Arbitrage and hedging strategies are two advanced betting techniques that allow bettors to manage risk and, in some cases, guarantee profit. These approaches leverage price discrepancies across sportsbooks and market inefficiencies to create opportunities for +EV bets. However, due to the high efficiency of modern sportsbooks, these opportunities are rare and require a disciplined, systematic approach. But if you’re vigilant, you can identify and exploit arbitrage and hedging opportunities more effectively and guarantee sports betting profit.
Arbitrage & Hedging Bets: How to Guarantee Sports Betting Profit
Boost your bankroll and maximize long-term profits using Portfolio EV. Discover more +EV bets with a FREE TRIAL — visit our Portfolio Betting page now!
What is Arbitrage in Sports Betting?
Arbitrage betting (or “arbing”) involves placing wagers on all possible outcomes of an event using different sportsbooks to guarantee a profit, regardless of the result. This is possible when sportsbooks have discrepancies in their odds, allowing a bettor to bet on opposing outcomes and lock in a risk-free return.
Imagine a tennis match where two sportsbooks offer the following odds:
- Sportsbook A: Player 1 to win at +110
- Sportsbook B: Player 2 to win at +120
By strategically allocating your bankroll across both sportsbooks, you can guarantee a profit. Using an arbitrage calculator, you determine the correct bet sizes and place wagers accordingly, ensuring that one bet wins and covers any losses from the other.
Why Arbitrage Opportunities Exist
- Slow Line Movement: Some sportsbooks adjust their odds slower than others, creating temporary mispricings.
- Differing Risk Tolerance: Books may adjust lines based on betting volume rather than actual probabilities.
- Localized Market Differences: Regional biases can influence sportsbooks to set different odds based on where the majority of their users are located.
Challenges of Arbitrage Betting
- Book Limitations: Sportsbooks often identify and restrict arbitrage bettors by limiting bet sizes or banning accounts.
- Market Efficiency: The most efficient sportsbooks adjust odds quickly, reducing the window for arbitrage opportunities.
- Bet Placement Risks: If one leg of the bet is voided or a sportsbook delays odds adjustments, an arbitrage bet may become exposed to risk.
What is Hedging in Sports Betting?
Hedging is a risk management strategy where bettors place additional wagers on the opposite side of an initial bet to minimize potential losses or lock in a profit. Unlike arbitrage, hedging does not guarantee a profit in every situation but provides a way to manage risk.
Assume you placed a $100 bet on an NFL team at +500 to win the Super Bowl. If that team makes it through the Conference Championship, its odds will shorten significantly, say to -150. At this point, you can place a hedge bet on its opponent to ensure some sort of a return, regardless of the outcome.
When to Hedge
- Future Bets in Play: When a longshot bet reaches a favorable position, hedging can lock in profit.
- In-Game Betting: Live betting markets allow hedging opportunities as game conditions change.
- Parlay Protection: If a parlay is one leg away from hitting, hedging the final leg can secure a guaranteed return.
Challenges of Hedging
- Reduced Profitability: Hedging often decreases potential returns, so it should only be used when necessary to mitigate risk.
- Over-Hedging: Excessive hedging can lead to unnecessary losses over time if not strategically planned.
- Juice and Market Vig: Hedging requires placing multiple bets, which means paying additional vig to the sportsbooks.
Unlock Portfolio EV for FREE! Follow these easy steps to unlock the top sports betting tools:
- Choose a Partner: Pick one of our partner registration offers to begin.
- Deposit & Bet: Fund your account and place your first bet or pick’em entry.
- Take Screenshots: Capture a screenshot of your welcome email and your first settled bet.
- Claim Your Access: Send the screenshots to support@oddsshopper.com, and we’ll grant you free access to your picks!
It’s that simple! Start your free month of Portfolio EV now and elevate your betting strategy.
Using Portfolio EV to Optimize Arbitrage and Hedging
Portfolio EV tools help bettors analyze multiple betting opportunities across different sportsbooks to identify +EV bets, including arbitrage and hedging scenarios. Here’s how to incorporate Portfolio EV into your strategy.
Arbitrage Betting Tool
Our Arbitrage Tool can find you these opportunities automatically, telling you how much you stand to make with your chose bet size. If you want to skip all the leg work of arbitrage, then this is your quickest avenue to guaranteed profit.
Identifying Market Inefficiencies
Portfolio EV tools aggregate odds across multiple books, highlighting price discrepancies. By scanning for mispriced lines, you can quickly identify opportunities before they disappear.
Managing Bet Allocations
Rather than simply betting the same amount on every arbitrage opportunity, Portfolio EV allows you to balance your bet sizes based on bankroll constraints and expected profitability.
Adjusting for Market Movements
Sportsbooks frequently adjust lines based on betting volume and sharp action. Portfolio EV tools track these movements in real time, allowing bettors to capitalize on fleeting opportunities before they vanish.
When and How to Exploit These Strategies
While sportsbooks generally operate with high efficiency, strategic bettors can still find edges. Here’s when and how to capitalize on arbitrage and hedging:
- Early Line Discrepancies: Books often post initial lines before the market fully adjusts. Look for early odds that differ significantly between sportsbooks.
- Promotional Offers: Some sportsbooks offer boosted odds or special promotions that create artificial arbitrage opportunities.
- Market Biases: Regional books may adjust odds based on local betting patterns, creating disparities from sharper, global books.
- In-Game Betting: Live betting odds move rapidly, sometimes creating temporary arbitrage windows.
- Parlay and Future Bets: If a futures bet or parlay reaches a favorable position, use hedging to lock in guaranteed returns.
Final Thoughts
While arbitrage and hedging are valuable tools for managing risk and securing profits, they are not foolproof. The high efficiency of sportsbooks makes these opportunities rare, but disciplined bettors using Portfolio EV tools can still find edges. By understanding market dynamics, optimizing bet allocations and tracking line movements, you can strategically exploit arbitrage and hedging opportunities for long-term profitability.
