Budget for the bookmaker stake and the exchange liability at the same time. Then record the qualifying result, the reward and the final free bet result separately. A headline offer value is not your settled profit.
Plan the balance
A £10 bookmaker stake and a £30 exchange liability require £40 across two accounts before the match settles. That money is tied up, although the final matched result could be a small loss. If you plan several offers at once, add their unsettled stakes and liabilities. Do not use money needed for bills or try to recover a bad result by increasing stakes.
Record each stage
| Entry | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Qualifying bet and lay | Shows the actual qualifying cost after settlement and commission. |
| Reward received | Confirms whether the offer paid, and whether the free bet was stake returned. |
| Free bet and lay | Shows the actual conversion after commission and rounding. |
| Final total | Free bet result minus qualifying loss, fees and any other costs. |
If the reward does not arrive, do not record the estimate as profit. Check eligibility and the operator's terms. Keep a note of dates and reference numbers if you need to ask about it.
A settled example
Suppose your qualifying pair settles at a 58p loss and you receive a fictional £10 stake-not-returned free bet. You back the free bet at 5.0 and lay £7.72 at 5.2 with 2% exchange commission. The exchange holds £32.42 liability for that second pair. The free bet stake is not returned if it wins.
| Stage | Back selection wins | Back selection loses |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying pair | 58p loss | 58p loss |
| Free bet pair | £40 bookmaker winnings less £32.42 liability = £7.58 | £7.72 lay win less 2% commission = £7.57 |
| Settled offer total | £7.00 profit | £6.99 profit |
The totals can differ by a penny or two because you can only place stakes in pennies. The full practice offer shows every qualifying and free-bet outcome from starting balances of £20 and £50. A live offer may settle differently if its rules, odds or commission differ. Record the amounts shown in your accounts, then check that your tracker agrees with the combined balance change.
Try the Profit Tracker when you have a settled offer. Use the betting offers page for current opportunities. The number to watch is your own final result, not the value advertised in a promotion.
Check you have it
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