Introduction
Imagine being able to place a bet where you can't lose. That's the idea behind arbitrage betting (often called "arbing").
An arbitrage bet happens when two or more sportsbooks disagree on the odds for the same event. By placing bets on all possible outcomes across different sportsbooks, you can lock in a guaranteed profit — no matter who wins.
It sounds like magic, but it's really just math. And yes, people have made millions exploiting it.
How Arbitrage Works (Simple Example)
Let's say:
Sportsbook A: Lakers to win = +110
Sportsbook B: Warriors to win = +110
If you bet $100 on the Lakers at A, and $100 on the Warriors at B:
If Lakers Win:
$100 → $210 payout at A
If Warriors Win:
$100 → $210 payout at B
Either way:
You get back $210 while only risking $200 total
That's a $10 profit guaranteed. 🎯
It doesn't matter who wins — you've locked in free money.
Real-Life Examples of Arbers Who Struck Gold
The "Syndicate" in the UK (1990s)
In the early days of online sportsbooks, odds would be posted manually. A small group of bettors in London formed a syndicate to scan lines across dozens of books.
They used fax machines (seriously) to alert each other when lines diverged
Over the course of a decade, it's estimated they made £10–15 million purely on arbing
They never cared about sports — only the math
The Eastern European Computer Wizards (2000s)
As betting went digital, some groups in Eastern Europe built scraper bots to scan thousands of lines per second.
They'd find 1–2% arbitrage gaps and hammer them with huge volume
Because they could automate faster than sportsbooks adjusted, some groups reportedly made $5–10 million annually
Eventually, sportsbooks caught on and started banning accounts flagged for "sharp play"
Individual Success Stories
Even solo bettors have pulled it off:
Example: A bettor in New Jersey in 2019 found consistent arbitrage in tennis matches across FanDuel and DraftKings, sometimes locking in 3–4% per match.
By cycling a $20,000 bankroll, he was reportedly making $500–$1,000 a day before the books limited him.
Why Doesn't Everyone Do It?
Sounds like a money printer, right? The catch is:
Limited Opportunities
Sportsbooks are faster today, odds update in seconds
Account Restrictions
If a sportsbook suspects you're arbing, they limit your stakes or ban you
Capital Requirements
To make real money, you need tens of thousands across multiple accounts
Precision Needed
If you mistime a bet (line moves before you get both sides), you can lose instead of profit
Example: Arbitrage Bet Slip
BETCHEKR
BET SLIP (Arb Example)
Real Madrid vs Barcelona
Real Madrid to win @ +120
Stake: $250
Barcelona to win @ +120
Stake: $250
Guaranteed Payout: $550
Profit: $50 (no matter who wins)
How BetChekr Helps Beginners
Here's the truth: manually hunting arbs across dozens of books is almost impossible today. But BetChekr can scan odds and highlight positive arbitrage opportunities automatically.
See "Arb Alerts"
BetChekr flags when lines diverge enough for profit
No advanced math needed
We show you exactly how much to stake on each side
Beginner friendly
Even if you don't chase every arb, BetChekr teaches you the concept and shows where books disagree
💡 In short: professional arbers made millions by exploiting inefficiencies. You may not quit your job doing it — but with BetChekr, you'll always know when free money is on the table.