How to Avoid Risks in Sure Betting and Arbitrage Betting

Some bookmakers are faster than others at changing odds and you may end up getting caught in an 'odds trap' where you have placed the bet on bookmaker 1 but the odds have changed at bookmaker 2 leaving you in an unwanted situation with an uncovered bet. How to avoid or mitigate this risk and the other risks listed below, is covered in the Ultimate guide to sure betting

Different bookmaker rules

Bookmakers sometime have different rules for how to handle the outcome in scenarios such as an incomplete game in tennis, over time in ice hockey, etc. This is why it's important to double-check that the rules are the same on all bookmakers to avoid risks in sure betting. RebelBetting only shows arbs between bookmakers that have the same rules, but since bookmakers change rules from time to time it's important that you still double check that the rules are the same before you bet.

Bet cancellation

A bookmaker can cancel a bet claiming it was a palpable error. This can occur when the bookmaker has made an obvious mistake, for instance reversing the odds. The bookmaker has the right to cancel your bet at any time, before, during or after completion of the match, however, bet cancellation is not very common.

Be extra careful with unusually high arbitrage percentages. A very large arb can sometimes be caused by an incorrect price, reversed participants or a mismatched market rather than a genuine pricing difference. Always verify unusually profitable opportunities before placing your bets.

To avoid risks in sure betting, we should minimize individual mistakes. An individual mistake is, for instance, betting one side on half time and the other side on full time, betting on the wrong team, not having enough funds on one bookmaker to complete the bet, placing your bet at wrong odds etcetera.

Human errors

Even when the arbitrage itself is mathematically correct, simple human errors can turn a sure bet into a losing position. Common mistakes include betting on the wrong team or player, selecting the wrong handicap line, mixing up full-time and first-half markets, entering the wrong stake or placing a bet after the displayed odds have already changed.

These mistakes are more likely when you are trying to place bets quickly, which is often necessary in arbitrage betting because profitable opportunities can disappear fast. That makes it important to have a consistent routine rather than simply rushing through each bet.

Before confirming a wager, check that the event, market, selection, odds and stake all match the arbitrage you intend to place. Pay particular attention to markets that look similar but settle differently, such as +1.5 versus +1.0 Asian Handicap, match winner versus draw no bet, or regulation time versus overtime included.

Arbitrage software such as RebelBetting can reduce the amount of manual work by finding opportunities and calculating the correct stakes automatically. However, you still place the final bet with the bookmaker, so verify the information before confirming. A few extra seconds of checking can prevent a small input error from becoming a much larger loss.

Dawdling

If you have placed your first bet and then take too long to place the second bet, you may be too late to get the correct odds. However, the risk of dawdling is low when using RebelBetting. When you bet on an arbitrage, RebelBetting automatically logs you into your bookmaker accounts, and many times finds the correct match and highlights the odds. All you have to do is verify the information and place the wager.

Bet limitations

Some bookmakers will limit you sooner or later if you use your betting account solely for arbitrage or value betting. There is no general rule here; people get limited differently quickly by the same bookmakers. Usually, the limitation will occur as a restriction of how much you can bet, but some bookmakers also restrict you by lowering your odds.

Luckily, there are plenty of techniques and strategies that can help you avoid limitations for as long as possible.

Errors can occur in every software and every service. Using a service such as RebelBetting, you will see that we strive very hard to present accurate information, but sometimes different matches show up in the same arb, for instance, the reserve team and the A-team.

This happens because of the bookmakers inconsistent naming of teams and events. To avoid betting on wrong arbs double check that the teams are playing in the same tournament. It only takes a couple of extra seconds and it's time well spent.

You can overcome all these challenges if you are committed and willing to invest time in learning the basics. We see it as our mission to help you succeed with both value betting and sure betting.

Most arbitrage betting risks can be reduced with a consistent process: verify the event and market, check both bookmakers' rules, confirm your available stakes, place both sides without unnecessary delay and always review the final odds before confirming your bets. Arbitrage software such as RebelBetting can automate the search and calculations, but you should always verify each wager before placing it. Our blog is full of great tips and tricks for sports bettors.