How Americans Are Making Guaranteed Profits from Sports Betting
In the United States, arbitrage sports betting has become a legitimate way for savvy bettors to generate guaranteed profits. With sports betting now legal in 38 states as of 2026, American bettors have unprecedented opportunities to exploit odds differences across multiple sportsbooks. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about arbitrage betting in the USA.
Arbitrage sports betting (also called "arbing" or "sure betting") is a betting strategy where you place bets on all possible outcomes of a sporting event across different sportsbooks to guarantee a profit regardless of the result.
How it works: When different sportsbooks offer different odds on the same game, you can bet on all outcomes and lock in a profit. For example, if DraftKings offers +110 on Team A and FanDuel offers +110 on Team B, you can bet both sides and profit 10% regardless of who wins.
Arbitrage betting is completely legal across all 50 states. You are simply placing legitimate bets at different sportsbooks - there is no law against shopping for the best odds or betting on multiple outcomes.
However, the legality of SPORTS BETTING varies by state:
| State | Legal Status | Best Sportsbooks |
|---|---|---|
| New York | Legal (Online & Retail) | DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, BetMGM |
| New Jersey | Legal (Online & Retail) | DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, PointsBet |
| Pennsylvania | Legal (Online & Retail) | FanDuel, DraftKings, BetRivers, Caesars |
| California | Not Legal (Retail tribal casinos only) | Offshore options only |
| Texas | Not Legal | Offshore options only |
| Florida | Limited (Legal but contested) | Hard Rock Bet |
| Illinois | Legal (Online & Retail) | DraftKings, FanDuel, BetRivers, Caesars |
| Michigan | Legal (Online & Retail) | FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars |
| Arizona | Legal (Online & Retail) | DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars |
| Colorado | Legal (Online & Retail) | DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, PointsBet |
Total States with Legal Sports Betting: 38 states + Washington D.C. (as of 2026)
Based on extensive research and testing, here are the top arbitrage software platforms available for American bettors:
Best For: USA & Canada markets
Coverage: 50+ US sportsbooks
Features:
$100-300/month
Verdict: Top choice for US bettors with comprehensive sportsbook coverage.
Best For: Live/in-play arbitrage
Coverage: 80+ bookmakers globally
Features:
$69-299/month
Verdict: Best for live betting arbitrage with lightning-fast updates.
Best For: Pre-match arbitrage
Coverage: 120+ bookmakers (13+ US)
Features:
€89-139/month
Verdict: Reliable European service expanding into US market.
Best For: Automated execution
Coverage: US sportsbooks via partner APIs
Features:
Free - Deposit to Start
Verdict: Only platform offering full automation with no subscription fees - deposit and start winning immediately.
Different sports offer different arbitrage opportunities. Based on 2026 data from US sportsbooks:
Arbitrage Frequency: Very High (Sep-Feb)
Average Profit Margin: 2-5%
Why It's Good: Most popular US sport, high betting volume, many sportsbooks offer competitive lines.
Arbitrage Frequency: High (Oct-June)
Average Profit Margin: 1.5-4%
Why It's Good: 82-game season provides constant opportunities, high liquidity.
Arbitrage Frequency: High (Apr-Oct)
Average Profit Margin: 2-6%
Why It's Good: 162-game season, massive betting volume, varied odds.
Arbitrage Frequency: Medium-High (Oct-Jun)
Average Profit Margin: 2-5%
Why It's Good: Less betting volume = more pricing inefficiencies.
Arbitrage Frequency: Medium
Average Profit Margin: 3-7%
Why It's Good: Smaller markets = bigger pricing errors, but lower liquidity.
States Available: 20+ states
Best For: NFL, NBA, NCAA
Pros: Competitive odds, high limits, fast payouts
Cons: Quick to limit arbitrage bettors
States Available: 20+ states
Best For: All major sports
Pros: Best pricing on NFL/NBA, reliable platform
Cons: Will limit sharp bettors
States Available: 18+ states
Best For: Live betting
Pros: Good live odds, frequent promotions
Cons: Lower limits than DK/FD
States Available: 16+ states
Best For: Promotions, futures
Pros: Generous bonuses, wide markets
Cons: Sometimes slower odds updates
States Available: 10+ states
Best For: Unique point spreads
Pros: Different pricing model creates arb opportunities
Cons: Lower liquidity
Create accounts at 5-10 legal sportsbooks in your state. Popular choices: DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, PointsBet.
Submit ID documents and complete KYC (Know Your Customer) verification at each sportsbook. This is required by law in the US.
Deposit funds across multiple sportsbooks. Recommended starting bankroll: $2,000-$5,000 total ($500-1,000 per sportsbook).
