The Side Hustle That Made Me $1,000 in One Week

I was probably more skeptical about bet matching than most people.

I actually used to work in the sports betting industry, and one of the reasons I eventually wanted to move away from it was because I didn't love the idea of people losing money gambling.

Because the reality is: the house always has an advantage.

There wouldn't be so many sportsbooks and betting apps if they weren't incredibly profitable, and ultimately, that profit comes from people losing money.

So when the team at Edge Hunters first approached me about trying their platform, I was hesitant. I actually told them I wasn't sure I wanted to promote something related to sports betting.

They offered to walk me through exactly how it worked first.

And, well...

I was proven wrong.

Bet Matching Isn't the Same as Gambling

This was the part I didn't understand at first.

You're technically placing "bets," but you're not trying to predict which team is going to win.

Instead, bet matching takes advantage of differences in the odds offered by different sportsbooks.

For a simplified example, you might:

- Bet on Team A on Sportsbook #1

- Bet on Team B on Sportsbook #2

When the right odds are available, the amounts can be calculated so that you can lock in a profit regardless of which side wins.

You're not sitting there thinking, "I really hope Team A wins."

The whole point is to find situations where the numbers work in your favour.

That's what completely changed my opinion of it.

So... Where Does the Money Come From?

Different sportsbooks offer different odds, promotions and welcome bonuses because they're competing for customers. Those differences can create opportunities between books. Edge Hunters basically does the annoying part for you.

Instead of opening a bunch of sportsbooks and trying to calculate everything yourself, the platform finds opportunities and tells you what to do.

It shows you:

Where to place each wager
How much to put on each side
The odds you need
Your expected profit

So you know the numbers before you place anything.

One Important Thing You Should Know

You need money to make money with this. I want to be very transparent about that. Because of how the odds work, there may be an opportunity where, for example, you need to put $200 on one sportsbook and $150 on another to lock in around $20 of profit.

That's only an example. Every opportunity is different.

You're temporarily putting up significantly more money than the amount you're actually making.

That's something I didn't fully understand before trying it, and I think it's important to know before getting started.

Don't use money you need for rent, bills or everyday expenses.

Welcome Bonuses Are Where It Gets Really Interesting

If you've never used many sportsbook apps before, this is where there can be much larger opportunities. Sportsbooks regularly offer incentives to new customers, and bet matching can be used to convert eligible promotions into profit while reducing the usual outcome risk.

Even if you've used a couple of the big sportsbooks before, there are probably plenty you haven't tried.

This is where I made a lot of my money when I started.

I Made $1,000 in One Week

This was the part that genuinely surprised me. I made about $1,000 in a single week using Edge Hunters. And I wasn't treating this like a full-time job. I was basically experimenting with it as a side hustle, completing a few bet matches and taking advantage of a couple of welcome offers.

Of course, that doesn't mean everyone is going to make $1,000 a week. Opportunities, promotions, available sportsbooks, bankroll and the amount of time you put into it can all affect how much you make. But considering how skeptical I was when I started, seeing what I could actually make in one week completely changed my perspective.

Is This Going to Replace Your Full-Time Job?

Probably not, and I don't think you should approach it that way. I look at bet matching as a side hustle. It takes some time to find opportunities, fund accounts, place everything correctly and manage your money.

For me, it's extra money.

A dinner out. A manicure. Shopping. Savings. Travel. Or just a little extra breathing room that month.

I'm always looking for realistic ways to make additional income, and this is one that genuinely surprised me.

How to Get Started

I use Edge Hunters to find and calculate my bet matches.

It's a subscription platform that includes the matching tools as well as step-by-step guides explaining how everything works.

The subscription is $35, and you can get 50% off using my referral link/code.

Considering I made approximately $1,000 in one week, the subscription paid for itself pretty quickly in my case.

GET 50% OFF EDGE HUNTERS → Use my link

If you're completely new to bet matching, I'd start with their guides before placing anything. Learn how the process works, start small and make sure you understand each step before moving on to larger amounts.

I went into this expecting to tell Edge Hunters that it wasn't something I was comfortable promoting.

Instead, I ended up finding one of the more interesting side hustles I've tried.

And coming from someone who used to work in sports betting, that genuinely surprised me.

A Few Important Disclaimers

My results are my own and aren't a guarantee of what you'll earn. Your results will depend on available offers, odds, sportsbooks, bankroll, location and other factors.

Bet matching requires you to put your own money into sportsbook accounts and place wagers correctly. There is still potential for loss through mistakes, changing odds, account limitations, voided bets, terms and conditions, or other circumstances.

Only use money you can afford to have tied up, follow the terms of each sportsbook and verify the numbers before placing anything.

Check out other side hustles I've tried here.

This page contains an affiliate/referral relationship with Edge Hunters, which means I may receive compensation if you sign up through my link.