Whether you are a seasoned punter or simply starting out your sports betting journey, you have probably already heard about arbitrage betting. Arbitrage betting, also referred to as “arbing” or “sure betting,” is a type of tactic that punters mostly use to lock in profits on their bets.
There are two common types of arbitrage bets: two-way arbitrage, which involves betting on two different outcomes of a single event, and three-way arbitrage, which involves betting on three different outcomes of a single event.
Related: What Is Arbitrage Betting? | Example & Tips To Avoid Getting Caught
Although as beneficial as it is, arbitrage betting works better with arbitrage calculators, which are available online through various sports betting websites. Here are some guides for calculating arbitrage bets to your advantage.
Calculating arbitrage bets
Identify arbitrage opportunities
Just like any other thing that needs compatibility, arbitrage betting works better if you use it in sports suitable for this type of betting. When using arbitrage betting as your strategy, it is crucial to look for sports and sporting events where the combined probability of all outcomes is less than 100%.
Sports such as football, basketball, and tennis are not difficult to find odds and markets for any competition you want to bet on due to their unpredictable nature, and they are also considered a sport with hundreds of tournaments, giving you multiple opportunities.
Related: Top 3 Sports for Successful Arbitrage Betting
Find suitable odds
It’s not new for punters to explore several bookies for a higher chance of success. In calculating arbitrage betting, it is crucial to identify two or more bookies that offer different odds on each possible outcome of the event. Let’s say you find the following odds for a tennis match:
| Bookmaker | Team | Odds |
| Bookmaker 1 | Team A to win | 3.00 |
| Bookmaker 2 | Team B to win | 3.5 |
Enters Odds into the Arbitrage Calculator
Through the use of an arbitrage calculator, identifying arbitrage opportunities and exploiting discrepancies in odds offered by several bookies have been made easier for punters. To use an arbitrage calculator, click here.
Following the table above, you can input the following odds on your arbitrage calculator:
Odds for Team A to win: 3.0
Odds for Team B to win: 3.5
Calculate Stake Distribution
The inputs required are the bet amount and the odds for different outcomes. The arbitrage calculator will automatically calculate the optimal stake distribution to ensure lock-in wins with your bet, considering the differences in odds and the total amount you want to bet.
In the tennis match, assuming you want to bet a total of $100 across both outcomes:
You can bet $50 on Team A at odds of 3.0, which would return $100 (including the initial stake), and you can bet $45.45 on Team B at odds of 3.5, which would return $100 (including the initial stake).
Now, you have a total investment of $95.45 and a guaranteed return of $100.
Related: Arbitrage Betting Formulas & Calculations | Worked Examples
Verify the profit margin
When it comes to verifying the profit margin, the arbitrage calculator displays the possible profit margin after you enter the odds and stakes. And although the profit is usually a small percentage of the total stake, it is still guaranteed regardless of the outcome of the event. As we always say, a win is a win.
Under the circumstances above, regardless of which player wins, you are guaranteed to make a profit of $4.55.
$100 – $95.45
Conclusion
Calculators are more than just numbers and addition or subtraction, especially in sports betting. The rise of sports betting in different countries and in different communities encourages punters to have as many resources as they can. Arbitrage calculators, among other sports betting calculators, not only help you capitalise on pricing inefficiencies, but they also help secure guaranteed profits from your sports betting strategies.
Related: How to Calculate Arbitrage Betting: A Clear and Confident Guide
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