How to Arbitrage Bet and Not Get Caught
Tired of getting limited or even banned at sportsbooks while other sports bettors cash in on “risk-free” wagers and profit endlessly? It’s all about executing arbitrage betting correctly, and doing so in a manner that doesn’t fire off red flags from the betting sites you’re operating at.
Arbitrage betting is one of the simplest and easiest sports betting strategies you can use, but you need to make sure you do it the right way. At its core, arbitrage betting is just playing both sides of a market at betting odds that hand you guaranteed profit, no matter the outcome.
But how does that work, and how do you avoid getting caught? This guide will fully detail everything you need to know about arbitrage betting, including useful tools and helpful tips. Just be sure to bet responsibly and be mindful of any legal restrictions before deploying this method.
What Is Arbitrage Betting?
Before we dive into how you arbitrage bet without getting caught, you should probably know what it is.
Put simply, arbitrage betting is a strategy where you place bets on all possible outcomes of a wager, using different sportsbooks to guarantee a profit no matter what the end result of the bet is.
This strategy is actually foolproof when done correctly, as it exploits the difference in odds between two sportsbooks, creating a truly “risk-free” win on your wager.
Here’s an example:
Since both teams are priced at plus money, you can bet $100 on each team at each sportsbook, and you will be guaranteed to profit. If Team A wins, you’d get $10, while Team B would bring back $15. Either way, you come away with more than you bet.
Sounds complicated? Check out our free arbitrage betting calculator to see how it works before you place real bets.
Types of Arbs
It’s really as simple as that from a broad lens, but there are also different types of arbs (aka, the various ways to implement arbitrage betting).
Here’s a look at the types of arbs you can do:
- Pre-Match Arbs – Any arbitrage betting opportunities that can be found prior to the start of a game.
- Live Betting Arbs – Arbitrage betting opportunities that are found after a game starts and during the contest.
- Bonus + Arbs – This involves the utilization of sportsbook bonuses to create guaranteed profit (risk free bets, deposit matches, etc).
- Middles vs. Arbs (Differences) – This isn’t exactly arbing (and it actually is not risk-free), but you can place “middle” bets that allow you to target higher upside, but with greater risk.
Why Sportsbooks Hate Arbitrage Betting (And Actively Block It)
At first glance, one may not fully understand why sportsbooks would care about arb betting. After all, they aren’t necessarily always the bookmaker that is technically guaranteed to lose on any given arb wager, while individually the losses are usually mild.
But sportsbooks do hate arbitrage betting, and here’s why: it removes the bookie’s built-in edge and ability to profit on a loss.
In addition, arbitrage bettors are not the “ideal” customer. Sportsbooks typically want lazy bettors who are largely recreational, won’t win consistently, and will lose money over a long history of placing bets.
Arbitrage betting can also impact betting markets. If a bunch of gamblers are placing arbs, the sportsbooks can sometimes react to the action by changing odds, but may be doing so erroneously.
Here’s a quick checklist of reasons why sportsbooks aren’t a fan of this strategy:
- Guarantees Profit for Bettors
- Exploits Mistakes from the Sportsbook
- Doesn’t Fit the “Ideal” Betting Customer
- Can Distort Market Pricing
- Creates Unbalanced Liability
- Costs Sportsbooks Money Over Time
That’s a pretty long list for anyone, but especially for bookmakers trying to turn a profit. Needless to say, they have good reason to be less than enthused when they find out this strategy is being used on their site.
Due to the negative impact of arbitrage betting on sports betting sites, they’ll usually be on the lookout for warning signs. This can both serve as a reminder of what sportsbooks will be looking for and how you can protect yourself if you’re using arbitrage betting as a strategy.
- Fast line movements followed by fast user bets
- Using sister sites to bet on both sides of a game
- Sharp odds selection patterns
- Regular withdrawals without long-term action
None of this by itself means much, but if sportsbooks start monitoring an account with the red flags listed above, they can start detecting patterns. The last thing you want is a bookmaker keeping tabs on your account activity, especially if you’re doing something that is a faux pas.
