The No-Lay Spectrum and Commission Increase

Posted on by Oco

Should You Switch to No-Lay Betting After Betfair’s Commission Increase?

With Betfair increasing commission rates for Australian and New Zealand customers, many matched bettors are asking: Is it time to ditch laying bets altogether?

The no-lay approach has always been a growing trend, but it’s not for everyone. While it removes Betfair commission from the equation, it comes with a trade-off, variance. The further you go down the no-lay path, the wilder those swings become.

Let’s break it down.

The No-Lay Spectrum: How Far Do You Go?

There isn’t just one way to apply a no-lay strategy. Some bettors take a cautious approach, while others fully embrace the variance. Here’s how it scales:

1️. No-Lay Promotions (Lowest Variance)

  • Best place for an introduction to no-lay, this is the first stage, you are not laying the promotions themselves, but are still laying your mugs bets and bonus conversions to control your variance.
  • The value of what we do as matched bettors, is in the promotion. This maximises your gains when placing these bets by avoiding EV loss to Betfair commission.
  • Instead of profiting when converting bonus bets, these are now what we call ‘saves’ where the save is that instead of losing your entire stake, you lose the difference in retention.

🔹 Why it works: The value is in the promotion.

2️. No-Lay Mug Bets (Moderate Variance)

  • Placing “mug bets” (non-bonus bets) without laying them off, whilst also not laying your promotions, variance is controlled here by still laying your bonus conversions.
  • Can help with account health but introduces more risk.
  • A losing streak can and will occur, but bankroll swings are manageable with the right mindset.

🔹 Why it works: Over time, you should win close to 50% of bets if picking fair and even odds, but short term variance is unavoidable, especially as the odds increase.

3. No-Lay Bonus Bets (High Variance)

  • Using Bonus bets without hedging them is the final step, at this stage you are not laying promotions, mugs or bonus bets and are taking the full variance with no mitigation.
  • You win big or win nothing, there is no in between.
  • Most profitable long-term but can lead to massive downswings, these can result in placing thousands in bets and losing every single one, you need to be mentally ready for this level.

🔹 Why it works: The expected value of a bonus bet is higher without commission, but long losing streaks are inevitable.

Risk vs. Return: Understanding the Trade-Offs

To better visualize the impact of no-lay betting, imagine a scale:

  • Low Variance (Steady Profits): Laying all bets traditionally, absorbing Betfair commission.
  • Moderate Variance (Bigger Ups & Downs): No-lay promotions and selective underlaying.
  • High Variance (Wild Swings): No-lay mugs, promotions, and bonus bets, risking large downswings.

Laying your bets is hedging against variance, therefore the less you lay, the higher your variance will be in the long term.A higher return potential comes with higher risk. Understanding where you fall on this scale will help you decide what’s best for your risk tolerance.

Pros & Cons of the No-Lay Approach

✅ Pros:

  • Saves time (no need to lay bets).
  • Maximizes long term expected value.
  • No risk of losing both the lay and the back bet due to mistakes.
  • Allows access to markets that are difficult to lay or have no Betfair equivalent.

❌ Cons:

  • Higher variance, potential for massive downswings.
  • Requires a much bigger bankroll.
  • Not suitable for those prone to chasing losses.

Underlaying: A Middle Ground?

Underlaying is an approach that reduces variance without completely sacrificing expected value.

Rather than removing the lay bet entirely, underlaying means laying a smaller amount than usual. This minimizes the downside while still benefiting from reduced Betfair commission costs. For example:

  • Laying only a portion of the back bet (eg. 50% or a flat stake) lowers risk while increasing expected value.
  • This can be useful for those who want to transition into no-lay betting gradually.

While this method won’t eliminate variance, it provides a balanced approach for those cautious about bankroll swings.

Is No-Lay Right for You?

If you have the bankroll, patience, and discipline to handle variance, no-lay betting could be an option. But if you prefer steady, predictable profits, sticking with traditional matched betting, even with higher commission, might be the better choice.

Ultimately, the decision comes down to your risk tolerance. There’s no “one size fits all” approach, but understanding the trade offs will help you make an informed choice.

Matched Betting and Horse Racing

Posted on by Oco

Horse racing is one of the most exciting sports for matched betting, offering a wide range of opportunities to profit from bookmaker promotions. With daily races and frequent bonuses like refunds and odds boosts, horse racing can be a goldmine for bettors. At Bonusbank, we make it even easier to profit with our Horse Power racing software, designed to help you find the best opportunities quickly and efficiently.

Why Matched Betting on Horses Is Profitable

Horse racing stands out as a matched betting favorite for several reasons:

  1. Frequent Promotions
    Bookmakers regularly offer bonuses for horse racing, such as:
    • Money-back specials if your horse finishes second or third.
    • Odds boosts for higher payouts on selected races.
    • Refunds for losing bets in specific scenarios, such as a photo finish.
  2. Daily Opportunities
    Unlike other sports, horse races occur almost every day, giving you a steady stream of matched betting opportunities.
  3. Fast Turnaround
    Horse races are short, which means you don’t have to wait long to see results and move on to your next bet.
  4. High Liquidity on Exchanges
    Horse racing markets on betting exchanges like Betfair often have high liquidity, making it easy to place lay bets without large price gaps.

