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]]>Bookmakers will not decide to re-open your accounts if they believe it’ll enable you to produce winnings from them. But you know what they say: as one door closes another one opens…
It’s not the end of the line once your bookie accounts are limited or “gubbed”. There’s several alternative sports betting websites that allow winners. Take a look at my recommendations below.
1. Matchbook
Matchbook is an alternative betting exchange to Betfair?offering decent liquidity, a familiar user interface, a growing range of third party applications and a super-low commission rate.
The exchange is growing in popularity and is becoming an established destination for professional punters looking to place bets without the usual inevitability of being restricted or shut down.
Matchbook charges commission differently to Betfair and other exchanges. The amount you pay depends on your region. Customers from the UK, ROI, Channel Islands and Isle of Man benefit from a 2% commission on winnings. The Rest of the world are charged 4% — which is still lower than average.
Learn more from my Matchbook Review.
2. Smarkets
Smarkets?is another betting exchange every restricted bettor should know about. For what it lacks in third party applications, it more than makes up for in?value.
Prices on Smarkets?are fair — as any betting exchange should be. But Smarkets’ 2% commission rate is where it really excels. This low, flat rate is highly significant for professional betting, considering odds largely determine long-term profitability.
Admittedly,?Smarkets?doesn’t suit the high-roller due to its relatively low liquidity. However, I’d recommend the exchange to anyone into?Matched Betting,?Arbitrage Betting — or even casual betting on popular sports. High frequency, rather than high stakes, is the way to go with Smarkets.
Learn more from my Smarkets Review.
3. Betfair Exchange
Betfair.com is home to the world’s leading betting exchange. The Betfair Exchange?offers more liquidity, markets, and third party applications than any comparable site. Importantly, winning at Betfair?is no problem whatsoever.
On the Betfair Exchange you trade industry-leading odds peer-to-peer with other people just like yourself. Therefore for every wnning take, there’s a loser at the other side of the bet. Betfair earns by charging commission on winning bets only. So it doesn’t matter to them who’s won or lost; they’re paid regardless.
It’s worth noting that even if you’ve been restricted by the bookmaker section of the Betfair site, they shouldn’t have any objections in welcoming you to their Exchange.
Betfair falls short of claiming the top spot on this list solely due to the contentious premium charge imposed on its most lucrative traders, detracting from the product’s allure.
More on Betfair
- Common Problems Betfair Traders Face (advice for discovering an optimal strategy)
- Betfair Bookmaker Review & Free Bet
4. SportMarket
SportMarket?is a another well-established Bet Broker service affiliated with some of the most respected bookmakers in the business. They only work with partners who do not discriminate against winning players.
Betting with SportMarket?through the ‘SportMarket Pro‘ service means you benefit from pooling together bookmakers into one simplified account whereby you can split stakes across several several of them. It only takes one click of a button.
SportMarket?also offers users the ability to set conditions (e.g. target odds) to place large stakes when/if they become available in the future. This simple feature is rarely adopted by standard bookmakers.
Like many other Bet Brokers, SportMarket?primarily earns?from transaction charges. This means that win or lose it makes no real impact to their bottom line. They earn from turnover.
Please note that players residing in France (or French territories) and the UK will not be able to register with SportMarket.
Learn more from my SportMarket Review.
5. BetInAsia
BetInAsia?is a Bet Brokerage Service that places bets on behalf of high-end punters. Bet limitations and other Bookmaker restrictions (including geographic ones) are not an issue for clients of BetInAsia.?Winners are, of course, welcome.
Most notably BetInAsia?provides access to the Orbit Exchange (powered by?Betfair) and the renowned MollyBet platform. Through?BetInAsia &?MollyBet, users can view real time odds, and place aggregated orders at the highest liquidity, in milliseconds.
BetInAsia?are primarily focused on providing professional bettors with improved access to?Asian Handicap betting markets. They don’t charge for their service. Rather they’re paid commissions for the turnover generated at their affiliated Bookmakers.
Please note that BetInAsia is not available to customers from the United Kingdom, France, Singapore, and the United States.
Learn more from my BetInAsia Review.
6. BookieLink
BookieLink is a sports Bet Broker offering several sports brokerage products.
The BookieLink site includes a fixed-odds sportsbook for a range of competitive odds, a professional tool for high-stakes bettors (with fast access to Asian betting companies), and a betting exchange under the ‘BookieLink Pro‘ section. There’s also a Skype betting service, too.
With 0% charges on deposits, very few restrictions, and a strong ‘Pro’ section that’s powered by industry-leading MollyBet technology, BookieLink is the perfect destination for high limit winners to seek the best odds without having their accounts closed down.
Please note that customers from the United States, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and Singapore will not be able to open an account with BookieLink.
Learn more from my BookieLink Review.
7. Betdaq
Betdaq is the second largest betting exchange, with around a 7% share of the market.
While Betdaq may never quite catch its “big brother”, Betfair in terms of popularity — it offers a much lower 2% commission rate, decent liquidity, and integration with several popular trading applications. That’s more than enough to warrant opening an account.
As with any betting exchange, Betdaq invites winners — making it an attractive platform for professional punters looking to avoid the more expensive charges applied to their winnings over at Betfair.
Learn more from my Betdaq Review.
8. Vodds
Vodds is a reputable Bet Broker that specialises in providing access to Asian handicap markets. It offers aggregated real-time odds and high limits from a long list of difficult to reach Asian bookies including Pinnacle Sports, SBOBET, and MaxBet.
Customers benefit from accessing multiple sportsbooks from a single account — without any hidden charges or minimum deposit amounts. The best current odds are always shown, and all bets are placed with the respective bookmakers without the need to ever log into individual accounts.
Please note that BetInAsia is not available to customers residing in the United States and minor territories, Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines.
Learn more from my Vodds Review.
9. Pinnacle Sports
Pinnacle is a “sharp” Bookmaker with very low profit margins. Their odds are comparable to those offered on the?Betfair Exchange?(once?commission is charged).
Pinnacle‘s business model differs from “soft” bookmakers — the types typically featured on TV/radio adverts. Soft books earn?large margins from predominantly retail customers. They respond to winners by banning them as opposed to eradicating the actual problem — the inaccuracies in their odds.
Sharps like Pinnacle?work more intelligently. They focus on accuracy, and have utmost confidence in their traders to manage prices?rather than players. They earn by maximising the volume of bets — irrespective of whether it’s generated from profitable players.?They’re confident enough in their methods to boast a ”Winners Welcome” policy.
Please note that Pinnacle is not available to players from the UK, USA (and its territories), France (and its territories), Singapore as well as several other countires.
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More on Pinnacle
- The Difference Between Sharp & Soft Bookmakers (features Pinnacle as an example of a “sharp”)
10. Premium Tradings
Premium Tradings?is a Brokerage aimed at betting syndicates and high-roller private punters.
Clients of Premium Tradings?are able to open high limit accounts, enjoy the best odds available on the market, and greatly exceed their typical betting limits. It’s a popular site for bettors who have have been restricted for winning at standard “soft” Bookmakers.
Premium Tradings?provides easy access to a long list of leading Asian Bookmakers. Whenever a client wants to bet, they handle the order quickly and efficiently thorough their website, or via Skype — specialising in access to the highly popular Asian Handicap football markets.
Please note that PremiumTradings does not accept players from the United States, Israel and Bulgaria.
Learn more from my Premium Tradings Review.
Looking For More Sites That Allow Winners?
At present, few other reputable sites catch the eye, and those that do are accessible through the Bet Brokers listed above.
While seeking out additional “winners welcome” sports betting platforms, be cautious of claims, often made by affiliates of soft books, stating they don’t restrict stakes or bar winners. Not all online information holds true; I’ve come across plenty of misleading articles.
I’ll keep updating this list with more sports betting sites that alow winners without imposing limitations, as I come across them or they reach out to Punter2Pro.
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]]>The post Sharp vs. Soft Bookmakers — The Key Differences Explained appeared first on Punter2Pro.
]]>In this article, I delve into the operational methods of Sharp and Soft bookmakers, exploring how they formulate their odds and what it means sports bettors seeking value from their selections.
Sharp Bookmakers
Sharp bookmakers use sophisticated systems to compile their own odds. They have the ability to set prices, and adjust their lines very quickly. This process is almost entirely automated.
Due to their speed, precision and knowledge, Sharp Bookmakers consistently provide odds that are close to the true probabilities of sporting outcomes, and similar to those found on betting exchanges. This means they are able to offer better value odds to players, working on a “high volume, low margin” model.
“Sharps”, as they’re known, are not usually concerned about being picked off by smart bettors, because their pricing models are accurate and robust. In fact, several of them hold a “Winners Welcome” policy, enabling professional or high roller clients to place large stakes without restrictions being imposed.
Pros
- Low Margins: Sharp bookmakers operate with lower profit margins, which translates to better odds for bettors. This means casual players can potentially lose less over time compared to using soft bookies.
- Welcoming Winners: Unlike soft bookmakers, sharp bookmakers often welcome successful bettors and are less likely to restrict their accounts. Some even encourage arbitrage betting, which involves exploiting price differences in different markets for guaranteed profit.
- High Limits: Sharp bookmakers typically offer higher betting limits, allowing serious bettors to place larger wagers on their predictions.
- Market Efficiency: By offering accurate and competitive odds based on real-time information, sharp bookmakers contribute to market efficiency, benefiting all bettors with fairer prices.
Cons
- No Frills: Sharp bookmakers prioritise offering competitive odds over providing additional features or entertainment. As a result, their platforms may lack the wide range of products and markets seen in softer bookies.
- Limited Promotions: Compared to soft bookmakers, sharp bookies may offer fewer promotions, bonuses, or loyalty rewards aimed at casual bettors.
- Higher Skill Requirement: Successfully betting with sharp bookmakers often requires a higher level of skill and knowledge. Casual bettors may find it challenging to compete effectively.
- Risk of Price Movements: Due to their focus on competitive odds, sharp bookmakers’ lines can move quickly based on market demand or significant betting activity, potentially affecting the value of bets.
Examples of Sharp Bookmakers
- Pinnacle (promotes? a “Winners Welcome” policy).
- SBObet
- 188bet
- 12bet
- BetISN
- Dafabet
- Betonline
- Betcris
- Bookmaker EU
- Cloudbet
Soft Bookmakers
Soft bookmakers use less sophisticated methods to set their prices. Instead of calculating accurate probabilities for events, they predominantly monitor the odds offered by Sharps and Betting Exchanges and base their prices around those.
While Soft bookmakers do use automated systems to track/monitor market prices, and employ traders to manually manage their risk, they’re much slower to react to events than Sharps. This means that the Soft bookmakers lag behind, leaving their odds open to exploitation from professional sports bettors.
Soft bookmakers counteract their vulnerabilities by incorporating a large margin into their odds. This means that the average recreational punter will be a lot worse off using Soft bookmakers than Sharps. Additionally, Soft bookmakers focus more of their tech and personnel on identifying profitable bettors and, controversially, restricting their stakes and closing their accounts.
Pros
- Attractive Promotions and Bonuses: Soft bookmakers often offer generous promotions, bonuses, and reward schemes across a wide range of gambling products. This can include welcome bonuses, free bets, loyalty rewards, and special promotions tied to casino, poker, bingo, and other gaming options.
- Wide Range of Gambling Products: Soft bookmakers typically provide a comprehensive suite of gambling products beyond sports betting. This can appeal to bettors who enjoy diversity and want to explore various forms of online gaming under one platform.
- User-Friendly Interfaces and Features: Many soft bookmakers prioritise user experience, offering intuitive interfaces, mobile apps, and additional features that enhance convenience and engagement for casual bettors.
- Customer Support and Service: Soft bookmakers often invest in robust customer support systems, providing assistance via multiple channels (live chat, email, phone) to address customer queries and issues promptly.
- Entertainment Focus: Soft bookmakers emphasise entertainment value alongside betting. They may feature live streaming of sports events, virtual sports, and interactive games, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
Cons
- Inferior Odds: Soft bookmakers typically offer less competitive odds compared to sharp bookmakers and betting exchanges. This can result in lower potential returns for bettors, especially those focused on maximizing profitability through consistently favourable odds.
- Risk of Account Restrictions: Profitable bettors or those who consistently win may face restrictions or account closures with soft bookmakers. This is due to their business model, which aims to limit exposure to high-risk bettors to protect profitability.
- Dependence on Promotions: Some bettors may become overly reliant on promotional offers, which can distract from sound betting strategies and responsible gambling practices.
- Vulnerability to Market Changes: Soft bookmakers may be more vulnerable to economic downturns, regulatory changes, or industry disruptions that could affect their operations and ability to provide consistent service to bettors.
Examples of Soft Bookmakers
There are countless Soft Bookmakers — far too many to list them all! Here are some of the most popular brands:
- William Hill
- Coral
- Bet365
- Ladbrokes
- Paddy Power
- 888 Sport
- Unibet
Why Are Soft Bookmakers So Popular?
It’s an important question: If Sharp bookmakers offer better value, why do so many bettors stick with Soft bookmakers?
One of the primary reasons is the substantial investment that Soft bookmakers make in branding and promotion. Many bettors simply don’t look beyond these well-advertised options. By operating with higher margins, Soft bookmakers can afford extensive advertising campaigns, free bet offers, affiliate incentives, and prominent TV and radio marketing efforts to attract and retain customers.
Additionally, in countries like the UK, several Soft bookmakers have benefited from longstanding presence in high street betting shops. These bookmakers have built a strong reputation and loyal customer base over the years, well before the internet era. As a result, the public tends to recognise and trust these established brands, often sticking with what they know.
What’s Involved In Setting Betting Odds?
In essence, setting odds boils down to making informed estimations about future events.
In the past, bookmakers manually assessed probabilities based on historical performance, akin to methods depicted in shows like Peaky Blinders. While not always precise, the key lay in creating a sufficiently large overround (advantage) to ensure profitability across all outcomes. This strategy persists, but modern online betting has introduced more complexities to odds-setting.
Today, bookmakers employ automated systems to monitor competitor odds and betting exchanges, where public sentiment forms prices organically. They can swiftly react to breaking news, such as player injuries in football, changing conditions like weather in horse racing, or shifts in public opinion on betting exchanges. These factors, among others, dictate when and by how much bookmakers adjust their odds.