How Sportsbooks Can Actually Detect Arbing
As noted, online sportsbooks actually can find out if you’re using arbitrage betting as a strategy. It isn’t always easy, and you may need to be enjoying a certain level of success to get on their radar, but they have a few tricks up their sleeve to sniff out arb bettors.
Here’s how they do it:
Betting Patterns & Velocity
The best way to trick online sportsbooks when it comes to arbing is to be unpredictable. Constantly hitting mispriced betting lines or conducting your betting in the same manner (repeatedly placing bets seconds before lines update) can be dead giveaways to sportsbooks.
Account Behavior Monitoring
You can’t see what a sportsbook sees, so sometimes it’s easy to forget that they literally can track everything you do on their site.
That includes when you log in, when you place a bet, and when you log out. Every move you make at online sportsbooks can be tracked, and it’s like you’re leaving a little trail of betting behaviors for them to use to compile a profile of sorts.
Accounts that follow the same exact process habitually or always avoid bonuses, promos, prop bets, and parlays can signal red flags for betting sites.
Cross-Sportsbook Data Sharing
Unless you know who owns a sportsbook, it’s tough to know who they’re affiliated with. Given how interconnected online betting actually can be, you may think you’re being sneaky at one sportsbook, but fail to realize it’s also owned by another you bet at.
Needless to say, if you’re sending signals of odd account behavior at one sportsbook and doing the exact same thing (or something similar) at a site under the same ownership, you’re making it easy for them to detect your arbitrage approach.
For sites that are connected, things like IP addresses, devices used, and time stamps can be used to map out a pattern to expose what you’re doing.
Software Flags
A lot of online betting sites also rely on special software that has algorithms that can do most of the detection for them. Humans can miss patterns, but quality software won’t.
This software can catch betting patterns, odd timing for bet placement, types of bets being placed, VPN triggers, and automated tool detection.
In other words, if you’re not careful – and even if you are using tools – online sportsbooks take plenty of measures to track arbitrage bettors if they’re sloppy.
Speaking of sloppiness, you should consider the above while marrying it with some popular reasons sportsbooks will flag, limit, or even ban you for being associated with arbitrage betting behavior.
Common Reasons for Being Banned by Sportsbooks
With all of the above considered, here’s a quick list of reasons you can get limited or banned for arb betting at online sportsbooks:
- Consistently beating the closing line
- Exploiting mispriced lines routinely
- Saturation of Arbitrage or hedging wagers
- Predictable betting behavior
- Simple process repeated with the account
- Similar account usage under the ownership umbrella
- VPN irregularities
- Obvious tool-assisted wagering
- Abuse of bonuses or promotions
- Lack of losing streaks
- Avoiding high variance wagers
- Prior flagging
Some of these individually can mean nothing. Maybe you have never done arbitrage betting in your life, but sending these types of signals can raise eyebrows and put your account under a microscope.
Whether you plan to do any arb betting or not, keep the above in mind so you can avoid account limitations or being banned altogether.
How to Arbitrage Bet Without Getting Caught
Arbitrage betting is not inherently illegal in most areas, but if you do it you’ll be running the risk of having your account limited or even banned. That’s if you get caught, of course.
If you are interested in taking advantage of this sports betting strategy, consider these two approaches:
Behavior Strategies
The short answer here is you need to come off as a normal bettor. You can arb how you see fit with an eye on long-term profit, but mix in standard types of bets that most gamblers would do to throw off the scent.
In other words, be willing to cut into your overall profit ever so mildly so it doesn’t look like you are blatantly arbing.
Here are the best ways to do that:
- Mix in regular betting styles
- Execute a “normal” bankroll strategy
- Target prop bets and high variance parlays
- Target “human” bet sizes and bet types
- Switch up bet timing and odds targeting
- Take on some -EV wagers
In other words, do what regular human bettors would do. Bet on some props that are volatile, target some bets that are poorly priced or -EV bets, delay your reaction (timing) to updated odds or advantageous pricing, and make sure your bet selection and placement is versatile.