How to Get Started with Horse Racing Matched Betting

  1. Find the Best Promotions
    Bookmakers often have different offers for specific races, so it’s essential to check daily. With Bonusbank, you’ll always know which promotions are worth pursuing.
  2. Use Horse Power to Find the Best Matches
    Bonusbank’s Horse Power software simplifies matched betting on horse racing. It scans bookmaker odds in real time and highlights the best back and lay opportunities, ensuring you maximize your profits with minimal effort.
  3. Understand Refund Offers
    Many horse racing promotions involve refunds if your horse doesn’t win but places (e.g., finishes second or third). Using matched betting techniques, you can turn these refunds into guaranteed profits.
  4. Bet Responsibly
    Horse racing moves quickly, so it’s vital to stay organized and track your bets. Always double-check odds before placing your back and lay bets to avoid costly mistakes.

Why Bonusbank Members Love HorsePower

Our HorsePower software is specifically designed to give you an edge in horse racing matched betting. Here’s what makes it a game-changer:

  • Speed and Efficiency: Quickly find the best back and lay odds without manually comparing markets.
  • Customisation: Focus on promotions that align with your matched betting strategy.
  • Profit Calculators: Ensure you’re staking the right amounts for guaranteed returns.

Ready to Profit from Horse Racing?

Matched betting on horse racing is one of the most lucrative strategies for both beginners and seasoned bettors. With Bonusbank’s HorsePower software, you’ll have everything you need to turn daily horse races into consistent, risk-free profits.

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Betfair Commission Increase

Posted on by Nico

From March 25th, 2025, Betfair is increasing their commission rates for customers in Australia and New Zealand — while it’s not great news, it’s also not the end of the world.

What’s Changing?

Here’s a quick breakdown of the new Market Base Rates (MBRs):

These are the standard commission rates that most users pay. High-volume customers may qualify for discounts, but for the majority of matched bettors, these are the numbers that matter.

What Does This Mean for Matched Bettors?

In short: lower profits, but matched betting is still very much alive.

Yes, a 1% increase in commission means a larger chunk of your lay bet winnings goes to Betfair — but if you are doing things right you will still have healthy profits.

Matched betting has been around for over two decades, and it’s evolved through all kinds of changes. As long as there’s easy money on the table, smart punters will continue finding ways to take their share.

If you’re already using Betfair to lay bets, the simplest option is to keep doing what you’re doing. Your margins will shrink slightly, but a steady, risk-free side income is still well within reach.

However, if you’re willing to put in a bit more effort, there are ways to avoid paying commission altogether…

Dutching Bonus Bets

Instead of laying your bonus bets at Betfair, you can hedge them at another bookmaker — a strategy known as dutching.

The Bonusbank Dutching software makes this easy: just sort by SNR to find the best matchups for turning bonus bets into real cash — no Betfair required.

Additional perks:

  • You get a mug bet at the second bookie, helping keep your account healthy.
  • You avoid Betfair’s rising fees entirely.

Caveats:

  • You’ll often need to place a large hedge bet, sometimes at short notice.
  • Because you don’t know which bookies will have the best odds, you’ll need to keep balances across multiple accounts.

This method is more suited to intermediate or advanced users with a decent bankroll and some flexibility. If you are a beginner you may be better sticking with Betfair.

The ‘No Lay’ Approach

Another way to avoid paying commission is just to skip the lay or hedge bet entirely.

At first glance, this feels like gambling — and in a sense, it is. But statistically, this is the approach with the highest expected value.

Here’s why:

  • The edge in matched betting comes from the bonus, not the lay bet.
  • The lay bet exists to remove risk — but it’s actually negative EV on its own (especially after commission).
  • By removing the lay bet, you reintroduce risk — but keep the edge.

Over a large sample size, you’ll come out ahead. And because you’re not paying commission, you’ll actually make more in the long run.

However, this approach comes with variance. You could go weeks or months without seeing a profit. It requires:

  • A big bankroll
  • A strong mindset
  • Patience to play the long game

If you want to dig deeper, this video explains the approach in detail:


Why Have Betfair Increased Commissions?

Although this change is bad news for matched bettors, we actually have some sympathy for Betfair here.

Over the last few years, state governments have ramped up Point of Consumption Taxes (POCT) on gambling. Bookies can offset this by offering worse odds — but Betfair doesn’t set odds, so they’ve had to absorb these costs.

On top of that, product fees for racing and sports have also climbed. For example, the commission on NRL and NSW racing was already at 10% due to high product fees in those markets.

These fees are often based on turnover — which hits Betfair harder than fixed-odds bookies. That’s because on an exchange, one trader backing and laying the same horse multiple times can generate huge turnover… without generating any profit for Betfair. The fees still apply, though.

Between rising costs and a lack of mainstream traction, Betfair has found it tough to turn a profit in Australia. It’s no wonder competitors like Smarkets and Matchbook haven’t even tried.

Final Thoughts

The existence of Betfair is crucial to matched betting in Australia. So, although we may not love these increases, we hope that it turns out to be a smart business decision that allows them to keep operating for a long time.

Betfair is still a much more honourable institution than the average bookie, so if you have any degen friends please tell them to open a Betfair account (and also to stop being degens and join Bonusbank, obviously).

New Discord Racing Bot

Posted on by Nico

The number of bots on our server—and the value of a Bonusbank membership—has just gone up again! This week, we’re excited to introduce Jarvis, our latest racing bot, designed to make profiting from racing promos even easier.

