When looking to minimise your exposure to risk as a sports bettor, arbitrage betting is one of the more effective strategies.
The primary function of this strategy is to cover opposing sides of the same sporting event or match. It’s particularly popular when wagering on matchups and events with two potential outcomes, but has also been widely adopted by football fans in the UK.
But what exactly is arbitrage betting, and what steps can you take to identify and leverage opportunities in the marketplace? Find out all this and more in our comprehensive betting guide!
What is Arbitrage Betting?
The concept of arbitrage has its roots in the financial markets, where it describes the practice of buying an asset in one market before selling it for a profit in another.
In football and sports betting terms, arbitrage involves identifying any discrepancies that exist in odds between different sportsbooks. You can leverage these price differentials to place opposing bets on the same event, covering multiple outcomes while maximising your chances of achieving a profit.
These price discrepancies often occur when odds are initially published, but it’s rare to find arbitrage betting opportunities even when comparing multiple sportsbooks. So, ‘arbing’ is far less accessible than traditional betting markets, while it also requires considerably more research and complex calculations if you’re to be successful.
How does Arbitrage Betting Work
Regardless of which sport you bet on when arbing, the concept of market efficiency is key. Each and every betting line has its own unique odds, which are formulated using detailed data analysis. The accuracy of this information and its accessibility has a direct impact on the efficiency of markets.
Ultimately, arbitrage betting opportunities exist because of market inefficiencies, as individual sportsbooks react to alternative datasets in wildly different timeframes. Even the same data can be interpreted in different ways by betting sites, creating variable odds across a diverse range of markets.
The process of identifying opportunities can be complicated by the fact that football betting sites utilise different odds formats. It’s important to familiarise yourself with each one, as you may be unable to switch between the formats at a particular betting site.
- Decimal Odds: The easiest format to understand, decimal odds feature single numbers to two decimal places (such as 3.00). This relays how much you stand to win for every £1 that you wager successfully, including your initial stake.
- Fractional Odds: Fractional odds feature two numbers that are separated by a single slash. The first number tells you how much you can win in relation to the second, which represents your stake amount. The projected winnings here are calculated exclusive of your stake.
- American Odds: This format sets odds as three-digit numbers accompanied by either a ‘+’ or a ‘-’ sign. The former indicates a betting underdog, while its accompanying number highlights how much you’ll win when you wager £100. A minus reveals a betting favourite, with the corresponding number telling you how much to stake to win £100.
There’s also a simple but logical process to follow when engaging in arbitrage betting. This include the following steps:
- Identify the ‘Surebet’: A surebet is another term for an arbing opportunity, and your first step is to search for viable betting markets across different sportsbooks. There’s even software you can use for this, but we’ll cover this later in the guide.
- Place Your Bets: Once you’ve identified opportunities on both (or all three) sides of a particular sporting event, the next step is to place your bets. You’ll also have to calculate the optimal stake amounts precisely if you’re to achieve profitability.
- Manage Your Sportsbook Accounts: You’ll need to manage multiple sportsbook accounts when engaging in arbing. These will need careful management, while you’ll also need to ensure that your bankroll is distributed in the most efficient way.
Examples of Arbitrage Betting in football
When it comes to arbing as a football bettor, the prevalence of drawn games creates an unwanted complication. To provide some context, 30 of the 110 Premier League games contested so far in 2024/25 have ended tied (27%), while away victories account for just 28% of all results.
Because of this, you’ll need to cover three different match outcomes when arbing on football moneylines. This can still deliver a nominal profit, but you’ll need to identify the best possible odds and distribute your total stake accordingly. The way to achieve this is to find odds where the cumulative implied probability of all outcomes is less than 100%.
For example, let’s say that you were betting on the outcome of the Premier League match between Brighton and Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. During your odds comparison, you find that you can back the Cherries as high as 2.60, while a Brighton victory is priced at an optimal 3.10. You can wager on the draw at around 3.70.
