actfap

Hedge & Cash-Out Calculator

Work out the stake that locks in the same profit whichever way a bet lands — and whether the cash-out offer beats it.

Hedge type
Hedge stake

£57.14full hedge

Original wins+£2.86
Hedge wins+£2.86
Guaranteed profit
+£2.86
Full-hedge lock
+£2.86
Return / stake
+14.3%

Compare with a cash-out offer

enter the offer

A full hedge removes all variance. If the hedge leaves you in profit it is close to free money; if it leaves you down, you are buying certainty — decide whether the peace of mind is worth the expected cost.

Hedging means placing a second bet on the opposite outcome so that you collect roughly the same amount no matter what happens. It is how you lock in a profit when a bet has moved your way, or cap a loss when it has moved against you.

The equalising hedge stake is your potential return divided by the hedge odds. Back a team at 4.00 for 20, and if it drifts to a point where the other side is 1.40, you hedge with 80 / 1.40 ≈ 57.14 to walk away with the same balance either way. If that number leaves you in profit, the hedge is a free option; if it leaves you down, you are paying to remove risk.

Bookmakers offer a cash-out button that does the same thing internally, but they build in a margin — the cash-out figure is usually a few percent below what an equal hedge on the open market would guarantee. This tool shows both so you can see the gap.

FAQ

Should I always hedge a bet that has gone my way?
Only if you value certainty over expected value. A full hedge locks in profit but gives up the upside; hedging part of the stake keeps some exposure. If the current odds are efficient, hedging is roughly EV-neutral minus any margin you pay.
Is cash-out ever better than hedging myself?
Rarely on price, because the cash-out includes the bookmaker's margin. It can be better on convenience, or when no liquid market exists on the other side, or when the alternative is leaving the bet completely unhedged.
What does a negative guaranteed profit mean?
It means the odds available to hedge are too short to cover your position without a loss. You would be paying that amount to eliminate the risk — sometimes worth it to protect a stake, often not.

Read up

Related tools