For over a year, Premium+ and Pro members have had access to two powerful tools for racing promos:

  • HorsePower Chrome Extension – A fully comprehensive tool packed with features. It supports 100+ bookmakers, offers full customization, and helps you maximize your profits with ease.
  • Turf Tracker Discord Bot – A streamlined version of HorsePower designed for Discord compatibility. Perfect for those who want to profit from racing promos while on the go.

Both of these tools have been game-changers—but they share one limitation: they only display data from one race at a time. That’s where Jarvis comes in.

Meet Jarvis: A Smarter Way to Profit from Racing

Unlike its predecessors, Jarvis scans multiple races simultaneously, identifying the best betting opportunities and presenting them in a clear, table-style format, similar to our ATM tool.

Jarvis operates in three different modes to suit your needs:
✅ Promo Mode – Find the best races to maximize your promotional offers.
✅ Bonus Mode – Target races where free bets and bonuses can be converted into profit.
✅ Mug Mode – Blend in with recreational bettors while still optimizing returns.

Why You’ll Love Jarvis

✔ Mobile-friendly – Use it anywhere, just like Turf Tracker.
✔ Time-saving – Perfect for those who can’t spend all afternoon at a computer.
✔ Easy to use – Intuitive and efficient, no unnecessary complexity.

If you want to increase your racing promo profits but don’t have time to sit in front of a laptop, Jarvis is the tool for you. Available now for Premium+ and Pro members.

Ready to take your matched betting to the next level? Join Bonusbank today and put Jarvis to work!

Get the Best Odds on SGMs

Posted on by Nico

Same Game Multi (SGM) promos have surged in popularity over the past five years, becoming the go-to offer from bookies for major sporting events. For matched bettors, this is fantastic news—these promos can deliver significant value, often providing $10-15 in expected value (EV) per $50 bet. However, they also come with challenges.

The Challenges of SGM Promos

Unlike traditional matched betting opportunities, most SGMs cannot be laid, meaning you need a decent bankroll and a willingness to ride out variance. Another difficulty is accurately determining their true EV. Due to the complex algorithms that bookies use to price SGMs—where multiple legs are often correlated—it’s impossible to calculate the exact expected return.

But while we can’t determine precise EV, we can ensure we’re getting the best possible value by choosing legs where bookies offer generous odds.

This is where our Odds Comparison Tool (OCT) comes in. It allows you to scan odds across multiple bookies in seconds, helping you identify when your chosen bookie is offering the best (or at least fair) odds. By using the OCT, you can avoid handing back too much value through poor odds selection.

Introducing the New SGM Tool for Pro Members

For Pro members, maximizing SGM value just got even easier. We’ve added a powerful SGM Tool to the OCT, allowing you to quickly find the best bets at your chosen bookie.

With this new feature, you can:
✅ Instantly identify the most profitable legs for your SGM.
✅ Build high-EV multis with minimal effort.
✅ Make sure you’re getting the best possible value from your bets.

To learn more about how it works, check out the video below:

NRL 25 New Season Offer

Posted on by Nico

NEW SEASON OFFER

March is shaping up to be an exciting month for matched betting in Australia!

The NRL season kicks off early this year, with two showcase matches in Las Vegas on Sunday. Then, just a few days later, the AFL season opener and NRL’s first domestic match take centre stage on March 6th.

Why does this matter? Because the first few weeks of the season are when bookies offer some of their best promotions in an attempt to attract punters and gain market share (see our Betr blog for a prime example). With Round 1 stretched across two weekends this year, there’s even more opportunity to profit.

If you’ve been thinking about matched betting, now is the time to get set up so you’re ready to take full advantage from Day 1.

To help you hit the ground running, we’re offering an amazing deal:

✅ Sign up before the end of February and get 6 weeks of membership instead of the standard month.

To take advantage use one of the following codes on the signup page:

– For Premium Monthly – NRL25
– For Premium+ Monthly – NRLPLUS
– For Pro Monthly – NRLPRO

Matched betting is a great way to earn all year round, but March is special—make sure you’re ready to make the most of it!

Upgrade Now!

Betr’s $101 Odds Return

Posted on by Nico

In the spring of 2022, Betr burst onto the Australian betting scene with one goal: to shake up the industry. Helmed by Matt Tripp, the former CEO of Sportsbet and BetEasy, and backed by media mogul Rupert Murdoch, Betr had the firepower to make a serious impact. But in a highly competitive market, they needed an attention-grabbing promotion to turn heads—and they certainly delivered.

The $101 Melbourne Cup Promo

Offering $101 odds on any horse seemed insane. The best you could get on the favourite, Deauville Legend, at other bookies was around $6. As a result, the marketing strategy worked and everyone was talking about the new bookie.

This was especially true in the matched betting community. The fav could be laid on Betfair at around $8, which meant that a $10 bet on Betr could be turned into over $100 of guaranteed profit.

A Close Call for Betr

Then came the barrier draw, and things got even more interesting. Deauville Legend drew a favourable barrier, causing its odds to shorten significantly. By race day, it had firmed into $3.80, leaving Betr in an extremely precarious position. If Deauville Legend won, the company could have been in financial trouble before even fully establishing itself.

With risk mounting, Matt Tripp scrambled to hedge bets with other bookmakers to offset potential losses. However, in the end, the panic was unnecessary. Deauville Legend finished fourth, while the $21 outsider Gold Trip took the win, sparing Betr from a catastrophic payout.

