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Is Arbitrage Betting Legal? The Facts

Written by Chris Allen | Oct 17, 2024 1:32:58 PM

Over the last few years, we’ve seen a boom in the popularity of online sport betting, thanks to the 2018 US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn a 1992 federal law. The ruling means that states are now free to establish their own sports gambling laws. And as a result, risk-free profit-making strategies like arbitrage betting have seen serious year-on-year growth.

In this post, we’ll begin by addressing the legality of arbitrage betting, then explore how this strategy can also be used to guarantee profits as an added advantage.

Contents

  1. What is Arbitrage Betting?
  2. Is Arbitrage Betting Legal in the US?
  3. Common Misconceptions About Arbitrage Betting
  4. Benefits of Arbitrage Betting
  5. How to Get Started Arbitrage Betting


1. What is Arbitrage Betting?

Also known as “arbing” or “sure betting”, arbitrage betting is a strategy that guarantees a profit by placing bets on all possible outcomes of an event at different sportsbooks, where the available odds create a situation where you can win regardless of the result.

So instead of placing a single wager and leaving the outcome to chance, arbitrage betting requires you to cover all potential outcomes of the game by placing an additional bet. A method of hedge betting, arbing allows you to take advantage of variations in odds offered by different sportsbooks on an event.

 

2. Is Arbitrage Betting Legal in the US?

As mentioned at the start of this post, changes in sports betting regulations mean that more sportsbooks have emerged. This, in turn, means that there is more potential for odds discrepancies between sportsbooks as they set their own odds and vie for custom. This has opened the door for arbitrage betting, but is it legal?

In short, yes (provided you’re in a sports betting state). Arbing is a betting strategy, not a separate form of gambling. So as long as you meet the criteria for having a sportsbook account, such as being over the legal betting age in your state and physically located in a state where sports betting is legal, you can do arbitrage betting.

Note: Sports betting laws vary by state, so always check for compliance to ensure you are following the rules for your location.

 

3. Common Misconceptions About Arbitrage Betting

Arbing has been proven as a profit-guaranteeing strategy (when you follow the steps correctly), with hundreds of thousands of users having generated profits using the technique throughout the US and Europe. But despite its appeal, there are still some misconceptions surrounding arbitrage betting. Here are five of the most common:

  1. Arbitrage Betting is Illegal
    As we discovered in the previous section, arbitrage betting is entirely legal in all states and jurisdictions where online sports betting has been legalized.

  2. Guaranteed Profit Means Huge Profit
    Not necessarily, but that isn’t a reason to disregard arbing. While arbitrage betting offers guaranteed profit, the margins can be quite small, typically between 1% and 5%. However, consistent, guaranteed profits soon add up and can beef up your bankroll.

  3. Only for Experts
    Arbitrage betting is more about numbers and odds than having deep knowledge of sports or betting markets. You don’t need to be an expert to find arbitrage opportunities; you just need to identify odds discrepancies between sportsbooks. The primary skill is the ability to place timely bets across different platforms using multiple accounts.

  4. Arbitrage Betting is Complicated
    While arbitrage betting requires speed and attention to detail, it is not inherently difficult. With the right tools, such as arbitrage betting sites or arbitrage betting software, even beginners can engage in arbitrage betting. It requires understanding basic math and discipline, but it doesn’t demand years of betting experience.

  5. All Arbitrage Opportunities are Obvious
    Many arbs are subtle, and the odds discrepancies might only last for a short time. Manually identifying these opportunities without tools such as a Dutch Matcher or arbitrage calculator can be very difficult, which is why many successful arbitrage bettors use software to help.

The points above can cause people to avoid arbitrage betting. But they’re missing out on its many benefits. Don’t let common misconceptions like these make you miss out on consistent, guaranteed profits.

 

4. Benefits of Arbitrage Betting

  • Guaranteed Profits: When executed correctly, you can’t lose with arbitrage betting which means that you are guaranteed a profit regardless of the outcome of the sports event.

  • Risk-Free: That’s right! Because you're covering all possible outcomes (eg: by placing one bet on Team A to win and a second on Team B to win in a football game), the risk of losing your stake is removed.

  • Consistent Returns: Arbitrage betting is a strategy that can provide steady, reliable income over time.

  • No Sports Knowledge Required: Arbing doesn’t rely on predicting the result of a match or event. In fact, you don't need to have any sports knowledge at all.

Now that you know the key benefits of arbitrage betting, let’s look at how you can take the first steps.

5. How to Get Started Arbitrage Betting

Getting started with arbitrage betting could be easier than you think, especially when you have the right tools in your bag. Plus a reputable platform to make things as simple, speedy and easy as possible…

The ProfitDuel platform is designed to help you navigate the world of arbitrage betting with ease, providing you with the tools, such as the Dutch Matcher and Arbitrage Calculator, and all the expert support needed to turn odds discrepancies between sportsbooks into real money.

And that’s not all you can do at ProfitDuel; arbing is just one way to earn guaranteed profit from online sportsbooks. Matched betting is a method that uses free bet offers and promos to guarantee risk-free profits. By converting these free bets into profit, you can systematically secure monthly profits in the $1,000s, all thanks to matched betting.