The sophistication in odds-setting methods varies widely among bookmakers. Generally, Sharp bookmakers are leaders in setting trends, moving early and adapting swiftly to new information. Soft bookmakers typically follow suit in their adjustments.
Sharp Or Soft — What’s Best?
On one hand, Sharp bookmakers offer more competitive prices compared to Soft bookmakers, making them initially more appealing. However, the challenge lies in their resilience against professional bettors.
To consistently outperform Sharp bookmakers, bettors must develop a pricing model that matches or exceeds the sophistication of those used by Sharp bookmakers. Few bettors achieve this level of precision. Consequently, Sharp bookmakers like Pinnacle are not overly concerned about professionals cutting into their profits and rarely impose limits or account closures.
Soft bookmakers, catering primarily to retail customers, are more vulnerable to exploitation compared to Sharp bookmakers. When Sharp bookmakers adjust their lines, Soft bookmakers often lag behind in updating their odds, creating opportunities for arbitrage and value betting. Such opportunities are profitable for bettors and are seldom found between two Sharp bookmakers.
Many professional sports bettors regularly use Soft bookmakers as long as their accounts remain unrestricted. However, for them, this is a stepping stone. Ultimately, seasoned professionals move on to betting exchanges to trade or, in rare cases, successfully extract value from Sharp bookmakers where restrictions are less stringent.
If you’re interested in accessing Sharp bookmakers offering industry-leading odds, I can recommend the following bet brokers:
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]]>The post Arbitrage Betting Explained – Is Arbing Still Worth It In 2024? appeared first on Punter2Pro.
]]>In this comprehensive guide, I provide an honest account of arbitrage betting, detailing both its advantages and disadvantages. I’ll cover the fundamentals of how arbitrage betting works, methods for finding and placing arbs, and the challenges that come with this strategy. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a balanced view of whether arbitrage betting is a viable option in today’s betting environment.
What is Arbitrage Betting?
Arbitrage betting, commonly known as “arbing,” is a strategy that guarantees a profit by exploiting differing odds from multiple bookmakers for the same event. It is also referred to as “sure bets,” “sure wins,” or “safe bets”.
At its core, sports arbitrage mirrors the broader principle of arbitrage, which involves simultaneously buying and selling a commodity in various markets to profit from price differences. In sports betting, the “commodity” is the outcome of an event.
To complete an arbitrage bet, you place stakes on all possible outcomes of an event across different bookmakers or betting exchanges. By betting on each outcome at favourable odds, you ensure a profit regardless of the event’s result. The key to arbitrage betting is that it does not depend on predicting the event’s outcome but rather on capitalising on the discrepancies in odds.
Arbing requires accurate stake calculations and prompt action in order to place bets before the odds change and the opportunity closes.
How to Find Arbitrage Bets
Trying to compare odds across multiple bookmakers to find arbs in real-time is not only time-consuming but also impractical. Even with odds comparison sites, the sheer volume of data and the speed at which odds change make manual searches inefficient. Using specialised arbitrage finders is a more effective approach to identify profitable arbitrage opportunities.
Companies like RebelBetting, and BetBurger are designed to simplify the process by scanning various bookmakers for discrepancies in odds. These platforms continuously refresh their odds feeds and highlight where significant differences occur, pointing out potential arbitrage opportunities. This not only speeds up the identification process but also ensures that you can act quickly before odds adjust.
However, while these services can help streamline your arb search, the volume of data and rapid changes in odds means that they will not capture every opportunity.
How to Place Arbitrage Bets
Placing arbitrage bets involves careful planning and execution to ensure you lock in guaranteed profits from price differences across different bookmakers.
Before starting, ensure you have active accounts with all involved bookmakers and betting exchanges. Verify and fund your accounts, and become familiar with each platform’s interface to facilitate smooth betting.
1. Identify the Opportunity
Identify a genuine arbitrage opportunity by comparing odds from various bookmakers or betting exchanges. Use arbing tools or software to find which combined bets mathematically guarantee a profit.
2. Calculate Your Stakes
To ensure a guaranteed profit from an arbitrage bet, you need to distribute your total stake between the bookmaker and the betting exchanges in a way that balances the potential outcomes. The calculations for this differ according the number of selections used, and whether the arb involves bookmakers or betting exchanges.
If you are proficient in excel, you may decide to create your own arb calculator. However, I strongly recommend using an online arbitrage bet calculator.
It is important to confirm that the % profit is enough to cover any potential commission or fees attached to placing the bets.
3. Place Bets Simultaneously
Timing is crucial. If an opportunity is still active, place all your bets as close to simultaneously as possible to lock in the odds before they change.
Utilise automated betting tools, such as Betfair trading programs, to help place bets across multiple platforms quickly and efficiently.
Always ensure a stable internet connection to avoid delays.
Important: Double-check that all legs of the arb have been placed successfully. Failure to do so will not hedge your risk. Most platforms provide a confirmation screen—use this to verify your bets.
Bookmaker to Bookmaker Arbs Example
Placing arbitrage bets effectively requires careful calculation to ensure an equal profit regardless of the outcome. Here’s a simplified example involving odds from two bookmakers. This type of arbitrage bet is known as a “Dutch”.
Example: Tennis Match Odds
Suppose you have the following odds for a tennis match:
- Bookmaker A (Outcome A): 2.05
- Bookmaker B (Outcome B): 2.25
These odds are favourable. So with a total stake of ￡100, you need to distribute your stake between the two outcomes to guarantee an equal profit.
Determine Stakes
The formula:
Stake on Outcome A = Total Stake × ((Odds at Bookmaker B - 1) / (Odds at Bookmaker A - 1 + Odds at Bookmaker B - 1))
Calculation for Stake on Outcome A:
100 × ((2.25 - 1) / (2.05 - 1 + 2.25 - 1)) = ￡52.32
Therefore, the Stake on Outcome B = ￡100 -￡52.32 = ￡47.68
Calculate Potential Returns
Now you have alter your stakes, the returns are as follows:
If Outcome A Wins:
- Return = (Stake on Outcome A) × (Odds at Bookmaker A) = ￡52.33 × 2.05 = ￡107.28
- Profit = (Return?Total Stake) = (￡107.23?￡100) = ￡7.28
If Outcome B Wins:
- Return = (Stake on Outcome B) × (Odds at Bookmaker B) = ￡47.68 × 2.25 = ￡107.28
- Profit = Return?Total Stake = 107.28?100 = ￡7.28
By distributing your total stake of ￡100 between the two outcomes, you ensure that your profit is equal regardless of which outcome wins. This sample principle applies to events with more than two outcomes e.g. football match odds.
Bookmaker to Betting Exchange Arbs Example
Here’s a simplified example of an arb involving odds from a bookmaker and a betting exchanges. For the sake of simplicity, the commission charged at the betting exchange has been omitted from the calculations.
This type of arbitrage bet only ever involves two bets, with the betting exchange used to hedge the bookmaker stake. The principle is simple: back high, lay low. This makes it simpler to interpret and execute than many Dutch bets.
Example: Football Match Odds
Suppose you have the following odds for? Team A in a football match:
- Bookmaker odds for Team A: 10.0
- Betting Exchange Lay odds for Team A: 9.0
Note that whatever stake you decide to place on Team A at at the bookmaker, a corresponding lay stake must be placed on the same selection to cover all other outcomes in the event in one hit. With a ￡10 bookmaker bet, without factoring in any commission, the optimal lay stake for a completely balanced arbitrage bet is ￡11.11. Please refer to the next section in this article for a worked calculation of how this value was reached.
Calculate Potential Returns
Once you have calculated your stakes, the potential returns are as follows:
If Bookmaker Wins:
Return =
-
- Bookmaker = (￡10 x 10.0) = ￡100
- Exchange = -(￡11.11 x 9.0) + ￡11.11 = -￡88.88
- Total = ￡100 – ￡88.88 = ￡11.12
Profit =
-
- Bookmaker = (￡10 x 10.0) – ￡10 = ￡90
- Exchange = -(￡11.11 x 9.0) + ￡11.11 = -￡88.88
- Total = ￡100 – ￡88.88 = ￡1.12
If Exchange Wins:
Return=
-
- Bookmaker = -￡10
- Exchange = ￡11.11?+ ￡88.88
- Total = -￡10 + 11.11 = ￡1.11 + ￡88.88 = ￡90
Profit =
-
- Bookmaker = -￡10
- Exchange = ￡11.11
- Total = -￡10 + 11.11 = ￡1.11
By adjusting the lay stake at the betting exchange, you ensure that your profit is nearly equal regardless of which betting outcome wins. The slight difference in profit, due to rounding, remains minimal, guaranteeing a consistent return on your investment.
Calculating Lay Stakes for Arbitrage
To guarantee a profit from an arbitrage bet against a betting exchange, you need to distribute your stakes so that your profit remains consistent regardless of the outcome.
Here’s how to calculate the lay stake for the ‘Bookmaker to Betting Exchange’ example from the previous section:
1. Define the Variables
The following variables are required for calculating the optimal lay stake for arbitrage bets.
- BookieWin = 90 (the potential profit if the bookmaker bet wins)
- BookieLose = -10 (the potential loss if the bookmaker bet loses)
- ExchangeOdds = 9.0 (the lay odds)
2. Set Up the Equation
To ensure equal profit, use the following formula:
BookieWin - (ExchangeOdds - 1) * LayStake = BookieLose + LayStake
Substitute the values into the formula:
90 – (9.0 – 1) * LayStake = -10 + LayStake
3. Solve for ‘LayStake’:
Simplify the equation:
90 - 8.0 * LayStake = -10 + LayStake
Rearrange the equation to solve for LayStake:
￡90 - 8(LayStake) = -￡10 + LayStake ?￡100 = 9(LayStake) ?LayStake = 100/9 = ￡11.11
To ensure a consistent profit regardless of the outcome in this example scenario, you must lay approximately 11.11 on the exchange. This calculation balances the profit between the bookmaker’s bet and the exchange’s lay bet.
The Pros of Arbitrage Betting
Arbitrage betting offers several compelling advantages, including risk-free profits, ease of entry, flexibility across markets, and the potential for automation.
1. Potential for Lucrative Returns
Arbitrage betting can be quite lucrative when executed well. By consistently identifying and exploiting discrepancies in odds, you can accumulate steady profits over time.
While individual returns from each arbitrage bet may be modest, the cumulative effect of regular arbing can lead to significant gains.
2. Risk-Free Approach
Unlike traditional betting, where outcomes are uncertain and risks are high, arbitrage betting removes the risk of loss. By betting on all possible outcomes, you secure a return no matter which side wins, making it a low-risk strategy.
As long as you place your bets with the correct proportions and the odds are favourable, you are guaranteed a return regardless of the event’s result.
3. No Advanced Knowledge Required
You do not need advanced betting or sporting knowledge to start arbitrage betting. Basic understanding of betting odds and the use of arbitrage calculators or software can be enough.
Many tools are available to identify arbitrage opportunities and calculate the required stake sizes, making the strategy accessible to beginners.
4. Market Opportunities
Arbitrage betting can be applied across various sports and markets. Whether you are interested in major sports or niche events, arbitrage opportunities can arise in numerous areas. This flexibility allows you to choose different markets to maximise the strategy.
5. Potential for Automation
The use of sophisticated tools and technology makes arbitrage betting more efficient. Specialised software (e.g. Betfair trading tools) and calculators quickly identify opportunities and calculate stakes for you, streamlining the process and allowing you to focus on finding and exploiting arbs effectively.
The Cons of Arbitrage Betting
Despite its advantages, arbitrage betting comes with several drawbacks that can affect its practicality and long-term success.
1. Rapidly Changing Odds
The long-term viability of arbitrage betting is hampered by rapidly changing odds. Bookmakers adjust their odds quickly to close arbing gaps, causing opportunities to be short-lived.
As technology has advanced, viable arbitrage situations have decreased, making it harder than ever to find profitable bets. Opportunities can vanish within seconds, necessitating swift action and often leading to missed chances or lower profits.
2. Account Limitations and Closures
Frequent engagement in arbitrage betting often leads to account limitations or closures by bookmakers. This can significantly hinder your ability to find and place arbitrage bets in the future, making it almost impossible to sustain the strategy at many betting sites.
3. Time-Consuming
The process of finding and placing arbitrage bets can be time-consuming and labour-intensive, particularly when done manually. Identifying potential arbitrage opportunities requires continuous monitoring of an arb finder, and placing bets quickly to lock in favourable odds. The time investment needed to manage and execute arbitrage bets can be substantial, potentially outweighing the returns for some bettors.
4. Potential for Human Error
Arbitrage betting relies heavily on precision and accuracy. Any errors in calculations, timing, or bet placement can result in unexpected losses instead of the guaranteed profits intended. The need for meticulous calculation of stakes and rapid placement of bets means that even minor mistakes can undermine the effectiveness of the strategy.
5. Complexity in Managing Multiple Accounts
Managing accounts with various bookmakers can become complex. Each account may have different withdrawal limits, deposit requirements, payout times, and other restrictions, which can complicate the overall betting strategy. Effective management of multiple accounts requires careful organisation and attention to detail, adding another layer of complexity to the arbing process.
How Much Can You Make from Arbitrage Betting?
The amount you can make from arbitrage betting depends on several factors — primarily the detection and limitations imposed by bookmakers. If a bookmaker detects that you’re engaging in arbing, they usually limit your account, known as “gubbing,” or close it entirely, which affects how long you can continue arbing and thus how much you can earn.
Typically, the profit margin per arbitrage bet ranges from 1% to 5% of the total stake. For example, with a ￡100 total stake, you might expect a profit between ￡1 and ￡5 per arb. The key to maximising earnings lies in the volume of bets you can place before encountering restrictions. Higher turnover generally leads to greater profits, while a smaller volume results in proportionally smaller returns. In essence, while individual profits per bet may be modest, consistent and high-volume arbing can accumulate substantial gains over time.
Do Arbs Bother the Bookmakers?
