Split your stake across two bookmakers when the odds create a surebet. Check arb %, guaranteed return and profit in seconds.
Two-way arbitrage calculator
Enter your total stake and decimal odds for each side of the market. The calculator will tell you how much to place on each outcome and whether it is a true surebet.
Calculation Result
Guaranteed return:
Guaranteed profit:
Arb %:
Surebet status:
Results assume both bets are accepted and paid out at the odds you entered. Always double-check limits, rules and potential cancellations with your bookmakers.
Imagine Bookmaker A offers 2.15 on the home team and Bookmaker B offers 2.05 on the away team. The combined implied probability is 1/2.15 + 1/2.05 = 0.4651 + 0.4878 = 0.9529, giving an arb of 4.71%. With a $100 total stake, the calculator splits it to roughly $51.18 on the home team and $48.82 on the away team, locking in a guaranteed profit of about $4.71 no matter who wins. This is a risk-free return as long as both bets are accepted. You can verify potential hedge opportunities with our Hedge calculator.
Hedge calculator.
Non-profitable scenario
Now suppose the odds are 1.80 on the home team and 1.90 on the away team. The implied probability sums to 1/1.80 + 1/1.90 = 0.5556 + 0.5263 = 1.0819, which is above 100%. The arb is -8.19%, meaning there is no surebet here. The bookmaker margin is eating into returns, and you would lose money regardless of the outcome. Use our Expected Value calculator to assess whether a single-side wager still has positive expected value.
Expected Value calculator.
3-way surebet (with draw)
In football, most match result markets have three outcomes: home, draw and away. If Bookmaker A offers 3.40 on home, Bookmaker B offers 3.60 on draw, and Bookmaker C offers 3.10 on away, the combined inverse is 1/3.40 + 1/3.60 + 1/3.10 = 0.2941 + 0.2778 + 0.3226 = 0.8945, giving an arb of 10.55%. Splitting $100 across three outcomes guarantees a profit of roughly $10.55. Three-way surebets are rarer but often more lucrative because three bookmakers must all misprice the same event.
Is arbitrage betting legal?
Arbitrage betting is legal in most jurisdictions. You are simply placing bets at different bookmakers at their advertised odds — there is nothing unlawful about that. However, bookmakers are private businesses and reserve the right to limit or close accounts of customers they suspect of arbing. Common signs that attract attention include very precise stakes, consistently betting only on one side of a market, rapid withdrawals and new accounts that immediately place large bets. To reduce your risk of being limited, mix arb bets with regular recreational wagers, round your stakes to natural amounts and avoid withdrawing profits too frequently. You can convert between odds formats using our Odds Converter.
Odds Converter.
How to approach surebets and arbitrage betting in practice
This surebet calculator helps you see whether two-way odds create an arbitrage opportunity and how to split your total stake so the profit is similar no matter which outcome wins.
How the surebet calculator splits your stake
The tool converts each set of odds into an implied probability and uses this to allocate your total stake. The goal is that both bets return roughly the same amount, turning a theoretical edge (arb %) into a stable profit instead of guessing stake sizes by hand.
Overround calculator.
Real-world risks with arbitrage betting
Bookmakers can limit or reject your stake, which makes it harder to place both sides exactly as calculated.
Odds can move between placing the first and second bet, destroying the surebet or even turning it into a negative edge.
Different rules between bookmakers (for example on voids, cancellations or player retirements) can lead to unexpected results.
Practical tips for using surebets
Keep a log of your surebets, including arb %, stakes and real profit after fees, to see how theory compares with practice.
Avoid drawing attention by mixing regular bets with arbs and withdrawing profits gradually.
Focus on reputable bookmakers with fast, reliable markets to reduce the risk of voided or delayed bets.
Arb % is based on the sum of the implied probabilities from both odds. If 1/odds1 + 1/odds2 is less than 1, the difference (in %) shows your theoretical edge.
No. In practice, limits, delays, voided bets and rule changes can all affect your results. The calculator only shows theoretical numbers.
You can, but live odds move very quickly. Always be aware that one side of the bet may change or be suspended before you can place both bets.
Yes, arbitrage betting is legal in most countries. You are simply placing bets at publicly offered odds. However, bookmakers may restrict or close your account if they detect consistent arbing behaviour.
Most surebets yield 1-5% profit per trade, so you need a substantial bankroll to generate meaningful income. A common starting point is at least $1,000 spread across several bookmaker accounts, but more capital means more opportunity.
A surebet covers all outcomes and guarantees profit regardless of the result. A value bet targets a single outcome where you believe the true probability is higher than the odds imply, accepting short-term variance for long-term profit.
Bookmakers cannot "ban" you outright in most regulated markets, but they can severely limit your maximum stake or close your account. Accounts flagged for arbing typically receive stake restrictions first, making it harder to place profitable trades.
A palpable error is a clearly incorrect price posted by a bookmaker — for example, odds of 10.00 instead of 1.10. Bookmakers reserve the right to void bets placed on palps, which can turn an apparent surebet into a losing position if only one leg is cancelled.
Three-way surebets work exactly like two-way ones but include a third outcome, usually the draw. The formula is the same: if 1/odds1 + 1/odds2 + 1/odds3 is less than 1, you can distribute your stake to guarantee profit. Toggle our calculator to 3-way mode to try it.
Most surebets in major sports fall in the 0.5% to 3% range. Margins above 5% are uncommon and may indicate a palpable error. Higher margins occasionally appear in niche markets or during live betting when odds are slow to update.
