Surebets vs. Valuebets: What’s the Difference? The Ultimate Guide with 20 recommendations
10 min read
How to maximise profits between value bets and surebets
Surebets vs. Valuebets: What’s the Difference?
If you’re a sports bettor, you’ve probably come across the terms “surebets” and “valuebets.” Both are popular betting strategies used by experienced punters to make money from sports betting. But what’s the difference between them? And which one is better for making consistent profits?
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the differences between surebets and valuebets, their pros and cons, and how to use them effectively to increase your chances of winning.
What are Surebets?
A surebet, also known as an arbitrage bet, is a betting strategy where you place multiple bets on all possible outcomes of a sporting event to guarantee a profit, regardless of the outcome.
For example, let’s say there’s a football match between Team A and Team B. Bookmaker 1 offers odds of 2.1 for Team A to win, while Bookmaker 2 offers odds of 2.3 for Team B to win. By placing a bet on Team A with Bookmaker 1 and a bet on Team B with Bookmaker 2, you can guarantee a profit, no matter which team wins the game.
This is because the total odds of both bets are above 2.0, meaning that your total winnings will be higher than your total stake, regardless of the outcome. However, surebets usually offer small profits and require a lot of research and quick decision-making to be successful.
What are Valuebets?
A valuebet, on the other hand, is a bet where the odds offered by the bookmaker are higher than the true probability of the event occurring. In other words, a valuebet is a bet where you believe the bookmaker has underestimated the chances of a particular outcome.
For example, if a bookmaker offers odds of 2.5 for Team A to win, but you believe that the true probability of Team A winning is 40%, then the odds offered by the bookmaker are a valuebet. This is because the bookmaker’s odds imply a probability of 1/2.5 or 40%, which is lower than your estimated probability of 40%.
Valuebets require a lot of skill, knowledge, and research to identify. But when done correctly, they can be more profitable than surebets.
Surebets vs. Valuebets: Pros and Cons
Now that we’ve defined surebets and valuebets, let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of each strategy:
Pros of Surebets
- Guaranteed profits: With surebets, you can guarantee a profit, regardless of the outcome of the event.
- Low risk: Since surebets cover all possible outcomes, there is no risk of losing money.
- Quick profits: Surebets offer quick profits, making them ideal for bettors who want to make money fast.
Cons of Surebets
- Low profits: Surebets usually offer small profits, making it difficult to make a significant amount of money.
- Limited opportunities: Surebets are rare and require a lot of research and quick decision-making to be successful.
- Limited stake: Bookmakers often limit the amount you can bet on a surebet, reducing the potential profits.
Pros of Valuebets
- High profits: Valuebets offer higher profits than surebets since the odds offered by the bookmaker are higher than the true probability of the event occurring.
- More opportunities: There are more valuebet opportunities than surebet opportunities.
Risk management
One key difference between surebets and value bets is the way they manage risk. With surebets, you are guaranteed a profit regardless of the outcome of the event. This means that you can place a bet without any risk of losing money.
On the other hand, value bets are not guaranteed to win, and there is always the risk of losing money. However, by focusing on finding value in the odds, you can increase your chances of winning in the long run.
In conclusion
In the end, the choice between surebets and value bets depends on your personal preferences and betting goals. If you’re looking for a guaranteed profit and are willing to invest the time and effort to find opportunities, then surebets may be the way to go. However, if you’re willing to take on some risk and are focused on long-term profitability, then value betting may be the better option.
Ultimately, both surebets and value bets can be profitable strategies when executed properly. Whichever approach you choose, make sure to do your research, manage your risk, and bet responsibly. With the right mindset and strategy, you can succeed in sports betting and make a profit over time.