Arbitrage betting can indeed be a concern for bookmakers, although the extent of their concern can vary. Theoretically, a bookmaker’s overround—the built-in margin in the odds—ensures that they make a profit on every event, even if a small percentage of customers are engaging in arbitrage betting. This margin assumes that the bookmaker’s odds are well-balanced and that the betting market is functioning as expected.
However, the presence of an arbitrage opportunity typically indicates that there is a discrepancy in the odds offered by bookmakers or betting exchanges like Betfair or Matchbook. When an arb occurs, one or more bookmakers may offer odds that are higher than the market value, creating a profitable situation for arbers. Since offering such value to bettors can be counter to the bookmaker’s business model, they are motivated to close these opportunities quickly to minimise their financial exposure.
Moreover, bookmakers are wary of customers who display a sophisticated betting strategy like arbitrage. These bettors are often perceived as having a higher likelihood of engaging in other profit-driven activities, such as bonus abuse or value betting. Consequently, bookmakers may take pre-emptive measures, such as limiting or closing the accounts of frequent arbers, to avoid potential losses and maintain their profitability.
While some bookmakers actively monitor and restrict accounts to prevent arbing, others might adopt a more tolerant approach, especially if the impact of arbing on their overall profitability is minimal. The degree to which bookmakers are bothered by arbitrage betting depends on how significantly it affects their bottom line. The overround is designed to safeguard against such practices, but its effectiveness can be compromised by aggressive and successful arbers.
Also see my article: How Bookmakers Make Money?
How Are Arbers Detected?
Bookmakers use various methods to identify and monitor arbers, who often display distinct traits that raise suspicion. Here’s how bookmakers detect potential arbing activity:
1. Large Deposit and Stake Sizes
A sudden large deposit, such as ￡1,000, followed by placing maximum stakes on bets, is an obvious red flag. Such behaviour is not typical for casual bettors and suggests a strategic approach. High deposit and stake amounts signal a bettor who is well-informed, prompting bookmakers to scrutinise their activity more closely.
2. Unusual Stake Amounts
Arbers often place non-standard stake amounts, like ￡5.42, due to stake calculations or the restrictions imposed by bookmakers.
Regular bettors usually place round, flat stakes, so frequent bets with odd amounts can indicate the use of a betting strategy or automated software. Bookmakers use these unusual stake patterns as indicators of potential arbing.
3. Betting Patterns
Bookmakers pay attention to betting behaviour, such as placing bets at unconventional hours or on high odds. For example, placing bets early in the morning or frequently betting on high odds can be seen as signs of value betting or arbing.
4. IP Address
The IP address from which a bettor places their bets can reveal connections to known arbing syndicates. Additionally, if a bettor who has been restricted for arbing signs up for a new account using the same IP address, bookmakers may link this new account to past arbing activities.
While bookmakers may not always discriminate against households with multiple accounts, they do monitor IP addresses for suspicious activity.
5. Advanced Technology
Bookmakers use advanced fraud prevention tools, like those from Iovation, to detect and mitigate arbitrage betting. These tools analyse various indicators to identify potential arbing, making it difficult for arbers to disguise their activities.
Additionally, bookmakers have access to specialised software similar to that used by professional arbers, which helps them spot frequent betting on arbitrage opportunities, leading to account limitations or closures.
These detection methods make it difficult for arbers to sustain their activities over time. For more information check out my detailed post on the subject:?avoiding bookmaker account limits and closures. Additionally, you might find valuable tips and strategies from other active arbing forums and blogs.
Is Arbing Legal?
Arbitrage betting is legal, as long as the bettor complies with local gambling laws and regulations. The practice itself does not violate any laws, but it is often prohibited by bookmakers who include specific terms and conditions against it. Such restrictions are contractual rather than legal.
While bookmakers discourage arbitrage betting due to its potential to undermine their profitability, exchanges like Betfair often welcome arbers because their activity adds liquidity to the betting markets. The core principle of arbing—exploiting discrepancies in odds—contrasts with the bookmaker’s goal of setting odds that generate profit through their overround, but it does not constitute a legal offense.
The existence of various arbing software tools, such as Rebelbetting, further indicates that arbitrage betting is not considered illegal, although these tools are not endorsed by bookmakers. The continued interest and development of arb-finding technologies within the gambling community highlights the acceptance of arbing as a legitimate betting strategy, despite the resistance from some bookmakers.
Tips for Arbitrage Betting
While the basic concept—backing high and laying low—is straightforward, executing it effectively involves overcoming several challenges:
1. Manage Your Bankroll Effectively
To ensure smooth operations in arbitrage betting, it is crucial to manage your bankroll wisely. Make sure you have sufficient funds in both your bookmaker and exchange accounts to cover the back and lay bets. Regularly deposit money into these accounts to maintain liquidity and avoid delays when a profitable arbitrage opportunity arises. Keeping a dedicated bankroll for arbing will help you stay organised and focused.
2. Act Quickly and Efficiently
Arbitrage opportunities are fleeting, so it is essential to act swiftly. Use arbing software, such as RebelBetting, to receive real-time alerts about potential opportunities. Prepare in advance by logging into your bookmaker and exchange accounts and ensuring that your balances are adequate for placing bets. Monitor the odds closely and place your bets as quickly as possible to secure your profits before the odds change.
3. Stay Disciplined
Arbitrage betting requires a disciplined approach. Treat it as a business rather than a recreational activity. Strictly adhere to your arbing strategy and avoid getting emotionally involved with the outcomes of your bets. Focus solely on identifying and executing arbitrage opportunities, and resist the temptation to place unrelated bets or engage in activities that could divert your attention.
4. Be Aware of Account Limitations
Frequent arbing can lead to account restrictions or closures. To mitigate this risk, use multiple bookmaker accounts to spread your betting activity. Regularly monitor your accounts for any signs of restriction and be prepared to switch to alternative bookmakers if necessary. Understanding the specific terms and conditions of each bookmaker can help you avoid triggering account limitations.
5. Check the Terms and Conditions
Arbitrage betting can sometimes lead to complications with terms and conditions. It is important to thoroughly read and understand the rules of your bookmaker accounts to avoid any issues that could impact your ability to place bets or withdraw funds. Address any disputes or account problems promptly by contacting customer support, as maintaining a good relationship with support staff can help resolve issues more efficiently.
If the challenges of arbitrage betting seem daunting, you might want to explore other approaches to betting. For additional ideas, check out my strategy section.
Similarities Between Arbitrage and Matched Betting
Matched betting is essentially a form of arbitrage betting that capitalises on bookmaker bonuses. At their core, both strategies aim for guaranteed profits by covering all possible outcomes. While arbitrage betting exploits differences in odds across various bookmakers, matched betting leverages free bets and promotional offers.
Both approaches require risk management by ensuring a profit regardless of the event’s result. They also rely on specialised tools—matched betting uses bonus calculators, whereas arbitrage betting employs odds trackers. Effective management of multiple accounts is crucial in both methods to maximise opportunities.
Also see my article: Matched Betting Explained
Similarities Between Arbitrage and Value Betting
Arbitrage and value betting share a common objective: both aim to exploit odds with positive expected value (EV). Arbitrage betting achieves this by covering all possible outcomes of an event to ensure a profit regardless of the result, while value betting seeks odds higher than the true probability, accepting some risk for potential gains.
Interestingly, both strategies often end up selecting odds that beat the Start Price (SP) or closing line value — because both methods exploit inefficiencies in the prices offered by bookmakers.
From the bookmaker’s perspective, both arbers and value bettors challenge their ability to set accurate odds, thereby leading to account restrictions or closures.
Also see my article: Arbing vs Value Betting
Arbitrage Betting in the US and Canadian Markets
While arbitrage betting is feasible in the US and Canada, it comes with some challenges:
- Fewer Tools: Unlike in Europe, where numerous specialist services and tools are available to identify arbitrage opportunities, the US and Canadian markets have fewer resources. However, stand-out service is the arb finder from OddsJam.
- Tighter Regulations: The legal landscape for sports betting in the US and Canada is complex and varies by state or province. Bettors must ensure they operate within legal frameworks, which can limit the sportsbooks available for arbitrage opportunities.
- Bookmaker Restrictions: Like in Europe, sportsbooks limit or ban accounts suspected of engaging in arbitrage betting. This can make it difficult for bettors to maintain multiple accounts or place large bets necessary for arbing.
Is Arbing Worth the Effort in 2024?
Arbitrage betting is mathematically sound, but in practice, it’s not a viable long-term prospect. Bookmakers’ advanced technologies quickly detect and restrict arbers, leading to rapid account closures.
If you don’t care about keeping your bookmaker accounts active and are prepared for them to be closed down, there are short-term profits to be made — no doubt about it. However, for some of you, the obstacles and time investment will outweigh the potential benefits.
Alternatives to Arbing
- Sports Trading: Bet on exchanges like Betfair, adjusting positions as odds fluctuate. Offers flexibility and potential profit but requires market knowledge and quick reactions.
- Value Betting: Find and place bets where odds exceed the true probability of an outcome. Long-term gains are possible with accurate odds assessment and effective bankroll management.
- Bet Brokers: Use intermediaries to place bets across multiple bookmakers, bypassing account restrictions. Choose a reliable bet broker and consider any fees involved.
Originally posted on 20 June 2016 and last updated 23rd July 2024.
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]]>The post What Is Dutching? How Does Dutch Betting Work? appeared first on Punter2Pro.
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Equal Stake Dutch Bet
In an equal stake Dutch bet the stakes and odds are equal. For instance:
- Bet ￡20 on Horse A at 4/1
- Bet ￡20 on Horse B at 4/1
Total stake = ￡40 (￡20 + ￡20)
If either horse wins, the profit is ￡60 (￡80 win – ￡20 loss)
Note: equal-stake Dutch bets are only produce the same profit when selections have the same odds. In most situations this will not be the case, and the stakes will need adjusting. See the following section.
Reduced Stake Dutch Bet
In a reduced stake Dutch bet the stakes are adjusted due to the difference in the odds. For instance:
- Bet ￡7.50 on Horse A at 4/1
- Bet ￡12.50 on Horse B at 2/1
Total stake = ￡20 (￡7.50 + ￡12.50)
If Horse A wins, the profit is ￡17.50 (￡30 win – ￡12.50 loss)
If Horse B wins, the profit is ￡17.50 (￡25 win – ￡7.50 loss)
Note: the stakes for a reduced-stake Dutch bet can be adjusted according to a target profit or total stake. I’ll get onto these in the following two sections.
Target-Profit Dutch Bet
In a target-profit Dutch bet the stakes are adjusted to achieve a potential target profit.
Two Selections
For instance, if the target profit is ￡80, the stakes for 2x 5/1 bets would be adjusted to ￡20 as follows:
- Bet ￡20 on Horse A at 5/1
- Bet ￡20 on Horse B at 5/1
Total stake = ￡40 (￡20 + ￡20)
If either horse wins, the profit reaches the ￡80 target (￡100 win – ￡20 loss)
Note: This same principle applies to selections with different odds, as per the above “Reduced-stake” example. The only difference is that a target profit is set.
Three Selections
For instance, if the target profit is ￡25, the stakes for the following 3 bets are adjusted as follows:
Target profit = ￡25
- Bet ￡62.50 on Horse A at 1/1
- Bet ￡25.00 on Horse B at 4/1
- Bet ￡12.50 on Horse C at 9/1
Total stake = ￡100 (￡62.50 + ￡25.00 + ￡12.50)
If any horse wins, the profit is ￡25.
If Horse A wins then the result is: ￡62.50 win – ￡25 loss – ￡12.50 loss = ￡25.00
If Horse B wins then the result is: ￡100 win – ￡62.50 loss – ￡12.50 loss = ￡25.00
If Horse C wins then the result is: ￡112.50 win – ￡62.50 loss – ￡25 loss = ￡25.00
Stake-Limited Dutch Bet
In a stake-limited Dutch bet a total combined stake of a specified amount is bet.
Two Selections
For instance, if the total combined stake is ￡50, the stakes are adjusted on the two selections according to the odds.
Total stake = ￡30
- Bet ￡30 on Horse A at 3/1
- Bet ￡20 on Horse B at 5/1
Total stake = ￡50 (￡30 + ￡20)
If Horse A wins, the profit is ￡70 (￡90 win – ￡20 loss)
If Horse B wins, the profit is ￡70 (￡100 win – ￡30 loss)
Three Selections
For instance, if the total combined stake is ￡100, the stakes are adjusted on the three selections according to the odds.
Total stake = ￡100
- Bet ￡22.28 on Horse A at 3/1
- Bet ￡9.90 on Horse B at 8/1
- Bet ￡17.82 on Horse C at 4/1
Total stake = ￡100 (￡22.28 + ￡9.90 + ￡17.82)
If Horse A wins, the profit is ￡39.12 (￡66.84 win – ￡27.72 loss)
If Horse B wins, the profit is ￡39.10 (￡79.20 win – ￡22.28 loss – ￡17.82 loss)
If Horse C wins, the profit is ￡39.1 (￡71.28 win – ￡32.18 loss)
Pros & Cons Of Dutch Betting
While the Dutching can be useful in certain situations, it also has its drawbacks. Here are some of the pros and cons of Dutch betting:
Pros
- Risk Management: Dutch betting helps to manage risk by spreading your bets across different outcomes. This reduces the likelihood of losing all your money on a single bet.
- Profit Maximisation: Dutch betting allows you to maximise your profits by betting on multiple outcomes. If one of your bets wins, you will still make a profit.
- Flexibility: Dutch betting allows you to choose how much you want to bet on each outcome, giving you greater control over your potential winnings and losses.
Cons
- Lower Potential Winnings: While Dutch betting reduces your risk, it also reduces your potential winnings. This is because you are spreading your bets across multiple outcomes, which means that you will not win as much if one of your bets is successful.
- Requires Accurate Predictions: To successfully Dutch bet, you need to accurately predict the probabilities of different outcomes. If you are not able to do this, you may end up losing money.
- Time-Consuming: Dutch betting involves placing multiple bets on different outcomes, which can be time-consuming. This can be particularly challenging if you are betting on a large number of events.
How To Calculate Stakes For Dutch Bets
Dutching enables bettors to make the same amount of profit if any of their selections is a winner. However, with different odds involved it can be tricky to work out the correct stake sizes.
