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Arbitrage betting is one of the simplest betting strategies that can guarantee a profit no matter the outcome of the sports event.
In this guide, you can find out the very basics of arbitrage betting. To successful arbitrage betting, you need to know the answer to the following questions:
- What is arbitrage betting?
- Is arbitrage betting still possible?
- Where can you find sure bets?
- How much can you make?
- What is an example of an arbitrage bet?
What is the definition of arbitrage betting?
Arbitrage betting is the technique of finding odds discrepancies between bookmakers that can offer a guaranteed profit if the bettor places bets on both outcomes with the right-sized stakes.
Arbitrage betting opportunities in sports betting are very similar to the ones in stock trading.
In the industry of sports betting, we are buying different outcomes on sports events.
The price in this case is the real probability of the outcome in odds format.
For example:
Often, bookmakers make mistakes and offer lines, odds, or prices that are higher than the average odds compared to other bookmakers.
Smart/sure bettors take advantage of these wrong odds by placing bets on these overpriced markets.
After that, you need to cover the other outcome at another bookie or exchange.
This act is also called sure betting…
Below you can see a video of how to start arbitrage betting with the 3 simplest methods available at the moment.
To secure a profit while arbitrage betting regardless of the outcome you not only need to find these odds discrepancies but also use the right stakes with the help of a sports arbitrage bet calculator.
Arbitrage betting is possible because of the simple fact that bookmakers often have different odds for the same event.
These can create arbitrage opportunities.
Arbitrage betting might seem a complex and time-consuming process.
Many bettors don’t believe in such free money opportunities but it is the most secure way to make a consistent profit if done correctly.
How much can you make arbitrage betting?
The average profit you can make on arbitrage betting opportunities ranges between 0.5% to 8% of your total stakes placed by covering each outcome.
The monthly profit you can make with arbitrage betting is highly dependent on the bookmakers available in your country/state.
In my dedicated article on how much can you make arbitrage betting:
You can find a simulation based on the number of bets placed and average arb profit %.
As a general rule, arbitrage bettors with a small betting volume can make around $500-$800 a month easily, while full-time arbitrage bettors can earn over $3000 a month.
How to find arbitrage bets?
The simplest explanation of how to find arbitrage bets is as follows: you need to find significant odds differences between betting sites.
You can achieve this either by using scanner services or catching arbitrage bets manually.
Here you can learn about the advantages and downsides of the three main methods to spot sure bets.
Check the dedicated and detailed guide on how to find arbs.
How does arbitrage betting work?
Successful arbitrage betting works based on the following steps mentioned below:
#1. Check if sports betting is legal in your country/state or not
This is the first and the most important step of arbitrage betting to avoid problems down the road.
Using betting sites that don’t have a legal license in your country can cause issues with taxing, law, and even accessing your money.
#2. Find the best arbitrage betting software for bookies in your country
Check my country-specific table in my article about the best sure bet finders.
I have included both free and premium services with detailed descriptions of their settings, speed, user interface, and experience level they require.
Using the “best arbing software” in the market is the best solution for each of us.
For example, some might focus on bookies from the US while others scan mostly European betting sites.
#3. Pick arbitrage-friendly bookies or betting brokers
Finding your local soft/slow bookies with many wrong odds is the first and one of the most important steps.
But this technique can be practiced the easiest if you can cover the other outcome of your initial bets at bookies that don’t limit and have high stake limits.
Check my article about arbitrage-friendly bookmakers.
#4. Check some reviews about the bookies you want to use
Make sure your local bookies are not scamming players.
Having a license in a country does not mean they are trustworthy.
I know from experience that in many countries you can’t wait for the help of legislative organs.
Your money blocked at bookies means that the country gets more taxes and the case is closed.
This is why using only trustworthy betting sites for arbitrage is an important step even if you might miss out on some betting opportunities.
#5. Deposit money to more bookies
The more betting sites you have funds at, the fewer bets you need to place at each of them.
This tactic will help your accounts last longer.
For success in arbitrage betting, you need to have as many healthy betting accounts as long as possible.
#6. Watch video tutorials:
While reading blogs, forums, comments, and different social media groups, you can learn many new things about sure betting.
But the most valuable information comes from video tutorials.
What are the risks of sports arbitrage betting?
Arbitrage betting has several risks that can reduce the amount of profits a bettor can make.
Below is a list of the most common risks of arbitrage betting:
- Making mistakes while calculating the stakes
- Odds can drop before you cover every possible outcome, this way you will need to complete the arbitrage bet with a loss
- Bookies can void/cancel bets (the ones that were the winner’s leg…of course), which can generate a massive loss.
- Sure betting requires many deposits (bookies can ask for proof of income, which is not available for everyone etc.)
- Banks might not like your transactions to betting sites, and can reject you when asking for a loan/mortgage.
- You can experience issues with the internet connection while covering your initial bets (it’s not as rare as you would think). This situation might cause major losses.
- You need accounts at many betting sites and might experience issues or delays when asking for a withdrawal.
List of arbitrage betting types
Arbitrage betting has several methods and types. Each of them can offer a different amount of profit.
Below are the main types of arbitrage betting you can practice:
- Pre-match arbitrage betting
- In-play sure betting
- Finding arbitrage bets manually
- Using a free/trial software
- Using a paid/premium service
- Parlay arbitrage betting
- Middles arbitrage betting
Arbitrage betting example
Simple arbitrage betting example:
- Tennis player A at the first bookie has an odds of 2
- Player B at the other bookmaker has 2.1 (which is not normal. Normally it should be around 1.80)
- You place a stake at the first bookie with 100 euros on odds of 2 and at the other bookmaker on the second player, you place a stake of 95 euros on an odd of 2.10
Regardless of who wins you will end up with a profit of approximately 4.5 euros. This kind of betting is called arbitrage betting.
