Arbitrage Betting in Esports: How to Profit from Odds Discrepancies

Arbitrage betting—or "sure betting"—is when you place bets on all possible outcomes of an Esports match using different bookmakers. If the odds are mismatched just enough, you can guarantee a profit no matter the result.

These discrepancies are small and short-lived but very real, especially in volatile Esports markets.

At its core, arbitrage is about exploiting price differences. Imagine a product costs $50 in Shanghai but sells for $200 in Los Angeles. You buy it in Shanghai, sell it in L.A., and keep the profit.

Arbitrage betting follows the same logic. Instead of goods, you're leveraging odds.

Esports Arbitrage Example

Let’s say Team Alpha and Team Beta are facing off. Here’s how two bookmakers list the odds:

• Bookmaker A: Team Alpha – 2.09, Team Beta – 1.90
• Bookmaker B: Team Alpha – 1.88, Team Beta – 2.11

You bet on Team Alpha at Bookmaker A and Team Beta at Bookmaker B. No matter who wins, one of your bets will return more than the total you staked, guaranteeing a profit.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

Find Conflicting Odds

Use arbitrage tools or manually compare odds across multiple trusted bookmakers. Focus on two-way Esports markets with only two possible outcomes.

Confirm Arbitrage Opportunity

Use this formula:

(1 / Odds A) + (1 / Odds B) × 100

If the result is under 100, you’ve found an arbitrage opportunity.

Example:

(1 / 2.09 + 1 / 2.11) × 100 = 95.24%

Calculate Stake Distribution

Use this formula to calculate how much to stake on each side:

(Individual Bet Fraction ÷ Arbitrage%) × Total Bet

For a $200 total stake:

Team A: ((1 / 2.09) × 100 × 200) ÷ 95.24 = $100.48
Team B: ((1 / 2.11) × 100 × 200) ÷ 95.24 = $99.52

Place the Bets

Be quick—arbitrage windows close fast as odds shift constantly across sportsbooks.

Collect Your Profit

Your total return will be approximately $209–$211, regardless of the outcome, yielding a $9–$11 profit, risk-free.

Even though arbitrage is low-risk, it’s not error-proof. You’ll need discipline and speed. Stick to two-way betting markets and always verify the odds are still valid before placing your bets.

Avoid sportsbooks that frequently limit arbitrage bettors, and rotate platforms when needed. Lastly, double-check every calculation—one mistake can wipe out the margin.

Arbitrage works in both traditional and Esports betting, but Esports offers a unique edge.

• High volatility: Odds swing faster due to patch updates, roster changes, and streaky team performance.
• Obscure markets: Smaller games, such as Valorant or CS:GO qualifiers, often exhibit bigger discrepancies.
• Less efficient pricing: Bookmakers don’t always react fast, giving you more time to execute a profitable trade.

That said, the esports market moves quickly, so precision and fast execution are critical.