I recommend converting odds to decimal format if you plan to make calculations, otherwise it can become very confusing with all the fractions involved!
Here’s some examples of how you can manually calculate the correct stakes for your Dutch bet without using a online Dutch Bet Calculator.
Example 1
Let’s suppose you are backing two selections at 6.0 and 9.0 and you want to profit the same amount whatever the outcome.
A very simple way to do this without involving too many calculations is to assign a target profit value per each individual bet (not overall), such as ￡100. The stake calculations are divided between the selections as follows:
￡100 / 6.0 = 16.67% = ?￡16.67 ￡100 / 9.0 = 11.11% = ￡11.11 Total stake = ￡27.78
- The stakes are ￡16.67 @ 6.0 and ￡11.11 @ 9.0.
- If either of the bets win, an equal profit of ~￡72.24 is made.
- You stand to lose ￡27.28 if both bets lose.
Note: In this simplified method, you can raise or lower the per bet profit target to a value that you see fit.
Example 2
Now let’s take the same odds from the previous example, and instead specify the exact overall profit amount required for both bets as ￡50.?
The following calculations are required in order to determine two unknowns A and B, which represent the two different stakes for the Dutch bet:
Expressions for the profit of either bet winning:
(6.0 - 1)A - B = ￡50
(9.0 - 1)B - A = ￡50
Therefore,
5.0A - B = 8.0B - A
6.0A = 9.0B
A = (9/6)B = (3/2)B
This expression can be substituted into the initial formulas as follows:
((5.0) x (3/2)B) - B = ￡50 6.5B = ￡50 B = ￡7.69 (8.0 x 7.69) - A = ￡50 61.52 - A = ￡50 A = ￡11.52
- The stakes are ￡7.69 @ 6.0 and ￡11.52 @ 9.0.
- If either of the bets win, an equal profit of ￡50 is made.
- You stand to lose ￡19.23 if both bets lose.
Example 3
Now let’s take the same odds from the previous examples, but this time set the total risk to ￡20.?
The following calculations are required in order to determine A and B, which represent the stakes required to distribute a ￡20 stake across the two outcomes as follows.
Calculate the ratio of the two odds: R = 9.0 / 6.0 = 1.5 This means the stake @ 6.0 must be 1.5 times bigger than the stake @ 9.0. Therefore: 1.5B + B = ￡20 B(1.5 + 1) = ￡20 2.5B = ￡20 B = 20 / 2.5 = ￡8.00 Therefore, A = ￡20 - ￡8 = ￡12
- The stakes are ￡12.00 @ 6.0 and ￡8.00 @ 9.0.
- If either of the bets win, an equal profit of ￡52 is made.
- You stand to lose ￡20 if both bets lose.
Dutch Arbitrage Bets
A Dutch Arbitrage occurs when a bettor is able to produce an overround of less than 100% from the selections taken, thereby guaranteeing a profit.
Example
Suppose you have a tennis match between Player A and Player B.
- The odds at Bookmaker 1 for Player A are 1.5. This implies a 66.67% chance.
- The odds at Bookmaker 2 for Player B are 3.5 This implies a 28.57% chance.
What you have is a case where the total overround calculates as: 66.67 + 28.57 = 95.24%.?This means that these 2 particular Bookies aren’t aligned, and the bettor can achieve +4.76% ROI from this Dutch.
The easiest way to illustrate the +4.76% advantage is to create an equal risk Dutch, as I showed earlier in this post. For simplicity, I’ll use a ￡100 individual bet profit again:
￡100 / 1.5 = 66.67% = ￡66.67 ￡100 / 3.5 = 28.57% = ￡28.57 Total stake = ￡95.24
Player1 Wins
(￡66.67 x 1.5) - ￡66.67 - ￡28.57 = +￡4.76 profit
Player 2 Wins
(28.57 x 3.5) - ￡28.57 - ￡66.67 = +￡4.76 profit
There you have it: the 4.76% ROI for either outcome!
Note: in this simplified case, there are only two outcomes to consider. In horse races many runners, additional calculations are required. Nevertheless, the fundamental principles of earning a profit by exploiting the overround remains applicable regardless of the number of outcomes involved.
Why Do Arbitrage Dutches Occur?
Arbitrage Dutches occur when one or more bookmakers are misaligned in their pricing.
Suppose that in our example Bookmaker2 spotted their incorrect pricing and reduced the odds down to 2.5. Instead we would have an overround of 66.67 + 40.00 = 106.67%. This creates a bookmaker edge of 6.67%, and therefore negative value for the player to back both outcomes. This is the usual case.
Learn how bookmakers make money using an overround.
How Can I Find Dutch Arbitrage Bets?
All of the arbitrage finders I recommend on this site offer risk-free Dutches as part of their service.
Furthermore, you won’t ever have to do any of these calculations because the software works it all out for you!
Discover the best sports arbing/sure bet software.
Final Points
To conclude this article on Dutch betting, there are some key points to take away.
- You can Dutch any number of selections in the same sporting event, producing an equal profit for a winner, or an equal total stake, depending on your preference.
- Dutching fewer selections carries more risk than Dutching several outcomes.
- More outcomes lowers the variance (profit swings), but also reduces the potential profit per win.
- Less outcomes raises the variance (profit swings), but also increases the potential profit per win.
- Dutching is ideal for events where you have narrowed the possibilities down to 2-3 likely outcomes. But to gain a long-term advantage from Dutching, the odds taken must represent value.
- For a Dutch to guarantee a profit, all outcomes must be covered, producing overround of less than 100%.
- Note that “Reverse Dutching” is the same as regular Dutching, except with Lay bets on the betting exchange. All of the above principles apply, only your liability is reduced by every new bet you add to your Dutch.
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]]>By understanding the differences between arbing and value betting, bettors can weigh up the pros and cons of each approach.
Arbing & Value Betting — What Are They?
Arbitrage and value betting are two profitable approaches to sports betting:
- Arbitrage betting involves placing bets on all possible outcomes of an event across multiple bookmakers or betting exchanges to guarantee an ROI regardless of the outcome. In other words, the bettor takes advantage of discrepancies in the odds offered by different bookmakers to lock in a profit. This strategy requires an arbitrage bet finder, and fast execution. Learn more about arbitrage betting.
- Value betting involves identifying bets where the odds offered by a bookmaker or betting exchange are higher than the true probability of the outcome occurring. Value bets are placed when the bettor believes the odds are in their favour and there is a positive expected value (EV) on the bet. Over time, if the bettor consistently identifies value bets, they can expect to make a profit. Learn more about value betting.
In summary, arbitrage betting involves taking advantage of differences in odds between bookmakers to guarantee a profit, while value betting involves identifying opportunities where the odds are in the bettor’s favour to make a profit in the long run.
To compare these two methods I’m going to tackle three key factors: Risk, Profitability, and Limitations.
1. Risk
Both arbitrage betting and value betting involve a certain level of risk, but the nature of the risks involved in each strategy is different.
Generally, Arbitrage betting is considered to be a low risk strategy because it guarantees a profit. The main risk in arbitrage betting comes from the potential for bookmakers to void or cancel bets. Or in another scenario, there might not be enough liquidity on the betting exchange to fulfil a “hedge” against a bet already placed. In either case, it would result in the loss of risk free trade.
In contrast, value betting is not risk free. So the risk in value betting comes from the accuracy of the bettor’s calculations and their ability to evaluate the true probability of an outcome. Essentially, if the bookmaker is accurate at pricing their odds, it will be difficult for bettors to find opportunities with a positive expected value.
Value betting results are also susceptible to bad variance, which can result in heavy losses regardless whether bettors have identified +EV (positive value) bets or not. The same cannot be said for arbitrage which produces only a steady profit for as long as bookmaker limitations will allow.
A risk associated with both arbitrage betting and value betting is the potential for the bettor to make simple mistakes. For example, a bettor may accidentally place an incorrect bet, or double-bet on an outcome. These errors can be costly.
2. Profitability
Both arbitrage betting and value betting are profitable betting strategies, to different degrees.
The profit margins for arbitrage bets are generally small — but they’re consistent, and add up over time. The challenge is finding enough arbs while bookmakers continually adjust their odds and reduce stake sizes in response. Value bettors will also find it difficult to maximise their value betting profitability as bookmakers slash the odds on +EV bets within their book as soon as they detect them. Essentially, neither strategy can fully flourish.
However, value betting is potentially more profitable than arbing for several reasons:
- The margins per bet are higher. Value bets are generally more profitable than arbs. This is mainly because there is no hedging process involved (to eliminate the risk), which reduces the overall profitability of arbs.
- Not all value bets are easy to detect. Unlike arbs which are easy for bookmakers to detect and act on, some value bets are much less obvious. Sharp value bettors with a deep understanding of certain sports/markets can remain undetected for longer.
- Bets can be placed on the betting exchange. Some value bettors utilise the betting exchange to place their bets, which eliminates the issues of account restrictions altogether. This drastically increases the ceiling on the profitability for value betting.
Despite the potential upside to value betting, it should not be understated that it is far more challenging to consistently identify value bets and to accurately calculate the true probability of an outcome than to simply pick off arbs. Many bettors will fail trying. Hence, value betting is a more suitable proposition for an experienced bettor with a substantial bankroll.
3. Limitations
Arbitrage betting and value betting have their limitations, which impacts their potential and longevity.
One of the main limitations of both arbing and value betting is that they require a significant amount of capital. This is because a high volume of bets is required to realise substantial returns. A small bankroll will not suffice.
In addition, both strategies require odds discrepancies to regularly occur. These are relatively rare occurrences considering that bookmakers are essentially specialists at setting odds that reflect the true probability of an outcome, along with their own margin factored in. Bookmakers actively monitor industry odds to prevent arbs and value bets from occurring. However, the use of an arbitrage bet finder or value bet finder can help bettors identify opportunities whenever they slip through the net.
The most significant limitation to arbing and value betting is that bettors can be detected by bookmakers. When a bookmaker identifies that a player is placing bets on a potentially profitable “+EV” opportunities, they usually flag the account for further investigation and limit or close it. Bettors will inevitably lose access to the accounts that they rely on to place bets. Unfortunately it is within the bookmaker’s terms and conditions to reject profitable players.
Learn how to prevent your betting accounts from being restricted.
Value bettors have the ability to thrive despite bookmaker limits by turning to the betting exchange. However, consistently finding value bets on the betting exchange requires a significant amount of skill/knowledge, due to the efficiency of the odds. This tends to benefit those with the technical ability to produce a trading bot, or program, capable of snapping up prices as soon as they appear.
To learn more about arbitrage betting and value betting check out the following articles:
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]]>The post Middles, Negative Middles & Polish Middles | Complex Arbs appeared first on Punter2Pro.
]]>In the following sections I will delve deeper into the mechanics of Middles.
What Are Middles?
In arbitrage betting, a middle refers to a situation where a bettor places two wagers on the same event with different bookmakers, and there is a potential opportunity to win both bets if the outcome falls within a specific range of results.
Middles can be an attractive opportunity for arbitrage bettors as they provide a chance to win both bets with a reduced risk compared to other arbitrage betting strategies. However, finding middles requires careful analysis of odds and market movements, and they may not always be available.
Middles often occur in Asian Handicap?and Over/Under betting markets.
- Asian Handicap Middles occur when the “+” value is bigger than the “-” value (e.g. -3 and +4)
- Over/Under Middles occur when the “over” is smaller than the “under” (e.g. Over 2.5 and Under 3.5).
An Example Of A Middle
The simplest way to illustrate a Middle is with an example using two Asian Handicap bets at separate bookmakers. Suppose the following odds were available:
- TeamA (-3 goals): 1.90 @ Bookie1
- TeamB (+4 goals): 2.25 @ Bookie2
Asian Handicap markets work on goal supremacy. This means that the markets deduct or “give” goals to one team, and decide the result of the match with that advantage/disadvantage factored in. For example, if you Back TeamA for “-3 goals” as shown above, then that team starts the match with theoretical -3 goal deficit. So a real match score of 3-1 would result in a loss because the scoreline becomes 0-1. Or a 4-1 real score becomes a 1-1 draw, and so on.
The above example represents a Middle because the specific results from the two different markets/Bookies intersect. I’ll demonstrate why this is the case by showing every possible outcome of the two bets placed. Kindly note that the stakes have been pre-calculated to ensure that the outcome is approximately flat as follows:
- Back ￡51.5 on TeamA (-3) for a potential profit of ￡46.35 profit
- Back ￡43.5 on TeamB (+4) for a potential profit of ￡54.37 profit
Case 1
TeamA wins by less than 3 goals, draws or loses (e.g. 2-1, 4-4, 1-3)
- You lose the (-3) bet at Bookie1
- You win the (+4) bet at Bookie2.
Total Profit = ￡54.37 – ￡46.35 = ￡2.87
Case 2
TeamA wins by more than 4 goals (e.g. 5-0, 6-1)
- You win the (-3) bet at Bookie1
- You lose the (+4) bet at Bookie2.
Total Profit = ￡46.35 – ￡43.5 = ￡2.85
Case 3
TeamA wins by exactly 4 goals (e.g. 5-1, 6-2)
- You win the (-3) bet at Bookie1
- Your (+4) bet for TeamB will be refunded at Bookie2.
Total Profit = ￡46.35 + ￡0 =?￡46.35
Case 4
TeamA win by exactly 3 goals (e.g. 3-0, 4-1)
- Your (-3) bet for TeamA will be refunded at Bookie1
- You win your (+4) bet for TeamB at Bookie2.
Total Profit = ￡0 + ￡54.37
As you can see, the Middle means that two specific outcomes (Case 3 and Case 4) generated very profitable results while the other (more common) outcomes resulted in a relatively ‘flat’ profit.
This example shows how the discrepancy between the pricing of two bookmakers, on two separate markets, on the same event, creates an opportunity for bettors to potentially make a substantial profit.
Negative Middles
A?Negative Middle?has a negative arb percentage but has a positive +EV edge due to the upside of the Middle winning.