Bournemouth’s price of 2.60 with the first sportsbook implies a 38.46% probability of a win for the Cherries. Conversely, the odds of 3.10 on a Brighton victory suggest that the Seagulls have a 32.25% chance of prevailing. The draw has a high price of 3.70, implying just a 27.02% probability of the match ending tied.
A quick calculation highlights a cumulative implied probability value of 97.73%, so there’s a clear arbitrage betting opportunity on offer. But if you were going to wager £100 in total on the match outcome, how should you distribute this in order to guarantee a profit?
| Outcome | Stake Amount | Odds | Potential Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bournemouth win | £40 | 2.60 | £104.00 |
| Brighton win | £32.50 | 3.10 | £100.75 |
| Draw | £27.50 | 3.70 | £101.75 |
Because these returns are inclusive of your stake, the total profit outcomes here range from £0.75 to £4.00. While you can scale your profitability by placing multiple arbitrage bets of this type, your margins are impacted by the fact that you have to cover three possible outcomes with your total stake.
One way to overcome this challenge is to target even money football betting markets, such as the over/under on how many goals will be scored in a particular game. This unlocks just two potential outcomes, although the published odds may be a little tighter in this instance. However, careful analysis can reveal some arbitrage opportunities here.
For example, you can access odds of 4.00 on under 2.5 goals being scored in the clash between Man City and Ange Postecoglou’s attack-minded Spurs team.
Conversely, you can access a best price of 1.46 on over 2.5 goals being scored, and when combined, these odds imply a cumulative probability of just 93.49%. So, you could take a £10 stake and distribute this as follows:
- Bet £2.67 on under 2.5 goals being scored at odds of 4.00 (Earn a £10.70 return)
- Bet £7.33 on over 2.5 goals being scored at odds of 1.46 (Earn a £10.70 return)
Here, you’ll unlock a nominal profit of £0.70 across both outcomes and an ROI of 6.96%. However, the use of an Asian handicap means that you’re guaranteed a profit regardless of the final result, while repeating this across similar markets can boost returns incrementally over time.
Arbitrage Betting Tools
Unlike some betting strategies, arbing relies on the use of several dedicated tools and calculators. This is because successful arbitrage betting requires precision, especially when it comes to the identification of markets and distribution of your stake.
Below, we’ve highlighted some of the most effective tools for enacting your arbitrage betting strategy and optimising your chances of making a profit.
Arbitrage Betting Calculator
When arbing, the most important weapon in your armoury is an arbitrage betting calculator. As we’ve touched on, this helps you to calculate the optimal stake for each outcome in a particular market, in order to ensure a profit regardless of the final result.
Using our previous example of betting the over/under on how many goals will be scored in the EPL clash between Man City and Spurs, we’ve provided a visual calculation below. This particular tool is called the Arbitrage Calculator, but CheckBestOdds.com also has an excellent online resource.
Bookmakers Comparison Tools
When it comes to identifying opportunities for arbing, bookmaker comparison tools are also incredibly helpful. These entities streamline the process of comparing odds across a broad selection of licensed sportsbooks, with Oddschecker perhaps the best known resource in this space.
Across English Premier League matches, Oddschecker publishes odds from 27 different bookies. It also summarises the best real-time price for each available betting market, enabling you to quickly identify arbitrage betting opportunities.
Not all markets and odds provide arbitrage opportunities, so this is a highly effective tool. It also helps you to maximise your potential profits in relation to your stake amount.
Best Arbitrage Betting Sites
You can leverage arbing opportunities at all of the best betting sites in the UK. However, some sportsbooks offer better value than others in this respect, so here’s our pick of the four best arbitrage betting sites on these shores!
Best Arbitrage Betting Site: MyriadPlay
MyriadPlay is our pick as the best arbitrage betting site. This operator certainly offers exceptional coverage of football betting markets, with more than 195 available across each Premier League match.
Many of these markets can be targeted as part of your arbitrage betting strategy, including totals, moneylines and handicaps. You’ll find that the site’s match betting odds are highly competitive too.
When you sign up for a MyriadPlay account, you’re eligible to receive a £10 free bet. Just deposit and wager £15 at odds of 2.00 to qualify.
