What is Arbitrage Betting? A Deep Dive into Sports Betting Arbitrage

How To Arbitrage Bet

Arbitrage bets can only be done when you have two or more sportsbooks. That’s because you will need to play the discrepancy between each book. To elucidate this further, here is an example of what arbitrage betting is all about:

Imagine an NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders.

One sportsbook offers -130 odds on the Commanders, while another lists the Cowboys at +150. A bettor spots an arbitrage opportunity and strategically wagers $130 on the Commanders and $92 on the Cowboys, totaling $222 in stakes.

• If the Commanders win, they win back $230 ($100+$130) on the Washington bet.
• If the Cowboys win, they win back $230 ($138+$92) on the Dallas bet.
• For the arbitrage, they will earn a net profit of $8, or $230 – $222 (the original stake).
• So, the bettor is guaranteed a 3.6% ROI on their $222 investment.

You can also find out more about moneyline betting to get a better read on arbitrage sports betting.

How to Find Arbitrage Bets

You can use an odds checker or an aggregate site that lists different books and their odds to find arbitrage betting opportunities. Then, you can do some simple math to calculate your potential returns and if the arbitrage bet is worth it. You can also use arbitrage calculators to make it easier.

Another way to arbitrage sports betting is with futures. Although using multiple sportsbooks could be more beneficial, it is unnecessary here.

For example, early in the season, you bet $50 on the Philadelphia Eagles to win the Super Bowl at +800 to win $400. The Eagles face the Chiefs for the Super Bowl. Using arbitrage gambling, you can wager $250 on the Chiefs’ moneyline at -125. This gives you a profit of $150 regardless of who wins.

Using arbitrage betting, you can keep learning more on betting on sports with our sports betting guide.

Is Arbitrage Betting Legal?

Arbitrage betting is legal. A bettor will not face legal consequences if they are caught doing it. However, bookmakers will impose consequences to minimize its effect. What arbitrage betting is a boon for bettors but a liability for bookies. Sportsbooks can limit a bettor’s betting limits or even ban them once they detect arbitrage betting tendencies.

Bettors can take steps to avoid getting detected. They can round up their bets to the nearest dollar, limit withdrawing and depositing frequently, and avoid making max bets all the time. These are some everyday habits arbitration bettors use.

Additionally, bettors can also wager on other markets. Bet on totals if you’ve been betting on moneylines frequently. There are strategies for totals betting that can be just as fruitful as arbitrage betting.

You can minimize being branded an arbitrage bettor if you mix up your habits to avoid detection. Continue to bet recreationally and spread your counter bets among different sportsbooks.

What is “Arbs” Betting?

Arbitrage sports betting has become so common today that it’s spawned a long list of nicknames. From “arbing” to “value betting” to “miracle bets,” these are just some terms used. Plenty of folk use “arbing” to profit on the side. But the more widespread this gets, the more the sportsbooks become leery.

As we stated, mixing arbitrage gambling with other practices is best. We’re not saying to lose intentionally, but bookies tend to focus on bettors who always profit conspicuously.

Learn how to bet on live betting outside of making a moneyline straight bet. While arbitrage betting can produce prolific profits, there is still something to winning bets the traditional way.