Bonus Bet Calculator (Australia): Convert Bonus Bets to Cash
Enter your bonus bet, the bookmaker odds and the Betfair lay odds. You get the exact lay stake and how much of the bonus turns into cash. Free, no signup, runs in your browser. 18+ only.
The usual Australian bonus bet. If it wins, the bookmaker pays the profit and keeps the bonus stake.
Decimal odds at the bookmaker.
Decimal odds on the exchange.
The exchange holds this while the market is open. It is not the lay stake, and it is the number that decides how many offers you can run at once.
The two outcomes match because the lay stake is set to make them match. Real results move with the odds actually available when you place both legs, and with the promotion terms.
Worked example in A$
A $50 bonus bet (stake not returned) on a horse at 5.00 with the bookmaker, laid on Betfair at 5.20 with 8% commission.
Same cash either way. That is a converted bonus bet.
How to use it
- Check the bonus bet terms: stake returned or not, minimum odds, expiry.
- Find a selection where the bookmaker and Betfair prices are close, ideally at longer odds.
- Enter the bonus value, both odds and your commission above.
- Place the bonus bet, then lay the exact lay stake on Betfair straight away.
- Confirm the lay matched in full before the event starts.
Frequently asked questions
How do you convert a bonus bet to cash?
Place the bonus bet at the bookmaker, then lay the same selection on Betfair for the lay stake this calculator gives you. Whichever way the race goes, you end up with roughly the same amount of withdrawable cash.
How much of a bonus bet can you keep?
Usually around 70 to 80 percent of the face value, depending on the odds and your commission. It is not fixed. A tight gap between the back and lay price at longer odds keeps more.
Why does the bookmaker keep the stake?
Australian bonus bets are almost always stake not returned. If a $50 bonus bet wins at 5.00 you get $200, not $250. That is why the lay only covers the profit, and why this calculator defaults to that mode.
What odds should I use a bonus bet on?
Longer odds, often 4.00 to 8.00, convert more because the value sits in the profit. The trade off is a bigger Betfair liability, so you need enough in your exchange account to cover it.
What Betfair commission should I enter?
8% for most Australian racing, 10% for NSW thoroughbreds and NRL, 6% for most sport. Tap the preset under the commission box, or check the Rules tab of the market.
Can you lose money converting bonus bets?
Yes. Matched betting lowers risk, it does not remove it. A lay that only partly matches, a typo in a stake or odds that move before you place both bets can all cost money. Check both bets before you confirm.
Learn the method
Other calculators
- Matched betting calculator: back and lay, with commission.
- Dutching calculator: split a stake across outcomes.
- Betfair commission calculator: net winnings after betfair commission.
- Early payout calculator: 2 up and early payout offers.
- Odds converter: decimal, fractional, american, probability.
- All free calculators: the full list with an explanation of each one.
YAUPICKS is an Australian matched betting community: members learn to turn bookmaker promotions into cash with step by step education, software and a staffed community. Written by the YAUPICKS team. Last reviewed September 2026.
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.