But There’s More…

While the Melbourne Cup was the headline-grabbing promo, Betr didn’t stop there. The same $101 odds were offered for the winners of:

  • 2022 FIFA World Cup
  • 2022-23 NBA Championship
  • 2023 AFL Premiership
  • 2023 NRL Premiership

These promotions provided further opportunities for Bonusbank members to lock in tasty profits, but they also added significant financial risk to Betr’s balance sheet.

By the time the AFL and NRL playoffs rolled around, Betr was feeling the heat. To mitigate their exposure, they began offering cashout deals to punters who had placed $101 bets. Initially, these cashouts provided negative expected value (EV), meaning that laying on Betfair was a more profitable alternative. However, by the Grand Final, Betr was so desperate to reduce liability that some of the cashout deals became +EV, making them an enticing option.

It’s Back for 2025

Due to Australian laws regarding the advertisement of betting inducements, you need to log-in to view this section. You can sign up for a free account at https://bonusbank.com.au/register/free.

Final Thoughts

Betr’s $101 odds promo was a bold, high-risk strategy that ultimately put the company on the map. While it created massive financial exposure, the buzz it generated cemented Betr as a major player in the Australian betting industry.

Based on their current actions, it seems like Betr think the risk was worth it. The question is: will they be as lucky this time around? Either way, we know that Bonusbank members will profit.

Our Rapid Racing Response Time

Posted on by Oco

At Bonusbank, we pride ourselves on reliability. With near 100% uptime, we know how important it is for our software to be available when you need it.

Today, at 11:36 AM AEDT, our racing software (HP) experienced an unexpected outage. The issue was first reported by our members, and our immediate support team quickly escalated it to our dedicated developers, who were on it within minutes.

By 12:10 PM AEDT, just 34 minutes later, and 5 minutes before the first race of the day, HP was fully operational again.

Why This Matters for Our Members

✔️ Immediate support when you need it – We’re a large team, not a one person operation
✔️ Fast, effective issue resolution – Our dev team is always on standby to tackle any problems
✔️ Reliability you can count on – With near 100% uptime, disruptions are extremely rare
✔️ Community driven response – We appreciate our members for flagging the issue so we could take action right away

Unlike smaller operations, Bonusbank has a full team of experts working behind the scenes to ensure your matched betting experience runs smoothly. Today’s rapid response was proof of that commitment.

Thanks to our members for their patience and to our dev team for ensuring HP was back online before the first bet of the day was placed.

Bonusbank members get access to detailed strategies, tools, and support to help you maximise your returns. Join us today!

Sign Up

Have a question or comment about this article? Join our Discord community to discuss all things matched betting, value betting and EV betting.

6 Ways to Profit From the Bookies

Posted on by Nico

Many people think that matched betting is only about profiting from sign-up bonuses. The truth is that it goes much deeper than that.

This video looks at different ways that you can beat the bookies.

Have a question or comment about this video? Join our Discord community to discuss all things matched betting and value betting.

Bet365 2up Promo

Posted on by Nico

Early payout promos give us the opportunity to collect large profits with very little risk. The most well-known early payout offer is the 2up promo from Bet365.

The video below shows how you can use the Bonusbank 2up software to find the selections with the highest expected value.

Have a question or comment about this video? Join our Discord community to discuss all things matched betting and value betting.

Matched Betting Calculators: Making Profits Easy

Posted on by Oco

Matched betting is a great way to make money, but many people hesitate because they think it requires complex math. The truth is, you don’t need to be a numbers expert, our calculators do all the hard work for you.

At Bonusbank, we provide a range of calculators designed to help you maximize profits with minimal effort.

Essential Matched Betting Calculators

  • Back & Lay Calculator – The core tool for turning bonus bets into cash.
  • Advanced Back & Lay Calculator – Allows for underlaying, overlaying, and adjusting for split lays.
  • Dutching Calculator – Helps you profit by backing outcomes at different bookies instead of using Betfair.
  • Early Payout Calculator – Locks in profits when bookies pay out early, with an option to let some ride for bigger wins.
  • SNR Multi Calculator – Maximizes returns when using bonus bets on multis.
  • Expected Value Calculator – Helps you identify bets with a positive expected value for long-term profit.
  • Extra Profit Calculator – Calculates returns when bookies offer a profit boost if your bet wins. Check out our lesson on how it works in our matched betting calculators course.
  • Free Crack Calculator – Designed for free crack promotions, where you receive a bonus bet no matter what happens.
  • Kelly Criterion Calculator – Helps you size your bets optimally based on bankroll management principles.
  • SGM Insurance Calculator – Reduces risk on Same Game Multi bets by using insurance bets strategically.
  • X Out of N Calculator – Works out the true odds of boosted odds promos, such as “$3 for Jockey A to ride three winners at Rosehill.”

With these tools, matched betting is simple, efficient, and profitable. Get started today and see how easy it is to make money online!

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Have a question or comment about this article? Join our Discord community to discuss all things matched betting, value betting and EV betting.

Matched Betting – What is it?

Posted on by Oco

Matched betting is a strategy that has gained immense popularity among savvy punters and side hustle enthusiasts. Often described as “risk-free betting,” it’s a method that allows individuals to profit from bookmaker promotions regardless of the outcome of a sporting event or horse race. Whether you’re a seasoned bettor or someone looking to dip their toes into the world of betting, matched betting offers a low-risk way to turn bookmaker bonuses into cash.

How Does Matched Betting Work?