Best Cashback Offer for Arbitrage Betting: Betarno
Interestingly, Betarno offers an almost identical welcome bonus to customers. This also comprises a £10 free bet, which is contingent on you initially wagering £15 at odds of 2.00 or greater. The promotion is also subject to wagering requirements of 1x the bonus value.
There are also various cashback offers available at Betarno. For example, you can recoup 10% in cashback up to the value of £500 when wagering on Premier League matches, potentially boosting your arbitrage betting bankroll.
Betarno also boasts a responsive and mobile-first website design, which enhances the process of arbing while on the move.
Best Arbitrage Betting Odds: Betiton
Next up is Betiton, which remains one of the best known sportsbooks in the UK. You can also access more than 200 match betting lines here, enabling you to identify arbitrage opportunities across multiple markets.
Betiton also offers the most competitive odds of any sportsbooks on this list. This is especially true when placing pre-match wagers on Premier League matches, particularly moneylines and totals.
When you initially wager £15 as a new Betiton customer (at odds of 2.00 or greater), you’ll also qualify for a £10 free bet. This must be staked at minimum odds of 1.80.
Best Arbitrage Betting Free or ‘Surebet’ Offer: Highbet
If you’re looking for the best welcome or ‘surebet’ offer, Highbet comes highly recommended. This site rewards new customers with a £15 free bet, when they initially wager just £10 at minimum odds of 2.00. The free bet must be deployed at the same odds.
Highbet provides in-depth coverage of the Premier League too, with between 100 and 200 match betting markets available per game. More than 150 pre-game markets are on offer when wagering on the Championship too, creating multiple opportunities for arbitrage betting.
We’d certainly recommend Highbet when arbing on lower league matches, including those in all tiers of the English football league.
How to Get Started with Arbitrage Betting
At this stage, you may feel ready to place your first arbitrage bet! So, here’s a brief step-by-step guide to help you get started!
- Find Your Market: Start by targeting a preferred market, such as a moneyline or totals bet. You can make selections based on your broader strategy and appetite for risk.
- Compare Odds and Identify Opportunities: You can then start to compare the relevant odds using sites like Oddschecker. Then, find the highest odds available for your chosen outcomes.
- Make Your Calculation: Take these odds and calculate the cumulative implied probability values. If the sum is lower than 100%, the odds may lend themselves to arbitrage betting.
- Calculate the Optimal Stakes: Then, enter the odds into your preferred arbitrage betting calculator. This will reveal the optimal stake for each betting line and sportsbook.
- Place Your Bets: Now, it’s time to place both or all three of your bets (when targeting football moneylines) and lock in the real-time odds. Then, simply wait for the results to roll in!
Strategies to Maximise Your Arbitrage Betting Profits
There are clear opportunities to guarantee at least nominal profits when engaging in arbitrage betting. But what are the best strategies for maximising your potential returns? Here are some ideas to keep in mind!
Consider Matched Betting
Matched betting is considered to be a subset of arbing, as it involves the use of one or more bookmaker free bets to cover all potential event outcomes. In this instance, you’ll lay a traditional back bet at a dedicated betting exchange and optimal odds. The use of a free bet helps to secure a viable profit, so long as you minimise your qualifying losses.
Diversify Bookmakers
When engaging in standard arbitrage betting, one of the most important strategies is to diversify your choice of sportsbooks. Not only is it rare to find arbing opportunities through a single betting site, but most operators will prohibit the practice of wagering on opposing outcomes.
Invest Time Into Odds Comparison
Ultimately, the success or failure of your arbitrage betting strategy relies on your ability to identify genuine opportunities. This requires a significant time investment when comparing and selecting the best odds for your chosen market, while the process of calculating implied probability values shouldn’t be overlooked either.
Set Optimal Stake Amounts
The success of this strategy also depends on each individual stake that you place and how you distribute your bankroll across different outcomes. Remember, you can use an arbitrage betting calculator to determine the optimal stake amount per line, based on the prevailing odds.