Arbitrage betting example with bookmakers
This simple arbitrage betting opportunity was found then the stakes were calculated with the free sure bet finder of surebet.com.
It’s an excellent tool to start with because of its simplicity, beginner-friendliness in pricing, and interface as well.
Is arbitrage betting still possible in 2024?
Arbitrage betting is still possible and it’s a very profitable income source. Sure betting is worth trying and you still can make serious profits with it if you have access to a decent number of betting sites.
Below you can find my proof of using BetBurger (I think it is still the best arbitrage betting software in Europe since 2014).
If I’m able to still actively place sure bets, you can as well.
Bookmakers are making it harder and harder to make money from arbitrage betting.
If you are dedicated to learning, you can do sure betting even for a living.
I’ve been successfully and actively arbitrage betting (and value betting) since 2013.
Check my in-depth BetBurger review (best for bettors from the EU).
Bettors to find arbitrage bets, or follow other types of smart betting techniques for a living, have to dive deeper and learn/get experience in the betting industry.
If you want to be an arbitrage bettor for the long term, maybe even for a living as your main income source, you need to know all the pros and cons of arbitrage betting.
A great solution for sustainable and more profitable sure betting is using Betting Brokers. They are giving you instant access to many bookmakers on a single platform.
Is arbitrage betting worth it?
Yes, arbitrage betting is still worth it, but the complete answer is more complex than a simple yes or no. In my experience arbitrage betting is not possible for everyone but it is the surest way to beat the bookmakers.
Your earnings from arbitrage betting can be very different from those saying that it is very profitable.
They can manage to make thousands each month.
It’s a big mistake not to practice arbitrage betting for a side income, and you would simply let free money on the table.
You can my detailed article on how much can you make from arbitrage betting.
How to learn arbitrage betting?
To learn arbitrage betting you need to follow some of the basic steps each newbie bettor has to go through.
One important step to learning arbitrage betting is to find out which software and bookies we should use.
1. Use the right arbitrage betting tools & bookies
In my free arbitrage betting software article, there is an extended guide on how to pick the best software for your situation.
In my detailed Rebel Betting Review, you can find out why they are on the top of my list when recommending a sure bet finder.
The second step to learning arbitrage betting is finding out which bookmakers you should use. Slow betting sites from your country are the basis of arbitrage betting. They are generating mistakes and profits.
When it comes to covering your bets, you can read about the best sharp betting sites in my article about arbitrage-friendly bookies.
Having the right betting site to hedge your sure bets can mean a significant difference in the long run.
2. Always learn new arbitrage betting strategies
Everyone wants to keep their arbitrage betting strategy a secret to make it viable even in the long run.
The more unique the arb betting strategy you have the harder it is for bookmakers to flag your account for this kind of activity.
Most sure bettors follow arbitrage betting software because they don’t know how to find arbitrage betting opportunities manually.
You can learn more about arbitrage betting strategies and tips in my arbitrage betting tips article.
3. Can I use big stakes in arbitrage betting?
No, you should not use big stakes in arbitrage betting. The reason for not betting with big stakes is to stay under the radars of bookies for a longer period.
The bigger betting stakes an arbitrage bettor uses the more red flags will rise. Bookies can notice arbing activity easier when bettors get greedy and want to maximize their profits.
The smaller stakes an arbitrage bettor is using, the longer the betting account can stay healthy. In the long run, this can mean more profits.
4. What to do after I got limited for arbitrage betting?
After you get limited for arbitrage betting the one thing you can do is take advantage of friends and family’s help.
This strategy is kind of a “grey hat” solution for getting new betting accounts from friends and family.
But each bettor who wants to make a decent profit from sports betting will face the sad truth that bookies don’t like winning players.
Help from friends and family is the only way to practice arbitrage betting after you get limited at each betting site.
Will arbitrage betting still be possible in the future?
Arbitrage betting will be possible in the future until the moment bookmakers are in competition with each other. This high competition is forcing them to offer better odds, faster stream, and faster-updating odds.
Arbitrage betting is and will be possible until the competition allows us smart bettors to take advantage of these differences between bookmakers.
As long as there are bookmakers with different odds providers and different ways of calculating odds, arbitrage betting will be possible among other smart betting techniques.
The only way to stop these differences and mistakes between bookmakers would be the unlikely case when all bookmakers would have the same provider.
Is arbitrage betting legal?
Arbitrage betting is a legal activity, it does not have any legal consequences. As an arbitrage bettor, you are simply placing bets on sports events at multiple bookmakers, on odds that are favorable for you.
Arbitrage betting is legal, there are no laws regulating this kind of smart betting activity. On the other hand, sports betting, in general, is not a legal action in every country.
Some countries like North Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and Cambodia have very strict laws about gambling.
They are forbidding gambling and all sports betting activity. You need to make sure to use betting operators that have a legal license in your country/state.
Sources used to make sure arbitrage betting is legal:
- US states where sports betting is legal: Forbes
- Gambling in the US: Wikipedia
- UK gambling: gamblingcommission.gov.uk
Some relevant articles:
You might want to check my other useful article about arb-friendly bookies and the top betting brokers.
With their help, you will always cover your initial bets at the highest odds possible.