At its core, matched betting involves placing two bets:

  1. A Back Bet: A bet placed on a specific outcome (Heads, on a coin flip).
  2. A Lay Bet: A bet placed against the same outcome (Not Heads, ie Tails on a coin flip) using a betting exchange.

By combining these two bets, you effectively cancel out the risk, ensuring that you don’t lose money, regardless of the result. The profit comes from the bookmaker’s free bets, bonuses, or promotions. All this and more is covered in our Matched Betting Basics course.

An Example of Matched Betting

Let’s say a bookmaker offers a $50 Bonus bet when you deposit and wager $50 of your own money. Here’s how you would use matched betting:

  1. Qualify for the Bonus Bet:
    • Place a $50 back bet on Heads at the bookmaker.
    • Place a corresponding $50 lay bet (Not Heads) at a betting exchange.
    • Zero loss means you unlock the Bonus Bet.
  2. Use the Bonus Bet:
    • Use the $50 Bonus bet on another event.
    • Place a matching lay bet at the exchange to offset the outcome.
    • The Bonus bet generates a guaranteed profit.

Why Is Matched Betting Popular?

  • Low Risk: When done correctly, matched betting eliminates the chance of significant losses.
  • Tax-Free Income: In countries like Australia and the UK, winnings from gambling are tax-free, including profits from matched betting.
  • No Prior Knowledge Required: Unlike traditional betting, matched betting relies on math, not luck or expertise in sports or racing.

Tools for Matched Betting

Matched betting can seem complicated at first, but tools and resources simplify the process:

  • Odds Matchers: Automatically find the best back and lay odds across multiple bookmakers.
  • Tutorials: Step-by-step guides help beginners get started quickly and confidently.
  • Profit Calculators: Help you calculate exact stakes for back and lay bets to maximize profits.

Matched Betting at Bonusbank

At Bonusbank, we provide everything you need to succeed in matched betting, including:

  • A comprehensive odds matcher for finding the best opportunities.
  • Easy-to-use calculators for tracking profits.
  • A community of like-minded members sharing tips and strategies.

Is Matched Betting Worth It?

Matched betting can be highly lucrative, especially when bookmaker offers are plentiful. Many Bonusbank members have turned it into a steady side hustle, earning hundreds or even thousands of dollars per month.

Ready to start matched betting? Join Bonusbank today and learn how to turn bookmaker promotions into tax-free profits. Betting smarter starts here!

Sign Up

“An extra $20,000 in the last 6 months”

Having recently come out of bankruptcy, I was looking at other ways of supplementing my income to assist in getting back on feet; and then I came across BonusBank.

BonusBank has not only helped me save an extra $20,000 in the last 6 months, I have also found a new social group on the chat who are a great help in learning your way around matched betting.

I am not a ‘punter’ – never have been and haven’t become one – THIS is a just a great way to make extra money with little or NO risk.

Looking to make some extra cash? Look no further than Nico and the team at BonusBank. Better than being an Uber driver and its tax fee.

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Pro & Premium+ Are Now Live

Posted on by Nico

In August of 2022 we launched a beta version of our new ‘Pro’ tier. This offered existing members the chance to try out some exciting new features. Now, after more than 6 months of improvements, we are happy to say that Pro is available to everyone!

The feedback that we received from beta members has been great, but the beta period taught us that some members didn’t need all of the advanced features. That’s why we also created the Premium+ tier.

Premium+ is ideal for those who want access to more bookies on our ATM and Dutching software than the standard Premium membership. After upgrading, members will find data from around three times as many bookies, plus a range of additional sports, leagues, and markets.

Australian arbitrage and bonus bet software

Premium+ members also enjoy greyhound coverage on our HorsePower software, and get access to our one-of-a-kind ‘Bore Draw’ software.

For those who are ready to take their matched betting to the next level, our Pro tier is the ultimate option. It includes all of the features of Premium+ with the added bonus of markets for lines, totals, and player prop on our Dutching software. This opens up lots of arbitrage and middle opportunities for Pro members, which allows them to profit without the need for bonus bets.

Australian arbitrage and middle software. Equivalent of OddsJam.

If you are new to matched betting we still recommend that you start out with the standard Premium membership. It has everything you need to make hundreds of dollars each week from bookie promos. However, if you are an advanced matched bettor you will definitely want to check out the new tiers.

As an extra incentive, if you sign up to either of the new tiers before the end of March 2023 you can use the code PRO10 to get a 10% lifetime discount on your subscription.

2022 Wrap Up

Posted on by Jimmy

After a couple of years of global uncertainty, 2022 has been a bumper year for Bonusbank members. With sports returning to normal and a packed racing calendar, we’ve had plenty of bookie promos to take advantage of. When you add a truckload of new bookies into the mix, and finish off the year with a Football World Cup, you have the makings of the most profitable year ever!

Let’s take a moment and reflect on the biggest events in the Matched Betting world over the past 12 months.

Betr

For the past couple of years there have been murmurings of a Rupert Murdoch-backed super bookie launching in Australia. In late 2022, much to the delight of our members, this became a reality.

Betr launched in mid October, right in the middle of Spring Carnival and strategically in the lead-up to the Melbourne Cup. As predicted, these guys weren’t messing about and offered hungry punters ridiculous promos to try and gobble up market share.

The Promos

In order to capture the publics’ attention they announced that they would be running a promotion offering $101 odds on every horse running in the Melbourne Cup. Safe to say that it worked, as the stunt gained widespread coverage from mainstream media… and not just NewsCorp outlets.

