{"id":14907,"date":"2025-02-25T13:26:18","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T10:26:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/7bet.co.uk\/blog\/?p=14907"},"modified":"2026-01-21T11:14:32","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T08:14:32","slug":"lay-betting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/7bet.co.uk\/blog\/lay-betting\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Lay Betting and How Does It Work?"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are two ways to make any bet \u2013 either an event will occur or it won\u2019t. For example, you can predict which horse will win the race or which football team will lift the English Premier League trophy. This is called a \u201cback bet\u201d, where you\u2019re backing an event.<\/span><\/p>\n

A lay bet is the opposite, where punters bet on an outcome NOT to happen. Below, we tell you more about <\/span>what is lay betting<\/span>, how it works, and its advantages and disadvantages.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is a Lay Bet<\/h2>\n

Lay betting is when you are betting on a team or horse to lose. Bookmakers calculate probabilities and set the odds accordingly. The bookmaker is essentially betting against the market, hoping the event doesn\u2019t happen. However, now several websites give punters the option to lay a bet. For example, in horse racing, you can pick the horse that you think definitely won\u2019t win the race.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In a football example, imagine a <\/span>Brentford vs Liverpool <\/span><\/a>match. A traditional bettor might back Liverpool to win at odds of, say, 3\/8. If you\u2019re laying a bet, then you\u2019re predicting that Liverpool won\u2019t win. This means either Brentford wins, or the match ends in a draw.<\/span><\/p>\n

Explore multiple markets in the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, and more. Punters can lay bets on specific outcomes. Bet on Football Now<\/span>
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Lay betting also works in horse racing. From the Grand National to international races, you can find opportunities on 7bet to place your wagers on favourites or outsiders. Bet on Horse Racing Now.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Does Lay Betting Work?<\/h2>\n

The mechanism is straightforward. A backer will bet that an event will happen. For example, a backer might bet \u00a310 at odds of 2\/1 that a horse will win a race. On the other hand, the layer will bet the opposite. You accept the backer\u2019s \u00a310 bet at the same odds. If the horse wins, you have to pay the backer his winnings. However, if any other horse is the winner, the \u00a310 amount is yours.<\/span><\/p>\n

Below, we tell you how to calculate the risk for lay betting.<\/span><\/p>\n

To calculate a lay bet for horse racing, let’s break it down step by step with a practical example. Here’s the formula you’ll need to know:<\/span><\/p>\n

Key Terms in Lay Betting<\/h2>\n

Understand this terminology before using this betting:<\/span><\/p>\n