Arbitrage
Also known as: arb
Betting both sides of a market at different books to lock in risk-free profit when the lines disagree enough.
Arbitrage (“arbing”) is taking advantage of pricing differences between sportsbooks. If Book A has Team A at +110 and Book B has Team B at +110, you can bet both sides and guarantee a small profit regardless of outcome.
Why it’s harder than it sounds:
- Lines move fast; by the time you’ve bet one side, the other may shift
- Many sportsbooks limit or ban accounts that exclusively arb
- Margins are typically 1–3%, requiring large stakes for meaningful return
- Live arbs on disagreeing in-play lines are the most common type today
Wisconsin retail-only environment makes arbing impractical. It becomes viable once mobile launches and bettors can hold accounts at multiple operators.