In addition to their Melbourne Cup promos they also announced $101 odds on the World Cup, NBA, NRL and AFL winners market as well as very generous $20 odds on the winner of the Cox Plate.

The next treat came in the form of deposit offers. Through the powers of live chat, customers were able to secure $100 deposit matches. A pretty tidy start considering the $600+ of value already on the table from those initial promos. Then things started to go nuclear when people reported that they were being offered $500 deposit matches. Next, news broke that $1000 matches had become available to those who spoke to them over the phone. In true Bonusbank style, our members descended upon the Betr customer service hotline like a flock of seagulls on a stray chip. Needless to say, a complete meltdown of their phone system ensued as their team struggled to keep up with demand. Rumour has it some members are still on hold…

For the next couple of weeks, we were treated to Run 2nd-4th promos across a couple of tracks every weekday. On Saturdays, we had “Run 2nd-5th double your stake back as a bonus bet”. The next week or two was a bit of a blur as Bonusbank members were faced with the task of turning over a constantly replenishing amount of Bonus Bets. After a crazy opening month, they gradually turned off the promo tap. The early days of Betr will surely go down in Matched Betting folklore.

Golden Months of Run 2nds

In June, Bossbet burst onto the scene. They announced Run 2nd promos across all Saturday races at Australian Thoroughbred tracks. As a relatively unknown book at the time, this bought them right into the forefront of the bookie landscape for Matched Bettors. The promo returned again in July, this time for 4 consecutive Saturdays and throughout the week!

As if our members weren’t busy enough, both Winbet and Punt123 joined the Run 2nd party. The sheer scale of the promos made it one of the most lucrative periods of the year. In a truly marathon effort, Matched Bettors were putting in 12-hour shifts in order to take full advantage of these generous bookie offers.

This year we introduced new settings to our HorsePower software. Meaning our members can edit the number of places that the promo pays to for each bookie. This allows for an even more accurate representation of EV and therefore easier to take full advantage of these promos.

New Bookies

Although during 2020 we saw “The Rise of the Rails”, this trend has continued into 2022 with a number of new bookies popping up. With the prevalence of BetMaker White Label software it has become even easier for a bookie to set up online. The good news for us is that often these bookies will have deposit offers and a healthy selection of racing and sports promos during the early stages of their existence.

Notable additions to the Betmaker landscape in 2022: OkeBet, Swiftbet, Bossbet, BaggyBet, ReadyBet, MintBet, RamBet, UPCoz, Swiftbet

In 2022 we also saw Dabble rocket onto the scene. Described as a hybrid between social media and a bookie, they embrace a community of punters to “enhance” their betting experience. Users can share, copy, follow, comment and chat with other punters whilst they bet. This new approach proved successful with Tabcorp snatching up a 20% stake in the company. A couple of other corporate bookmakers tried to get a piece of the action by introducing social betting products.

More importantly, this meant a couple of new promos on the scene in the form of Rocket Boosts and Copy Bet Specials. For more info on how to take advantage of these click here

Pro Tier

From a Bonusbank perspective, 2022 saw the launch of our much anticipated Pro Tier. We started the project with the goal of seriously upgrading all of our existing tools. In particular, the ATM and Dutching software. We also added new ones that will help our advanced members make even more money. 

The Pro Tier provides members with the following additional benefits: 

A wider range of bookies on our ATM and Dutching software. As well as greater coverage of bookie markets to provide more opportunities for bonus turnover, arbitrage, dutching, mug bets and deposit turnover.

After lots of speculation, we’re pleased to announce that our Horsepower software is now compatible with Greyhounds for Pro users. There has been an increase in the number of Greyhound promos available so it was only right that we update our software to accommodate. 

We also introduced our Bore Draw software to help take advantage of the promo offered by Bet365 on every soccer game, anywhere in the world. It can help you find arbitrage opportunities or low-cost mug bets.

Pro is still in beta mode, and there are lots more features to come. If you would like to check it out you will first need a Premium membership. You can then get the Pro add-on here.

Other Notable Mentions

QUOTE OF THE YEAR: “Have you done the courses?” 📚

In case you haven’t, they can be found here

BEST NEW SERVICE: The formation of the Retention Police 🚨

To Protect and to Serve EV

BEST NON-PROMO MONEYMAKER: Unibet World Cup Arbs 🏆

Forget Messi, Flip Flop odds with refreshing max win liabilities are the real GOAT

Introducing Bonusbank Pro

Posted on by Nico

(*This blog post was written in August 2022. The Pro tier is now available to everyone here.)

It’s safe to say that Bonusbank offers more features than any other matched betting site in Australia. You can check out our competitor comparison page to see just how many.

However, that doesn’t mean that we are finished building tools that help our members make money online. We have lots of big plans for the future.

Most of those plans revolve around advanced tools that can help our advanced members make even more from their bookie accounts. Those tools will be found in our new Pro tier.

What Is Bonusbank Pro?

The first thing to say about the Pro tier is that it is a work in progress. It is a beta version that is going to get progressively better and better over the next 12 months or so.

We have recently added two new developers to our team, and we plan on adding more soon (*if you’re a dev with matched betting experience feel free to send us your CV), so the upgrades and new features will be coming thick and fast.

For the moment, though, Pro offers four new features:

‘DogPower’

Racing software for greyhounds in Australia. Make money from refund promos.

