Arbitrage Scanner Panel
The Arbitrage Scanner is a powerful tool that identifies risk-free profit opportunities across sportsbooks. When different bookmakers offer odds that don't align, it creates a window where you can bet on all outcomes and guarantee a profit regardless of the result. The scanner does the math for you, finding these opportunities and calculating exactly how much to bet on each outcome.
Opening the Panel
Press / to open the Command Palette, type ARB, and press Enter. The scanner will initialize and begin looking for opportunities.
Understanding Sports Arbitrage
Arbitrage betting exploits a fundamental market inefficiency. Different sportsbooks have different opinions about the same event, set different odds, and don't perfectly coordinate with each other. When these odds diverge enough, a guaranteed profit becomes possible.
Here's a simplified example. Imagine a tennis match between Player A and Player B. One sportsbook thinks Player A is the favorite and offers +150 on Player B. Another sportsbook disagrees and offers +150 on Player A. If you bet the right amounts on both players at different books, you profit no matter who wins.
The math works because you're getting better odds than the true probability on each side. Your combined bets cover all outcomes, and the returns from the winning bet exceed your total stake.
The Arbitrage Scanner automates this discovery process. It continuously monitors odds across dozens of sportsbooks, calculates whether any combination creates a guaranteed profit, and shows you exactly how to execute it.
Configuring the Scanner
Before the scanner can find opportunities tailored to your situation, you need to configure a few settings.
Total Stake
This is the total amount you want to bet across all outcomes. If you set a $1,000 total stake on a two-way market, the scanner will calculate how to split that $1,000 between the two bets to lock in the maximum guaranteed profit.
Setting an appropriate stake depends on your bankroll and risk tolerance. Remember that you'll need accounts at multiple sportsbooks with sufficient balance in each to place your bets.
Minimum Profit
This threshold filters out opportunities that aren't worth your time. A 0.5% profit on $1,000 is only $5—after the effort of placing bets at two different books, that might not be worth it. Setting a higher minimum (like 2% or 3%) shows you only the more substantial opportunities.
However, higher minimums mean fewer opportunities. There's a tradeoff: lower your threshold to see more arbs (even if they're small), or raise it to focus only on the juiciest finds.
Bookmaker Selection
You can only bet at sportsbooks where you have accounts. The scanner lets you select which books to include in its search. Including more books increases the chance of finding arbitrage, but there's no point showing opportunities at books you can't use.
You can also filter by region, focusing on US books, European books, or wherever you're licensed to bet. Some books operate only in certain jurisdictions, so adjust your selection accordingly.
Scan Mode
The scanner offers two modes for different types of markets.
Basic mode focuses on the main markets for each event: moneylines (who wins), point spreads, and totals (over/under). These markets tend to be the most liquid and have the most reliable odds.
Props mode extends the scan to player props and alternative lines. Props betting covers things like individual player statistics—how many points a player scores, how many yards a quarterback throws. There are far more props than main markets, which means more potential for mispricing. However, props can have lower limits and faster-moving lines, so execution is trickier.
Reading the Results
Each row in the results table represents one arbitrage opportunity. Here's how to interpret what you're seeing.
Event tells you what game or match the opportunity involves. This identifies the sporting event where the arbitrage exists.
Guaranteed Profit shows exactly how much you'll make if you execute both legs of the bet. This is your profit after accounting for both stakes—the money you'll have that you didn't have before, guaranteed regardless of outcome.
Profit Percentage expresses the profit as a percentage of your total stake. A 3% profit on $1,000 stake means $30 in your pocket. This percentage helps you compare opportunities and decide which are worth pursuing.
Stakes shows the exact dollar amount to bet on each outcome. The scanner has calculated the optimal split based on the odds at each book. To guarantee the profit, you need to bet these exact amounts (or proportionally scaled amounts if you're adjusting the total stake).
Bookmakers identifies which sportsbooks to use for each leg. You'll see one book listed for each outcome you need to bet.
Odds shows the current odds at each book that created this opportunity. These are the specific prices you need to get when you place your bets. If the odds move before you bet, the arbitrage may no longer exist.
Executing an Arbitrage Bet
When you find an opportunity you want to take, execution needs to be quick and precise.
First, note the stake amounts for each leg. You'll be placing two (or more) separate bets at different sportsbooks, and the amounts matter. Betting the wrong ratio won't guarantee a profit.
Open both sportsbooks—some users do this in separate browser windows. Navigate to the relevant market at each book. Before clicking "Place Bet," verify that the odds still match what the scanner showed. Odds move constantly; what was an arbitrage 30 seconds ago might not be one now.
If the odds still match, place both bets as quickly as you can. Some bettors click through to both book's bet slips first, fill in the amounts, and then confirm them in rapid succession. Speed matters because odds can change while you're working.
After placing the bets, verify your confirmations. Check that the odds you received match what you expected. If one book changed the odds on you, you may have accidentally locked in a losing position instead of a winning one.
Arbitrage opportunities can disappear in seconds. Odds are constantly adjusting, and other arb bettors are watching the same scanners. Always confirm the live odds before submitting your bets. If the odds have moved, recalculate—or skip the opportunity.
Auto-Refresh
Enable auto-refresh to have the scanner continuously search for new opportunities. With auto-refresh on, the results update every 30 seconds, bringing fresh opportunities as they appear and removing stale ones whose odds have moved.
Auto-refresh is useful if you're actively hunting for arbs and want to catch them as soon as they appear. For a more casual look, you can manually refresh whenever you want to scan.
The Realities of Arbitrage Betting
While arbitrage sounds like free money—and technically it is—there are practical challenges to be aware of.
Account limitations: Sportsbooks don't like consistent winning bettors. If you're always on the profitable side of arbitrage, books may limit your account, reduce your maximum bet sizes, or close your account entirely. This is a common frustration for successful arb bettors.
Execution risk: The time between finding an arb and placing both bets is dangerous. If odds move during that window, you might place one bet at good odds only to find the other side has disappeared. Now you have a regular bet, not an arbitrage.
Bankroll requirements: To make meaningful money from small percentage profits, you need significant capital. A 2% profit is great, but 2% of $100 is only $2. You also need funds distributed across multiple sportsbook accounts, which fragments your bankroll.
Effort and time: Finding, verifying, and executing arbs takes attention. For small profits, the hourly rate of your time might make it less attractive than it appears.
Despite these challenges, arbitrage can be a legitimate strategy for those willing to put in the work. Many bettors use it as a way to build bankrolls or extract value from signup bonuses.
Troubleshooting
If no opportunities appear, try lowering your minimum profit threshold. Arbs above 3% or 4% are genuinely rare. Also ensure you've selected enough bookmakers—the more books you include, the more combinations are possible.
If the scanner seems slow or unresponsive, check your internet connection. Fetching odds from many sources can take time, especially during peak hours.
If you find arbs but they're always gone by the time you try to bet, you're experiencing the competitive reality of arb betting. Others are watching the same lines. Consider focusing on less popular sports or props where fewer people are looking.