ARBITRAGE BETTING: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE

1. Is Arbitrage Betting Legal?

Arbitrage betting is entirely legal as long as you're located in a state where sports betting is permitted. It is considered a strategic betting approach, and while some sportsbooks may not favor it (since it allows you to secure a profit rather than them), it is totally allowed.

Though arbing is not illegal in states that permit sports betting, it's important to note that regulations can differ between states. For instance, some states may allow only online betting, while others may restrict it to in-person wagering. These can affect the potential profit available in each state.

2. What is an Arbitrage Bet Finder / Arbitrage Bet Scanner?

An arbitrage bet finder is a powerful tool used in arbitrage betting to seek out profitable opportunities. A good arbitrage bet finder will scan all sporting events in your state and identify the most profitable arbitrage betting opportunities to guarantee you profit no matter the outcome.

Also known as an arbitrage bet scanner, this tool may also come with a calculator feature, which calculates exactly how much to bet on each team and at which sportsbook to lock in your profit. Check out the best arb bet finder on the market, the Dutch Matcher, in FAQ 12.

3. What are the Different Arbitrage Betting Strategies?

The two main arbitrage betting strategies are:

Once the game ends, you receive your $150 bonus bet and a small profit. You then repeat this process on a different game using your bonus bet to guarantee yourself $100 of profit, regardless of who wins. Check out the full step-by-step process in our free guide.

• Pros & Cons: Though the process may sound a little tricky, it's far from it. When using the the easy-to-use tools, guides and one-to-one support of a reputable matched betting platform like ProfitDuel, earning $1,000s in monthly profits matched betting is totally achievable.

Note: You can check out even more actionable arbitrage betting strategies and tips here. 

4. What is the Arbitrage Betting Formula?

The arbitrage betting formula is a method used to exploit discrepancies in odds offered by different sportsbooks on the same event. It allows bettors to place bets on all possible outcomes, guaranteeing a profit regardless of the result.

It's worth noting that you don't actually need to know this to arb bet formula - proper arbitrage betting tools will do the hard work for you. However, if you're curious, the arb betting formula works by calculating the implied probabilities from the odds and ensuring their sum is less than 100%.

The basic formula is:

If the sum is less than 1, an arbitrage opportunity exists, allowing the bettor to distribute their stake proportionally across outcomes for a risk-free profit.

5. Arbitrage Betting vs Matched Betting: What's the Difference?

Arbitrage betting and matched betting both involve placing opposing bets to secure a profit, but they differ in how they generate profits. Arbitrage betting focuses on small discrepancies in odds across different sportsbooks, allowing users to guarantee a small profit by betting on all possible outcomes. The margins are often small, but profits accumulate over time.

Matched betting, a more profitable form of arbitrage, uses sportsbook promotions like bonus bets, to secure risk-free profits. Users place qualifying bets to unlock these offers, then hedge against the opposing outcome. Matched betting can yield larger profits, especially with ongoing promos.

6. Are There Any Techniques Similar to Arbitrage Betting?

There are a wide range of smart betting strategies used by bettors across the globe outside of the classic arbitrage betting strategy.

Some of the most powerful include:

• Matched Betting: Converting sportsbook promos into cash with tools like the Dutch Matcher.
  
  
• Expected Value Betting: Identifying +EV bets with tools like an expected value calculator.
  
  
• Profit Boost Conversion: Converting sportsbook profit boosts into guaranteed profits using tools like the Boost Matcher.
  
  
• Casino Promo Conversion: Gaining an edge over the casino with specialized tools like casino simulators and slots databases.
  
  
• Classic Hedge Betting: This is a more basic form hedge betting than arbitrage. It involves placing an opposing bet against your initial bet to reduce the likelihood of losing money.

