Arbitrage in Sports Betting: What Is It & How It Works?

Ben Boland

Published: Aug 25, 2025 - Last Updated: Aug 26, 2025

Arbitrage betting is a great way to maximize your sports wagering winnings. This clever strategy guarantees a profit no matter which team wins, and we’re here to tell you all about it.

Learn how the system works, how to spot top opportunities for putting it into play, and what tools are available to give you a boost.

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What is Arbitrage Betting?

Considered as a betting strategy by many, arbitrage in sports betting is where you place wagers on all outcomes of a sports event using different sportsbooks to ensure a profit, no matter which team wins. In other words, you could put money on Team 1 to win at Sportsbook A, and bet on Team 2 to win at Sportsbook B. However, to be considered Arbitrage betting, the probability of the odds for both teams combined must be less than 100%.

Finding sports betting arbitrage opportunities can be a challenging task. This is because, typically, online betting sites price their odds to exceed 100% so they make a profit or vig.

However, you can sometimes find a discrepancy in odds pricing on the same event at two different sportsbooks. When you add the odds offered by these two sportsbooks together, it leaves you with combined odds of less than 100%. And this is when you take your chance.

Example of Arbitrage in Sports Betting

Now that we have arbitrage betting explained, let’s look at a few examples to put it into practice.

Let’s look at a very simple arbitrage betting example, where the New York Jets are playing the Philadelphia Eagles:

This situation is ideal for arbitrage betting. If you were to wager a $100 bet on the Jets at Sportsbook A and on the Eagles at Sportsbook B, your total bet would equal $200.

The odds on both teams ensure a payout of $210 ($100 wager + $110 winnings), which means, no matter whether the Jets or the Eagles win, you’ll walk away with a $10 profit ($210 winnings – $200 original stake = $10 profit)

While these odds offer a 5% profit, greater odds mean a greater payout. For instance, if the odds were set at +130 for both teams, you’d earn a profit of $30, giving you a 15% profit.

Betting Arbitrage Math and Results

As you can see in our example above, there are several calculations you’ll need to make when arbitrage betting. Whether maths is your strong suit or not, having to perform these calculations on the fly is no fun task, hence why automated cash out betting is so popular. Luckily, there are plenty of arbitrage betting software and calculators available to make life easier.

For instance, say you came across an MLB game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs.

Sportsbook A offers the following odds:

• Chicago Cubs -147
• Milwaukee Brewers +120

Sportsbook B offers these odds on the same game:

• Chicago Cubs +100
• Milwaukee Brewers +115

Betting on the Brewers (+120) at Sportsbook A and the Cubs (+100) at Sportsbook B looks like a good matchup. But, to make it work as a great arbitrage bet, you need to know how much to bet on each team and see whether the profit is really worth it. This is where a calculator comes in handy.

Work Out Your Profit Using an Arbitrage Calculator

If we were to put the following details into our arbitrage calculator, it would give us several pieces of important information:

1. How much must I bet on each team to make a guaranteed profit?
2. What percentage profit will I earn?
3. What will my profit be based on my original stake?

So, using our example above, let’s see:

By inputting the odds we want to take on each team at Sportsbook A and Sportsbook B into the calculator, and then adding the stake you want to wager on the underdog, the calculator provides the following answers for us:

To earn a guaranteed profit, we will need to bet the following:

• Sportsbook A – (Milwaukee Brewers +120) – $100
• Sportsbook B – (Chicago Cubs +100) – $110

This means that our initial stake will be $210 and that the payout, no matter which team wins, will be $220.

The percentage profit guaranteed, no matter which team wins, is then 4.55%. This means our profit based on our original stake will be $10 ($220 guaranteed payout – $210 original stake = $10 profit).

How Can You Spot an Arbitrage Betting Opportunity?

Now that we understand how arbitrage sports betting works, let’s look more closely at how to find these opportunities. Most online sports betting sites use algorithms to establish their odds, while others base their prices on those offered by competitor sites. This means that you can sometimes find odds discrepancies, which can lead to arbitrage opportunities at a gambling site.

Some of the most common errors that bookmakers make, leading to great arbitrage betting markets, include:

• Setting the odds too high – some betting companies set their odds excessively high to gain an edge on their competitors. This leads to significant odds discrepancies.
• Failing to adjust odds in real time – Live betting involves placing bets on games already in-play. These wagers work off unfixed odds, which shift as the game progresses. Bookmakers that don’t adjust their odds in real-time as the match plays out open up the opportunity for arbitrage betting by offering odds that are no longer relevant.
• Errors in odds calculations – Different betting companies use varying methods to set their odds. Bookies using outdated methods or that rely on the odds set by competitors can sometimes make an error in their calculations.

What Are the Benefits of Sports Betting Arbitrage?

