Matched betting outside the UK – The definitive guide (updated for 2022)

Matched betting is one of the most popular ways to make money online.

But is match betting restricted to certain locations and can you get started from anywhere in the world?

In this definitive matched betting guide we’ll look at which countries you can use this risk free betting technique in, the best non UK gambling sites as well as how you can start making money with OddsMonkey today.

Let’s get started.

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Matched betting introduction

For those of you who haven’t heard of matched betting before, here’s a short introduction.

Matched betting is a risk free method of making money online by taking advantage of bookmaker’s free bets and promotions.

There are 1000s of UK residents and those further afield who use this method to make a second income from the comfort of their own home. As you can see below, it’s incredibly popular.

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But there are times when holidays, business trips, or even the lure of a digital nomad’s life can get in the way of consistently making £100s in tax-free profit each month.

We often get asked questions such as: Can you use matched betting outside the UK and Ireland and is matched betting for non UK residents possible?

To make things easier, we’ve put together this handy guide so you know where you stand (and the risks involved) when matched betting abroad or for non UK residents.

If you live in the US, you can check out our specific matched betting USA guide.

Best bookies for matched betting abroad

As you’re reading this article, I’m assuming you know a little bit about matched betting and how it works.

For those that don’t, the aim is to complete as many bookmaker offers as possible. The more you complete, the more money you’ll make. It’s as simple as that!

But what if you’re outside the UK or Ireland?

Whether you’re enjoying some free time on holiday, you’re on a business trip or you simply live abroad, you don’t want to miss out on any opportunities to profit from matched betting offers.

As you would expect, betting companies are governed by strict laws which vary massively from country to country.

This can potentially put a ‘profit ceiling’ on the amount you’re able to make (as many smaller bookies, who lack the global reach of the big guns, won’t allow you to legitimately place matched bets abroad).

Matched betting abroad - top bookies

Fortunately, some of the bigger, worldwide bookies allow customers to place bets outside the UK and Ireland making matched betting abroad a viable option.

After extensive research, we’ve pulled together a list of the 5 best bookies to use when matched betting outside the UK. These guys have great coverage, so you should still be able to rake in the profit wherever you are in the world.

Who knows, you might even be able to pay off your holiday before you get back to the UK!

Bet365 offer

bet365 – Rating 9/10

Being the world’s largest online betting company with over 45 million customers, Bet365 are first on our list. They have a betting license in over 40 countries worldwide, which makes them a perfect choice for matched betting abroad. With a Bet365 account you’ll be able to take part in matched betting in…

  • Argentina
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • Croatia
  • Egypt
  • Germany
  • India
  • Japan
  • Morocco
  • New Zealand
  • Norway
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Thailand
  • Tunisia

…plus many, many other countries.

Bet365 also offer a variety of payment and currency options for deposits and withdrawals (restrictions may apply – so our advice is to check before you bet and use your usual payment method).

Here’s a full list of supported countries: Where can I use my Bet365 account?

Note: As a general rule, if Bet365 aren’t licensed in your country, no one will be. They have the best coverage of all UK gambling sites. Obviously the countries your preferred bookie offers access in can change all the time, so it’s important to double check before placing any bets.

Betdaq

Betdaq – Rating 8/10

One of the worlds most popular betting exchanges, Betdaq is another international betting site that is worth considering. It’s legal to bet with them in over 40 countries worldwide.

I would also expect this number to increase in the near future as Betdaq continues its global expansion. It’s vital to have a betting exchange on this list as it makes matched betting a possibility when abroad.

For more information on how matched betting works, check out this handy guide.

With Betdaq, you’ll be able to place matched bets in the following countries:

  • Argentina
  • Barbados
  • Belarus
  • Croatia
  • Curacao
  • Ghana
  • Gibraltar
  • Guernsey
  • Ireland
  • Isle of Man
  • Jersey
  • Lebanon
  • Lichtenstein
  • Luxemburg
  • Malta
  • Mauritius
  • New Zealand

…plus many more.

There’s a nice crossover (in terms of countries) with other bookmakers in this list – perfect for you to take part in matched betting if you’re a non UK resident.

William Hill

William Hill – Rating 8/10

William Hill is one of the biggest and most trusted bookies in the UK and their services are available in over 70 nations across the world, including Australia, Italy, Spain, Germany, Latvia and Ukraine*.

They regularly update their reload offers, which makes William Hill a perfect choice for matched betting when outside the UK or Ireland.