7. Which Types of Bets Can I Arb?

When it comes to arbitrage betting, various types of bets can be used depending on your strategy. Some common bet types for hedging include:

• Moneyline Bets: These are the simplest bets to arb, as they involve picking the winner of a game or event. To hedge a moneyline bet you typically stake money on one team to win, then stake money on the opposing team to win (hedging  your bet). Note: you can also do live arbitrage betting, though this can be more challenging.
  
  
• Parlays: A parlay is a combination of multiple smaller bets that all need to win for the entire bet to succeed. Hedging a parlay can be more complicated due to the multiple components, but it is still achievable.
  
  
• Spreads: Spread betting involves wagering on the margin of victory, such as a favorite team needing to win by a specific number of points or goals. Hedging a spread bet means betting against that margin, such as wagering that the favorite won't win by the required amount.
  
  
• Free Bets: Also known as bonus bets, free bets can be easily hedged and turned into profit through the matched betting technique (explained in FAQ 2). These are the most profitable bet types to arb. 
  
  
• Risk-Free Bets: Also known as 'no sweat bets' or 'first bet back' bets, these can also be hedged through matched betting, with reputable matched betting platforms providing detailed guides on how to hedge each offer.

8. Which Sports Can I Arb Bets On?

Sports that result in one of two outcomes (i.e.) a win or a loss are generally much easier to arbitrage bet on, as they involve fewer outcomes to cover.

However, it is also possible to arb bets on sports with more outcomes. These range from sports like soccer (win/loss/draw) to horse racing (outcomes on the number of horses racing).

This number of outcomes leads to the phrases 2 way arbitrage betting, 3 way arbitrage betting, 4 way arbitrage betting and so on.

Here are eight of the most popular sports you can arb bets on: 

Football Arbitrage Betting (NFL)

Similar to basketball, the NFL has many two-way markets, such as moneyline bets (team to win), point spreads, and over/under totals. Different sportsbooks may disagree on the odds for these markets, and by finding discrepancies, you can place two-way bets on different outcomes to ensure a profit.

Tennis Arbitrage Betting

Tennis matches are 2 way arbitrage outcomes (Player A wins or Player B wins). Arbitrage opportunities arise when different bookmakers have varying odds for each player. By betting on both players across different bookmakers at optimal odds, you can lock in a profit, regardless of who wins. This often happens in smaller tournaments or in-play betting. 

Soccer Arbitrage Betting

Soccer offers a wide range of betting markets—match outcomes (1X2), total goals (over/under), and handicaps. 3 way arbitrage betting can be done by betting on different match outcomes (home win, draw, away win) with sportsbooks offering odds that, when combined, ensure a profit.

Horse Racing Arbitrage Betting

Horse racing presents a good arbitrage opportunity because different sportsbooks often price horses differently, especially close to race time. You can place bets on multiple horses in a race where the odds allow for a guaranteed return if one of your selected horses wins. This requires careful monitoring, especially right before a race begins.

Boxing/MMA Arbitrage Betting

Combat sports, such as boxing and MMA, typically have two possible outcomes (fighter A wins, fighter B wins). Sportsbooks often have different opinions on underdogs and favorites, leading to mismatched odds. You can bet on both fighters across different sportsbooks to secure a profit, particularly if you find an undervalued underdog at one and strong favorite at another.

Ice Hockey Arbitrage Betting

Ice hockey offers two-way markets (team A wins, team B wins) and three-way markets (team A wins, team B wins, or draw in regulation time). By betting on the moneyline or total goals markets, arbitrage opportunities arise, especially if different sportsbooks offer varied odds for totals or sides.

9. Which Sportsbooks Can I Arbitrage Bet With?

Although sportsbooks may not always favor arbitrage betting (since it can lead to bettors profiting instead of them), it's a completely legitimate sports betting strategy in sports betting states. As a result, it is possible to place arb bets at most sportsbooks.

