How Long Do Arbs Last?
Bookmakers move their prices in response to market activity. Therefore, in most cases, arbitrage opportunities only last for minutes after the alert has been issued. However, since the bookmakers also set limits on how much money they will take from individual customers on any single bet, they effectively provide the means which allow a group of arbitrageurs all to get the same bets on. Generally the most that can comfortably be placed on an arbitrage opportunity is £1000 – £1500, distributed among the various legs. Additionally, if the bookmakers in question are already seeing two-way business on the event in question, they will have no need to alter prices since a balanced book and the profits thereof represent their ideal scenario. When assessing whether to use an arb service – either to replace or support your independent searches – you should consider how long prices hold after the service has sent you the arbitrage information. This will help you to determine the level of competi
