Ladbrokes bonus bets: how to turn them into cash
Ladbrokes has two kinds of promotional credit: Bonus Cash, where you choose how much to use per bet, and Bonus Bets, which have a fixed value. Both convert the same way.
The short version: place the bonus bet at Ladbrokes on a fixed odds win bet at longer odds, then lay the same selection on Betfair. Whichever way it goes, you end up with roughly the same cash.
Ladbrokes bonus cash and bonus bets rules
| Stake returned on a win | No, for both Bonus Cash and Bonus Bets. Ladbrokes' example: A$100 of Bonus Cash at 2.50 pays A$150. source |
|---|---|
| Expiry | Bonus Cash typically expires after 7 days. Your balance shows the exact date. source |
| Bonus Cash can be used on | Regular bet types: fixed win or place, each way, standard exotics and standard multis. You choose the amount per bet. source |
| Bonus Bets can be used on | Selected fixed odds sport and racing (Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore racing only), singles and multis, not exotics. source |
| Cannot be used on | Promotional markets, or together with another Ladbrokes product such as Odds Boost. source |
| Cash Out | Not available on a bet placed with Bonus Cash. source |
Not confirmed on Ladbrokes's own pages, so check the offer itself: Expiry for fixed value Bonus Bets (the help centre only states it for Bonus Cash); A general minimum odds rule.
Where Ladbrokes bonus bets come from
- Bet Back. Your stake back as Bonus Cash if an eligible fixed win racing single runs 2nd (or 2nd or 3rd, depending on the version). Maximum shown in the Ladbrokes Locker. source
Refund style offers work the same way once the bonus bet lands. See money back specials for how to cover the qualifying bet.
How to turn it into cash
- Pick a fixed odds win selection at Ladbrokes, roughly 4.00 to 8.00, where Betfair has a lay price close to it and enough money waiting.
- Place the bonus bet at Ladbrokes. Leave the cash stake box empty so you do not place a cash bet as well.
- Lay the same selection, same market, on Betfair for the lay stake the bonus bet calculator gives you. New to laying? Start with lay betting explained.
- If the selection wins, the profit lands at Ladbrokes. If it loses, the lay wins on Betfair. Either way the result is about the same.
Worked example: a A$50 bonus bet
Same bonus bet, two prices, 8% Betfair commission. Figures are illustrative, not a promise.
| Longer odds | Short odds | |
|---|---|---|
| Back / lay odds | 6.00 / 6.20 | 2.00 / 2.06 |
| Lay stake | A$40.85 | A$25.25 |
| Liability needed on Betfair | A$212.42 | A$26.77 |
| Cash either way | A$37.58 | A$23.23 |
| Kept from A$50 | 75% | 46% |
Why longer odds keep more: with a stake not returned bonus bet the only value is the profit, which is the stake times the odds minus one. At 2.00 that is A$50; at 6.00 it is A$250. The cost is a bigger liability, so you need that much sitting in Betfair before you lay.
Mistakes that cost money
- Typing a cash stake as well as ticking the bonus bet.
- Using it on a bet type with no lay market, like exotics, each way or most multis. If you cannot lay it, you cannot lock it in.
- Laying the place market when you backed the win, or the wrong runner.
- Using short odds and keeping half the value.
- Not enough in Betfair to cover the liability, so the lay only part matches.
- Letting it expire.
- Only ever betting on promotions. Bookmakers do restrict accounts.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Ladbrokes Bonus Cash and Bonus Bets?
Bonus Cash is a balance you can spend in any amount per bet. Bonus Bets are fixed value coupons that may be limited to certain bets or events. Neither returns the stake on a win.
Does Ladbrokes Bonus Cash expire?
Ladbrokes says Bonus Cash typically has a 7 day expiry, and the exact date shows under Bonus Cash in your account balance.
Can I split Ladbrokes Bonus Cash across bets?
Yes. Ladbrokes says you have full control over how much Bonus Cash to use per bet, which makes it easy to match the stake to a Betfair lay with enough liquidity.
How much of a Ladbrokes bonus bet can I keep?
As an illustration, often around 70 to 80 percent of the face value when you use it at longer odds with a close Betfair lay price. It is not a promise: the odds, the gap to the lay price and your Betfair commission all move it. At short odds it can be much less.
Can Ladbrokes restrict my account for doing this?
Yes. Bookmakers can restrict or close accounts at their discretion, and accounts that only ever bet on promotions are the usual target. Treat promotional access as something that runs down over time.
Keep going
The full method is in matched betting in Australia. Other bookies: Sportsbet, Neds, TAB, bet365, PointsBet, Betr, Palmerbet, or all bonus bet guides.
Sources
Written by the YAUPICKS team. Ladbrokes rules last checked 18 October 2026 against Ladbrokes's own help and terms pages. Bookmakers change their terms; the offer in your account always wins. 18+ only.
Gambling involves risk. Matched betting is a strategy that aims to reduce outcome risk, not eliminate it. Losses are possible, particularly through human error, and bookmakers may restrict or close accounts at their discretion. YAUPICKS is an education and community platform operated by YAUPICKS PTY LTD (ABN 40 673 940 228). We are not a bookmaker, a casino or a financial services provider, and no wagers, deposits or withdrawals occur on this site. Nothing here is legal, tax or financial advice. You must be 18 or over. If gambling is causing you harm, contact Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 or self exclude from all Australian licensed online wagering services through BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register. See our responsible gambling page.