Arbitrage Calculator

An arbitrage calculator finds the stake allocation across two sportsbooks that locks in a guaranteed profit when the books disagree on a market by more than the combined vig.

Enter the total amount you want to wager and the odds on each side at two different sportsbooks. If an arbitrage exists, the calculator shows how to split the stake so every outcome produces the same risk-free profit. If no arbitrage exists, it tells you exactly how far the line needs to move to create one.

Arbitrage calculator

Total stake ($)

The total amount you want to allocate across both bets.

Side A odds (American)

The American odds at one sportsbook on one side of the market.

Side B odds (American)

The American odds at a different sportsbook on the opposite side.

Arbitrage available

Guaranteed profit on every outcome.

Guaranteed profit

+$3.60

3.60% ROI on $100.00 total stake

Bet on Side A $41.44

Bet on Side B $58.56

Payout (either outcome) $103.60

What is arbitrage betting?

Arbitrage betting (or "arbing") is the practice of placing bets on every possible outcome of an event at different sportsbooks, with the goal of locking in a guaranteed profit regardless of result. It works when two books' prices disagree enough that the combined implied probability across all outcomes is less than 100%.

For a two-way market, this means: if you can find Side A at +150 (40% implied) at one book and Side B at +110 (47.6% implied) at another, the combined implied probability is 87.6% — well below 100%. That gap represents guaranteed profit, and the arbitrage calculator tells you exactly how to split your stake to capture it.

The math behind arbitrage

Convert each side's American odds to implied probability. Sum them. If the sum is less than 1.0 (100%), arbitrage exists. To allocate stake optimally for total wager $T:

Side A stake = T × (implied_A / total_implied)
Side B stake = T × (implied_B / total_implied)
Guaranteed payout = T / total_implied
Profit = payout − T = T × (1 − total_implied) / total_implied

ROI is just (1 − total_implied) / total_implied. A market with 95% combined implied probability produces 5.26% ROI — every $100 staked returns $105.26 guaranteed.

Why arbitrage opportunities exist

Different sportsbooks have different sharp clientele, different limits, and different line movement triggers. A book that took heavy action on Side A may shade their price up to discourage further action, while a competing book that took action on Side B shades the other direction. When these moves overshoot, arbitrage opens up — often for only a few minutes before one or both books correct.

Practical considerations

Limits matter. Most arbitrage opportunities are limited at one or both books. If you can only get $50 down on the +150 side, that caps the size of the arb.
Account longevity. Sportsbooks dislike pure arbers and limit accounts that show too much sharp behavior. Most successful arbers mix in recreational-looking action.
Latency risk. Lines move fast. Getting half the arb down before the second book moves leaves you on a -EV one-sided bet — known as "getting middled" the wrong way.
Tax implications. Arbitrage profits are taxable income. The IRS treats every winning bet as gross income; losing bets only offset wins if you itemize deductions.

When to use this calculator

Use the arbitrage calculator whenever you spot odds on opposite sides of the same market at two different sportsbooks that might combine to a risk-free profit. Enter your intended total stake and both sides' odds — the calculator tells you immediately whether an arb exists, how much to put on each side, and the guaranteed profit.

For automated arbitrage and +EV discovery across 20+ sportsbooks in real time, see the DawBets +EV feed — though as a +EV tool we focus on long-run edge, not pure arbitrage.

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Frequently asked questions

Is arbitrage betting legal?

Yes. Placing bets at legally operating sportsbooks is legal in every US state where sports betting is permitted. However, individual sportsbooks reserve the right to limit or close accounts that consistently exhibit sharp betting behavior, including arbitrage.

How much profit can you make from arbitrage?

Individual arbitrage opportunities typically yield 0.5% to 3% ROI per opportunity. Volume matters: a serious arber might process dozens of arbs per day at modest stakes per account. Bankroll growth is steady but rate-limited by sportsbook limits.

Will I get my account limited for arbitrage?

Probably, at most retail US sportsbooks. Books recognize arbitrage betting patterns (round numbers, immediate line-jumps, no losing bets) and limit or close accounts that show them. Sharp books like Pinnacle and Circa allow arbing within limits.

What's the difference between arbitrage and +EV betting?

Arbitrage uses two books simultaneously to capture risk-free profit. +EV betting places single-sided bets with positive expected value relative to true odds — each individual bet can win or lose, but over time, +EV bets are profitable. Arbitrage is zero-variance but limited; +EV has variance but higher long-run upside.

What happens if a line moves before I place the second bet?

You're "stuck" with one side at the original price and have to take the new (worse) price on the other side, or skip the second bet entirely and accept a one-sided exposure. This is the main practical risk of arbitrage and why many arbers use multi-book apps to place bets in near-parallel.

Can arbitrage exist on three-way markets?

Yes. The same math works: convert all three sides to implied probability and sum. If the sum is below 100%, arbitrage exists across the three books. Three-way arbitrage is more common in soccer (1X2 markets) than in US sports.

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