How the Arbitrage Calculator Works
The Betstamp Arbitrage Calculator tells you exactly how to split your stake between two sides of a market to lock in guaranteed profit. Enter your total stake and the odds available on each side (from two different sportsbooks) — the calculator returns how much to bet on each side and your guaranteed profit.
How to Use the Arbitrage Calculator
- Enter your Total Stake (e.g., $100)
- Enter Outcome 1 Odds (from Sportsbook A)
- Enter Outcome 2 Odds (from Sportsbook B)
- Choose your odds format (American, Decimal, or Fractional)
- The calculator returns:
- Bet 1 Stake: how much to wager on Outcome 1
- Bet 2 Stake: how much to wager on Outcome 2
- Profit: your guaranteed return regardless of outcome
If the odds you've entered don't form an arbitrage (i.e., implied probabilities sum to over 100%), the profit output will be negative, meaning you'd lose money. No arb exists at those prices.
What is Arbitrage Betting?
Arbitrage betting (often called "arbing" or "sure betting") is placing bets on every outcome of a match at different sportsbooks such that the combined odds guarantee profit regardless of the result. It works because sportsbooks price independently and don't always move their lines in sync.
When you find Sportsbook A pricing Team X at +150 and Sportsbook B pricing Team Y at +110, the combined implied probabilities sum to less than 100% — and you can bet both sides for a locked-in profit.
Arbitrage isn't about predicting outcomes. It's about exploiting pricing discrepancies between sportsbooks.
How to Find Arbitrage Opportunities
Arbs typically appear when:
- A sportsbook is slow to adjust after news (injury, weather, lineup change)
- Sportsbooks disagree on prop pricing, especially across different market makers
- Live betting lines move faster than individual books can keep up with
- Promotional boosted odds create a market imbalance
- A sharp book and a soft book meaningfully disagree on line value
The math is easy. The hard part is finding opportunities before the market corrects — live arbs often exist for seconds. Pre-game arbs can last longer but offer smaller margins (typically 0.5–2%).
Tools like [Betstamp PRO] scan all major sportsbooks simultaneously and surface arbitrage opportunities in real time.
Hedging vs. Arbitrage: What's the Difference?
Arbitrage and hedging use the same math but happen at different times:
- Arbitrage: both bets placed simultaneously to lock in guaranteed profit from a pricing discrepancy
- Hedging: placing a second bet after your original position to reduce risk or guarantee some profit on an existing bet (common for futures or live betting)
Both use the same formula. The Betstamp Arbitrage Calculator can be used for either — enter your "original" bet's odds as Outcome 1 and the hedge bet's odds as Outcome 2.
If you're specifically hedging a bonus bet, use the dedicated [Betstamp Bonus Bet Conversion Calculator], which accounts for the "winnings only" structure of free bets.
Risks of Arbitrage Betting
Arbitrage is legal, but sportsbooks actively discourage it. Risks include:
- Account limits: sportsbooks flag repeat arbers and often limit their stake sizes (sometimes to $5 or less per bet). This is the biggest practical constraint.
- Account closures: a minority of books will close high-volume arber accounts.
- Line moves between bets: if the price moves between your two bets, you can end up with one-sided exposure instead of a locked arb.
- Bet voiding: a winning arb leg occasionally gets voided, which flips a guaranteed profit into a real loss.
Experienced arbers rotate across many accounts, use non-round stake sizes to blend in, and mix arb bets with recreational-looking wagers to extend account life.
With Betstamp PRO—the most advanced top-down betting odds screen in the market. Bettors will find hundreds of daily betting edges with ease, allowing you to scale your profits long-term. Click the banner to book a free demo.
