Arbitrage Betting in Sports Explained

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.

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.

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.

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:

Is Arbitrage Betting Legal?

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.

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.