Arbitrage Betting in Sports Explained

Arbitrage betting means placing wagers on all the outcomes of a given event at specific odds and guaranteeing profits. Arbitrage betting is also known as Sure Bet or Sports Arbitrage, and it is not accepted by most online bookmakers.

Arbitrage betting is the act of betting on different sporting event outcomes with different bookmakers when the conditions are suitable. Typically, arbitrage betting only occurs when the odds and implied probabilities are mathematically favourable. By placing an arbitrage bet, bettors are guaranteed a profit as they are betting on each possible outcome.

In this article, we will explain what arbitrage betting is, explore how to find arbitrage betting opportunities, and look at the best sports for arbitrage betting. Furthermore, we will address whether arbitrage betting is legal, the possible penalties and how you can avoid being detected when arbitrage betting.

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What is Arbitrage Betting?

Arbitrage betting, which is commonly known as arbs betting, sure wins, and miracle bets is a betting technique whereby you place wagers at different bookmakers to cover every possible outcome of a sporting event. However, with the way bookies determine their pricing for a sports event, betting on every outcome all but guarantees you lose money.

The reason for this is due to bookies giving themselves an edge by factoring in an overground into their pricing models, and this essentially changes the true odds of every outcome. However, by comparing each bookie’s odds for the same event, you can uncover opportunities, and that is where arbitrage betting comes into play.

The point of arbitrage betting is to outplay how bookies price events for the same event or to take advantage of an error made by the bookie that can give the bettor an advantage. When doing so, you are essentially pitting the different margins between each bookie against each other, letting you profit regardless of the event’s outcome.


How to Find Arbitrage Opportunities?

Now that you understand what arbitrage betting is, we need to focus on finding arbitrage opportunities. While there are multiple ways to find surebet betting opportunities, not all are ideal, as determining an arbitrage opportunity rests heavily on the bookies’ odds and the implied probability.

For example, Ladbrokes could price the Real Madrid win at decimal odds of 1.47, whereas Bwin may believe the odds of a Real Madrid is more likely and set their pricing at 1.37. As a result, the pricing difference between the two bookmakers means backing the underdog could result in an arbitrage opportunity.

Let’s say that the odds for X is 5.00 and for Away-win is priced at 9.00. That means you can calculate how much you should stake for all of the possible outcomes and guarantee you a profit.

surebet calculator - arbitrage odds

As explained in the football example above, there is only a small difference between the pricing set by Ladbrokes and Bwin. This means that in order to make a profit, you’ll need to risk a significant amount, as arbitrage bets usually only generate a profit of 1% to 10%. For example, this could result in a €500 stake returning a profit of as little as €5.00 or as much as €50, and that is why using the steps below will assist you in identifying arbitrage opportunities and determining whether they are worth the risk.

  1. Step 1: Use an odds comparison site like Nostrabet to find a sporting event that offers two outcomes.
  2. Step 2: Our bookie comparison chart compares the highest odds available for each bookmaker.
  3. Step 3: Use our Surebet Calculator to determine if the odds provide an arbitrage betting opportunity.
  4. Step 4: If yes, use the calculator to determine the stake you must make with each bookmaker.
  5. Step 5: Place your bets with each bookmaker.

Best Sports and Events for Arbing

With arbing offering guaranteed profits to those who successful identify arbitrage opportunities, a big part of that success comes from knowing the best sports and events for arbing. While Hockey, Baseball and Basketball are top contenders, our attention is focused more on the best sports and events for arbing, versus listing every possible sport for arbing.

Resultantly, if you are interested in arbitrage betting, you may wish to direct your attention to the following sports:

Horse racing

With horse racing being one of the best sports for arbing, arbitrage betting horse racing opportunities are frequently available for punters looking to profit from the odds differences.


Tennis

Arbitrage betting in tennis is another of the sports that frequently produces arbing opportunities. It ranks among the top sports, next to football, but it is more resultant on live events versus pre-match.


NFL

The NFL is another of the sports ranked best for arbing. Resultant of the competitiveness between bookies, NFL arbitrage betting opportunities are frequent.


Football

The bookies’ competition tends to produce many football arbitrage betting opportunities. By far, it makes football (soccer) the best sport for arbing as bookies tend to focus a lot of energy on football pricing.


