Arbing, short for arbitrage betting, is a strategy that allows bettors to make a guaranteed profit by taking advantage of price differences between bookmakers and betting exchanges. These opportunities arise when bookmakers offer odds that differ significantly from those available on an exchange, allowing bettors to cover all possible outcomes and lock in a profit regardless of the event's result.
Arbitrage betting is also known as:
Arbing occurs when a bookmaker offers odds that are higher than the odds available for laying the same selection on a betting exchange. By placing a back bet with the bookmaker and a lay bet on the exchange, you can secure a profit regardless of the outcome. If you need a refresher on how those marketplaces work, our explainer on what betting exchanges are covers the fundamentals.
Yes, arbing is completely legal. However, bookmakers don’t like it because it guarantees a profit. If detected, they may limit or close your account to stop you from exploiting their odds, so keep our advice on avoiding gubbing in mind.
Compare odds across multiple bookmakers and exchanges like Betfair. Look for high-liquidity sports like football or horse racing where odds fluctuate more often.
Use specialist tools to scan for arbs automatically. Tools like the Oddsmatcher on AI Profit can help you spot discrepancies between back and lay prices instantly.
Bookmakers frequently boost odds to attract users. These inflated odds can create arbitrage opportunities when compared with exchange prices. Our Boost Matcher flags these situations for you automatically, and pairing it with the Oddsmatcher makes it easy to compare value.
When done correctly, yes. But it carries practical risks like odds movement, stake limits, and account bans.
Yes — if you consistently take value or arbs, they may stake-limit or close your account.
Profits vary. You might make a few pounds per arb, but consistent use can add up to hundreds or even thousands monthly.
Matched betting uses free bets to guarantee profit. Arbing doesn’t rely on promotions — it uses odds differences between markets. If you prefer promo hunting, check our walkthrough on finding value bets.
AI Profit focuses on matched betting but includes tools like our Boost Matcher and Oddsmatcher which can uncover profitable arbs, especially on boosted markets.
Keep exploring matched betting with our value betting guide, dive into the matched betting tools roundup, and test ideas instantly in the Oddsmatcher tool.