Be sure to also execute these behavior strategies across multiple sites. Even if you do this at one sportsbook but fail to do it at the others, you still could get flagged.
Technical Tips
Now that you have the behavioral side of arb betting down, not comes the technical stuff like sportsbook usage, VPN use, and standard practices that can help you remain undetected.
Start with this list to protect yourself when arb betting:
- Use a Rolodex of sportsbooks
- Avoid frequent withdrawals
- Avoid shared Wi-Fi
- Use VPNs appropriately
The technical side relates to any tools, sites, accounts, apps, devices, or systems you’d use in your arbitrage betting process.
Using as many sportsbooks as possible is a good place to start. The more you use, the harder it is to connect them all. In that same breath, avoid frequent withdrawals and stay away from shared Wi-Fi.
In addition, if you use a VPN, make sure you don’t over-abuse it and make sure all of your devices align with the VPNs you’re using.
A Disguised Arbitrage Bet: Step-by-Step Example
If you want to start arbing, you probably need a visual of how to do it. Below is a detailed example of how to conduct arbitrage betting, using a real-world scenario with an explanation on how to place each side without sending any warning signs to the sportsbooks you’re using.
Step #1
- What You Do: Identify line discrepancies between two sportsbooks
- Why it Works: The differing odds create guaranteed profit when both sides are covered
- How it Avoids Detection: Line shopping is normal human behavior
Step #2
- What You Do: Choose a popular betting market
- Why it Works: High-volume markets attract less scrutiny
- How it Avoids Detection: Betting sites expect price shopping on popular markets
Step #3
- What You Do: Place initial bet slightly early
- Why it Works: Locks in the price before the odds shift
- How it Avoids Detection: Single-sided wagers look like normal betting
Step #4
- What You Do: Wait several minutes before placing 2nd bet on 2nd sportsbook
- Why it Works: Helps avoid obvious timestamp betting patterns
- How it Avoids Detection: Immediate successive backs at separate books can be a red flag
Step #5
- What You Do: Alter stake size so bets are not fully identical
- Why it Works: Still guarantees profit but avoids exact hedge ratios
- How it Avoids Detection: 100% matched stakes can be detected over time
Step #6
- What You Do: Place the second bet at the second book on the opposing side
- Why it Works: This completes your arb
- How it Avoids Detection: Looks like a solo bet, separate from the first bet
Step #7
- What You Do: Mix in a small non-arb bet, ideally on a high-variance prop or parlay
- Why it Works: Mirrors regular gambling behavior
- How it Avoids Detection: Reduces the chances of arb betting detection
Step #8
- What You Do: Embrace slight variance instead of demanding perfect arbing
- Why it Works: Maintains long-term arbing status and sustained profit
- How it Avoids Detection: A truly sharp bettor doesn’t always chase (only) perfect odds
Tools That Help You Find Arbs (But Won’t Protect You)
You can tackle the task of arbitrage betting on your own, or you can try to streamline it a bit with some arb betting tools that can simplify or even speed up the process.
Here are just a few arbitrage betting tools, what they’re good for, and their main flaw:
| Arb Betting Tool | Main Use | Key Strength | Key Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|
OddsJam | Real-time arbitrage scanning | Broad book coverage and elite UI | Flags obvious arbs |
BetBurger | Live arbitrage opportunities | Live betting arbs | High detection risk on mirrored bets |
RebelBetting | Value betting | Less obvious than regular arbs | Can still produce betting patterns over time |
BreakingBet | Sharp vs. soft sportsbook analysis | Early value and pricing detection | Not all edges are true arbs |
OddsPortal | Manual odds comparison | Free | No automation |
The big takeaway: arb betting tools can identify pricing discrepancies and locate value, saving you time (and money), while the tools themselves are simply an extension of your research and not detectable by online sportsbooks.