For a long time, the most requested addition to our HorsePower racing software has been coverage for greyhound races. That is now a reality for Pro members.

HorsePower is a must-have tool if you want to maximise your returns from the bookie promos that offer a bonus bet if your horse runs 2nd or 3rd (or 4th or 5th in some cases). With the help of HP it is possible to make $1000+ every month from those promos, with not much effort.

However, the recent rise in the number of new bookies in Australia (there are now over 80!) has also led to a rise in the number of promos on greyhounds.

These new promos offer our members the opportunity to make even more money, and the greyhound coverage available to Pro members will help them do just that.

Bore Draw Software

Bet365 Bore Draw software. Find arbitrage opportunities in soccer.

The Bet365 ‘Bore Draw’ promo is often over-looked, but it is extremely useful.

The promo is available on every soccer game – with no stake limit – and gives a cash refund on Correct Score and Half-Time/Full-Time markets if the game ends 0-0.

In the right circumstances, i.e. when the qualifying loss is low and there is a good chance of 0-0, the promo can be used to create an arbitrage opportunity. Our new tool helps to find matches that fit the criteria, and calculates the stakes that you need to use.

The ATM Pro & Dutching Pro

Matched betting oddsmatcher software for Australia

Pro members also receive some enhanced versions of existing tools.

The Pro versions of our ATM and Dutching software have more than double the number of bookies available on their standard versions. They also cover more markets.

On the ATM you will now find coverage for golf. This is great for high SNR returns, and also for arbitrage opportunities (assuming you have a large bankroll – which most of our Pro members do).

On Dutching you will find markets like Draw No Bet, Both Teams To Score, and over/under 3.5 goals.

These two tools are where the most significant upgrades will be made over the coming year. We will be adding many more markets so that we can find even more opportunities for you to lock-in a risk-free profit from the bookies.

How To Get Pro

At present, the Pro tier is being sold as an add-on. That means that the first thing you need to do to get Pro is make sure you have a Premium membership.

Once you have a Premium account you can go to this page to add Pro.

The current cost for Pro is $120 for 90 days of access. That is the equivalent of $40p/m, which is an amount that experienced members should be able to make back in no time with the new features.

A word of warning though, if you want to go Pro you need to sign up by August 28th. After that point we will be closing access for a couple of months.

The next opportunity to signup will be in mid-November, by which time even more features will have been added.

Increase Your Income In 2022/23

Posted on by Nico

The new financial year has arrived at a time when most people don’t enjoying talking – or even thinking – about their finances.

Around the globe, a cost of living crisis is in full effect. And Australia is no exception.

Rental prices in state capitals have increased by over 20% at a time when wage growth is only 2.4%. Property ownership is now nothing more than a pipe-dream for many.

Gas and electricity prices are also through the roof, and let’s not get started on the $10 lettuce.

There are very few areas where Aussies aren’t feeling the pinch, so there has never been a better time to find additional sources of income.

Start Making Money Online

There are plenty of side hustles available for anyone looking to make some extra money. In these times of crisis, though, a few extra bucks from filling out surveys isn’t going to cut it.

What most people need is a side hustle that provides a high return; without requiring too much time; and that – ideally – can be done remotely.

Enter matched betting.

If you would like to make hundreds of extra dollars each week, in just a few hours, from your laptop or phone, you won’t find a better option than matched betting. It’s even tax-free!

To get an idea of just how much you can make, check out the results from this survey that we send to new members after 60 days.

More than 70% of new members make $1000+ in their first two months, with 10% of them making more than $5000!

Those are significant amounts that could make a real difference during difficult times.

Survey of matched betting profits in Australia

How To Get Started

If making an extra $1000+ in the next 60 days sounds appealing to you, the good news is that it isn’t hard to do.

Any Australian resident who is over the age of 18 can make money from matched betting.

All you need to do is sign up for a free Bonusbank account and read through our Matched Betting Basics course. This will explain the basic concepts of matched betting, and walk you through the process of opening your bookie accounts and making your first profits.

The strategy that we use in the course is 100% risk-free. Every bet that we place is fully hedged to remove the risk. Our profits then come from the bonus bets that we receive from the bookie.

By using this approach at the various bookies in Australia you can make around $3000 with zero risk.

What Happens When I Run Out Of Bookies?

It’s a common misconception that matched betting is just about opening new accounts and getting sign-up bonuses. In reality, that is just the beginning.

By following the strategies in our more advanced courses, and using premium tools like HorsePower, you can continue earning month after month.

Just look at the results that some of our longer-term members have achieved:

“Changed my life”

As a young university student BonusBank has given me financial freedom, and with numbers now creeping over $15,000 in just 6 short months I can hardly believe it myself.

Truly changed my life, I’d advise everyone to give this a go – it really is some of the easiest money you’ll ever make.

Ads

“An extra $20,000 in the last 6 months”

Having recently come out of bankruptcy, I was looking at other ways of supplementing my income to assist in getting back on feet; and then I came across BonusBank.

BonusBank has not only helped me save an extra $20,000 in the last 6 months, I have also found a new social group on the chat who are a great help in learning your way around matched betting.

I am not a ‘punter’ – never have been and haven’t become one – THIS is a just a great way to make extra money with little or NO risk.

Looking to make some extra cash? Look no further than Nico and the team at BonusBank. Better than being an Uber driver and its tax fee.

pwinne

“Friendly and reliable advice”

I have been matched betting for around nine months and have made over $15,500 profit.  I consider this a pretty good return given I don’t cover the horse racing or multi promos (although this is about to change).