Whether you’re using a regulated bookmaker or one of the top offshore sportsbooks, you can unlock exciting benefits, using sure betting.

1. You’re always guaranteed a profit – Despite there being two possible outcomes, you’re guaranteed a profit no matter which way the match swings. Even though you’re placing two bets, you will make back your stakes and walk away with a little extra.
2. Reduce risk – Rather than taking a chance on just one team, sure betting allows you to back both. By allowing you to back both possible outcomes, you eliminate any risk and potential profit loss.
3. Flexibility – The great thing about arbitrage betting or arbing is that you can apply it to almost any sport, such as football, baseball, or even a tennis match. This betting style also applies to pre-game or in-play wagering, and you can use it with a range of different betting markets.
4. Capitalize on shifting odds – This form of betting allows you to take advantage of shifting odds, to minimize losses, or lock in profits. Where this is particularly helpful is in-play betting, where the odds are consistently changing. Arbing provides a significant edge and makes it easier to adapt to these ever-changing odds and circumstances.
5. Accessible to all bettors – Arbitrage betting work is straightforward and based on mathematics, not sports knowledge or exceptional betting skill. All you need to know is how to identify different odds that allow for arbing and use an arbitrage calculator.

Same Time Arbitrage vs Price Movement Arbitrage

These betting styles are similar, with their main difference being when you place your wagers, based on the arbitrage opportunities and potential outcome you’re expecting.

Same Time Arbitrage

This form of arbitrage betting refers to an instance where you see an opportunity and place bets on all possible outcomes at the same time. In other words, you place a wager on one outcome at one bookmaker and another outcome at a second bookmaker within seconds of each other. By taking advantage of these arbitrage opportunities as soon as they arise, you lock in your profit regardless of the outcome. This minimizes your risk almost entirely, which is why it is the most popular form of sure betting.

Price Movement Arbitrage

This style of arbing relies on changes in odds over time at one bookmaker or at different betting companies. In this case, you place one bet on the outcome of a sporting event, and then wait until there is a shift in the odds that makes it profitable to bet on the alternative outcome.

Since your betting depends on time and the direction in which the odds change, these types of bets are often far more challenging and risky, since the outcome you are hoping for may not always take shape.

What Are Arbitrage Betting Strategies?

There are two common sports betting arbitrage strategies that you can implement when using this betting style:

• Cross-Market Arbitrage (Odds Arbitrage) – This strategy involves finding odds discrepancies across multiple platforms and placing a wager on both outcomes, locking in a profit no matter who wins. While the profits are often smaller here, it is a great way to place these wagers undetected and increase your money over time.
• Bonus Hunting Arbitrage (Matched Betting) – Using this strategy will earn you much greater profits. The idea here is to place a wager on a sports event to access a sports betting bonus. Then, place the opposing bet on the same match at a different sportsbook. Following that game, you can use your bonus at Bookmaker 1 to place a bet on another sport and lock in a much higher profit.

Arbitrage Betting Tips to Max Your Winnings

The benefits of this style of sports wagering are clear. While there are two strategies you can apply, there are also several top tips to use when visiting arbitrage betting sites:

✅ Do Your Research – Since Arbitrage betting is based on mathematics and knowing how to identify potential opportunities in the odds provided, it is worth doing your research and understanding how everything works before placing your bets.

✅ Set Up Multiple Accounts Ahead of Time – This type of betting opportunity typically occurs when you least expect it. To be able to take advantage and place one bet at one bookie and another bet at an alternative sportsbook, it is essential to have your gambling profiles set up ahead of time, with funds already in your betting account, so there is no delay when you need to wager multiple bets at different bet builder sites.

✅ Use a Calculator – You can easily find free online arbing calculators to help you predict bet size, potential profits, and whether your considered bet is a good option.

✅ Look for Arbitrage Opportunities on Social Media – Some platforms offer services over social media that help you identify opportunities and potentially great odds. Platforms like Reddit are often particularly helpful.

✅ Gamble Responsibly – Finally, practice responsible gambling. Reaching out to resources like the National Council on Problem Gambling is the best step if you’re struggling.

Arbitrage Betting Finders and Software

Manually searching for arbitrage opportunities is challenging and time-consuming. However, an arbitrage betting finder or software can easily help you pinpoint the best betting options. These finders pinpoint the best match-ups at various online sportsbooks across the globe, making it easy for you to place your bets on the event and guarantee a profit. One of the best arbitrage finders is Betideas:

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Betting Arbitrage FAQ

Ben Boland

Since: November 27, 2023

Ben Boland is an editor at EsportsBets and a massive fan of EA Sports FC. Ben has worked in the iGaming industry since 2016, holding various content positions. With a background in journalism and a sports journalism degree from Leeds Trinity University, Ben brings extensive experience to our team.

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