The previous example shows a standard Middle, where every outcome yielded a positive net result. Now let’s suppose that there wasn’t a guaranteed profit for every outcome. For example:
- Patriots (-6) @ 1.91 (implied chance = 1/1.91 = 52.35%)
- Giants (7.5) @ 2.04 (implied chance = 1/2.04 = 49.02%)
This middle of 1.5 points has a negative arb percentage of (-52.35 – 49.02 = -1.37%), meaning that the odds will not allow for a guaranteed profit by covering all outcomes; this is the normal situation. However, in one case, if the Patriots win by 6 points, the bettor will make a profit of around 50%. If they win with 7 points, the bettor will make a profit of almost 100%.
So in this example, the Negative Middle generates a substantial profit in highly specific situations. This makes it a type of value bet, where most of the time you lose a small % from the likely outcomes occurring. However, when a less likely outcome hits, you receive an enormous payout. Despite not winning in every situation, a Negative Middle has (+EV) value, which means it is expected to generate a profit over the long term.
The big advantage to Negative Middles over regular (positive arb) Middles is that bookmakers will only see you placing non-value “-EV” bets. They’re harder to detect than regular arbs or Middles.
I recommend using a Middle Bet Calculator to work out potential profit
Polish Middles
A Polish Middle, often called an?Inverted Middle,?is a riskier approach to the previous two examples. Polish Middles have the opposite scenario: if the Middle hits, you lose money, but make a profit in other situations.
As before, Polish Middles occur in the Asian Handicap and Over/Under betting markets. By simply switching the “+” and “-” signs of the original Middles example, you get an inverted “Polish” Middle example.
- Asian handicap Polish Middles occur when the “-” value is bigger than the “+” value (e.g. -3 and +4)
- Over/Under Polish Middles occur when the “over” is bigger than the “under” (e.g. Over 3.5 and Under 2.5).
Betting on Polish Middles requires care. It’s important that you have a method of determining that the “Non-Middle” bets, which you effectively have all your money riding on, have an advantage that isn’t offset by occurrence of the Middle occurring.
There’s a helpful article here which visually presents the possible scenarios of a Polish Middle. However, much of the online literature about this topic suggests that it’s “close to gambling“. Personally, I’d avoid Polish Middles, as they have less obvious exploitable value than the other two types of Middles.
If you’re interested in identifying Middles, I recommend signing up to OddStorm or Rebelbetting. They specialise in detecting Middles, and all other kinds of arbs.
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]]>The post Avoid Bookmaker Account Restrictions & Closures appeared first on Punter2Pro.
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Why Do Bookmakers Restrict Accounts?
If you want to prolong the life of your betting accounts, then it’s important to understand why Bookmakers restrict and close them. Here’s the main causes:
1. You’re a Profitable Bettor
This is as simple as it sounds. If you regularly profit from a?Bookmaker then they are under no obligation to allow you to continue betting with them. They may not even be able to identify exactly?how you’ve profited (i.e. what your strategy is) — but if running a quick query reveals that you’ve made stacks of cash from them, then you may be shown the exit door.
2. You’re Bet Selections are Consistently ‘Marked’
If the selections you place are ‘marked’ by the Bookmaker then you instantly draw attention to yourself, regardless whether you’ve profited or not. Betting on marked selections once or twice randomly shouldn’t ring any alarm bells: but do it consistently and it’ll be obvious that you’re applying some kind of strategy.
Strategies include?Arbitrage betting, using inside knowledge, following known tipsters, or taking advantage of price?inaccuracies. These are just?some of?reasons why?Bookmakers closely watch some?selections and?scrutinise the ‘offending’ customers.
3. Your Identity/Location Has Flagged Up
Your identity, local area, IP address, or even people associated with you can affect whether a Bookmaker decides to close or restrict your account. If there’s a?history of smart (or professional) betting from one particular household or local area, then it’s within the Bookmaker’s rights to discriminate against you and refuse your custom.
This doesn’t just?apply to existing customers — new signups can be automatically refused if the?prospective?customer enters details that have been?“blacklisted” on?one of the Bookmaker’s databases.
Occasionally customers are tarred with the same brush as others close by — such as a local betting syndicate — without ever actually doing anything ‘wrong’.
4. You Have a History of Promotion Abuse
Bookmakers don’t like customers that deliberately take advantage of their free bets & promotions. They discourage any form of betting with an advantage, full stop.
Most of the time you’ll go under the radar for Matched Betting. But Casino “Bonus Bagging” is easily identified, and it increases the likelihood of your accounts being closed or restricted. The punishment (i.e whether you’ll be bonus banned, or entirely banned) often depends on how frequently you do it.
5. You’re Doing (or Have Done) Something Illegal
I’m referring to situations where users have, for example, signed up to a betting site under a bogus alias in order to bet illegally from a restricted country, or to collude in a Poker room. Companies like Iovation, who provide fraud prevention tools, work closely with many online betting sites and share information about unwanted customers in order to clamp down on such activities as efficiently as possible.
If points 1 or 2 apply to you (i.e. you're betting is profitable), then it's possible you can extend the life of your betting accounts.
What Can I Do To Keep Under The Radar?
If you’re doing something fraudulent (or just plain dodgy), then the?advice which follows isn’t for you. This is for the smart gamblers looking?to avoid restrictions (e.g. stake limitations) and maximise?the profitability?of their betting accounts.
But bare in mind — whatever measures you?take to disguise your?betting?activity, Bookmakers are in the best position to catch you?out. So the following suggestions?will not guarantee improved results.
1.?Use “Coverplay”
If 100% of the stakes?you place are the type of bets that will?be?monitored by the Bookmaker, then you’re doomed to be restricted or closed down very quickly.
You may be able to continue betting for longer if you try to conceal your profitable bets amongst regular ‘punts’ or ‘mug bets‘. Perhaps place some random bets on football, or give the casino a little go. If you’ve got some Matched Betting to do then use your betting account to match off another (non value) bet elsewhere to appear more ‘random’; this is particularly good for 2 outcome sports like tennis or darts.
2. Keep Deposit and Stake Sizes Low
If a player signs up and instantly deposits a large sum of say ￡1,000, and he attempts to place the maximum stake on a selection then it’s very likely to raise suspicion.
Betting a huge sum shortly after signing up isn’t the behaviour of someone ‘dipping their toes in’ for the first time. And those sort of funds aren’t usually available to average punters. It smacks of someone who knows what they’re doing — so it’s an easy way for bookmakers to highlight the pros.
Try not to be so blatant — build it up slowly.
3.?Don’t Be Too Rigid
It might seem normal for you to maintain the same size stakes, or to bet?solely on one sport. But gamblers?who bet for fun don’t stay rigid all the time. Whenever you can, try to add an element of randomness or spontaneity to your betting activity.
If you’re arbing, then I’d recommend mixing up your bets between different types of risk free bets. for example, Dutches?and Middles. Or alternatively, switch over to Value Betting.
4. Avoid Using Unusual Stake Sizes
Avoid using stake amounts such as ￡5.42. Average punters with full privileges tend to place flat, round stakes, like ￡5.00.
A high frequency of non-round stakes comes across as persistent, suggesting the use of a betting strategy or automated program. It’s made a tad more difficult that?customers who frequently bet on “marked” horses have their maximum bet size capped (or other privileges revoked, like BOG). Stake?restrictions (limits) are either imposed by automated risk parameters or set manually by the bookmaker. Unfortunately these restrictions encourage?unusual stakes — therefore?it’s the duty of the bettor to re-enter the round number stake whenever possible.
5. Refrain From Unusual Patterns
Betting at antisocial hours of the day, on highly niche markets, or at exceptionally high odds could be deemed as “unusual”.
For instance Horse racing activity typically builds up around the time that races begin, which is around 2pm for most racedays. Those who wake up early in the morning to place bets (when they ought to be at work) are at risk of being flagged or monitored. Bookmakers will assume you’re a professional value bettor.
Equally, a customer who frequently bets at high odds demonstrates risk tolerance, or strategy — the traits associated with risk-free?betting techniques like Arbing.
Avoid falling into a pattern which isn’t the norm for a typical?punter.
6. Mind Your IP Address
If a customer comes from an area where betting?syndicates have been known to operate?then the location alone could be an identifying factor.
Other issues with IP addresses are that they make it easy to identify multi-accounting. Let’s suppose a customer was closed down for being too profitable, and then signed up his brother (with his consent) on another account using the same IP address. While the bookmaker may not entirely discriminate against siblings of the same address, they will be aware that this household (IP address) has a history of smart betting.
It’s worth taking extra care with what IP you’re using. Ideally you want to use one without any prior associations with gambling whatsoever.
7. Don’t Kill the Golden Goose
If you’re onto a good thing and decide to push it too?far then?it will?become?obvious. Chances are you’ll quickly get caught and shut down. Knowing how far you can push your luck with the Bookmakers is a tough one to call and you’ll have to use your own intuition.
Killing the golden goose isn’t an issue if you’re using a Betting Exchange or Bet Brokerage service.
8. Avoid Using the Exact Same Details at All Bookmakers
You absolutely cannot sign up using false details.
But if you’ve got the same username at every Bookmaker then it makes tracking you down a little too easy. This is especially true if Bookmakers share information between brands under the same company. When possible, mix it up a little.
9. Walk Away Gracefully
If you’re upset about losing one?of your account privileges (e.g. BOG or high stakes) then don’t keep on fighting the Bookmakers. They seldom overturn their decision. It’s not worth the hassle, and there isn’t anything to gain from arguing.
10. Keep Withdrawals Low
Bookmakers are alarmed by huge withdrawals. If you’ve got ￡5k in your account and you decide to withdraw the whole lot in one go, then don’t expect it to run smoothly. They’ll?usually want?to look into how you’ve made that money. You’ll probably be hit with additional?verification steps (sigh). But the question is: would they bother making a fuss over, let’s say, ￡800?
My advice is to withdraw?funds?out of your betting?accounts in smaller ‘chunks’.
Is It Unfair That Bookies Reject Winners?
On the surface I’d say yes, it’s totally unfair. However, there’s more than one way of looking at this.
I Think It’s Unfair?Because…
- Assuming their books aren’t unbalanced, theoretically the Bookmaker’s overround would?ensure that profits are realised on every event — regardless whether a small percentage of?customers are earning?a profit.
- A small percentage of customers (the professionals) are playing the same game back at?the Bookmakers. And the pros aren’t denting their?profits enough to cause a serious concern to the business.
- For every professional?that’s been?restricted there’s an addict spending well beyond his means on betting. This?is extremely hypocritical.
I Think It’s Fair?Because…
- It?isn’t in keeping with?the Bookmaker’s business model to provide value betting?opportunities. So closing such?opportunities as quickly as possible, and preventing customers?from betting on them going forward is within their rights.
- Bookmakers, understandably, don’t?want to facilitate capitalistic bettors. Identifying specific customers, or groups, with a high probability?of making?a profit should?improve revenue?and reduce the likelihood of other nuisances — such as bonus abuse.
- Not all?profitable bettors are honest. Bookmaker’s have to be on guard. Amongst other examples, there’s been cases?of individuals?exploiting software vulnerabilities in order to generate profits from Sportsbooks/Casinos. Such activities are illegal and have given professionals?a bad name.
To a Bookmaker the ‘ideal’ customer is?the one that never seeks value.
Profitable bettors, as unfair as it may be, are perceived?as?pests.?Bookmakers attempt to swat them away by any means possible. So if you’re profitable then?you really need?to?refrain from?drawing too much attention to yourself.
How Can I Convince Bookies To Re-open My Account?
It’s incredibly hard to revoke an account closure.
Bookmakers are stubborn. Once they’ve identified you as a profitable Bettor then there’s barely any chance of them back-tracking.
You also have to consider the fact that Bookmaker staff probably have more pressing things?to do with their time than to help a potential professional to re-enter their Sportsbook again. For them, it’s just not worth the risk.
My advice is to accept the inevitable restrictions/closures and focus on prolonging the life of your accounts for as long as possible. Then start betting at sites that will not close your account for winning.
Betting Sites That Don’t Restrict Accounts
There’s some betting sites that hold a “Winners Welcome” policy, and don’t discriminate against successful players. Here’s the one’s I recommend:
No posts found!
The above list predominantly consists of Betting Exchanges and Bet Brokers. Read my full review on?Betting Sites That Do Not Limit Your Account to learn more.
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]]>The post Sharbing — A Guide To Arbing At Physical Betting Shops appeared first on Punter2Pro.
]]>In many ways Sharbing follows the same process as it does online: loitering at a Bookmaker, waiting for an arb to appear on a feed (such as OddsMonkey or Rebelbetting), and then placing the initial bet before the risk-free opportunity disappears.
It sounds simple, but does Sharbing actually work in practice? How well does the process translate from the online world to the physical?
Sharbing Works… In Theory
Placing the Bookmaker side of an arbitrage bet at a high street shop, in theory at least, isn’t much different to doing it online.
High street Bookmakers offer identical odds to their online counterparts; therefore an online arb is an arb in the shop. So Sharbing has the advantage of enabling punters to place large stakes whether or not they’ve been limited online.
The process is as follows:
- A Sharber enters the high street Bookmaker.
- An arb is detected at the online version of the Bookmaker. The Sharber is alerted of the opportunity by an arb feed on his/her smart phone.
- The Sharber must quickly write out the betslip, and exchange money with the Bookmaker staff in order to place the bet before the odds change.
- Once the bet is placed, the Sharber has the option to immediately Lay off the risk on Betfair,?or wait until a later point to do so. This will secure a risk free profit.
Learn more about arbitrage betting
Sharbing sounds easy, right??
If only it was. But unfortunately there’s always a catch in online gambling.
Sharbing’s Biggest Problem: Being Banned
You might think that Shop Arbing makes you immune from being “gubbed”, limited or banned from the Bookmaker. But I have it on good authority from ex-Bookmaker employees that high street Bookies do in fact regularly catch and ban Sharbers.
But how do they catch Sharbers that have the ability to constantly switch locations?
Believe it or not, they take photos (and use CCTV) to identify the individuals that place arbitrage bets. They propagate the image, with a visual description attached, to all other branches — sometimes nationwide! This way every branch in the country will be ready to refuse your bets if they’re convinced you’re that blacklisted individual.
Apparently, some Bookies even warn local competitors of Sharbers. Crazy.