It would not have been possible to achieve this result without the tools & services (especially the ATM) here at Bonusbank.  The Bonusbank team offers friendly and reliable advice which is invaluable, especially when starting out matched betting.

Don’t be concerned about the price, you will find that Bonusbank will pay for itself several times over AND save you a lot of time.

Keef

Soften The Blow

Despite the huge price rises that we have already seen, it seems like this cost of living crisis is just getting started. The outlook for the 22/23 financial year is not great.

It is more important than ever to have a financial cushion to soften the impact.

If you would like to use the best side hustle in Australia to start building that cushion, sign up to a free account today.

Are Octopus Group Surveys Actually An Excellent Online Side Hustle?

Posted on by David

As people look at different ways to boost their income, Octopus Group Surveys may provide a solution, but are they an excellent online side hustle?

What Is Octopus Group?

Octopus Group is an online survey community that claims to have the highest cash rate available compared to any other online survey panel in Australia. Their mission is to shake up the Australian survey panel industry with a consistent per minute rate of $16.80 per hour.

Octopus Group Revolution
In 2021 their members earned a total of $4.3 million, with over $100,000 being paid to Octopus Group members weekly.

How Does It Work?

Simply by completing surveys to earn some cash.

There are several ways to receive the surveys, either by downloading the app or logging into the website directly.

Members receive rewards of a monetary sum for their time and efforts in completing the surveys. The reward is usually a few dollars per survey.

You can then redeem your cash once you reach $20. The money can be transferred to your bank account or swapped for an e-Gift card at an Octopus Group member’s discounted price.

How Do I Join Octopus Group?

Signing Up is simple.

After entering your mobile number and email address, you will be sent a confirmation link by email, followed by an SMS notification.

Joining Octopus Group
Some basic information is required to join the Octopus Group.

Getting Started

Joining Octopus Group is relatively straightforward and takes about 20 minutes to complete. After signing up for an account, members must complete two stages.

The first stage consists of 53 questions about your circumstances and includes questions like “How much income do you make” and “What type of car do you drive”. Stage one takes about 5-10 minutes to complete.

Octopus Group Dashboard
An example of one of the profile questions asked.

The second stage is an “Initiation Survey”, which is a survey about surveys. Stage two should take about 5-10 minutes to complete.

Initiation Survey for Octopus Group
This survey covers some of the FAQs about Octopus Group and surveys in general.

After completing the survey, each member receives a cash reward, the monetary compensation for this survey was $1.12. Woohoo! Only another $18.88, and I can withdraw.

Members can expect to be notified of eligible surveys within a few hours of signing up.

Octopus Group email notification for survey.
Members can expect their first survey within hours of joining.

Does It Cost Anything?

It is free to join, but it does cost you your time.

Refer-A-Friend/Tell-A-Friend

Just like bonusbank, Octopus have a tell-a-friend promotion. Instead of spending thousands of dollars on marketing and advertising, they would like to share the money with their members. Their members are the most crucial part of Octopus Group, so they take every opportunity to give back to the members first. They’re paying it forward by not spending a fortune on a glitzy website.

So, to get a share, members need to tell a friend about them. Members can receive up to $20 for every friend that registers with Octopus Group. For example, if ten friends create an account, they will give you up to $200. 

The way it works is simple. They will give you $1 per friend that registers, then a further $1 for each of the first 19 surveys they complete! “The best referral sweetener in Australia”, supposedly. (We disagree as our referral is sweeter!)

Members can find the “tell-a-friend” link on the dashboard after logging into the website. Copy it and send it however you like.

Is Octopus Group Easy to Use?

Yes, OG has rolled out a new member portal with a clean user interface that is very easy to navigate. They also have an app which is available for the iPad and iPhone.

Octopus Group App available for iPad and iPhone
The app can be faster for applying and answering surveys.

Is It An Excellent Side Hustle?

Octopus Group Surveys are legitimate. They have over 200,000 members within Australia and are looking to expand in New Zealand.

If you have some spare time on your hands and don’t mind giving away your details, then yes, it can be a decent side hustle. Is it an excellent side hustle? Perhaps not.

The main cons with surveys are that you’re giving away a lot of personal information to people you don’t know. You’re also opening yourself up to receiving a lot of spam.

With a consistent per minute rate of $16.80 per hour, you need to be putting in some serious time to make it worth your while.

We believe that bonusbank is the best side hustle in Australia and New Zealand. Compared to the Octopus Group, it blows it out of the water.

Learning ‘matched betting‘ is relatively simple and can be done by anyone over 18 who resides in Australia or New Zealand.

The free tutorials that bonusbank offer takes about the same time to complete as a few surveys, but the reward is significantly higher. The first matched betting offer is worth about $75 for every bonusbank member.

After completing the first offer, members can use the same knowledge to apply it to different offers. On average, bonusbank members make about $2,500 after their first 60 days of being a member.

Octopus Group and Bonusbank comparison chart
Surveys with Octopus Group vs matched betting with bonusbank

If you’re looking for a side hustle that pays you handsomely for your time, look no further than bonusbank. Once you’ve been banned and limited from all the bookmakers available, it might be worth checking out Octopus Group and completing some of their surveys.

Join Bonusbank
Join Octopus Group

What has been your experience with Octopus Group? Was it worth your time? Did you make much money? Let me know about your Octopus Group experience!