Engage in Disciplined Bankroll Management
As you’ll need to use multiple sportsbook accounts to engage in arbitrage betting, bankroll management is critical. You should never wager an amount that you cannot afford to lose, while it’s important to ensure that this sum is spread efficiently between your different accounts.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Arbitrage Betting
No football betting strategy or system is infallible. So, there are pros and cons associated with arbitrage betting, although the advantages of this practice far outweigh the drawbacks in our experience!
| Advantages of Arbitrage Betting | Disadvantages of Arbitrage Betting |
|---|---|
| Guaranteed profits (with the right execution) | Relatively low profits are available per bet |
| Access low-risk betting opportunities | |
| Place arbitrage bets across multiple markets |
Is Arbitrage Betting Legal and Safe?
In the UK and Irish markets, arbitrage betting is perfectly legal. It’s also safe and incredibly low-risk, especially if you get the execution right. However, there are some restrictions and security considerations to keep in mind.
The Legal Aspect of Arbitrage Betting
While sportsbooks allow you to bet on different markets and outcomes, they’ll usually prevent you from placing opposing wagers through your account. They also expressly prohibit the practice of opening multiple accounts using different email addresses, while ensuring that their odds don’t provide arbitrage betting opportunities.
If you are found to have engaged in arbing through a single sportsbook (where the opportunity has arisen), you may have limits imposed on your account. The operator may also cancel active bets and even close your account permanently.
However, you’re allowed to open accounts with as many betting sites as you desire. These can be used to engage in arbitrage betting and wager on opposing sides of the same markets, from match moneylines to over/under bets.
Security Measures to Take
Ultimately, there are various measures that you can take to comply with sportsbook rules and gamble responsibly when arbing. These include:
- Read Your Sportsbooks’ T&Cs: Each sportsbook has its own unique terms and conditions. These will include information on account management and arbitrage betting, so we’d recommend reading them to ensure compliance. The same principle applies when opting into bonuses and complying with minimum odds requirements.
- Wager with Licensed Sites that are Also Secure: In terms of maintaining your account security, it’s crucial that you only ever engage in arbitrage betting at licensed and regulated sportsbooks. Similarly, ensure that your chosen sites boast 128-bit SSL encryption as a minimum standard. This will safeguard your financial transactions.
- Engage in Responsible Gambling: We’ve already touched on the importance of careful bankroll management when operating multiple accounts. This is also a key tenet of responsible gambling. Ultimately, you should always wager within your means and only scale your activity levels in line with profitability and experience. Visit the UK Gambling Commission website to learn more about responsible betting.
Frequently Asked Questions on Arbitrage Betting
Is arbitration betting Profitable?
The main advantage of effective arbitrage betting is that it can unlock guaranteed (although often nominal) profits. However, execution is key if you’re to enjoy sustained profitability, so it’s crucial that you verify any opportunities for arbitrage betting and set optimal stake amounts.
Is arbitrage betting legal in the UK?
Yes, arbitrage betting is legal in the UK and any jurisdiction where sports betting is permitted. However, the T&Cs of each sportsbook will usually prohibit the practice of placing opposing bets through a single account. You’re also not allowed to operate multiple accounts through a single betting site.
How to calculate arbitrage betting?
Firstly, you’ll need to use published odds to calculate the cumulative implied probability of market outcomes. If the sum is below 100%, you’ve identified a potential arbitrage betting opportunity. You’ll also need to use an arbing calculator to determine the optimal stake amounts for each line.
How much can you make from Arbitrage betting?
There’s no fixed amount that you can make from arbitrage betting, although the profits here are usually nominal. However, you can boost profits by placing a high volume of arbitrage bets over time. With the subset of matched betting, you can also bank enhanced profits through the use of sportsbook free bets.
How does arbitrage betting Work?
Broadly speaking, arbitrage betting enables you to cover multiple or opposing sides of the same sporting events. You can target a number of football betting markets with this strategy, while it guarantees profit so long as you carefully vet potential opportunities and wager with the optimal stake amounts.