| The internet is awash with betting systems that are | | | | first place. There are literally hundreds of online |
| guaranteed to make you your fortune, but very few | | | | bookmakers offering multiple different markets on |
| live up to their promise. Sports Arbitrage however is | | | | thousands of sporting events, so they do crop up |
| slightly different in that it produces a guaranteed return. | | | | regularly. The art comes in finding these arbs in the first |
| But what is it and does it work in practice? Read on to | | | | place. |
| find out more: | | | | It is possible to find these through your own research, |
| Sports Betting Arbitrage, or "arbs", in its simplest form | | | | but this can be an extremely painstaking method which |
| is the process of placing bets with different | | | | will demand a large amount of time and effort on your |
| bookmakers and at different odds so that a profit is | | | | part. The preferred option of is to use one of the |
| guaranteed whatever the outcome of the event. As a | | | | "arb-hunting" websites or software packages available |
| simple example, imagine in a tennis match, bookmaker | | | | on the internet. Often these will provide immediate text |
| "A" may have player 1 at odds of 2.1 to win and player | | | | and e-mail alerts the moment an "arb" is found to |
| 2 at odds of 1.85, whereas a rival bookmaker "B" may | | | | ensure you can act quickly. |
| see the odds as 1.85 for player 1 and 2.1 for player 2. | | | | However, It is also worth looking at the downsides of |
| In this example you would be able to back player 1 to | | | | arbing. For instance some of these potential "arbs" will |
| win at odds of 2.1 with bookmaker A, and player 2 to | | | | only be available for a short time, so you have to be |
| win at odds of 2.1 with bookmaker B. Lets see what | | | | prepared to act quickly. Sometimes, the act of rushing |
| would happen if you were to back each player at | | | | can cause errors and before you know it you've |
| £100 to win: | | | | backed the same outcome twice, so you need to be |
| Player 1 Wins: You make £100 x 1.1 = | | | | able to perform in a cool and calm manner. You will |
| £110, less the £100 bet on Player 2 = | | | | also need to be aware of extremely large "arbs" |
| £10 profit | | | | which the bookmaker may well fail to honour due to |
| Player 1 Wins: You make £100 x 1.1 = | | | | the get out clause of "palpable errors", however these |
| £110, less the £100 bet on Player 1 = | | | | occasions should be fairly obvious. Finally, do you have |
| £10 profit | | | | the available time to stop what you're doing and get |
| So regardless of the result you have guaranteed | | | | the arb on? |
| yourself a return of £10 with no risk of losing | | | | So can you make money from Sports Arbitrage? I |
| Ok, so now lets get real. This is an extreme (though | | | | would have to say "Yes" but as with everything, it is |
| not unheard of example) that has been used to | | | | not as easy as it may appear at first glance and may |
| illustrate the point, quite often the arbs will be much | | | | need a little more time, effort and patience than you |
| lower, but nonetheless they will be guaranteed | | | | may be lead to believe. |
| winnings. The art comes in finding these arbs in the | | | | |