What is Mug Betting?

Mug Betting basically refers to any form of gambling that has no strategy behind it.

No one wants to feel like a mug, right? Well, that’s not strictly true.

In fact, in Matched Betting appearing like a mug might just be to your advantage.

The label of ‘mug’ is usually associated with negative connotations. Unless you’re talking about what you drink your cuppa out of, of course.

A mug suggests someone who has been taken advantage of. And a mug’s game suggests a foolish or worthless activity which is likely to be unsuccessful.

However, in Matched Betting, appearing like a mug bettor can actually help you in the long run and we’ve got some great tips to help you do this effectively.

Let’s look at how it works.

Mug Betting

Whether it’s a random bet or an emotional bet based on your favourite team, mug bets are really just punts.

They have no strategy behind them, no thought, no mathematics or analysis, they are just a bet that any person can place when they fancy it.

Think of it like choosing the Grand National winner based on the jockey’s colours or picking a greyhound to win based on your lucky number.

Mug Betting is what most normal punters do. They bet on their favourite teams to win, or their favourite players to score as a general rule.

How Can You Use Mug Betting To Your Advantage In Matched Betting?

One of the key challenges in doing Matched Betting long-term is to keep your bookie accounts open and eligible for offers.

Bookmakers monitor customer behaviour and if they believe that you’re only taking on value bets or promotional offers, then they will often restrict your accounts.

This is known as ‘gubbing’ and it can include anything from stopping you receiving bonus offers, applying stake restrictions to your account, or closing the account completely.

It’s therefore in your best interests to stay under the radar as best you can. And Mug Betting – well, more like strategic and purposeful Mug Betting – is a good way to do this.

If you can appear like a mug punter, placing bets when no promotion or bonus is on offer, or when the odds aren’t the best, then you can keep your accounts healthier for longer and therefore prolong your matched betting journey.

Mug Betting Tips

Mug Betting isn’t just a case of randomly placing bets and potentially losing money. That’s just gambling and that’s not what Matched Betting is about.

There is a strategic way of using Mug Betting to your advantage and we’ll take a look at some tips below.

The most important thing to remember with mug betting is that it is best done in the first few weeks after opening a betting account.

This is when there is more focus and attention on your betting activity, so it’s a great way to establish yourself early on as a regular bettor in the eyes of the bookie.

Of course, it isn’t a guarantee that you won’t get gubbed in the long-run, but it does start you off on a good footing and helps you blend into the background. The longer the account is running, the easier it is to keep it active.

Choose a Team

Most people have a favourite sports team, whether that’s your local football, rugby or cricket team. If you don’t, then just pick one and bet on them.

Having one favourite team that you bet on regularly or occasionally will make you look like a real punter. Plus, you can still lay your bets off at the exchange to make sure any losses are kept to an absolute minimum.

Mix Your Spending

If the bookie you are betting with also has an online casino, then take up some of the casino offers too.

If the bookie can see that you’re a valued customer across their site, and not just a value sports bettor, then they will be more likely to want to keep you coming back.

Look at the Outplayed casino sign-up and casino reload page for guides on how to get the best value from the casino offers.

Take Lesser Odds

Bookies know exactly when they are offering the best odds on the market. So, they also know if this is the only time you use them.

If you only ever use a bookie when they offer the best odds, you stand out as a strategic bettor.

Occasionally, use a bookie even if its odds aren’t the best so you look more muggy!

Bet On In-Play Markets

Many mug bettors place bets on in-play markets.

It is less common in Matched Bettors due to the quick changing nature of the odds.

Therefore, placing an occasional in-play bet can look like you’re having a punt.

Don’t forget you can still lay this off in the exchange and you can usually get good matching odds if you do it at half-time.

Cash Out

Nothing says ‘I’m a normal punter who is happy to have any profit I can get’ more than cashing out a bet.

Matched bettors are strategic, every option is covered, so there isn’t really any need to cash out, unless you’re betting on 2ups and there’s good profit to lock in.

So occasionally cashing out a bet can look mug-like to the bookie. If you do that though, just ensure that you have covered yourself in the exchange and won’t be left with a loss.

Use Different Platforms

Most mug bettors don’t bet while sitting at their laptop or PC in an organised fashion.

Mug bettors often bet on the go, via smartphones or tablets when they’re at the match or on their lunch breaks.

Mixing up your platforms can make you look more like a spontaneous gambler rather than a strategic one.

Stick to Popular Markets

The old saying that there is ‘safety in numbers’ is the strategy behind this one. Betting on big football matches or leagues, major horse racing meets, or finals of most other sports such as golf/cricket/tennis/F1 etc will mean you blend into the masses.

If you’re not sure how popular the market is, then check out the betting exchange. This will show you how much money is being wagered on each market.

If you suddenly start betting on random sports that no one else is betting on, you will become very conspicuous.

Place Long-Odds Accumulator Bets

Placing long-odds bets such as multiples or accumulator’s (accas) is an ideal way to stay under the bookies radar. These are the bread and butter of mug bettors who hope to hit the jackpot by landing a string of correct results.

The odds on these kinds of bets are much higher, but the chance of them coming off is much lower, so the bookies love them.

This is where the Outplayed Lucky 15 finder is a great tool as it appears as if you’re placing a random multiplier bet but in actual fact, there is Matched Betting strategy behind it.

Get Involved in Challenges and Bet Clubs

Bookmakers love punters who join their bet clubs and challenges, as it builds regular engagement between player and bookie. For Matched Bettors, it is also another chance to show off your ‘mugginess’ to them.

If you have to place five bets to qualify for a bet club, then don’t just always do five bets. Every so often place six, seven or even eight to look like a regular punter. You can always lay the extra bets off for minimal losses.

If the bookie has a betting challenge on, then take it on. Bookmakers love a customer who has a target and will bet more to achieve that target.

As long as you have yourself covered in the exchange to protect against any significant losses, then taking on betting challenges can be a great way to throw bookies off the scent.

The same goes for casino offers. Casino challenges that require you to wager a certain amount on games to receive free spins can look like a mug offer. But in actual fact, some of these offers are +EV. So, it may look as if you’re a mug player, spending money on casino slots, but if you do enough of them, they can work to your advantage overall.

Summary

Strategic Mug Betting might sound like a contradiction in itself but, if done correctly, it can help ensure your Matched Betting longevity.

Ultimately, it's about playing the character of a regular punter and then adding some of those actions into your Matched Betting process.

If bookies think they can’t get any value out of you as a customer, then they won’t want to keep you around. If you only log in every day to do the promotions and log straight back out again, or only take the best value odds every time, then it will flag up at their side.

However, if you can play the game, and throw in some well-considered Mug Betting activity along with your Matched Betting techniques, then there’s a good chance you can keep your accounts in good shape for the long-term.