Frequently Asked Questions about Surebets
In this article, we will attempt to answer the most commonly asked questions by beginners. We will cover topics such as how to earn money through arbitrage betting, withdraw winnings, choose techniques for betting, minimize losses at the initial stage, and so on.
If you can't find the information you need in this selection, send us your questions and we will be glad to address them.
- Contents
- 1. What is a surebet?
- 2. Is it legal?
- 3. Since the benefit is obvious, why doesn't everyone use it?
- 4. Where to find arbitrage opportunities?
- 5. What profit to expect and how quickly?
- 6. Where to bet, and how not to lose money in the very beginning?
- 7. What bookmakers have better conditions and deposit-withdrawal fees?
- 8. What bookmakers do not limit or ban surebettors?
- 9. How many bookmakers to choose for your bankroll, and which ones?
- 10. What bankroll is optimal for the start, and how to divide it between several bookmakers?
- 11. What stake amounts do you recommend at the initial stage?
- 12. What profit percentage to aim for with arbitrage bets, and why?
- 13. Why does risk increase with higher profit percentage?
- 14. What should be considered to avoid being blocked or limited by one of the bookmakers?
- 15. Which payment method is faster and more convenient?
- 16. Why choosing our service for surebets?
- 17. You do not have the bookmakers I use. Can you add them to your list?
1. What is a surebet?
A surebet, also known as sports betting arbitrage, is a betting strategy where a bettor places bets on all possible outcomes of an event across multiple bookmakers to guarantee a profit regardless of the outcome. This is made possible by differences in the odds offered by different bookmakers.
2. Is it legal?
Surebetting is completely legal, as it involves standard betting. By using arbitrage services, you are not cheating or misleading anyone; you are simply comparing offers from different bookmakers. Based on this information, you place bets according to the suggested amounts and odds.
3. Since the benefit is obvious, why doesn't everyone use it?
Firstly, information about surebets is not widely spread. Additionally, the arbitrage system, like any other, has its nuances. Despite the high reliability of such bets, not everyone trusts them. However, in terms of the balance between potential risk and profitability, many knowledgeable bettors successfully utilize this method of earning.
4. Where to find arbitrage opportunities?
You can find them on our website by using the "Surebets" service. Detailed information on how to use them can be found in the Help articles.
5. What profit to expect and how quickly?
We can not provide any exact figures since profit depends on the amount you are willing to invest. The average profit ranges from 10-15% of your bankroll monthly. Consequently, the higher your bankroll, the greater the profit. However, considering that bookmakers impose limits on maximum bet amounts, a larger bankroll will yield a slightly lower monthly percentage than a smaller one. As for time, initially it will take no more than 1-2 hours. Later, as you gradually increase your bankroll, you will decide how much time to allocate. You can make more bets and increase profitability, or continue at the same pace.
6. Where to bet, and how not to lose money in the very beginning?
It is best to start by thoroughly studying our Help articles. The knowledge gained will help you understand the basic nuances of this system and avoid major mistakes in the early stages. Here we provide some tips for choosing a bookmaker. Additionally, there is a reputable English-language resource, sportsbookreview.com, which has its own bookmaker rating. The less reliable the bookmaker, the higher the risk.
7. What bookmakers have better conditions and deposit-withdrawal fees?
Generally, the higher the status of the bookmaker, the better the services it provides. Reputable bookmakers impose stricter security measures and are protected against fraudulent activities. In particular, they require providing scans of personal documents for currency deposit and withdrawal operations, thus protecting users and themselves from possible fraudulent actions. Pinnacle is considered to be the top bookmaker on the sports betting market, and it offers a month of SureBet service for free.
8. What bookmakers do not limit or ban surebettors?
Among the most reputable companies, Sbobet and Pinnacle stand out, and betting exchanges (Betfair, Matchbook, Betdaq, Smarkets) are also good in this regard. As to the rest, it is no secret that most companies put obstacles in the way of successful players. This is mainly expressed in limiting the maximum bet amount.
