The Basic of Arbitrage Bet in Sports Betting
Arbitrage betting is a powerful betting technique that can guarantee profits. The key is ensuring the odds are conducive and that you stake the right amount on each option. In this article, we’ll take a look at arbitrage betting in more depth, as well as give you some examples to show you how it works.
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The Theory: How Arbitrage Betting Works
Arbitrage betting is a technique where you back all possible outcomes of a match at different bookmakers to lock in a guaranteed profit. This occurs when the amount you win on the successful bet is more than the stake(s) you lose on the unsuccessful bet(s).
This is one of the few legal ways to secure a profit from betting as all you’re doing is looking for price discrepancies between bookmakers. Arbing is not welcomed by all sportsbooks though, so it’s wise to stay discreet.
The typical profit margin with arbing is small (often 0.5-2%), but repeating the strategy makes it worthwhile. It requires speed, accuracy, and multiple bookmaker accounts.
Note that the odds offered must be favourable – it does not work with every fixture. You also have to split your stake precisely. This is where our arbitrage calculator can help.
Here is how you place an Arbitrage bet:
- Find odds from two or more bookmakers on the same event
- Use an arbitrage calculator to enter your total stake and the relevant odds
- The calculator will assess whether an arbitrage bet is possible
- If it is possible, the tool will split the stake between outcomes to ensure a fixed return. The profit will be stated too
Arbitrage bets are most commonly used in:
- Football (win/draw/lose markets)
- NBA (2-way moneylines)
- Horse Racing (three runners at different odds)
- Tennis and MMA
Examples
Football 3-Way Market
This is a textbook arbitrage opportunity and works for most Football matches. Remember, not all odds and stakes work for Arbitrage Betting.
- Home Win: 1.50
- Draw: 6.00
- Away Win: 8.00
The arbitrage betting calculator suggests placing the following bets:
- €100 on Home Win
- €25 on Draw
- €18.75 on Away Win
- Total Stake: €143.75
- Total Payout: €150
- Profit: €6.25
NBA 2-Way Market
Even at tight margins, repeated use of the betting arbitrage calculator turns profits. You can also set a total stake if preferred.
- Event: Celtics vs Warriors
- Celtics: 2.00
- Warriors: 2.10
- Total Stake: €100
Using the arbitrage bet calculator, you get:
- €51.22 on Celtics
- €48.78 on Warriors
- Total Stake: €100
- Total Payout: €102.44
- Profit: €2.44
Horse Racing
Arbitrage betting can be used in horse racing, for example in a race where there are three runners.
- Horse A: 1/2
- Horse B: 5/1
- Horse C: 6/1
The calculator splits the stakes as follows:
- €100 on Horse A
- €25 on Horse B
- €21.43 on Horse C
- Total Stake: €146.43
- Total Payout: €150
- Profit: €3.57
Conclusions
Arbitrage betting is a good way to guarantee profits, but it’s important to ensure you stake the right amount depending on the odds. Arbing is not possible on every fixture, so we suggest using an arbitrage calculator before placing any bets to ensure that a particular match works for arbitrage betting.
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FAQS
Is arbitrage betting legal?
Yes, arbitrage betting is legal, but many bookmakers do not like it and may suspend your account if they suspect you are arbing. We advise discretion when arbitrage betting.
Are the profits with arbitrage betting truly guaranteed?
Only if the odds remain unchanged when you place your bets, as many arbitrage opportunities last only a few minutes. This is why being quick is key.
What’s the usual profit per arb?
Most arbs yield a profit of 0.5-2%, which may be small, but can be lucrative when repeated. Due to the large number of markets at sportsbooks, there are always frequent opportunities for arbing.
What are the advantages of using an arbitrage calculator?
An arbitrage calculator helps bettors split wagers between different outcomes to guarantee a fixed return using odds from different bookmakers. A calculator can also be used to determine whether arbing is possible in the first place. An arbitrage calculator is also quick. This is important as arbing opportunities sometimes don’t last long before the odds change.