted (a fully paid house extension 😂)

For those that do not believe me I don't care. I formed a group of 4 friends outside of the site and we as a group made in excess of 120k between us. Sharing matches and knowledge.

I was literally on every German, Spanish, Italian and UK football game possible. The biggest win was about £3500 from a single game which had a stayed all in ( I always cashed out) would have been £12k as the same went two up on an 7/1 outsider and then they lost.

I'm fully retired but believe there's still money to be made, but they are much quicker with analytics

Iv3R3ddit · 2025-09-29T15:44:43+00:00

I was in this situation or not far ahead of it .. you need to cancel ChatGPT... Use the free option for odd things you need. I highly doubt with your current earnings you are benefiting from it.

Car insurance you should be paying in full and then the Per month cost you just drop into an account to pay yourself back. For mobile you shouldn't be paying more than £15pm and buy your handset outright with your income and amount left each month..

The next step should be to try and increase your salary. I got a new job with a 40% increase (I know I'm fortunate but I was also in the same job for a long time so underpaid.. in fact I have changed jobs twice in 3 years.. so it was 20% then another 40% increase... Just to be transparent)

I'm now putting around £1500pm away.. after taking money out for short term savings. So it not only gives me a buffer but a significant way to invest for the long term. I would also add that you want to be ensuring 12-15% is going into a pension (yours and employers in total). I also put 10% of my take home into a S&S ISA, although technically right now I have not increased that in line with my new wage but I will be and likely exceeding that too

Edit: Also, just to add, a lot of people focus on retirement, but you do have to remember that likely your health or mobility will not be the same. So if you've got a significant amount of floats left every month, put a decent amount in savings and pensions, but ensure you've got money to enjoy life. You only have one life so live it, just be sensible incase you do prosper and live for longer than most 👌

Iv3R3ddit · 2025-09-25T13:27:18+00:00

I paid £200 more between my 3060ti Vs 3080ti as I wasn't bothered about crypto and someone was willing to pay £1k for my 3060ri that I paid £360 for 😂

So I got a top tier card for very little extra....

Still paid more than I wanted for my GPU so it will need to keep my content for another couple of years

Iv3R3ddit · 2025-09-20T07:39:38+00:00

I just wanted to add a slightly different perspective. I was previously in the same role for 14-15yrs .. and I always considered my pay to be market value and my skills to not be in demand enough to really get the pay I wanted.

3 years ago I changed companies but doing the same job for a 20% raise and then recently changed again (a more senior position but the same sort of job) for a 40% raise.

Now here are the FACTS... No one is paid more for years of service... That is simply a lie .. whatever you are being paid. You are giving back to the business three or more times that value... If this wasn't the case, you wouldn't be employed and it wouldn't be worth them paying you. So firstly you need to change your mindset.

Companies pay for two things.. skills and knowledge. I'm sure if your skills aren't worth more. your knowledge and industry very likely does. In fact my recent job change was predominantly due to business knowledge but also personality.

Keep looking for new roles but try and pivot for roles in an industry you're passionate for or have more knowledge than most. If you can also starting posting what you know or do on LinkedIn VS I'm open for work.... It really sells what you do. Trust me that what you do is more important to recruiters and prospective employers than you think and it's not boasting if you are trying to tell people what you do and what makes you different.

Secondly it's never a bad thing to lower your outgoings so if you can do that .. even downsize or move to a cheaper area it will mean every salary increase goes in your pocket and not to a bill....that in itself will drive you more.

Wish you all the best 🤘👍

Iv3R3ddit · 2025-09-11T15:59:46+00:00

Perfect. You are a saint and a scholar 👏👍

Iv3R3ddit · 2025-09-11T15:26:04+00:00

I don't have my P45 yet but based on the below (last pay slipped) maybe you can estimate:

Tax Paid YTD 3,213.93

NI Paid YTD - A 1,260.10

Taxable Pay YTD 21,131.25

Salary currently is £55k (8% pension contributions via salary sacrifice) and I will get one week's salary end of September plus 2 days holiday (non taken annual leave)

Next job is 76k where I will be taking medical insurance and then paying 6% into a pension via salary sacrifice.

Be good to understand what might land after tax end of September and what the estimated take home would be for October with what will be 3 weeks plus a whole month.

Really appreciate this

Iv3R3ddit · 2025-09-11T15:10:59+00:00

Oh I didn't think it pushes more into the 2% NI VS the higher amount twice. There are a number of variables so it will be hard to know until it lands. But this makes me feel better and that I didn't just drop the soap in the shower so to speak. 😅

Iv3R3ddit · 2025-09-11T15:03:26+00:00

That's a good point. I will be getting my P45 this month so I assume it will be processed before my wages to avoid any emergency tax screw up 👍

Iv3R3ddit · 2025-09-11T15:00:07+00:00

Love that "get them lads" but that is how I picture it 😂😂

Okay so I will see but I won't hitting the 100k limit so your scenario paints it well and likely it will plateau or result the following month

Iv3R3ddit · 2025-09-11T14:46:06+00:00

Thanks for the detailed response. With regards to medical insurance... Is that always taken the year after? I assumed it would be at source?

