Newbie Question -- Using Free $25 matchplay William Hill...

Hi there, I have a $25 free matchplay for William Hill Sportsbook mobile that I intend on using next Tuesday/Wednesday. I would like the bet resolved quickly (by Thursday at the latest), I literally know nothing of sports/sportsbetting.

I understand I just need to go to a WH location and they will set up the account and put in my $$ for me. From there I would like to know the etiquette for sportsbetting. Is it like horseracing where I just fill out a card/tell the person at the counter what I want and they make the bet for me? Will I do it on my phone? If I do it on my phone, how do I get paid in person? I don't want to be an asshole to others possibly trying to make bets and would like to know any other information for how to make/collect the bet.

And finally, what should I bet on? There will be two of us each betting $50. One conservative and one not. Any suggestions appreciated! :)

Follow up questions. I was reading the Wizard's page on sports betting. "Usually with point spread bets you risk $11 for every $10 you stand to win. "

Lets say we wanted to bet the point spread against each other to guarantee a profit. Say we bet $55 (for simplicity) each on a football game, opposite sides. $30/each is our money and $25 each free play. So the winner wins $105, the $55 of their original bet back plus the $50 win. So we would have wagered $60 of our own money for a guaranteed $105, or $45 win? Normally I never hedge my bets. Just trying to consider our options. We wouldn't watch the games or really get any real thrill out of the betting/games besides the novelty of doing a different kind of betting.

Otherwise we each bet on a different game. Say $55 each, for a possibility to lose it all (if we both lose) or win $105 (if one bet wins and the other loses) or $210 (if both bets win). Am I thinking about this correctly?

Would there be a better way to use these coupons?

Are you sure you get paid for the free play. More than likely you will get 50 for the win plus your $30 back and the free bet will be gone.

If that is the case your hedge will net you $20

Quote: drussell0208

Follow up questions. I was reading the Wizard's page on sports betting. "Usually with point spread bets you risk $11 for every $10 you stand to win. "

Lets say we wanted to bet the point spread against each other to guarantee a profit. Say we bet $55 (for simplicity) each on a football game, opposite sides. $30/each is our money and $25 each free play. So the winner wins $105, the $55 of their original bet back plus the $50 win. So we would have wagered $60 of our own money for a guaranteed $105, or $45 win? Normally I never hedge my bets. Just trying to consider our options. We wouldn't watch the games or really get any real thrill out of the betting/games besides the novelty of doing a different kind of betting.

Otherwise we each bet on a different game. Say $55 each, for a possibility to lose it all (if we both lose) or win $105 (if one bet wins and the other loses) or $210 (if both bets win). Am I thinking about this correctly?

Would there be a better way to use these coupons?

No, actually, you've hit upon the best way to get the actual value out of those coupons--with one qualification. Look at it this way: consider a $55 free bet. Half the time it wins: you have $105. Half the time it loses; you have nothing. The value of something that's worth $105 half the time and $0 the other half is $52.50. The numbers are similar with $50 in action--I just used $55 to avoid fractions.

With the free bet considered in isolation, you stand to realize 95% of its face value in expected value. The reason you're only getting $45 profit is that the house vig is working on both the free bets and the $60 cash you put up. The value of a $60 bet is about $57.

So if you want to maximize your profit, and assuming you are able to, just make the two opposing free bets and don't bet any actual cash. Doing the latter just turns $60 into $57 (with no attendant benefit).

Hedging takes the variance, or most of it, out of the equation.

The OP said they have match play coupons. So they have to bet at least the face value of the coupon in cash, along with the coupon.

Might be wrong about this, but I think they should find the two best underdog money line bets available and each bet one. Assuming the coupons can be used on an odds-paying bet. Agree to split any winnings ahead of time.

OP : I am not an expert in sports betting. I just think that would be a fun way to play your coupons.

Sounds like a bunch of work for a few bucks if you're not going to be using the account often.


It's been a while but if it's anything like Cantor I hope the OP knows that it's not as simple as something like getting a players card and adding some money. I think they wanted fingerprints and a DNA sample.

Quote: GWAE

Are you sure you get paid for the free play. More than likely you will get 50 for the win plus your $30 back and the free bet will be gone.

If that is the case your hedge will net you $20

Ahh. Very valid point. I hadn't considered that. In which case, it might not be worth the effort. Especially if like Axel said it is going to take a lot more than an ID to establish an account I will never use.