So you’d best take disguises (or fancy dress) with you if you want to remain undetected whilst you’re Sharbing. Put on wig on, stick on a fake moustache and some sunglasses — because you’re definitely going to get found out sooner or later.
Other Problems With Sharbing
There are several issues that arise from Sharbing. Some of the problems are common sense ‘niggles’ which can be overcome. But other problems are less obvious, and I only found out about them myself because I happen to know people who have previously worked at Bookmakers and dealt with Shop Arbers first hand.
So here they are:
1. Phone Signal & Battery
Here’s a pretty obvious one. If you don’t have signal or battery life while you’re in the shop then you aren’t going to be able to identify arbs, full stop. Unfortunately some Bookmakers are based underground (especially in city locations), which escalates this problem.
2. Expenditure, Time, Inconvenience
If you’re visiting lots of different shops, then you’re going to need to get from A to B. If you use a car then that’s going to incur petrol and parking costs. Public transport can quickly rack up transportation costs throughout the day, as well.
Travelling around to place bets is pretty inconvenient, too. Compare catching busses around a busy city to sitting at home on your laptop with a cup of tea and daytime TV on in the background. It’s so much easier at the computer, and it takes just one scroll of the touchpad to switch to another Bookmaker.
3. Volumes
Volume is in fact one of the main?attractions?of Shop Arbing. If your stakes are limited online, then trying your luck at the shops is a good proposition. For example, you could be limited at Ladbrokes but able to place decent stakes in their shops.
The problem comes when some shop branches aren’t accustomed to large volumes. For example, the local village Betfred might typically accept the odd ￡10 singles — not ￡250 on a 10/1 shot at Aintree. Essentially, at certain locations Sharbers probably won’t be able to place the stakes they want.
Furthermore, if Sharbers place large stakes and win a huge sum, then quite often the small local Bookmaker branches won’t have the money to pay them. This requires ordering in the cash from the head office, thereby drawing even more attention to the Sharber. It’s far from ideal.
4. Awkwardness
Getting caught Shop Arbing is far more embarrassing than being caught arbing online. Our computers provides a layer of separation. With online betting you don’t need to face the staff and interact with them. Usually, the most interaction an online you’ll experience from online arbing is a stern email from the Bookmaker, telling you that your stakes are limited.
In a physical shop you’ve literally got to look someone in the eyes and play dumb if they ever query the bets you’ve placed, or are about to place. The arbs are usually flagged up — so the staff have to make the call as to whether the bet should be accepted or not in the first place. It’s all pretty awkward.
How Can You Make Sharbing A Success?
I have some suggestions. The first one is to focus your Sharbing activity in built up areas, like cities. The shops will be busy, and the customer base large. So you’re less likely to draw attention to yourself.
The second suggestion is to use racetracks. While you will incur hefty travel, ticket — and of course beer — expenses, you do however have the luxury of a lot of Bookmakers situated right next to one another. And you get a day out.
Additionally, at racetracks you’re accompanied by thousands of other people. Punters are constantly placing high stake bets and being paid out huge sums. The staff are busy, frantically dealing with customers in the queue. It’s a far cry from cleaning out the local village Betfred, where you’ll stand out like a sore thumb.
Even if you win a lot of bets at one Bookmaker at the track, it’s highly unlikely that you’d be recognised the next time you visit. Plus you could just simply move on to another location.
It goes without saying that every Sharber should have an Arbitrage bet calculator at the ready to ensure no mistakes are made during the rush to place a bet before the odds change.
Racetracks seem to be prime for Sharbing. The big question is whether the whole process is?profitable. Indeed, if you’re able to bet enough volume — which is never usually an issue at the tracks — then it certainly ought to be.
Just bare in mind that Sharbing has several limitations. Go out aiming to enjoy the races and treat the Shop Arbing as a bit of fun.
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]]>The post What’s The Best Sports Arbing Software? (Sure Bet Finder) appeared first on Punter2Pro.
]]>Let’s take a look at the best free and paid Arb Finders available.
Free vs. Paid Arbing Software
Free Arbing?Software
There are some free arbitrage bet finders available online. Using them is a good way to learn what’s involved in arbing, and it means you don’t have to look for arbs manually.
However, free arb finders have limitations. They don’t tend to refresh the feed fast enough, nor do they offer many markets. Sure bets don’t last for long so you really do need to have plenty of betting opportunities coming in thick and fast for it to be worth your time.
If you’re interested in finding free arbs, then I recommend signing up to one of the following services. They both include a free Arb Finder and an Arbing calculator:
- OddsMonkey. Use their ‘Odds Matcher’ to display free arbs. Until you upgrade to the Premium version it’s limited — but it will?give you a?feel for Arbing?and Matched Betting?(which are very similar).
- Bet Burger.?Their Arbing Software includes a free mode which shows Prematch arbs of up to 1% (with a 60 second delay). Scroll down for the full review of Bet Burger.
How to use the?OddsMonkey Odds Matcher as an Arb Finder:
- Click?the ‘Filter’ button.
- Change the Match Rating settings to show only?>100.00% Ratings (e.g.?100.00% to 200.00%).
- Click ‘Apply FIlter’ and?it’ll instantly show you where?a Bookmaker is offering better odds than a betting?exchange right now. This is what creates the risk-free arbitrage betting opportunity.
Paid Arbing?Software
You don’t need to spend a fortune on arbing?software applications. But if you want to take it seriously and make a decent profit it’s essential that you upgrade to a paid service or ‘Arb Finder’. Here’s why:
- You need to make the most of your betting accounts.?It’s inevitable that your stakes will be restricted if you continue to bet on arbs, so it’s important to make a decent profit while you still can.
- Speed is imperative.?The paid options are fast and constantly refresh. They give you every chance of beating other punters to the chase before the Bookie adjusts their odds and the arbitrage betting opportunity disappears.
- The features are rich.?You’ll benefit from extras such as email alerts, integrated arbing calculators and mobile site versions.
- Return on investment?is so good that it’ll pay for itself.?If you make the most of a paid arbing service then you’ll earn a much greater profit?than simply?picking off a few?free arbs.
Basically,?Arbitrage betting?opportunities come and go very quickly. No matter how experienced you are it’s almost impossible to regularly find enough free Arb bets without an Arb Finder that constantly monitors the odds. So I’m going to recommend some excellent solutions to you.
Here’s a review of the six best Arbitrage Bet Finders on the market…
1. Rebelbetting — For Serious Arbing
Rebelbetting is without any doubt the best, most professional arbing service on the market.?It’s fast, user-friendly and the most actively developed arbitrage application today.
The “secret investment method” they promote is of course sports arbing/surebetting, and they give you all?the tools to make the very most from precisely that. To get started, their free Sports Arbitrage e-book contains everything you need know, and will guide you through your first risk-free?arbitrage?bet.
RebelBetting’s?specialist?Arbing software displaying the currently available surebets.
Rebelbetting Features
- Average profits of 10-15% every month for just a few hours work every week
- They’ll teach you everything you need to know, and guide you to profit
- You can work from anywhere as long as you have access to the internet
- The downloadable software can be run on Mac as well as Windows! It can be used in?free mode? (limited version).
- Users gain access to value bets — yet another way to earn from sports betting,
RebelBetting are aware that subscribers worry about bookmakers shutting down their accounts. So thankfully the company?continues to reinvest money into adding more bookmakers and more features onto their software?to compensate. This means that it becomes increasingly better value for money, too.
RebelBetting is split into two versions: Starter and Pro. The Pro version offers the complete service, without any limitations on the arb/value bet %, and features bets on exchanges, sharps and brokers.
As of 2023, RebelBetting members can now access an additional feature called “value betting” with their subscription. In the past, sure bets (arbs) and value bets were only available through separate subscriptions. This new inclusion is a major benefit to subscribers, as they now have access to an additional strategy for maximising their profits. With this expanded range of options, RebelBetting is even better positioned to help its members succeed in the world of sports betting.
Learn more about value betting
Rebelbetting Cost
Both RebelBetting plans have recurring subscriptions — but you can cancel before the end of your subscription period.
The payment structure is generous considering the speed & reliability of the product — not to mention the abundance of profitable betting opportunities it brings you. The Rebelbetting trial week is a good way to get a feel for the software. But ultimately you’ll benefit from upgrading to the Pro version.
RebelBetting Payment Structure
Is Rebelbetting’s Arb Finder worth the cost?
Absolutely — if you’re treating arbing as more than just a hobby. If you’re taking it seriously, and looking to generate a fulltime income (for as long as your accounts remain open), then here’s your Arbitrage Finder.
You won’t make a long-term career from arbing, but Rebelbetting gives you the most opportunity to profit while it lasts.
2. Bet Burger — For In-Browser, Cross-Compatible Arbing
The Bet Burger arbitrage betting site has been around for over 7 years, serving well over 35,000 subscribers. They offer a great selection of resources for the absolute beginner, making arbitrage betting accessible to all.
The Bet Burger arbing software scans more than 100 bookies, identifying both ‘Live’ inplay arbs, and traditional ‘Prematch’ arbs. It currently finds Surebets across 30+ different sports and 200+ markets. The total number of compatible Bookmakers/Sports continues to grow.
The in-browser arbing software makes life simple for arbitrage bettors — made evident by Bet Burger’s cross-platform compatibility. Unlike most arbing services, Bet Burger runs on smart phones, tablets, PC and Mac.
Furthermore, Bet Burger includes a neat Chrome browser add-on called ‘Arb Helper’ (which I highly recommend using). This plugin saves you ample time during bet placement by taking you directly to the betslip. Importantly, the Bookmakers are unable to detect the source of the redirect — making your arb activity less obvious.
Bet Burger’s Arbing Software — an in-browser interface (with Mac compatibility)
Bet Burger Features
- Inplay and Prematch arbs
- Simple in-browser, cross compatible interface (smart phones, iPad, PC, Mac etc.)
- Provides?Middles?for both Inplay and Prematch subscriptions.
- Arb Helper add-on leads the user straight to the betslips, making for rapid bet placement. This is untraceable by the Bookmakers.
- Supports 80+ Bookmakers. This creates plenty of opportunities to profit.
- Includes access the ‘Arbitrage Betting Academy’ — a training program specially made to educate subscribers about arbitrage betting.
- Claims to provide users with “more arbs than from any other rival”.
Bet Burger Cost
Bet Burger offers a free version of their arbing software, showing Prematch arbs up to 1% (60 seconds delayed). To earn a serious profit, you’ll need to upgrade.
There are 2 different premium modes split into “Prematch” and “Live”. The subscription prices for are competitive and can be purchased for durations of 1 day, up to 1 year.
Unless you already have experience in placing arbitrage bets, I recommend that you start off with one of the Prematch packages — ideally a 30 day subscription.
Bet Burger Payment Structure: ‘Pre-match’ and ‘Live’ Surebets
3. BetOnValue — For ‘Price Watch’ Arbing
BetOnValue is an established Surebet finder that boasts thousands?of daily arbs, from over 100 supported bookmakers and betting exchanges. The site evolved from BetBrain — a well-known Surebet alert service.
As the name “BetOnValue” suggests, the service isn’t solely focused on arbing. It incorporates a?comprehensive odds comparison tool, displaying prices across a vast array of sports markets. In addition, an?odds history graph reveals?all recorded prices since an arb was first detected by BetOnValue. Users can filter the graph by a range of variables — such as the Bookmaker and time range.
BetOnValue will appeal most to Arbers looking to monitor price movements. But if you’re starting out, it’s worth remembering that?arbitrage bettors generally seek risk-free bets — not the best odds on any particular selection.?These additional features offered by BetOnValue are a great bonus, though. For value betting software, check out: The Best Value Betting Software/Finder.
The real highlight of BetOnValue is, of course, the ‘Surebets’ section. It’s?designed to show arbitrage opportunities as soon as they appear (for Gold members, anyway), and it can be configured to the user’s preference. It has a simple interface that’s enjoyed by many recurring subscribers.
BetOnValue also includes an integrated?Accounting System and Arb Calculator for all members — even free signups. Since Arbing requires speed, there’s very little time to waste logging bets or calculating the profitability of an arbitrage opportunity. Therefore, by signing up to BetOnValue, you’ll instantly benefit from these two time-saving features.
The BetOnValue Arb Feed, with direct links to bookmakers
BetOnValue Features
- Supports 100+ bookmakers
- Free account (20 minute delay, maximum 1% return on arbs)
- Simple & customisable arb filter
- Accounting feature for logging arbitrage bets
- Detailed Odds Comparison tool
- “ValueBets” section for monitoring odds movements
- Helpful Surebetting advice & explanations published on the BetOnValue website
- Direct & ‘Deep linking’ integration with Bookmakers’ websites
BetOnValue Cost
BetOnValue offers 3 subscription packages: Free, Silver and Gold. All packages offer “ValueBets”, as well as the Accounting feature, as standard.?Paying customers (Silver and Gold members only) obtain access to all 100+ compatible Bookmakers.?
I?recommend making the upgrade to Gold (€125 /month), where all arbs are instantly available, as a lot of opportunities will disappear within the 3 minute delay on Silver memberships. Hence the higher price.
Sign up today for a 15% exclusive discount using code: PRO15
The 3 packages offered by betonvalue. try out the interface for free!
4. Odds Monkey — For Casual Arbing
OddsMonkey is the #1 Matched Betting site, and their software serves over 25,000 matched bettors.?Like Rebelbetting, they’re constantly evolving to?ensure that they keep up with their competitors, and recently added?new features such as a 2-way and 3-way dutch finder to the Premium package.
OddsMonkey combines the similar concept of Matched Betting?with Arbing. The powerful and yet incredibly simple Odds Matcher makes finding arbs a breeze — and unsurprisingly it’s the most used tool in the matched betting community.
The OddsMonkey?OddsMatcher showing Arbs (where the Rating is >100%)
SIGN UP TO ODDSMONKEY FOR FREE
The Ratings above 100% show current arbitrage opportunities i.e. where the Bookmaker odds are above the exchange odds for that selection. That’s it.
OddsMonkey’s matching tool was originally intended for Matched Betting — but don’t be put off by this. It doubles up as an excellent, and very cheap arbitrage bet finder.
