What is a Sure Bet?

A Sure Bet is a bet, where there is such a difference in the bookmakers odds that you by betting on all outcomes in an event is sure of winning money. For instance, in a football match you have to bet on home, draw, and away with bets placed at different bookmakers.

How the return are calculated

In a match between Brazil and England the best odds on home / draw / away are 2.80 / 3.50 / 3.10. Odds 2.80 means that a bet for $1 gives $2.80 in case of a home victory. Hence a bet of

$1 / 2.80 = $0.36

will give you $1 in case of a home victory. Similar to this, you need $0.29 and $0.32 to receive $1 in case of a draw or an away victory. Add the three numbers to get the cost of a $1 payment irrespective of the outcome of the match:

0.36 + 0.29 + 0.32 = 0.97

You will need $0.97 to be sure to get $1 back. Or, said in another way, for each $1 you bet, you will get $1 / 0.97 = $1.04 back for sure, a return of 3.58%.

Notice

This calculation does not include tax or other expenses. To take advantage of a Sure Bet, you will have to be a customer at all three bookmakers. Finally some bookmakers require that you bet on more than a single match to accept your bet.