Arbitrage Betting
A strategy that exploits odds differences across sportsbooks to guarantee profit regardless of the outcome, also known as sure betting or arbing.
How It Works
Arbitrage opportunities arise when different sportsbooks disagree on the odds for an event. By betting on all outcomes across multiple books, you lock in a guaranteed profit because the combined implied probabilities total less than 100%.
Arb exists when: (1/Odds A) + (1/Odds B) < 1
Practical Example
An NBA game where:
- DraftKings has Team A at +155 (2.55 decimal)
- FanDuel has Team B at -140 (1.714 decimal)
Implied probabilities: (1/2.55) + (1/1.714) = 39.2% + 58.3% = 97.5%
Since 97.5% < 100%, this is a 2.5% arb. On a $1,000 total stake:
- Bet $582 on Team B at FanDuel → pays $998
- Bet $418 on Team A at DraftKings → pays $1,066
Guaranteed profit: ~$25 regardless of outcome.
Why It Matters for Bettors
Arbitrage betting is one of the lowest-risk strategies in sports betting. You don’t need to predict winners, you simply exploit pricing inefficiencies between books. Typical arb margins range from 1-5%, and with enough volume, profits compound quickly.
The main challenges are:
- Speed, Arbs disappear within minutes as odds adjust
- Account limits, Sportsbooks may restrict accounts that consistently arb
- Capital requirements, You need accounts funded at multiple books simultaneously
Tools for Finding Arbs
- BetBurger, Real-time arb scanner covering 100+ sportsbooks
- OddsJam, Arbitrage finder with US-focused book coverage
- RebelBetting, Automated arb detection with built-in calculator
- BetBrain, Odds comparison with arb alerts across global markets