What is arbitrage betting?
Arbitrage betting (arbing) involves placing bets on all possible outcomes of an event across different bookmakers where the combined odds guarantee a profit regardless of the result. It exploits temporary pricing discrepancies between bookmakers.
How arbing works
Two bookmakers price a tennis match differently: Bookmaker A offers 2.10 on Player 1; Bookmaker B offers 2.10 on Player 2. If you bet £100 on each at these prices, you stake £200 total. Whichever player wins, you receive £210 — a guaranteed £10 profit. In practice, true arbs are small margin opportunities that require speed, account diversity, and significant volume to generate meaningful returns.
The risk of arbing
Bookmakers dislike arbers and may limit or close accounts they identify as arbing. Many arbers use multiple accounts across many books to extend their operational window. Odds can change between identifying an arb and placing both bets, eliminating the opportunity or creating a loss. Human error in calculations can also create negative-value situations. Arbing is a professional pursuit and not straightforward for casual bettors.