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Which Is Better: Matched Betting or Arbitrage Betting?
Sun 26 Mar, by Nandeesh Pandey

Matched Betting Versus Arbitrage Betting

When first entering the world of sports betting, you're probably worried about losing too much money. And that's completely normal - you don't want your hobby to break you. Even if you have thought about sports betting as a full-time gig, you can only do it if it makes you money. Talk to a few people for a few minutes, and you'll instantly hear one of these two words: matched or arbitrage. These betting strategies not only can help you get paid but can also minimize your chances of losing. Of course, both have pros and cons, and if you're considering using either, you need to know about them.

Matched Betting

So what's the best money-saving tool when you're just starting to make bets? There's only one answer - well, technically, two actually - welcome and monthly bonuses, of course. Matched betting is a technique that takes advantage of these bonuses to ensure a profit. How does it work? You use bonuses to cover all possible outcomes of a bet. That way, you can eliminate the potential of loss. The catch is that you must be careful with how much you put on each bet, as some bookmakers may limit the number of bonuses you can use. Some of the pros of matched betting include the following:

  • There's little to no risk involved

  • You don't need lots of money to start

  • An excellent way for newbs to begin betting and build up their bankroll


This type of betting has its drawbacks, such as:

  • Promotions and bonuses decrease over time

  • Bookmakers can easily spot you and prevent you from making bets

  • Turnover is much smaller than with other strategies

It is a great way to get your feet wet and make a profit in the first few months of betting. However, it could be a more sustainable strategy, and if you want to make more money, you will have to switch plans.

What Is Arbitrage Betting?

Arbitrage betting, otherwise known as arbing, is meant for a bit more experienced bettors. It's the same as matched betting; however, arbing has more complexity. Instead of using coupons to cover your expenses, you use your funds. The bet happens when the overall game ads are high enough to guarantee a profit, no matter the match's outcome. You usually place arbitrage bets on soft bookmakers on one side and sharp exchanges on the other. The biggest pros of arbitrage betting include the following:

  • Still not a lot of risks involved in bets

  • While more complex than matched betting, still user-friendly

  • It can be used several times, unlike matched betting.

Of course, the cons are:

  • It would help if you had more starting capital than with matched betting

  • The average ROI is 1% which means if you lose, it will take a long to cover it

  • Bookmakers recognize arbitrage bettors much easier than matched ones

With all that, now's the time to look at both strategies and compare them head-to-head. That way, you'll be able to decide which is better for you.


Matched Betting vs Arbitrage Betting

In this section, we'll examine the differences between the two strategies. Both can help you profit from bookmakers, entirely legally, with extra work. Which one of the two is more user-friendly?

Starting Capital: Matched betting requires much lower starting capital than arbitrage betting - as in, it doesn't require any money. Seeing how you use the bonuses from bookmakers to cover your bets, all you need is time and patience. On the other hand, arbitrage needs money to work, so if you're looking to start for fun, this one's not for you.

Time Needed: While matched betting is easier to understand than arbitrage, we can't claim it's a big difference. Both require time and dedication to make serious money. So if you're looking for a quick way to get some extra cash, you will need something else.

Long-term Success: In the long run, arbitrage betting is much more profitable than matched betting. Even though the ROI on both is relatively low, you can make arbitrage bets for years. No bookmaker offers limitless bonuses, so reached betting will quickly hit a wall.


What's The Best Strategy For You?

All of this brings us to our point: which strategy will work best for your betting needs and wants? The choice depends on how much risk you're willing to take and how free you are. Matched betting is excellent if you're starting and want to avoid risking your own money. And arbitrage is good if you want a long-term strategy that doesn't involve much risk. In the end, it depends on your own needs and preferences.



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