How Arbitrage Betting Works
Different prices can create a mathematical opportunity. Whether it survives execution and settlement is a separate question.
One market, every possible outcome
Start by defining the market precisely. In a tennis match winner market, the listed players may cover both outcomes, subject to retirement rules. A soccer regulation-time market generally needs home win, draw and away win. Bets on different time periods or different overtime rules do not provide complete coverage of one market.
How prices create a gap
At decimal odds of 2.10 on each of two exhaustive outcomes, each price implies 1/2.10 = 47.6190%. Together they imply 95.2381%. Allocating $50 to each side of a $100 budget gives a $105 payout on either result. The theoretical $5 return assumes both bets are accepted and settled normally.
Why equal stakes are not always correct
Equal stakes balance payouts only when prices are equal. At different prices, a shorter-priced outcome needs more of the budget. Weighting each outcome by its reciprocal odds makes the ideal payouts equal. Whole-cent constraints can make the actual payouts slightly different.
A mathematical result is not an execution promise
The calculator cannot check liquidity, account limits, market rules or bet acceptance. Before relying on a result, understand all market terms and the consequences of an incomplete set of bets. Never treat a displayed theoretical opportunity as guaranteed income.
Put the numbers into perspective.
Compare theoretical returns with a practical cent allocation.
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