The downside, of course, is that most of these tools cost extra money, and they do have weaknesses. In addition, using these tools can arguably perfect your arbitrage betting strategy too much – to the point where it makes it even easier for you to get caught.
What’s Better – Manual Arbitrage Betting vs. Arb Betting with Tools
| Use Tools | Bet Manually | |
|---|---|---|
Best For | High volume & speed | Selective & more nuanced |
Upside | Find arbs quickly | Promotes normal behavior |
Downside | Obvious betting patterns | Slower & less profitable |
Risk Level | High | Low |
If you look at the quick breakdown above, the answer feels obvious. Using arbing tools can give you a serious head start, allowing you to locate more arbitrage betting opportunities, increasing your edge, and giving you insane volume.
The problem? Finding every advantageous bet and targeting them all creates betting patterns that will likely expose you over time.
The best route may be to use one tool to help speed things up, but keep your volume low and incorporate normal betting behaviors and timing gaps to disrupt any patterns.
Arbing is all about sustainable profit and longevity. Cutting corners, speeding up the process, and maximizing return in the short-term actually goes directly against the entire point of this betting strategy.
Arb Betting Risks: Betting Limits, Voided Bets, and Bans
You’re now aware of how to conduct arbitrage betting and what sets off alarms for online sportsbooks. But what happens when you do get caught? Does the sportsbook ban you immediately, do they void bets, do they simply strap strict limits on your betting? Do they tell your mom?
In short – yes to all of that (save for the last one, probably). It just depends on what triggered the detection, how bad it looked, and how that individual book wants to respond.
Sharp bettors get limited at sportsbooks all the time, so you don’t need to be arbing for a book to identify you as a thorn in their side. Whether it’s due to them suspecting you of arbitrage betting or them simply thinking you’re a bit too sharp of a bettor, betting sites can limit you in a variety of ways.
- Drop stake limits significantly
- Restrict certain betting markets
- Temporarily locks you out of your account
- Restrict new deposits
These are the most common limits you’ll see. Sportsbooks don’t always automatically know exactly what you’re doing, but if they sense that you are routinely getting the upper hand or something seems off, they will drop your wager limits or close you out of specific markets entirely.
This is often the first measure, as it can interrupt your strategy and serve as a gentle warning. If you’re a sharp bettor, it can be permanent, but you can always reach out to the sportsbook and try to get these betting limits lifted.
This is on par with getting banned, as nobody wants to see winning wagers coming their way; only for the sportsbook to drop an emphatic “nah”.
Depending on the severity of your step out of bounds, sportsbooks reserve the right to freeze, suspend, or even flat-out deny payouts. This usually stems from some type of foul play detection on their end, whether it be unusual betting patterns, larger-than-usual deposits or withdrawals, or obvious multi-account alignment.
The payout freeze doesn’t always mean you don’t get your money. It’s typically at first just a pause button so the sportsbook can review the situation and make an educated decision based on all of the evidence at its disposal.
Most voided bets take place due to glaring pricing errors, injuries to athletes in sports betting events, late line corrections, or site technical difficulties.
They also can take place if the sportsbook suspects unusual betting behavior, whether it be arbing or something else entirely.
Sometimes the two can align. If you benefit from delayed pricing updates or a site technical issue – but the sportsbook sees the problem and corrects it – all bets under this umbrella can be wiped away if the book so desires.
Where it can get messy is if only one sportsbook voids a bet. If your other bet stays live on the second site and it’s the losing side, then you simply lose. Not ideal!
The best advice for getting flagged is simple: don’t overreact. You don’t want to give sportsbooks an extra reason to further discipline you, nor give yourself away.
Follow this checklist if you get flagged:
- Don’t argue with customer service
- Maintain consistent betting behavior
- Continue normal play
It should go without saying that you don’t mention arbitrage betting in cases such as these, but you should also refrain from calling out customer service or pointing fingers at the sportsbook.
