Hi all,
Anyone using this kind of betting?
Sports Betting Arbitrage, Scalping, SureBetting, and Arb Trading all refer to the one thing, the idea of making a guaranteed profit from a difference in odds between sportsbooks. The idea is really very simple: take for example a tennis match, where there are only two possible outcomes. Find odds for player 1 which are exceptionally high, then find odds for player 2 which are exceptionally high for that player, if the odds are high enough you then back both sets of high odds in the right proportion, and regardless of who wins, you make a guaranteed profit. The concept is as simple as that. The application is a little more skillful, but that is what Sports Arbitrage Guide is about, guiding you through the process...

Arbitrage / Scalping
Arbitrage is defined by the Compact Oxford English Dictionary as "the simultaneous buying and selling of assets in different markets or in derivative forms, taking advantage of the differing prices." An everyday example of this would be a retail outlet receiving an order for 1000 units of product that it then has to order from its suppliers. The profit is already known and guaranteed before they even pay their supplier. More commonly though, Arbitrage is applied to stock markets and currency trading where values vary between different markets.

Similarly, Scalping is defined as "To engage in the reselling of something, such as tickets, at a price higher than the established value." Commonly applied to sports tickets and music concert tickets, scalping sportsbooks is a concept only developed in the last decade with the advent of an extensive online sportsbook and gambling industry.

Sports Betting Arbitrage and Sportsbook Scalping
Slightly different to the buying and selling of a product or concert tickets, sports betting arbitrage relies on the possibility of 'buying' odds at different prices from different bookmakers so that a guaranteed profit can be locked in.

Put more simply, by backing all competing sides of a sporting event at different bookmakers using the highest odds available, you can set up a situation where each outcome will result in winnings greater than the total amount risked. This possibility arises from a difference in opinion about the fair odds of the event by bookmakers, and one bookmaker has given the favourite higher than usual odds, while the other bookmakers has given the underdog(s) higher than usual odds. Individually neither bookmaker will make a loss, however if you take the combination of the two or more higher than usual odds, it may be possible to bet on all outcomes so that no matter who wins the sports event, your winnings will cover all bets completely and return a profit.



For example:
Pinnacle Sports has odds of 1.10 on Team A and 8.00 on Team B
BWin has odds of 1.20 on Team A and 5.00 on Team B

In order to help you understand exactly how arbitrage works, the following list shows you what needs to be wagered to win $1000 from the odds offered on this game:
Pinnacle Sports
1. $909.10 on 1.10 wins $1000
2. $125.00 on 8.00 wins $1000
BWin
3. $833.35 on 1.20 wins $1000
4. $200.00 on 5.00 wins $1000




Looking at those numbers you can clearly see that backing both possible outcomes at Pinnacle will cost you $1034.10 and you will only win $1000, hence costing you $34.10. Backing both sides at BWin will cost you $1033.35 and you will still only win $1000, hence costing you $33.50. So clearly both Pinnacle and BWin have set their odds well, they will make a profit no matter who wins.

However, if you backed the underdog at Pinnacle (8.00) and the favorite at BWin (1.20) you would be placing only $958.35 in order to win $1,000. That is a guaranteed profit of $41.65. No matter who wins, you will win $1,000, and you will have only outlaid $958.35



This example demonstrates a number of things. Firstly, all bookmakers have their odds set so that if you back both sides, you will certainly lose. This is where their profit comes from. They basically set up their own arbitrage in every sporting event and then monitor the betting so as to keep bets for both sides balanced and their arbitrage certain. Arbitrage for the average person will only ever occur between two independent bookmakers who for various reasons have different odds for the same event. Find 100 bookmakers, take the best odds for team A, and then best odds for team B, and there is potential for an arbitrage trade.

been playing short or long term? working 4 u?

I have posted some arbitrage bets here before.

This doesn't work as good as people say it can because :

1. Some International Sportsbetting agencies are corrupt and its hard to get your cash out of them.
2. Those that offer the crazy odds usually have a maximum payout of up to $20.
3. Its illegal to bet with a bookmaker not licensed in Australia (well it is in NSW).
4. There are people who already run software that automatically scans every bookmaker every 2-5 mins looking for opportunities so opportunities are rare and don't last long.

So now I have given all the bad news this is where it works.

I have found numerous opportunites on Saturdays markets on a Friday night by checking Sportsbet, centrebet, ias, etc fixed odds for the saturday racing. You then check betfair markets for the enxt day and see if there are any opportunities. There are usually one or two if your lucky.

But on sporting events ... I can say I have only found 1 or 2 opportunities ever.

Good Luck.

it all sounds too time consuming for my liking

It could work on soccer, if you bet on win and win only. Forget the draw.
By doing this you do take risk, but how often do we get the draw, especially with hot favourites.
For example; Australia and Argentina soccer game.
Australia to win =1.50 x 80= $120
Argentina to win= 6.00 x 20= $ 120.
If ? draw you would be $100 down.
My calculations are done with Arb calculator.
May be, just may be it is the way to go.

our a game man to forget the draw in a soccer match.

On average the results are 25% draws. You would need to be making a lot to coever that 25% of the time you are going to lose.

Good Luck.

So does that rule out soccer as a genuine arbitrage betting medium?

It doesn't rule it out, but it comes back to finding 3 prices high enough to lock in guaranteed profit.

__________________
All generalizations are dangerous.

Just to show this is possible :

Today right now :

Mooney Valley Race 1:
Down Under Boy can be layed at $11.00 for $32 It can be backed at Fix Price at Centrebet for $12.

Lay Phillar of Hercules for $7.60 with $58. Back at Centrebet for $8.00.

OK here is an even better one ...

Mooney Valley Race 4: Best Fluc is showing at least $4.40 at centrebet for Arcadia

Lay the horse at $3.90 for $208 and at $4.00 for $100 and at $4.10 for $300.

Total Layed = $608 for a liability of $2441.20
Total Backed = $555 to cover costs.

Difference = $53
Commission at 5% = $30.40 so at worst you maket $23