Liability is the amount you can lose on the exchange lay. It is held when you place the lay, even when the matched pair is expected to finish at a small loss or gain overall.
Work out the liability
For decimal odds, multiply the lay stake by the odds minus one. In this fictional example, you lay £10 at 4.0. The exchange holds £10 × (4.0 − 1) = £30.
| Exchange result | What happens |
|---|---|
| Selection wins | You lose the £30 liability on the lay. The bookmaker back bet should win if the bets match. |
| Selection does not win | You win the £10 lay stake, less exchange commission. The held liability is released. |
Look at the full pair, not the exchange line on its own. Seeing £30 liability does not mean the plan is to lose £30 overall. It does mean you need £30 available in the exchange account, and a mistake could leave that amount at risk.
Check before confirming
- Is the lay stake the amount the calculator gives, and is it fully matched?
- Are the lay odds still the odds you used in the calculation?
- Can your exchange balance cover the displayed liability?
- Is this the same event, market and selection as the back bet?
High lay odds can require a large balance for a modest free bet. Never size an offer from the headline reward alone. A matched betting calculator can show both outcomes, but check the exchange slip before you confirm.
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