Back vs Lay
Back (blue)
You win if the selection wins. Your risk is your stake.
Back ₹100 @ 2.50 → win ₹150, risk ₹100.
Lay (pink)
You win if the selection does not win. You act as the bookmaker.
Lay ₹100 @ 2.50 → win ₹100, liability ₹150.
Profit and liability formulas
| Bet | If you win | If you lose |
|---|---|---|
| Back | Stake × (Odds − 1) | − Stake |
| Lay | + Stake | − Stake × (Odds − 1) |
Laying at high odds means a big liability for a small win — always check the liability shown on your bet slip.
Reading the prices
Each selection shows the best Back price (blue) and best Lay price (pink), with the amount available underneath. The lay price is always slightly higher than the back price; the gap is the spread.
Trading: locking in a profit
Because you can both back and lay, you can close a position before the event ends. Example:
- You back a team for ₹100 at 3.00.
- They take the lead and their price drops to 2.00.
- You lay them for ₹150 at 2.00 (₹100 × 3.00 ÷ 2.00).
| Outcome | Back bet | Lay bet | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team wins | +₹200 | −₹150 | +₹50 |
| Team doesn’t win | −₹100 | +₹150 | +₹50 |
You make ₹50 whatever happens. This is called “greening up”.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is liability?
Liability is the most you can lose on a lay bet: stake × (odds − 1). It is reserved from your balance when the bet is placed.
Is laying the same as backing the other side?
In a two-way market they are very similar. In markets with three or more selections, laying one selection is like backing all the others together.