Matched betting is often promoted as a risk-free way to profit from online gambling promotions, but a new peer-reviewed study from Bournemouth University suggests that perception is out of step with experience. More than half of the surveyed users reported losses.
The technique involves using free bets offered by online gambling companies to cover both possible outcomes of an event, theoretically locking in a profit. However, the study found a "striking gap" between how people perceive the risks and what some experience in practice.
The findings indicate that even strategies designed to minimize risk can produce financial losses for a majority of participants. The researchers highlight that the perceived safety of matched betting does not always match real-world outcomes.