Arbitrage Betting: A Surefire Strategy for Profitable Betting

Arbitrage betting, also known as arbing, is a remarkable strategy that savvy bettors use to guarantee profits regardless of the outcome of an event. This practice involves placing bets on all possible outcomes of an event at odds that ensure a profit. Let's delve into the world of arbitrage betting and uncover how it works, its benefits, and some essential tips for success.

Understanding Arbitrage Betting

Arbitrage betting involves simultaneously placing bets on all potential outcomes of an event at odds that guarantee a profit, irrespective of the final result. This strategy is also known as 'surebets,' 'miraclebets,' or simply 'arbs.'

The core principle of arbing is to exploit discrepancies in odds across different bookmakers. These discrepancies can arise due to differing opinions among bookmakers or pricing errors. Arbitrage opportunities are most common in binary events, where there are only two possible outcomes.

Arbing and Matched Betting

Arbitrage betting is closely related to matched betting, a popular strategy among bettors. In matched betting, bettors use arbing to offset potential losses by placing opposing bets on different outcomes. The primary profit in matched betting comes from bookmaker bonuses, typically in the form of free bets.

Betting exchanges like Betfair or Smarkets play a crucial role in arbing and matched betting, allowing bettors to lay bets and ensure they can profit regardless of the outcome.

Arbitrage Betting Example

To illustrate arbing, consider a tennis match between Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic. Suppose the odds with Betfair for Murray winning are 1.300 and with Ladbrokes are 1.420, while the odds for Djokovic with Betfair are 3.930 and with Ladbrokes are 2.900.

By placing a bet on Murray with Ladbrokes and a bet on Djokovic with Betfair, you can ensure a profit regardless of the outcome. If you bet £100 on Murray at 1.42, and then place £36.13 on Djokovic at 3.93, you'll secure a guaranteed return.

Bookies and Arbing

Arbing is legal, but most bookmakers do not welcome regular arbers due to the potential losses it can incur for them. Bookies struggle to identify customers using arbing as a strategy, but if they suspect it, they might restrict or even close the account. This is known as being 'gubbed.'

Betting exchanges like Betfair are more arber-friendly as they earn commission regardless of the outcome.

Arbitrage Betting Software

Arbers often use arbitrage betting software to calculate potential profits accurately. Software like Innovision Labs matched betting calculator helps users input odds, stakes, and commissions to determine their bets and potential profits. It simplifies the arbing process and saves time.

Additionally, oddsmatching software identifies arbitrage opportunities, further streamlining the search for profitable bets.

Potential Profits and Tips

Arbitrage betting offers consistent opportunities, but the returns on each investment are usually modest. It's rare to find arbs with over 5% profit. Therefore, while arbing is a legitimate way to make money, it requires patience, diligence, and careful execution.

Keeping track of transactions and maintaining spreadsheets for monitoring is recommended. Double-checking odds before placing bets is vital, as price fluctuations can impact potential profits. By staying vigilant and disciplined, arbers can achieve consistent returns.