Arbitrage Bet Finder Tool

What Is Arbitrage Betting?

Arbitrage betting — also called arbing or placing sure bets — is a strategy where you bet on every outcome of an event across different sportsbooks at odds that guarantee a profit no matter who wins. It works because sportsbooks don't always price the same game identically. When one book's odds on one side are high enough relative to another book's odds on the opposite side, the combined implied probabilities add up to less than 100%, leaving a margin you can lock in.

How Does Arbitrage Betting Work?

OddsShopper's Arbitrage Finder scans live odds from 110+ sportsbooks in real time, surfaces these mispriced markets automatically, and calculates exactly how much to stake on each side. The process comes down to three steps:

1. Find an opportunity — two sportsbooks offering high enough odds on opposite outcomes of the same market.
2. Calculate your stakes — split your total wager so each outcome returns the same amount.
3. Place both bets — one on each side, at the two different sportsbooks, before the lines move.

A simple arbitrage example

Say Sportsbook A lists Team 1 at +110 and Sportsbook B lists Team 2 at +110 in the same game. Bet $500 on Team 1 at Sportsbook A and $500 on Team 2 at Sportsbook B. Whichever team wins, your winning ticket pays $500 × 2.10 = $1,050. You staked $1,000 total, so you lock in $50 of guaranteed profit — about a 5% return — regardless of the result. The calculator handles this math for you and rounds stakes to whatever each sportsbook allows.

Why Use the OddsShopper Arbitrage Finder?

• Real-time scanning across 110+ sportsbooks and 40+ leagues.
• Automatic stake calculation with one-tap links to place each side.
• Pre-game arbitrage is included with OddsShopper Core; live, in-game arbitrage — where lines move fastest — is available with Pro.

Pair it with the free bet converter, our betting calculators, and the best odds across sportsbooks to get the most out of every wager.

Arbitrage Betting FAQ

Is arbitrage betting legal?

Yes. Arbitrage betting is legal anywhere sports betting itself is legal — you are simply placing ordinary bets at licensed sportsbooks. That said, most sportsbooks discourage it and reserve the right to limit or restrict accounts they identify as consistent arbers.

Is arbitrage betting profitable?

It can be. Each arbitrage locks in a small, guaranteed margin — typically around 1–5%. Profits add up with volume, but you need enough bankroll spread across multiple sportsbooks and the speed to place both bets before the odds move.

Will I get limited or banned for arbitrage betting?

It is a real risk. Sportsbooks may reduce your maximum stake ("limiting") or restrict your account if they detect frequent arbing. Many bettors manage this by varying stake sizes, spreading action across books, and mixing in other bet types.

How much money do I need to start?

There is no fixed minimum, but because each arb ties up funds on two sides at once, you will want a bankroll distributed across several funded sportsbook accounts so you can act the moment an opportunity appears.

What's the difference between pre-game and live arbitrage?

Pre-game arbitrage uses odds posted before an event starts and is the easiest place to begin. Live (in-game) arbitrage reacts to odds that shift second-by-second during play — higher frequency and higher potential, but it requires the fastest detection and execution.