With arbitrage betting being a sensitive topic and one most bookies go to extreme lengths to identify, the question of whether arbitrage betting is legal is a hotly contested subject. From a legal perspective, there is nothing about illegal arbitrage betting, meaning you are free to place arb bets at your discretion.

However, arbing is frowned upon by most bookies. While some allow it, the majority will take protective measures to detect arbing. They may even go as far as to penalize punters who they believe are arbing, so avoiding detection is key.

Possible Penalties For Arbing

Considering that most bookies are diligent in detecting arbing, you need to be aware of the possible penalties bookmakers can dole out. As arbers can put the bookmakers’ profits at risk, you should be aware if you decide to arbitrage bet, you could face one of the following penalties:

  • Limiting bets – As a protective measure, some bookies will limit your bets as a way to reduce the risk you pose. They may also limit your bet sizes, making arbing pointless due to the bet amounts needed to generate profit.
  • Cancelling – Another protective measure taken by bookies if arbing is detecting to cancel your bet or prevent you from betting on certain sporting events.
  • Closing down account – A bookie’s last resort to protect itself from arbitrage is to close down your account. If your account is closed for arbing, you will be prevented from punting with the bookie in the future and may have your balance seized if in breach of the bookies’ terms and conditions.
  • Calculating mistakes – Even though you can use the Surebet calculator or even do the calculations yourself, there’s always the possibility of making mistakes. If you do that and place a bet, you will lose, so you have to be very careful.
  • Fast odds changes – Due to the essence of arbitrage betting, you have to keep a close eye on the odds and place your bets as fast as possible. As we know, bookies change their odds all the time, and if that happens after you’ve placed the first bet, it may ruin your strategy. That’s why you have to be careful.

How to Avoid Getting Detected?

One thing on the mind of every punter when arbitrage bets are in play is how to avoid getting detected. What is important to remember is that bookies security departments use various AML/KYC methods to detect arbing.

Some AML/KYC methods include looking for repeated bets, monitoring a punter’s bet sizes, event choice, account balance and whether they frequently withdraw. As a result, to avoid possible detection, you may want to exercise the following cautions:

  • Round up your Bets – One of the biggest mistakes for arbers is the strange bet sizes they make to guarantee themselves profits. Bookies are skilled at detecting odd bet sizes, so rounding up your bets will throw off the bookies’ detection measures. It may cost you some profits, but they pale in comparison to being banned.
  • Make the Odd Parlay Bet – Another protective measure bookies take is monitoring the type of bets a punter makes. If a bookie notices you are consistently betting on profitable opportunities, it will set off alarm bells. Therefore, making the odd parlay bet will avoid detection and give you the appearance of a recreational bettor.
  • Don’t Max Bets All the Time – Arbers know that maxing their bets is the best way to maximise their arbitrage betting opportunities. However, it is also one of the methods bookies look at in an effort to identify arbers. As such, make sure you change your bet sizes and always avoid max betting.
  • Don’t Withdraw Money Frequently – Bettors who withdraw frequently are one way to cause your account to be red-flagged. While it won’t necessarily result in account closure of any punitive measures, it will result in increased account scrutiny.

Conclusion

Arbitrage betting can be a highly profitable endeavour for the skilled bettor focused on gaining an edge. However, while it can be profitable, it does result in considerable risk, requiring bettors to apply tactical measures to avoid detection. For those who are successful arbing, the rewards can be substantial, but using our strategic anti-detection methods is advisable as it allows you to arb within detection.


FAQ

Do I have to pay to use the Surebet Calculator?

No, you do not need to pay to use our Surebet Calculator. It saves a lot of time and it minimizes the risks of making a mistake.

Is the Arbitrage betting calculator available on mobile devices?

Yes, you can use this calculator on mobile devices.

Can you combine Arbitrage betting with different features?

Yes, you may be able to combine Arbitrage betting with different features, but it depends on the operator. For example, some people may use Advancebet to arb when they do not have enough funds in their accounts.

Author
Doug Holmes
Doug HolmesDoug Holmes is a specialist in casino games and their analysis and became a part of the team in October 2018. He lives in Canada and has many years of experience in the gambling industry. Doug is responsible for writing professional content for various online casinos and games.