Arbitrage betting exploits price discrepancies between sportsbooks so that betting all outcomes guarantees a profit regardless of the result. It requires multiple accounts at different books and fast execution when windows open.
Example: Book A prices Team X at +105 and Book B prices Team Y at +105. The implied probabilities sum to 97.6% — under 100%, creating an arb. By sizing bets correctly across both books, any outcome returns a 2.4% guaranteed profit.
Finding arbs: Arbs appear when books have different opinions on a line or one book is slow to move. They're most common on props, player specials, and low-liquidity markets. Mainstream NFL spreads arb infrequently.
Practical challenges: - Windows close fast (often seconds to minutes) - Books limit or ban accounts that arb systematically - Withdrawal delays mean capital is locked across multiple books - Transaction costs (vig) mean the true arb window must exceed the spread
The Shark Snip multi-book comparison grid on the team odds page highlights potential arb opportunities across PrizePicks, DraftKings Pick6, and Underdog Fantasy in real time.