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When you think of a university student studying cinema, you probably don’t imagine them running a multi-million pound company. But for Sam Stoffel, what started as a hobby soon turned into a successful business. The young entrepreneur started Outplayed.coma successful matched betting platform while still at Leeds University. Today he runs a thriving business that helps thousands of people make betting smarter and less risky.
Stoffel’s journey is a testament to innovation, persistence and smart thinking. He spoke with Entrepreneur UK about the challenges, successes and key insights we gained. Here’s what he had to say.
The birth of Outplayed.com – from hobby to large company
“I started Overplayed “It was actually a hobby,” explains Stoffel. “I was studying cinema at the time, but I was always fascinated by matched betting as a way to ‘beat the system.’ Unlike traditional gambling, it’s all about minimizing risk and ensuring profit.”
Matched betting – a technique that uses mathematical strategies to take advantage of free bet offers from bookmakers – became Stoffel’s personal side hustle while studying. However, it quickly outgrew that.
“I started it to make a little money,” he remembers. “But then I realized this wasn’t just an opportunity for me. If I could be successful with matched betting, why couldn’t others? That’s when I decided to build a platform and share it with the world.”
Stoffel had no formal knowledge of programming and took matters into his own hands. “I taught myself coding to build a subscription model platform and studied marketing to create guides that attract customers. It was a steep learning curve, but it paid off.”
The value of a strong team
Stoffel admits that he took on too much in the first few years. “I wish I had understood sooner how important it is to build a strong team. At first I felt like I had to do everything myself,” he says. “I programmed, marketed and handled every aspect of the business. It was time-consuming and inefficient.”
It wasn’t until later in his entrepreneurial journey that Stoffel realized that delegation was the key to success. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned on my journey, it’s that it’s important to ask for help and delegate tasks to others you trust.”
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This change in mindset made it possible Outplayed.com grow faster. “Hiring passionate and proactive people has changed the game. Skills can be learned, but passion cannot. That’s why I focus on giving my team the autonomy to grow – they feel ownership of their roles and that drives innovation.”
The subscription model
One of the key factors that catapulted Outplayed.com The subscription-based model grew from startup to multi-million pound company.
“Our subscription model has been crucial to our success,” says Stoffel. “Through this model, we have acquired and retained over 150,000 users, allowing us to create a consistent revenue stream that we invest back into the business.”
The platform’s focus on user experience keeps customers coming back. “We put a lot of effort into creating the best possible customer experience,” explains Stoffel. “We have created clear instructions, offer excellent customer support and have built a community of suitable betting partners. It’s about being open and honest and adding value through constant product improvement.”
And it’s this approach that did it Outplayed.com a trusted name in the betting industry. “We invest a lot in our marketing, especially paid ads, which have helped us grow significantly,” he adds.
Building loyalty and a thriving community
For Stoffel, customer loyalty is not just about delivering a product, but also about continually adding value. “The key is to innovate and offer something new,” he explains. “Whether it’s platform updates, new guides or tools, we want our users to feel heard and supported.”
He emphasizes the importance of community in creating user loyalty. “We created forums and provided personalized support, and that really helped build a sense of community. People want to feel like they’re part of something and that keeps them engaged.”
Stoffel’s path to success was not without obstacles. One of his early mistakes was focusing too much on perfection. “In the beginning I tried too hard to make everything perfect. I didn’t want to share anything unless it was flawless,” he admits. “But that just delayed product launches and stopped people from providing valuable feedback.”
It didn’t take long for him to learn that speed and adaptability were more important than getting everything right from the start. “Now I focus on testing, iterating and improving based on feedback. That’s how you build a company.”
Looking into the future: Scale or sell?
As for the future Outplayed.comStoffel is keeping his options open. “I’m really excited about what we’re doing, so of course I’d like to continue to grow the business,” he says. “But I also believe in remaining flexible. Be it internally.” Outplayed.com or other potential business opportunities, I am open to both options.”
For now, his focus remains on growing and expanding the platform’s offerings. “Right now it’s just about scaling and seeing how far we can take this. But who knows what the future will bring?”
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