What Is Hedging in Betting?

To hedge is to place a second bet against your first. If you're holding a ticket that's one game from a big payout, a hedge on the other side lets you walk away with a profit no matter the result — just a smaller one than the full win.

How hedging works

You stake an amount on the opposite outcome sized so the two results even out. Bet the right number and you lock the same return whichever side hits. The exact stake depends on both prices — our hedge calculator works it out for you and shows the locked result.

When to hedge

The classic spots: a futures ticket on the verge of cashing, or a live bet that swung in your favor and you'd rather bank a sure profit than ride the variance. It's also a way to manage risk when a single bet has grown larger than you're comfortable with.

The cost of hedging

Hedging isn't free. Both sides carry the vig, so locking a result always sacrifices some expected value. If you have a real edge, letting it ride is usually the higher-EV play; hedging is insurance you buy when certainty is worth more to you than the last bit of upside.