OddsMonkey Features
- An in-browser odds matcher for identifying sure bet odds
- The 5 free guides show members?how to make an estimated ￡45 in under an hour from Matched Betting
- It?unlocks the key to earning thousands of pounds from free bets
- An excellent daily offers calendar which guides subscribers on?the latest sports & casino bonuses
- An active forum of?members?from the Matched Betting community
OddsMonkey Cost
I recommended using the free version to start with. But from one glance over?the list of Premium features it’s clear that ￡19.99 a month is a generous price. Even with minimum input it’s practically certain you’ll see a return on investment from arb hunting using OddsMonkey. However, note that OddsMonkey aren’t allowed to promote “guaranteed” profits for any of their services.
Again, the best value option?is the Premium Annual subscription, where you’re rewarded for your loyalty.
OddsMonkey?Payment Structure
SIGN UP TO ODDSMONKEY FOR FREE
5. Oddstorm — For Football Arbs
The OddStorm Arb Finder?was founded by motivated sport analysts and developers. Their software is currently focused on football arbs, with the view to incorporate all others sports in the imminent future.
This product is perfect for those seeking a fast in-browser arb feed. Whilst it includes a downloadable desktop app, it also supports a web-based version with mobile compatibility. All bets which appear in the surebet feed are identified by OddStorm?themselves, not third parties. This means that the arbs are reliable, and immediately zapped to your device in super-quick time.
The OddStorm arbitrage betting?software?is a well thought-out product. It’s highly configurable and offers a large array of arbitrage types, such as: Surebets, Middles, and Polish Middles. There’s even the option to filter by PreMatch and InPlay sure bets, too.
Where OddStorm?goes the extra mile is that it offers an?automated feature which opens up the bet slips at the Bookies. This has been developed without using methods like “deep linking” which can be easily traced by the Bookmakers. This technically-sound, hard-to-detect arbing software truly lends itself to professional betting groups.
The OddStorm?Sure Bet Finder Main window (downloadable version)
OddStorm Features
- InPlay?and?PreMatch arbs
- A choice between a?Web?and?Desktop App?(although desktop is recommended due to the priority it gets on support/updates)
- Provides?Middles?and?Polish Middles?for both InPlay and PreMatch.
- Fast refresh rates. 1-3 seconds for InPlay and average 15 seconds for PreMatch.
- Simple navigation, leading users straight to the betslip — all you have to do is click “bet”. This feature is untraceable by the Bookmakers.
- Supports 60+ bookmakers and “clones”.
- Odds Comparison and Odd History database. You can view the history of odds and how it’s changed in real time.
- A training program specially made to teach you everything about sports arbitrage betting.
OddStorm Cost
There are 2 different payment structures: the “VIP” and the “VIP Plus”.
I’d recommend purchasing a PreMatch package first. InPlay arbs are riskier, and you’d have to be very fast to make a success of it.
OddStorm?VIP Payment Structure (Published: July 2017)
OddStorm?VIP Plus Payment Structure (Published: July 2017)
The main benefit to the “VIP Plus” package is the semi-automatic navigation (to the Bookie bet slip) feature. This enables professionals to set up their ‘syndicate’, and to pick up as much as 30% more arbs across all compatible Bookies.
6. BetSlayer — For ‘Value For Money’ Arbing
Betslayer is a relatively new entrant to the arbitrage software market. What this arb finder represents is excellent value for money —?offering both mobile & desktop compatibility, 32+ bookmakers, and on-going support.
The simple-to-use Betslayer interface is completely cloud based (like Bet Burger and Oddstorm) meaning there’s no software to be downloaded to your device. The Betslayer pre-match refresh rates are sufficiently fast, providing subscribers ample opportunities to regularly profit from arbitrage bets. All arbs display in a neat and easily readable table, with the functionality to take users directly to the bet slips at the Bookie. It’s a pleasure to use.
If you’re familiar with Matched Betting services like OddsMonkey or Profit Accumulator, then Betslayer?might be for you. It offers a similar ‘low subscription, high reward’ proposition. It also has that same ‘community feel’, by providing free arbitrage betting courses and walkthroughs, as well as an enormous arbitrage betting Facebook group. Help is always at hand.
Betslayer?is only ￡29 a month — and works out much less for longer subscription packages (see below). It offers a free 7-day trial as well as a 14 day money-back guarantee if you’re not totally satisfied. For such a small investment, Betslayer is a great place to start arbing.
The Betslayer arbing software has helped thousands of members achieve a regular income from arbing.
Betslayer Features
- Supports 32+ bookmakers
- Mobile & desktop compatibility
- Football, Baseball, Basketball, Tennis, Rugby, American Football, Snooker, Boxing & MMA arbs.
- Simple table layout, with filter features
- ‘Add to betslip’ functionality
- Free arbitrage betting courses and walkthroughs
- 7 day free trial, and 14 day money back guarantee
- Biggest arbitrage betting facebook community
- Regular updates voted by customers
Betslayer Cost
Betslayer?offers a free 7 day trial. I highly recommend signing up and giving it a go.
The standard full monthly subscription is only ￡29 /month. The annual option is ￡149, which works out at ￡12.42 /month. I recommend the monthly commitment.
At these prices, Betslayer?is perfect for part-time arbers as opposed to the full-time ‘professional’.
The low cost of Betslayer’s arbing software
How do I pay for Arbing Software?
OddsMonkey,?RebelBetting and?OddStorm all accept Skrill as a payment method.
Arb Finders For US & Canada Sportsbooks
I’m often asked “how can I find arbs in US sportsbooks?”. But up until recently there hasn’t been many (public) arbitrage services for USA sports bettors.
However, the US/Canada sports betting scene is constantly evolving with new products and services. Now I can finally recommend software that provides arbs on the majority of popular US sports betting sites — OddsJam.
an arbitrage bet on oddsjam producing a 13.62% risk free profit
OddsJam Features
The OddsJam arbing service is an in-browser arb finder which includes access to:
-
- Arbitrage bets
- low hold bets (when there’s even value at more than one sportsbook, in order to produce a risk-free 0% net result)
-
- Middles (see my post on complex arbs)
- +EV bets (also known as Value Bets)
- 7 day free trial
It also comes complete with all the necessary calculators and a Bet tracker.
This is the all-in-one arbitrage solution that the US & Canadian sports bettors have been waiting for!
OddsJam Cost
There are three packages available: Offshore & Canada Plan, United States Plan and Industry Plan. The first two plans are essentially focused on their respective regions (Canada or the USA), while the ‘Industry Plan’ covers everything — plus unlimited access to the +EV bet finder.
The three pricing plans
Automated Arbitrage Betting
Many arbitrage bettors are interested in automated arbitrage software — where the Back and Lay bets are placed automatically.
Of course arbing bots exist. However, those with an automated arbing program don’t tend to share it. After all, if everyone had an automated solution, arbing would become far too competitive. So unless you develop an arbing bot yourself, you’ll struggle to achieve complete automation.
I’m sure that software developers (such as those featured in this post) are capable of building an automated solution. But no doubt they’ve come to find that it’s hard enough to hard-code a program to perform bet placement at bookmakers, let alone for it to bet on an exchange at the same time. Making an automated arbing bot suitable for widespread public use is very challenging — hence why commercial arb feeds require manual bet placement.
Want To Learn More About Arbing?
In the past you may have heard or read about “arbitrage betting”, “sure betting”, “sports arbitrage” or “sure wins”. Those are interchangeable names for “arbing” — situations where punters are able to place a combination of bets using different bookmakers in order to secure a (mathematically) guaranteed profit whatever result happens.
But unfortunately not all online content about arbing is accurate or truthful. Here’s a summary of what you need to know:
Mathematically Speaking, Arbing is Completely Risk Free
When I hear about “risk free profit” my scepticism tends to kick in. But this is a special case.
With an “arb” or “sure bet” the bettor has an?opportunity to place one bet per each outcome of a sporting event using different betting companies. The result is a guaranteed profit regardless of the outcome.?It does require some initial investment (deposits to Bookmaker and?exchange betting accounts), but if you follow the simple bet procedure then you’ll increase your bankroll, risk free.
Disclaimer: This is all mathematically speaking. In rare cases where the Bookmaker does not pay out, or voids your bets, you are not guaranteed profits.
Despite What You Read, Arbing is Still Active
Arbing is?secretive. There are still groups or “betting syndicates” making a?living?from it and they?don’t want?to encourage?others to join in and disrupt the status quo. More arbers?means increased?competition for odds and reduced profitability for the professionals. Bookmakers already limit accounts to discourage arbing — but the sure betting opportunity is still there to an extent, nonetheless.
It’s Very Similar to Matched Betting
A good foundation for arbitrage?is matched betting, or “bonus arbitrage”.?If you’re not familiar with it then I encourage you to?read?my Step-By-Step Guide.
With matched betting you need to seek a suitable sporting event to place your Back and Lay bets on. Typically, you’ll look for close match between the bookmaker and exchange odds.?The process enables bettors?to?cash in on Bookmaker free bets at no risk. It’s very similar to arbing — except that this time you’ll be looking for odds where the Bookmaker has better odds than Betfair. Arbing is essentially: “back high at the Bookmaker,?Lay at lower odds on the exchange”.
If you’re interested in starting out with Matched Betting and then graduating onto Arbitrage Betting and other risk-free (or low-risk) strategies, then I highly recommend purchasing the exceptionally good value Betting Mastermind package from Mike Cruickshank. This includes the popular Each Way Sniper software — an EW arb finder.
Betting Mastermind & Each Way Sniper Review
Arbing’s Not Difficult — But it Has Limitations
The basics are actually not too difficult. You can learn more about arbing from reading my post:?Is Arbing Worth It?. This?should bring you right up to speed and teach you how to generate?a risk free profit from your bets. What I conclude in my post is that arbing?is worth it if you’re prepared to accept your betting accounts restricted or closed. That’s unfortunately the downside to regularly churning a risk-free profit from the Bookmakers.
Best Betting Exchanges For Arbing
If you haven’t already opened an account at a Betting Exchange, you’ll need to do so for arbitrage betting. I recommend the following:
The post What’s The Best Sports Arbing Software? (Sure Bet Finder) appeared first on Punter2Pro.
]]>The post Betting Mastermind Review – Profit Maximiser, Each Way Sniper & More appeared first on Punter2Pro.
]]>In this article I firstly introduce Mike Cruickshank and then review each of his main money-making sports betting products.
Who Is Mike Cruickshank? What Does He Do?
Mike Cruickshank is an industry leading creator of low risk betting systems. All of his strategies are based on mathematically sound principles, and most of them involve hedging: betting against one outcome with other bookmaker/exchanges so that your betting bank is never at risk.
Readers of this site will be familiar with some of the methods Mike teaches including matched betting, casino bonus bagging, arbitrage betting, value betting, sports trading on Betfair — and combinations of them used together.
However, Mike has spent the past decade not only sharing his knowledge, but also producing software that weaves elements of these proven methods together into a one-stop shop for aspiring professional bettors.
Why Should I Trust Mike Cruickshank Products?
Sports betting is rife with scam artists who sell e-books, tips, software, and strategies that offer little or no value. Mike Cruickshank doesn’t fall into this category.
Admittedly from the outside Mike Cruickshank’s software looks a lot like most other “money making” products: big promises with a subscription fee attached. And on that basis, you could easily dismiss his wide array of tools.
However, unlike the majority of other so-called sports betting experts and gurus, Mike’s promises aren’t hollow. The techniques he teaches, and tools he provides, guide members to guaranteed — or low risk — profits.
His videos and resources are indicative of an experienced, knowledgeable bettor that genuinely understands the importance of gaining a mathematical edge, staying rigid, and completely removing luck from the equation.
In other words, his software is not a waste of money.
What Products Does Mike Cruickshank Sell?
The main product packages he currently sells are:
- Profit Maximiser — a popular matched betting service
- Each Way Sniper — an Each Way arb finder
- EV Maximiser — a casino bonus bagging course
- Betting Mastermind — all of the above three products, plus many others, rolled into one.
Let’s take a look at each of these sports betting product packages one by one…
1. Profit Maximiser
Profit Maximiser is a complete Matched Betting tool kit & low risk betting package, helping to set bettors onto a professional path. It’s the most well-known product offered by Mike Cruickshank.
If you’re not yet familiar with with Matched Betting, then check out my beginner’s guide. The process involves generating a risk free profit using Bookmaker free bets and promotions.
In some ways Profit Maximiser is the “suped-up” version of its (rather basic) predecessor — named ‘Bonus Bagging’ — with many more features and a much improved layout.
Profit Maximiser includes a lot of very lengthy, detailed, video tutorials to teach members about all intricacies of the Matched Betting process, along with an extensive list of offers to tackle. This is all very valuable to members.
The main tools available on Profit Maximiser are as follows:
- Matched Betting Calculator
- Odds Converter
- Bet log (for recording progress)
- Daily offers calendar
- Spread Betting offers
- Bingo offers
- Casino offers
- Advanced casino offers
Cost: ￡12 per month, or ￡116.40 per year.
Using The Product
As a new member, you should begin with the “Start Here” button — which outlines a very clear road map to follow. This firstly points users towards tutorial videos, before moving onto the next stage.
Mike’s videos aren’t as polished as those you’ll find on some of the more expensive Matched Betting services. But they’re designed for those wanting to understand exactly what’s going on with matched betting rather than merely following a set of instructions. It sets up bettors up for continued growth.
Following on from the videos, members can immediately begin generating money through matched betting with no further delay. For this, there’s a large list of bookmakers offering free bets to new customers. Clicking one of them will direct you to concise instructions of how to profit from their current signup promotion.
The Odds Matcher and Calculators included with Profit Maximiser makes it very easy to find a suitable event, and to work out the correct stakes to place at bookies and betting exchanges. It loads fast, has a huge list of compatible bookmakers, consistently shows arbitrage bets (where the match rating is over 100%), and works just as well as the competitors’ versions.
What’s next after the signup bonuses?
Profit Maximiser also provides detailed information on other more specific offer types — such as financial, bingo, casino — along with a calendar showing daily offers (commonly known as ‘reloads’). This ensures that members receive ongoing value beyond the initial bookmaker signup offers.
Over the course of two days, my Profit Maximiser was notified of over 40 new reload bonuses to tackle. There really is so much value to scoop up using the information on this service.