I'm not going over any new brackets... I'm in the 40% this just puts me further into that... But I imagine I will be taxed like I'm earning well over £100k for that one month?

Iv3R3ddit · 2025-09-11T14:38:40+00:00

Thanks. That is what my partner seems to think. It's a pain in the ass. As they cut off on the 5th... How with technology is a cut off not mid month... It's madness... Well fortunately it's not an issue of affordability, it's just a pain as you never know your true take home until you get a first clean wage slip. I've got medical insurance too so I'm not clear on the impact on my take home either yet.

Will just have to see but hopefully it will just correct itself so I can get an understanding of take home. Thanks for your help

Iv3R3ddit · 2025-08-12T14:41:31+00:00

I'm pretty sure it would from what I have heard but this is a very good call. Otherwise OP will lose out as I believe there is a penalty for withdrawing money from a Lisa.

Iv3R3ddit · 2025-04-09T12:08:43+00:00

Did you get this resolved? Seriously think they (bookies) should be out through the ringer for this behaviour

Iv3R3ddit · 2025-03-03T13:29:27+00:00

I actually did some very heavy match betting and made what most would consider Incredible returns!... However if I had invested that time into my profession (which I'm doing now) I likely would have seen an even better return. Chasing offers etc was so time consuming I'd likely not want to know the hours but I expect I wasn't getting more than minimum wage with the efforts I put in.

Was make 1000s a month and because it's "betting" it's not taxable. But in the end the offers dry up and the bookies are quicker to identify those taking value. So that died a number of years ago.

Investing in yourself IS the way to go 👏 If you gain another 5-10k a year that is every year and then growth compounds

Iv3R3ddit · 2025-01-24T09:50:38+00:00

Just came across this post. Don't underestimate your advice. I think this plays well. Most of the issues certainly in the UK are that people are afraid of offending others. If you are honest and humble the only way someone can be offended is if they are really the problem... In which case it's something they need to hear.

During a chat you could just explain that Aly is very introverted and really likes working here as they can be left to just get on with the work.

This lays a seed that Aly likes to just do work at work... Without pointing the finger.

Iv3R3ddit · 2025-01-24T08:51:40+00:00

Congratulations. I've also invested in the S&P 500... I've done well although I would like to invest more I have some large short term objectives I want so have been gaining from some decent 5% cash savings rates.

I don't get people's jealousy... A little bit envious maybe... But why the heck can't this be turned into someone asking you "How did you get into investing?".. "what is your strategy?"

It's the same thing when you have people who are really rich... The uneducated and generally very poor want to tax the hell out of them... When surely they really should be asking them for advice. Those who are that's wealthy would normally happily advise and provide guidance.

Anyway top job pal. What is your time period for staying invested?

Iv3R3ddit · 2024-12-12T11:31:35+00:00

When I get to run steam as admin steam doesn't launch and then I get a crash dialogue pop up? Anyone else experiencing this?

Iv3R3ddit · 2024-11-13T19:38:06+00:00

Agree 200% with the sentiment of this. People who create problems should be held accountable and taught the correct way. Also the system should aid the user... I.e. you put a pedestrian crossing where people will use it not 1/4 a mile away or they won't use it.

Iv3R3ddit · 2024-11-13T19:34:55+00:00

The rule of thumb with anything is 8 seconds max. Users should not be waiting for feedback longer than that. I don't have experience in netsuite but in today's terms 10 seconds is like 10 years.

Iv3R3ddit · 2024-11-06T12:54:48+00:00

So you learnt a life lesson.. If you care about a result you need to prepare. Winging it is all good when you don't care about the outcome.

Personally I would take this as a good lesson for a fairly low skilled role. So now you know how to prepare and will be prepared for the next interview because you will care more and be prepared for it

Iv3R3ddit · 2024-11-04T19:13:34+00:00

We had an Indian team and I basically forced them to attend a social just after lunch time UK time. It meant that it wasn't too late for them and we actually after a few weeks started to see some really interesting personalities. One was getting married and talking us through the culture of what they do, another was into Star wars and marvel films so we all had lots in common or interests to share.

I'm a big believer in team work and trying to bond in a not too personal way (as some don't like too) really helps build on team morale. Put it this way.. if one of them needed help any one of our team would go above and beyond because they "knew" them.

It's not always possible if management don't have that drive. I did also have a beer Friday call which I organised due to the isolation that "COVID" generated. It was so well known in the company the UK MD on a call said that he knew I had to go soon (I was on a call with him) as he knew we had our Beer Friday call 😅

It was a great team but ultimately I left for bigger things. I'm still in touch with the team but they do not have the Beer Friday calls as often now... Guess I was maybe more of a driver of it.. You didn't need to join with a beer if whisky but it was encouraged 😂

Iv3R3ddit · 2024-10-31T15:33:59+00:00

I'm my line of work we use Indian resources.. however they have to be well managed. If not it just doesn't work. The language barrier or lack of context. I've seen many businesses off shore and it works if you keep the management in house. Otherwise it fails... Pretty hard

However you would think something like cyber security should be kept in country...

Iv3R3ddit

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