Again, you’ll see a lot of crossover with Betdaq and bet365 in the countries mentioned below. You can legally use a William Hill account in the following countries:

  • Argentina
  • Australia (limited)
  • Austria
  • Egypt
  • Finland
  • Germany (limited)
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Republic of Ireland
  • Italy (limited)
  • Norway
  • Spain (limited)
  • Sweden…

…plus many others.

*William Hill do specify that in countries listed as (limited) you may not be able to access your UK account online and/or certain products or services may be restricted. This obviously doesn’t apply for those of you with full-time residency in those countries.

Head here for further information on using a William Hill account aboard.

Coral betting

Coral – Rating 7/10

Coral is another worldwide betting company. They are based in Gibraltar with an operating license in over 25 countries across the world.

Whilst this isn’t quite as comprehensive as some of the other bookies on this list, Coral do offer a huge range of free bets and promotions across many different sports.

As such, they warrant inclusion as a great option for any matched bettors looking to make money outside the UK and Ireland.

Countries that offer unrestricted access to Coral accounts include:

  • Argentina
  • Croatia
  • Czech Republic
  • Georgia
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • New Zealand
  • Republic of Ireland, and
  • Sweden
888Sport

888Sport – Rating 6/10

Founded in 2008, 888Sport has become one of the biggest players in the online betting industry in a relatively short space of time.

Their platform is accessible in a large range of countries across the world, including Canada and India. They promote some great offers which makes them well worth checking out.

  • Austria
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • Croatia
  • Egypt
  • Finland
  • India
  • Japan
  • Mexico
  • New Zealand
  • Norway

…plus many more.

Alternative international bookmakers

Other bookies that are worth considering are Ladbrokes, PaddyPower, Betfred and BetVictor.

All of these bookmakers are licensed in a wide range of countries and they all provide brilliant matched betting opportunities whether you’re looking to place your bets on horse racing, football or other events.

As I’ve already mentioned, the laws governing gambling are very strict and are constantly changing from country to country.

Therefore I always advise you check with the specific bookie to make sure they allow betting from your location.

If the bookmaker is not licensed in your country there are alternative methods you can use such as using a matched betting VPN, which we’ll look at below.

My bookie doesn’t operate in a specific country

You will find that some bookies do not have the global coverage of the big players. Fortunately, there are other ways you can continue to enjoy matched betting abroad.

Be advised, this method carries inherent risks, so use with caution.

Bookies know your location by checking your IP address, a unique number that, among other things, clues them in to your physical location.

It’s very similar to a normal postal address, just for the Internet. Every device that is connected to the Internet must have an IP address.

If your IP address appears to be in a location the bookie aren’t licensed in, you won’t be able to access their website.

You’ll probably get a message that looks something like the one below. This is a message I received from Coral when I tried to access my account when matched betting in France:

Matched betting outside the UK - Coral

So how can you get around this? Well, you can use a matched betting VPN to hide your actual location. I don’t recommend it – but it is an option.

Using a matched betting VPN

Some of you are probably wondering what a VPN is…

A VPN or virtual private network is a technology that lets you hide your IP address behind its own network and encrypts your connection to the Internet.

In simple terms, a VPN hides your actual location. These pieces of software are completely legal and work very well for matched betting.

Like everything, there are free and premium versions available. Premium VPNs offer a higher level of security and a larger number of unique IP addresses.

They also let you select the country you want to appear to be in. This is crucial for matched betting abroad as you need to pick a country where the bookmaker is licensed to operate.

There’s a small monthly charge for a premium VPN, however, it’s definitely worth it if you want to continue making money outside the UK and Ireland.

We’re not affiliated with any companies but I recommend you check out Surfeasy or ExpressVPN. I’ve used both of these VPNs to great success.

Is VPN matched betting legal?

In short, yes, VPN matched betting is legal.

The grey area begins when you use a VPN to hide your actual IP address and appear to be in the UK/Ireland when you’re actually not. This is against the terms and conditions for the majority of bookies. Whether it’s illegal or not is questionable.

Can you get away with using a VPN?

Yes, you can get away with using a VPN if you invest in a premium version with a high level of encryption and security.

However, I cannot recommend using a VPN to hide an IP address. It’s against the terms and conditions you accept when you sign up to a bookie.

Using a VPN

If the bookies catch you using this technique then they are more than likely to block your account and they are well within their rights to forfeit any winnings you made whilst using the VPN.

