TAB bonus bets: how to turn them into cash
TAB bonus bets keep the stake and pay you the profit. They also come with a longer list of excluded bet types than most bookies, so check the bet before you place it.
The short version: place the bonus bet at TAB 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.
TAB bonus bets rules
| Stake returned on a win | No. The stake goes back to TAB and only the profit is credited. TAB's example: a A$10 bonus bet at 2.00 credits A$10. source |
|---|---|
| Expiry | Most are valid for 7 days from the day they appear in your account. source |
| Cannot be used on | Live bets, each way, non flexi exotics and system multis, parlay formula, multi selection win or place bets, mystery products, Trackside, FootyTAB, and bets with a multiplier or The Lock. source |
| Splitting | Bonus bets of A$2 or more split into 2, 3, 4 or 5 equal parts of at least 50c. Splits keep the original expiry. source |
| Cash Out | Not available on a bet placed with a bonus bet. source |
| Where | tab.com.au or the TAB app only. source |
Not confirmed on TAB's own pages, so check the offer itself: The minimum odds figure on My Offers (stated per offer, not in the FAQ).
Where TAB bonus bets come from
- My Offers: Saver. Your stake back as a bonus bet, up to a set maximum, if the bet does not win and you meet the criteria. Daily offers expire at midnight (sport) or 3am (racing). Minimum odds apply. 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 TAB, roughly 4.00 to 8.00, where Betfair has a lay price close to it and enough money waiting.
- Place the bonus bet at TAB. 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 TAB. 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
Does TAB return the bonus bet stake?
No. TAB says the stake, the original value of the bonus bet, is returned to TAB and only the profit is credited to your account balance.
How long do TAB bonus bets last?
Most are valid for 7 days from the day they appear in your account. Daily My Offers expire the same day: midnight for sport, 3am for racing.
Can I split a TAB bonus bet?
Yes. Bonus bets of A$2 or more can be split into 2, 3, 4 or 5 equal parts of at least 50c, and each part keeps the original expiry date.
How much of a TAB 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 TAB 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, Ladbrokes, Neds, bet365, PointsBet, Betr, Palmerbet, or all bonus bet guides.
Sources
Written by the YAUPICKS team. TAB rules last checked 18 October 2026 against TAB'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.