Subscribe to arbitrage software like OddsJam, BetBurger, or ArbZoom to automatically scan for opportunities.
When an arbitrage opportunity appears, place bets on all outcomes immediately before odds change.
Keep detailed records for tax purposes and monitor your profits across all sportsbooks.
Event: NFL - Buffalo Bills vs Kansas City Chiefs
Bet 1: Bills +3.5 @ DraftKings (Odds: -105) - Stake: $525
Bet 2: Chiefs -3.5 @ FanDuel (Odds: -105) - Stake: $525
Total Investment: $1,050
Guaranteed Return: $1,075 (regardless of outcome)
Profit: $25 (2.38% ROI)
Problem: US sportsbooks aggressively limit winning bettors. Most personal accounts get restricted within 3-6 months.
Solution: Use ArbZoom's partner API access for unlimited betting with no account ban risk.
Problem: Sports betting winnings are taxable income in the US. Federal tax: 10-37%, plus state taxes.
Solution: Keep detailed records and set aside 30-40% of profits for taxes.
Problem: Odds change every 30-60 seconds. Manual betting is too slow.
Solution: Use automated software like ArbZoom's ZoomBot for instant execution.
Problem: Some US sportsbooks have withdrawal delays or limits.
Solution: Test small withdrawals before depositing large amounts.
IRS Treatment: Arbitrage profits are taxed as gambling income.
Tax Rate: 10-37% depending on your total income bracket.
Reporting: Must report all winnings on Form 1040, Schedule 1.
Losses: Can deduct gambling losses up to the amount of winnings (if you itemize deductions).
No State Income Tax: Texas, Florida, Nevada, Washington, Tennessee (0% state tax)
Highest State Tax: California (13.3%), New York (10.9%), New Jersey (10.75%)
Consider creating an LLC for your arbitrage betting activities. This may allow you to deduct expenses like software subscriptions, internet costs, and computer equipment. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.
Traditional arbitrage betting in the USA faces one critical flaw: sportsbooks will limit or ban your account within months. DraftKings, FanDuel, and others use sophisticated algorithms to detect arbitrage betting patterns.
ArbZoom solves this problem completely by using official sportsbook partner APIs instead of personal accounts:
Join American bettors making guaranteed profits with ArbZoom's automated platform
Start Free Trial →Yes, arbitrage betting is 100% legal in all 50 US states. You are simply placing legitimate bets at different sportsbooks. However, sports betting itself is only legal in 38 states as of 2026, so you can only arbitrage in states where sports betting is legal.
38 states plus Washington D.C. have legalized sports betting as of 2026, including: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan, Arizona, Colorado, Virginia, Tennessee, Indiana, Iowa, West Virginia, Nevada, Oregon, New Hampshire, and many more. California and Texas remain illegal.
The top arbitrage software for US bettors are: 1) OddsJam (best for US sportsbook coverage), 2) BetBurger (best for live betting), 3) RebelBetting (best for pre-match), and 4) ArbZoom (best for automation with no account ban risk).
Typical profits range from 1-5% per arbitrage opportunity. With a $10,000 bankroll and 5-10 opportunities daily, experienced US arbers can earn $200-$500 per day ($6,000-$15,000 per month). Profits vary based on bankroll size, time invested, and software used.
Yes, most US sportsbooks (DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars) will limit or ban personal accounts within 3-6 months if they detect arbitrage betting patterns. This is why ArbZoom uses partner API access instead of personal accounts - eliminating the ban risk entirely.
Yes, all arbitrage betting profits are taxable income in the United States. Federal tax rates range from 10-37% depending on your income bracket, plus state income taxes (0-13.3% depending on your state). You can deduct gambling losses up to your winnings if you itemize deductions.
The best sports for arbitrage in the US are: 1) NFL (highest opportunity frequency during Sep-Feb), 2) NBA (82-game season = constant opportunities), 3) MLB (162-game season), 4) NHL, and 5) College Football/Basketball. NFL offers the most arbitrage opportunities for American bettors.
Minimum 2 sportsbooks, but professional arbitrageurs use 8-15+ sportsbooks to maximize opportunities. Popular US sportsbooks for arbitrage include: DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, PointsBet, BetRivers, and Unibet. With ArbZoom, you don't need personal accounts - we handle everything via partner APIs.
Arbitrage sports betting in the United States offers a legitimate path to guaranteed profits, especially in the 38 states where online sports betting is legal as of 2026. Whether you choose manual arbitrage with software like OddsJam and BetBurger, or fully automated solutions like ArbZoom, the opportunity is real and accessible.
Key Takeaways:
Ready to join thousands of American bettors earning guaranteed daily profits? ArbZoom eliminates the account ban problem and automates everything for you.
No account limits. No bans. Just guaranteed profits.
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