Matched betting is a popular way to make extra cash by exploiting bookmakers’ free bets and promotions.
It’s a great way to pay off debt, save up for a house deposit, or simply top up your income so you can live a better life!
But if you’re considering starting matched betting, it’s normal to wonder: does matched betting affect your credit score? It’s a valid concern, considering how credit scores can affect various aspects of our financial lives.
The short answer is no, matched betting does not affect your credit score directly.
However, there are some ways in which matched betting could indirectly affect your credit score, depending on your personal financial choices. We’ll explore them below.
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Does matched betting show up on your credit report?
The actual matched betting transactions themselves (deposits to gambling sites; placing bets) will not show up on your credit report or affect your credit score in any way because they do not involve borrowing or lending.
Now, the only part of matched betting that does show up in a way on your credit report is when you open a new account with a bookmaker. This will show up as a soft search, which is only visible to you and does not affect your credit score.
Let’s learn more:
Soft searches vs hard searches
First things first, let’s distinguish between the two types of credit checks: soft searches and hard searches.
Soft searches are harmless creatures that have no effect on your report. They are usually done when you’re checking your own credit score, when a company does ID checks or when a lender does a preliminary assessment.
Hard searches, on the other hand, have a bit more weight. These occur when you apply for credit, such as a loan or credit card, or apply for a phone contract.
When you open an account at a bookmakers, they will do a soft search. This is simply to check your age and identity, which is a legal requirement.
The important thing to know is that soft searches can only be viewed by you, when you check your own credit report. If you apply for a mortgage or loan or whatever and they run a credit check on you, that company will only be able to see hard searches. They will not be able to see any evidence of matched betting.
According to credit agency Experian, “Soft credit checks aren’t visible to companies, but hard credit checks are. That means that soft credit checks won’t impact your score (no matter how many of them there are), while each hard credit check may lower your score.”
This means that opening betting accounts does not affect your credit score.
Ways matched betting could indirectly affect your credit score
We’ve established that the act of matched betting itself does not affect your credit score, and neither does opening accounts with bookmakers.
However, there are a few ways in which matched betting could indirectly impact your credit score, so let’s take a look:
Opening new bank accounts
It’s highly advisable to use a separate bank account for matched betting, to keep it separate from your daily spending.
If you open a new bank account, it’s likely that the bank will do a hard credit check – which will show up on your credit report and may cause a small temporary drop in your credit score.
Of course, people open new bank accounts all the time for a whole host of reasons, and there will be nothing on your file to link this to matched betting.
So this is not usually a big deal in the long run – but be aware of patterns such as opening lots of new accounts in a short space of time, which can be more damaging.
Using credit cards or loans
I would never recommend that you use a credit card or loan for matched betting. Contrary to popular opinion, matched betting is not 100% risk free, so you should only invest what you can afford to lose. You can start matched betting with as little as £60 and then reinvest your earnings to build up your bankroll, so it’s really not necessary to take out a loan for it.
That said, I do know of some people who chose to open a credit card or take out a loan to get a bigger bankroll for matched betting. These activities would also involve a hard search, which would cause a temporary drop in your credit score.
Also be aware that if you fell behind on any repayments, that would also significantly impact your credit score.
Debt
Most people who do matched betting can do so safely and make a tidy profit. However, there are some situations where matched betting might not be a safe option for you – for example, if you have a tendency towards gambling addiction (if this is you, please contact GamCare for support).
If things went pear-shaped and you ended up in debt, that would of course have an impact on your credit score.
How to check your credit score
To ease any worries, it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on your credit score. Fortunately, checking your credit score is easy-peasy. There are several credit reference agencies in the UK, such as Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. They generally provide free online access to your credit report for the first month or so.
They often pop up on TopCashBack, so you can even make money from checking your credit report!
Monitoring your score regularly can help you stay on top of any general changes and reassure you that matched betting is not bad for your credit rating.
Matched betting and mortgages
Although matched betting does not affect your credit score, it could possibly affect getting a mortgage.
The main reason is because lenders will ask to see recent bank statements for affordability checks, and a whole host of betting transactions may be a red flag. It’s safest to use a separate bank account just for matched betting.
For more information on matched betting and mortgages, see this post.
Matched betting and credit scores: conclusion
To sum up, matched betting doesn’t directly affect your credit score – but it’s important to be mindful of certain factors that could indirectly influence it, such as opening up new bank accounts and credit cards.
If you are generally savvy with money and do not take on any additional debt for matched betting, you won’t see any adverse effect. In fact, matched betting will only improve your financial situation. Just remember to keep an eye on your credit applications and spending patterns to maintain a healthy credit profile.
So, matched bettors, keep doing your thing, enjoy those profits, and stay financially savvy. Happy betting!
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