Verdict
Is Profit Maximiser as fancy as the leading matched betting services? No.
Does Profit Maximiser provide the resources & tools necessary to help members learn the ropes and consistently earn from matched betting? Absolutely — and for a small cost!
Any experienced matched bettor will tell you that new offers, as well as the matched bet finder, are the most important elements. And Profit Maximiser provides both at half the price of the leading services.
Profit Maximiser is only ￡12 per month, or ￡116.40 per year.
For those looking for a low-cost matched bet finder, excellent tutorials, a list of current signup offers, ongoing offers, and a more personal (albeit no thrills) experience — look no further than Profit Maximiser.
2. Each Way Sniper
The Each Way Sniper enables bettors to exploit Each Way arbitrage opportunities on horse racing. It works by identifying cases when the difference in the bookmaker’s EW odds and the Betfair Place & Win Lay odds differ enough to create a risk free betting opportunity.
Each Way arbing employs the “back and lay” process used in matched betting (as taught by Profit Maximiser). The main difference with an arbitrage bet?is that it doesn’t rely on free bets to generate a profit.
To learn the basic principles of arbitrage betting, see my arbing guide.
Here’s what’s included with Each Way Sniper (or ‘EWS’ for short):
- Training resources
- Calculators
- Software for:
- Each Way horse racing and golf arbs
- Dutching
Cost: ￡1 for 14 days, or ￡118 for an entire year.
Using The Product
To get to grips with the Each Way Sniper, Mike has put together a collection of video tutorials. This is where new members should start out. As with all of Mike’s videos, the content is comprehensive and informative.
Those from a matched betting/arbing background will find all EWS learning materials very intuitive, as it builds on prior knowledge. However, even a complete newcomer can learn everything they need to know about Each Way arbing within a couple of hours. It’s pretty straightforward.
Once you understand the process, you can head straight over to the software section to start identifying Each Way arbitrage bets to “snipe” (on race days). These all appear in a table that’s very similar to the matched bet finder.
Take the following Each Way arb scenario as an example:
The calculations provided show that a profit of ￡1.35 profit is completely risk free (provided you place all bets, of course!). The key thing to note here is that in the Win market alone, there’s no arbitrage opportunity. But the low Betfair Place Lay odds (1.5) create a misalignment between the Bookies theoretical Place odds of 1.82, enabling a risk free bet.
Additional Bet Types
Mike has extended EWS to include additional features:
- Golf arb finder
- Extra Place Dutching.
The Golf arb finder is almost identical to the horse racing version, accessed via a different page. It enables users to earn risk free profits from EW golf bets.
The Dutching calculator, however, is an entirely different piece of software altogether. It helps users to capitalise on “extra place” promotions at bookies to lock in a profit by backing every horse in the race. This requires a lot of different stakes, but no need to use the betting exchange. It’s a highly profitable system that, again, is mathematically sound.
“Value System”
Lastly, Mike incorporates a “value system” section into his Each Way Sniper. This is not an entirely new strategy in itself. It’s simply a riskier approach to EW arbing that involves no hedging (i.e. betting at bookies without placing Lay bets on the exchange).
I know for a fact that the riskier “value system” approach is more profitable than regular EW arbing in the long run. The obvious downside is that losing runs will be disheartening… and damaging to your bankroll.
Verdict
The Each Way sniper is not an all-encompassing piece of arbitrage software for multiple sports and bet types — like RebelBetting.
It is, however, a tool that focuses on one particular type of arb. It works brilliantly, and during the time I wrote this section of the review, my Each Way Sniper detected several opportunities.
The price of Each Way Sniper is ￡1 for 14 days, or ￡118 for an entire year.
At that cost I have absolutely no doubts, provided your Bookmaker accounts are not heavily all limited, that you’ll earn a comfortable profit using this product. Although, as with any winning system, your accounts will eventually be limited.
3. EV Maximiser
EV Maximiser is a Casino Bonus Bagging training resource that includes several articles and calculation tools. It’s designed for those keen to venture further down the advantage play route.
I’ve provided some details about Bonus Bagging on this site. Mathematically speaking, it’s sound. But the process is notorious for creating player/casino disputes. You’ll inevitably need to fight for payouts at some stage; so be prepared for that. This isn’t for everyone.
Cost: ￡59.99 one-off fee.
Using The Product
New EV Maximiser members need to log in and access the ‘Training’ section. From here they’re able to follow an entire course — including video explanations — on how to tackle casino bonuses. Below is snippet of some of the topics covered:
Members are provided with calculators and data simulators to work out the EV (expected value) of casino offers before taking them on.
While the information is clear and accurate, and the tools are excellent — the obvious downside to the EV Maximiser package is that there’s no Casino bonus list included. This is a shame, because without the offers provided, you’re going to need to search for them yourself. This means only the most devoted bettors will truly succeed in applying this method.
Verdict
EV Maximiser is well laid out, and provides sound information on little-known casino bonus strategies.
However, I find it the least appealing product in Mike’s large offering. Casino Bonus Bagging is a niche that only risk averse players should venture into. Furthermore, there are some other free resources that could be an equally good starting point for beginners — such as BeatingBonuses.
EV Maximiser costs a ￡59.99 one-off fee.
The price is, however, very competitive and help is always at hand. And it’s worth remembering that assistance is very difficult to come by in such a secretive realm of online money-making.
Nonetheless, I view EV Maximiser as no more than a ‘sweetener’. It’s a product that works best as part of a larger package involving multiple lines of attack. That larger package is Betting Mastermind (up next).
4. Betting Mastermind
Betting Mastermind is the ultimate package from Mike Cruickshank — which includes Profit Maximiser, Each Way Sniper, EV Maximiser and several more products that I’ll detail in this section.
While the content is superb, the individual parts of Betting Mastermind are not particularly well integrated from a user interface standpoint. It feels as though its parts came from individually sold items, now bundled together. While this takes away from the user experience a little, it’s a minor gripe in the grand scheme of things.
Here’s all additional components of Betting Mastermind:
- Bonus Bagging
- Accumulator Generator
- Bookie Blowout
- Golden Parachute
- Dutching Bounty
- Acca Booster
- Betfair Sniper
- Betfair 1% Club
- Betfair Renegade
Cost: ￡216 or 4 x ￡58.80. ￡40 yearly admin fee. All other costs are waived for life.
1. Bonus Bagging
Bonus Bagging is the name of Mike’s entry-level product. It’s a very basic Matched Betting information service.
To get started with Bonus Bagging, users need to log in to their account and click the ‘Request new bet’ to receive information (via email) about a bookmaker signup promotion. This email will provide a bet that you need to immediately place using a new bookmaker account in order to trigger a free bet. Learn about bookmaker free bet types.
SUBSCRIBE TO BETTING MASTERMIND
Once you’ve placed the initial bet, to realise a profit you must continue following the next instructions from either the ‘Rollover’ or ‘Claim Free Bet’ section — depending on what type of promotion you’ve started. You can request missed bets if you didn’t complete the instructions before the odds changed, or the sports event ended.
Profit Maximiser has, in my opinion, made this whole system pretty redundant. It doesn’t have huge value, aside from regular emails containing information on new reload bonuses.
2. Accumulator Generator
Accumulator Generator enables bettors to take advantage of bookmakers’ accumulator refunds.?I would recommend this product to anyone that’s already familiar with matched betting.
I must admit, accumulators are one area of professional sports betting that I’ve never properly looked into. So I was pleasantly surprised to discover that there were multiple ways of earning from them. These types of profitable techniques occasionally crop up in lengthy sports betting forums, but are rarely wrapped in a software package for the public to utilise.
Mike not only provides the vital knowledge through Accumulator Generator — but also a list of the latest accumulator bonuses, as well as the calculators to do the maths. This is everything you’ll need to start making profits from accas.
3. Bookie Blowout
Bookie Blowout is a service whereby Mike provides early horse racing selections via email on a daily basis. The idea is that his selections will shorten in price, enabling bettors to Lay them off (using Betfair or another exchange), to lock in a profit on the race day. In many ways, Bookie Blowout functions like a Tipster service.
Advice comes in the following format:
SUBSCRIBE TO BETTING MASTERMIND
The package comes complete with a lengthy PDF, along with some easy-to-use calculators, and several videos. The selections Mike provides specialise in a beating the Start Price (closing line). When mastered, beating the SP is, in my opinion, the Holy Grail of sports betting.
Having read Mike’s PDF, I was able to get an inkling as to the types of methods he might be using to pre-empt odds that’ll drop on the day of the race. Generally, it seems that the early odds are often vastly inaccurate and quickly sharpen up on the race day, which makes sense.
Admittedly, I haven’t verified a large enough set of results to prove the service consistently delivers value. Reliable sources state that this service works, but ultimately leads to your accounts being limited. Standard.
4. Golden Parachute
The Golden Parachute method takes advantage of bookies’ Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) — where if the starting price of your selection ends up being higher than the price you took, the bookie will pay you out at the higher odds.
With Golden Parachute, you are taught how to use different BOG bookmakers to bet on all horses in a race so that if odds one of the selections drifts and wins, it bags a profit. Normally there are more than 10 races with the eligible criteria available each day.
Mike recommends this winning strategy when it’s a slow week and there isn’t much else going on.
5. Dutching Bounty
Dutching Bounty extends Each Way Sniper. The system works by generating a profit when bookies pay more for a horse to place than the win-odds imply they should.
With this method, instead of backing & laying (like in EWS), you Dutch all of the horses EW at different bookmakers using the Dutching calculator.
The target is to have a break-even worst case scenario when the favourite wins. Then if an outsider wins you will secure a large profit — usually in excess of ￡100. If any of the other horses win you’ll make roughly 30%-50% of the maximum profit.
6. Acca Booster
Acca Booster teaches seasoned matched bettors how to profit from boosted accumulator bets — which mainly occur during weekend football. These are value bets; where the boosted back odds are higher than the lay odds on the exchange.
Mike states that you’ll need to persevere with this method for results to average themselves out. Thus, the Acca Booster requires a bigger bankroll, patience, and risk tolerance.
7. Betfair Sniper
Betfair Sniper is a detailed PDF explainer containing information on several entry-level Betfair strategies for horse racing.
The principles of Betfair Sniper are logical and — given how useful other Mike Cruickshank products are — could well be valuable. However, it is one of the products within Betting Mastermind that I cannot entirely vouch for. That’s because there’s no mathematical edge that can be specifically quantified when no two traders would yield the same results. It requires practice, discipline, refinement, and the ability to spot the correct market conditions to succeed.
I view Betfair Sniper as a helpful starting point for traders looking for hints on where to find value on the exchange. But there’s no guarantees.
8. Betfair 1% Club
The Betfair 1% club is another PDF explainer that teaches bettors how to apply effective scalping techniques prior to kick off, in order to lock in a profit no matter which team wins.
Ultra-efficient match odds markets in the world’s largest football leagues — such as the Premier League, La Liga, Series A, Bundesliga & Champions League — are required for the best results.
9. Betfair Renegade
Betfair Renegade is system that calculates the ‘true odds’ of sports events. If Betfair currently offers better odds, it advises that you back at those odds. Again, this is value betting put into practice.
In my trial, the advised bets tended to be on less-popular football markets (e.g. correct score in lower or overseas league football).
SUBSCRIBE TO BETTING MASTERMIND
I must admit, If Betfair Renegade weren’t part of this particular package I’d remain highly sceptical of how accurate the ‘true odds’ are (given past experiences in pricing up markets). So I’m keen to explore Betfair Renegade further to verify its long term profitability.
Assuming there’s value to using this service, I suspect it comes from the fact the targeted markets are either not well formed (illiquid), so the prices are speculative. Or that these niche markets have far less smart money in general, even when they are seemingly well formed.
I’d treat Betfair Renegade as if it were a tipster service: proceed cautiously, but with an open mind.
Verdict
Even if you do not come to use each and every component of the Betting Mastermind package, there’s ample value to be gained from using just a few of them. Take Profit Maximiser and Each Way Sniper — both included into the package — as an example.
Along with the huge list of additional resources and tools, there’s absolutely no doubt that Betting Mastermind is worth its fee.
The Betting Mastermind package costs ￡216 (one-off cost), or 4 x ￡58.80. With the?exception of a yearly ￡40 admin fee, all other costs are waived for life.
For ￡216 + a yearly ￡40 admin fee thereafter, Betting Mastermind is a serious prospect for any aspiring professional bettor.
Are Mike’s Products Worth The Investment?
Mike’s Cruickshank products are an example of substance over style.
You could easily be put off by all the sales spiel, overwhelming array of tools, slightly confusing user interface and general lack of… shininess. But once you get to grips with this slightly disjointed — but highly valuable — medley of products, you’re only going to reap the rewards.
Pros
- Solid reputation in the matched betting and advantage play community.
- Includes an array of tools and resources that succeed in setting amateur and intermediate bettors onto a professional path.
- All methods are rooted in mathematical foundations. There’s no ‘hit & hope’ strategies involved.
- Several little-known techniques are taught. This vastly increases the likelihood of identifying a sports betting ‘niche’ without too much competition or unwanted attention from bookies.
- Well known for offering helpful advice via email support, or via an exclusive (and active) Facebook group of other subscribers.
- Extremely good value for money. Any half-dedicated member will comfortably make back the subscription fees, and earn a substantial profit.
- Moneyback guarantee. If you’re unhappy with your purchase, you’re fully entitled to a refund via ClickBank.
Cons
- Various different systems have been merged together — particularly in Betting Mastermind — making it a little bit confusing and awkward for beginners to navigate around.
- Some additional specialist products (e.g. arb and value bet finders for all sports) would be required to fully expand a professional sports betting operation.
- Videos, materials and the user interface are less polished than other (admittedly more expensive) services.
Very few sports betting products deliver on their promises.?Mike Cruickshank’s products do, and at any extremely low cost. That’s a far cry from the vast majority of other flawed, na?ve, expensive sports betting services you could just as easily fall victim to.
Without a doubt, his products are worth the investment. Especially Betting Mastermind and Profit Maximiser.
The post Betting Mastermind Review – Profit Maximiser, Each Way Sniper & More appeared first on Punter2Pro.
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