Instead, try to stay calm and maintain your regular betting behavior, while being cognizant of how and why you were flagged.
Is there something in your process that is too perfect or blatantly obvious? Consider bet volume, wagering speed, wagering timing, variance implementation, and overall account use while trying to gauge what is sending negative signals to the books you’re wagering at.
Step one to rebuilding trust with online sportsbooks is to accept the fact that sometimes there is no repairing that relationship. Betting limits may never go away, while bans rarely get lifted.
Assuming you’re not banned and simply flagged or limited, though, here are a few things to do:
- Take your time
- Target popular markets
- Bet on high variance wagers
- Avoid withdrawals
Time may be the best medicine for these types of situations, while you should mix in normal bets and target the types of bets a sportsbook “expects” a normal bettor to go after.
If you embrace some high-variance betting and even some losing over time, the book may eventually loosen betting limits.
Of course, you can always opt to find new sports betting sites and start over. If you go that route, just make sure you re-hash your arb betting process and fine-tune it to avoid getting detected again in the future.
Safe Alternatives to Arbitrage Betting
Arb betting is a guaranteed strategy to profit, but it obviously isn’t for everyone. Not only can you get caught and penalized by the sportsbooks you’re betting at, but it requires a significant time commitment and a whole lot of patience.
If you want something a bit different that maybe doesn’t toe the line quite as much, consider the following arbitrage betting alternatives:
Value Betting
This betting strategy simply targets +EV bets, focusing on lines that are subjectively mispriced relative to their true odds. That is for you to decide, technically, but if you can identify +EV bets correctly – and consistently – it is a much clearer and cleaner path to profitable betting.
The main reason it lacks risk for negative attention is you can just use one sportsbook. The downside, of course, is you aren’t guaranteed profit on every wager you do, and if you’re too good at it, you can still get limited or even banned altogether.
Matched Betting
This arb betting alternative takes advantage of sportsbook promotions to lock in borderline risk-free outcomes.
This can range from literal risk-free bets to various bonuses and promotions. The catch? You can still get tripped up by strict bonus and promo terms, while you’re also a bit reliant on actual promo and bonus availability.
Pro Tip: Avoid using this strategy at sites with high deposit or high rollover requirements.
Middles
This is a strategy similar to arbitrage betting, as middling involves still taking both sides of a bet at different numbers. However, you’re actually trying to land somewhere in the middle and due to this being of higher variance, it’s less detectable than arbing. Unfortunately, it’s also of greater risk to the bettor, and doesn’t guarantee profit.
Live Hedging
Live betting itself doesn’t have to include hedging, but live hedging allows you to go against any pre-match bets you’ve already submitted.
This is very similar to arbing, as you have your original bet, and can go against that same bet with adjusted odds after the event has started.
The risk here is you don’t know what the pricing will be after the event begins. In addition, timing is a key factor, as live bets can be pulled or delayed without any warning.
How to Profit from Arbitrage Betting Without Getting Flagged
If you’re wondering if arbitrage betting works, the answer is a resounding yes. It absolutely does work if implemented correctly, and profit is guaranteed, assuming you are disciplined, avoid silly mistakes, and don’t get caught.
The biggest mistake to avoid is detection. Arbing isn’t illegal in most areas, but sportsbooks aren’t in the “losing money” business, so if they catch wind of someone out-smarting them, they’ll flag, limit, and even ban your account.
Naturally, successful arb betting isn’t just about identifying opportunities to attack; it’s about doing so consistently and regularly while maintaining human betting behaviors.
Whether you choose arbitrage betting as your strategy or not, it’s important to remember that using reputable online sportsbooks and comparing odds across betting sites are two things you should always do, no matter what.
Ultimately, arbing doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing approach. You can treat it more as a tool if you prefer, and sprinkle it amongst a diverse portfolio of betting strategies, while maintaining responsible betting practices.
