subject: Arbitrary Betting [print this page] Arbitrary Betting Arbitrary Betting
In online sportsbetting, one area that has become increasingly popular is that of arbitary betting.
Arbitrary betting involves taking advantage of different sports betting markets and odds in order to cover both outcomes on an event and guarantee to make a profit. It is called arbitrary betting because you are taking advantage of the difference in fixed odds and the market to guarantee yourself a small margin of profit across all of the outcomes.
To place an arbitrar bet, it is vital that you can find a market where the odds for laying an event are shorter than that for covering.
For example, let's say that I'm betting on a greyhound race, specficially on the outcome of my dog winning or losing. Let's that I wager 11 laying my dog (i.e. betting against him winning) at 2.5, and cover him for 10 at 3.0.
If my dog wins the race, then I'll win 30 and lose 27.5, a profit of 2.50. If my dog loses, then I'll make 11 and lose 10, a profit a 1.
In this race, regardless of the outcome I cannot lose money, since I have found the right odds to control the financial outcome. This is how arbitary betting, also known as trading works. Overall, the process is very simple and all you really have to look out for is a market where the laying odds are shorter than the cover odds. I find the best place to look for short laying odds (preferably between 1 and 3) is Betfair, which allows you to set your own odds as well as lay and back teams.
You need to be careful when laying teams or events however, because depending on the size of the laying odds it might not be worth the risk. For exampe, laying odds of 13.0 mean that you'll need to risk 130 for every 10 wagered, i.e. for every possible 10 you can win you'll have to risk 130. This isn't really that great overall considering the risks vs rewards. When the odds are short however, the rewards become much greater, and as I stated you can guarantee yourself a profit on the event.