9. How many bookmakers to choose for your bankroll, and which ones?
The more bookmakers you have access to, the better. The number of available arbitrage opportunities is directly proportional to the number of bookmakers you can operate with. At the start, it's advisable to register with at least one "mandatory" bookmaker (such as Pinnacle, Sbobet, 188bet), several "slow" bookmakers, and at least one bookmaker that keeps its betting lines for a long time intact. With the latter, you can practice and explore arbitrage opportunities without risking your funds.
10. What bankroll is optimal for the start, and how to divide it between several bookmakers?
As stated earlier - the profit directly depends on the amount invested. You can start both with a small and with a large bankroll. In terms of percentage, the winnings will be the same, but naturally, with a larger bankroll, the profit from your investment will be significantly higher. It is better to place bets in portions to avoid attracting unnecessary attention from bookmakers. Moderate bets protect you from stake returns. Staking it all on a profitable arbitrage opportunity is a typical mistake for beginners.
11. What stake amounts do you recommend at the initial stage?
It is advisable to start with small bets, and then, over time and with sufficient experience, you can increase both the amounts and the number of bookmakers. It all depends on your capabilities and skills. It may be worth adhering to a single financial strategy, too.
12. What profit percentage to aim for with arbitrage bets, and why?
Initially, it is preferable to focus on 1-5% profit margin opportunities and avoid higher ones. Only consider investing in 10%+ profit surebets if you are fully confident that the bookmaker won't void the bet for a formal reason. A seasoned arbitrage bettor knows which bets will be accepted and which can be voided. However, for newcomers, we advise either skipping such opportunities altogether or staking very small amounts. Low-percentage surebets are the vast majority, so you will have more opportunities to place bets. With a small bankroll, it is better to target moderate-profit opportunities. A larger bankroll can be divided into several smaller bets.
13. Why does risk increase with higher profit percentage?
There may be several reasons:
- Bookmaker`s error: For example, the operator might have mistakenly set the line as "Total under 1005" instead of "Total under 100.5". In this case, the bookmaker would void the bet, citing a "line error".
- Our service error: Occasionally, our scanner might provide false arbitrage opportunities by mistaking two different but similar teams for one. While such occurrences are rare and we continuously improve our service, there is still a possibility of such situations.
- Surebets of higher profit are more time-limited. You risk placing a bet with one bookmaker but not being able to place the opposite bet with another bookmaker in time. Experienced surebettors identify which bookmaker has overestimated the odds and place their first bet there. Beginners are advised to place bets with sharp bookmakers (Pinnacle, Sbobet, and 188bet) in the second place, as these bookmakers typically do not inflate odds.
Before staking on an arbitrage opportunity with high profit, ensure it meets the following criteria:
- The odds are accurate.
- Both bets are for the same event.
- You are confident that the bet will not be voided.
14. What should be considered to avoid being blocked or limited by one of the bookmakers?
Avoid staking big amounts on a single arbitrage opportunity with unproven bookmakers. No matter how tempting the opportunity may seem, you risk losing your account with a single high win. It is better to place small but more frequent bets. Additionally, withdrawing funds from your account also attracts attention. The less frequently you withdraw funds, the better. Another advice: if you notice an obvious error by the bookmaker, it's better not to exploit it.
15. Which payment method is faster and more convenient?
You can use bank transfers or credit cards, but currently, the most advantageous payment system is Moneybookers/Skrill. Specifically designed for transactions with gambling industry operators, it is perfect for depositing funds into bookmakers' accounts - and its fees are low.
16. Why choosing our service for surebets?
Along with a clean and user-friendly interface, as well as instant information update, our service is constantly evolving. We scan an unprecedentedly large number of bookmakers (several hundred), and this figure continues to grow. We take into account the suggestions of users as well. Our team is open to communication and strives to make the surebetting experience as comfortable as possible. In addition, we offer free surebets with a profitability of up to 1%, and our paid tariffs are very affordable. Apart from surebets, we also offer middles and valuebets (valuebets are free of charge).
17. You do not have the bookmakers I use. Can you add them to your list?
We have a webpage where you can suggest bookmakers and vote for sportsbooks that are not yet supported by us. We monitor the most-voted bookmakers and consider them for future addition.