You don’t need me to tell you that this could seriously affect your profitability. I’ll leave the ultimate decision with you.

But, for what it’s worth, I recommend you leave the matched betting for when you’re back in your home territory or you’re in a location where the bookies are happy to take your bets.

You don’t want to risk having your account gubbed as a result of using a VPN.

Non UK gambling sites

The bookies we’ve listed so far in this article are all based in the UK, however, there are other non UK gambling sites that you may want to consider using.

Here’s a list of gambling sites that aren’t based in the UK that you can still use for your matched betting purposes:

  • Bovada
  • GT Bets
  • Sports Betting
  • Intertops
  • Betonline.ag
  • BetDSI
  • Spin Sports

There are many more non UK gambling sites but these are the most popular.

Matched betting Europe

Depending on where you travel or live in Europe (and Scandinavia), you may still be able to access your bookie accounts and complete matched betting offers and promotions.

Many of the major bookies and betting exchanges offer unrestricted or restricted access in countries such as Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Albania, Ireland, Italy, Malta and more.

If you’re looking to start matched betting in Germany, I highly recommend you check out these guys – www.doppelwetten.com

Here’s a look at what matched betting in the Netherlands looks like:

Matched betting Netherlands

The online gambling laws in the Netherlands have recently undergone a big shift. Foreign operators can now apply for a Dutch gambling license meaning they can legally accept individuals who live in the Netherlands.

This is great news for matched betting in the Netherlands as citizens can now profit from bookmaker’s free bets and other promotions.

All in all, the online betting industry is going through a major shift in many countries across Europe and it’s important to check with your preferred bookmaker before placing any bets.

Matched betting India

Since Betfair closed it’s platform in India in 2019, there is no longer any betting exchanges making matched betting in India rather difficult.

In other Asian countries, certain bookmakers allow online access. Betfair is a good choice for matched betting in Asia, as they are unrestricted in Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, Macau, and others.

Matched betting in the USA

Are you in the US (or travelling there)? Check out our dedicated matched betting in the United States article.

Matched betting Canada

Another question we get asked a lot is whether matched betting Canada is a viable way for Canadians to make money online. Similar to that of the US, the exact laws in Canada are somewhat confusing and they differ between states.

Matched betting Canada - Is it possible?

However, there are a number of European based bookmakers that you can use including:

  • Bet365
  • Ladbrokes
  • William Hill

There are also a number of Canadian companies you can use such as:

  • Sports Interaction
  • Bodog
  • Pinnacle Sports
  • YouWin
  • Bet Online

Whilst I haven’t personally used all of these sites, I’ve done some research and found that a lot of Canadians enjoy placing bets with these Canada based bookies.

They also seem to offer some decent promotions meaning you can make some good money matched betting in Canada.

The number of Canadian bookies is only likely to grow in the future as more and more companies increase their global reach.

Matched betting Ireland

You’ll be pleased to know that matched betting in Ireland has as much potential as it does in the UK. All bookmakers that offer access to UK residents also offer access to those in Ireland. This means you’ll be able to profit from matched betting Ireland without any restrictions.

Matched betting for non UK residents

Another question we get asked a lot is whether matched betting for non UK residents is worth it. Individuals often ask this when their country is restricted by a bookmaker and they can’t access a UK address to sign up to a bookmaker.

The bookies are incredibly well regulated when it comes to new accounts in order to prevent fraudulent activities.

Any matched bettor will know how stringent the bookies are when you initially sign up. When I opened a number of accounts, I had to send over photos of my address and driving license before they were happy I was a real person!

So, to answer the non UK resident question, it really depends where you live. Because of the complexity of the issue, if you are keen to try matched betting, I urge you to check it out.

You’re likely to find some bookies that work with non UK residents and some may even have better promotions than they offer in the UK. I would start with the lists we’ve created above.

Whether or not they allow you to take advantage of the bonus, I’m not sure. The best advice is to check the terms and conditions and if you’re still not sure get in touch with customer support via email or live chat. They should be able to point you in the right direction.

I would advise against placing any bets until you’re certain the promotion is available in your country.

You don’t want to place a qualifying bet only to find out you don’t receive the bonus, as a non UK resident.

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Get started with matched betting today

Good news, if you’re a UK resident or you live in a country with access to bookmakers and a betting exchange, you can get up and running with matched betting very quickly.

I recommend you sign up to our matched betting partner, OddsMonkey. They offer the best match betting service out there.

For more information, check out this article.

Thanks for reading and good luck with your matched betting.