10 of the most popular sportsbooks for arbitrage betting in the U.S. include:

• DraftKings
• FanDuel
• Caesars
• BetMGM
• Fanatics
• ESPN Bet
• Hard Rock Bet
• Bet365
• BetRivers
• Tipico

10. What are the Benefits of Arbitrage Betting? 

Some of the main benefits of arbitrage betting for users include:

1. 1. Risk Management: Reduces potential losses by placing bets on different outcomes, ensuring that a portion of your stake is safeguarded even if your initial bet doesn’t win.
      
      
   2. Guarantees Profit: In certain cases, arbitrage betting can secure a profit no matter the result by covering all possible outcomes.
      
      
   3. Increases Flexibility: Provides the ability to adapt to changing circumstances such as shifts in odds, team updates, or in-game events, allowing bettors to adjust their strategies.
      
      
   4. Protects Against Unforeseen Events: Shields against unexpected factors, such as sudden injuries or weather changes, which can significantly impact the outcome of a game.
      
      
   5. Benefits From Odds Fluctuations: Enables you to capitalize on shifting odds to either lock in profits or limit losses, especially in dynamic markets where odds may change rapidly.

11. What Are the Risks of Arbitrage Betting (And Tips to Avoid Them)?

While arbitrage betting can be a profitable and straightforward strategy if executed properly, there are three key risks to consider before you begin:

1. 1. Using the Wrong Approach: Selecting a strategy that doesn't align with your goals can result in disappointment. Where someone looking for gradual profits may seek odds arbitrage (classic arbitrage betting), someone looking to earn higher profits in the short term may prefer bonus arbitrage (matched betting). 

   2. Wasting Valuable Time: Signing up for dozens of sportsbooks, constantly searching for arbing opportunities and manually calculating odds can not only waste your time but also your money. Instead, using sophisticated tools can streamline the process and reduce the likelihood of your sportsbook accounts getting banned arbitrage betting.

   3. Trying to do it All Alone: While it’s possible to arb bets on your own, doing so requires considerable time and effort in return for tiny profits. Instead, using a reliable platform with solid expertise and advanced software can increase your profits 1,000x over.

12. Which Tools Can Help Me Find Arbitrage Betting Opportunities?

By making use of a range of powerful arbing tools, you can not only find arbitrage betting opportunities in seconds, but ensure you're extracting the maximum profit from them.

Here are the main three:

Arbitrage Calculator

An arbitrage calculator is a simple but valuable tool that helps bettors check for profitable arb bets by entering the odds of your original and hedge bet and your intended stake. 

While this calculator can be helpful for checking one-off arbing opportunities and comparing odds, in terms of all-out arbitrage software, the next two tools are where you should look.

Dutch Matcher

The most comprehensive (but equally simple to use) arbitrage betting tool today is the Dutch Matcher.

The Dutch Matcher instantly scans and ranks all upcoming sporting events in your state, identifying arb opportunities and ranking them from most to least profitable (depending on whether you're looking for odds arbitrage or bonus arbitrage).

All this leaves you to do is click the calculator icon alongside a match and the tool below will do the rest for you.

Dutch Matcher Calculator

Working hand-in-hand with the Dutch Matcher, the Dutch Matcher Calculator calculates the exact figure you should place on each side using the given sportsbook links to guarantee a profit from the match..

Together, they are the most powerful and profitable arbitrage betting tools on the market, and you can get full access to both of them (alongside a range of other tools, guides and offers) with 50% off your first month of ProfitDuel.

13. What is the Best Arbitrage Betting Platform?

1. Powerful Software
2. Easy-To-Follow Guides
3. An Experienced Team

At ProfitDuel, we have over 15 years of experience helping 500,000+ members across the U.S. and Europe earn risk-free monthly profits in the $1,000s arbitrage betting (with matched betting in particular)

With a suite of ultra-powerful matched and arbitrage betting tools, a range of walkthrough guides - from beginner through advanced - and an experienced team of experts on hand to offer support, we offer the most complete arbitrage platform on the market today.

The best part? You can access it all with 50% off your first month. Claim your offer below for full access to ProfitDuel Premium software, strategies and support and get started earning.