Understanding the Lay-Bet Strategy: A Betting Technique

*Laying the Stalemate Strategy: A Guide to Profitable Betting*Written by Alex Windsor and Brian Webb on April 24, 2025

Welcome to our guide on the Laying the Stalemate (or draw) strategy! Learn how to capitalize on this simple yet profitable betting technique and stand a chance to outsmart the bookmakers. Let's dive in!

What's Laying the Draw All About?

Laying the draw is a bet that a draw will not happen. In essence, you're taking on the role of the bookmaker, setting your own odds, and accepting wagers from punters. Are you ready to become a formidable opponent on the betting exchange?

How Does Laying the Draw Work?

Instead of accepting odds from a bookie, you're the one setting the odds for a draw. If a draw doesn't happen, you win, and the punters' entire stake goes into your pockets. For example, if you lay a draw at odds of 3.5, and a punter wagers £100, you win if the match isn't a draw (e.g., 2-1). However, if the game does end in a draw (1-1), you pay out £350 to the punter.

Is Laying the Draw Strategy Profitable?

A successful laying the draw strategy can bring substantial profits, but it all depends on how well you price the events and manage your bankroll. It might initially seem attractive to lay the draw based on EPL draw statistics (only 22% of games end in a draw), but considering commission fees, errors in pricing, and market efficiency, things can quickly go south.

To turn a profit consistently, you must price the events accurately, avoid random game selection, and manage your bankroll effectively. Here's what to consider:

Accurate Pricing: Consistently pricing below the true odds can lead to long-term profits. But keep in mind the markets are quite efficient, with odds on exchanges fairly close to the real odds. You must be determined to find value!
Smart Selection: Search for a balance between high odds and manageable risk. Look for underdogs that exhibit strong performance in games, with the home team dominating the scoring and successfully defending.

Pros and Cons of Laying the Draw Strategy

Laying the draw offers the capability to capitalize on the naivety of novice bettors, and you can often guarantee a profit through hedging. However, be mindful of:

Pros:

Novice bettors can be easily fooled by statistics
Hedging options for guaranteed profit

Cons:

Commissions on winning bets can be high
Hedging is not always feasible
A single loss can be quite expensive

How to Lay a Draw?

Follow these steps to lay a draw:

Join a Betting Exchange: First, sign up with a betting exchange like Betfair or Smarkets.
Deposit: Fund your account via debit cards, e-wallets, bank transfers, or vouchers.
Find the Right Game: Seek out games that have a high chance of not ending in a draw, with odds between 3.5 and 5.0.
Set Your Odds and Stake: Decide on the odds and the size of the stake you're willing to accept. Be mindful of your liability. If someone accepts your odds, bet, and tunes in to the game, pray for a non-draw!

Efficient Laying the Draw Strategies for Success

To leverage the laying the draw strategy to the fullest, try these tips and tricks:

Find the Right Games: Identify matches that meet specific criteria such as the home team being the favorite, scoring 1.8 goals or more, conceding less than 1 goal, the away team concedes more than 1.5 goals, and scoring less than 1.25 goals.
Trade to Lock in Profit: After laying a draw, wait for the home team to score. Then, back a draw and secure your profit once the odds shift.
Cut Your Losses: If the game is scoreless for longer than expected (70th min), hedge your bet and recover part of your losses.

Rewarding Draw Betting: Win Big & Stay Ahead of the Game

Curious about other betting strategies? Check out our guides on the Masaniello betting strategy and matched betting to expand your arsenal and dominate the odds!

About Alex Windsor

Alex Windsor, a seasoned iGaming industry professional with ten years of experience, is the Managing Editor of our website. Specializing in sports betting, betting tools, reviews, and maintaining the accuracy of offers, Alex diligently ensures content quality to aid you in making informed decisions.

[1] https://www.oddschecker.com/betting-guide/laying-the-draw[5] https://www.valuebetting.co.uk/lay-the-draw/ (accessed 2023-04-30)

To master the Laying the Draw strategy for profitable betting, refer to our guide on 'Laying the Draw' written by Alex Windsor and Brian Webb.
Successful laying the draw strategy can generate significant profits, but it requires accurate pricing, smart selection, and effective bankroll management.
By joining a betting exchange like Betfair or Smarkets, finding the right game, setting your odds, and staking accordingly, you can start laying a draw.
To enhance your Laying the Draw strategy, consider finding specific games, trading to lock in profit, and cutting your losses when needed, factoring in factors such as home team performance, goal scores, and market efficiency.