I get a lot of people asking about sports betting arbitrage – it seems that people think it’s a black art, but really, it’s not that hard to get started in. Sports betting arbitrage is a betting technique that can help you to turn a profit from your online betting career. The principle of sports betting arbitrage, or &lsquo scalping’ is simple – you bet on both sides of a game at different sportsbooks, ensuring the odds you choose are such that you will make a profit, no matter what the outcome.
To do this successfully, you need to make sure that the juice, or ‘vig’ at each sportsbook is factored in to the equation and that the odds add up properly. A well designed spreadsheet will make life much easier in that respect.
Sports betting arbitrage is by no means a new phenomenon, but it is enjoying resurgence these days, since it is so easy for people to compare odds using online aggregators. In times past, instead, people would have to visit each bookmaker in turn and note the odds – then hope they had not changed when they decided to place their bets.
You will need to compare the betting lines for several bookmakers to get the odds that you need. You will also need to keep an open mind and look for unusual bets, as not all games have suitable betting options.
My advice to you, if you want to be successful in arbitrage, is to not rush into it. You’ll need a sizeable up front investment to succeed. You WILL make the investment back, but you’ll have to be willing to treat it as lost in the early days – are you ready to do that? If so, get planning, study different bookmakers, and think hard before you place your first arbitrage bets. Bet with play money for a while and see how you do, then if you’re confident, go for it.