Complete Walkthrough
How to Use ARB//HQ
Four phases from zero to consistent monthly profit — matched betting sign-up offers, live arbitrage, low-exposure value betting, and account longevity. This guide covers every tool on the platform.
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Promo Tracker
9 AU bookmakers mapped. A$1,100+ in sign-up offer value. Track which bonuses you've claimed, which are still available, and which renew monthly.
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Live ARB Scanner
13 AU bookmakers. 78+ pairs. Real-time arbitrage detection — two bookmakers disagree on odds, you back both sides and profit regardless of result.
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Calculator Suite
Matched betting (4 tabs), rollover/wagering, ARB calculator, and dutching. Free to use — all the maths done for you.
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Low Exposure Modes
Value betting with stop-loss protection, 2-leg insurance bets, and bonus bet extraction. Risk-managed strategies for long-term account life.
💡Most users start with matched betting (Phase 1) to extract A$755–1,100+ from sign-up offers, then move to live ARB scanning (Phase 3) for ongoing income. You can run both simultaneously.
How matched betting works (the simple version)
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Back at bookmaker — e.g. bet A$50 on Team A to win @ 2.00 odds
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Lay at exchange (Betfair/Sportsbet Exchange) — bet against Team A winning
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Result — back win and lay win cancel out. Small 'qualifying loss' (usually A$1–3) but you unlock the bonus bet.
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Extract the free bet at higher odds — lock in 65–80% as guaranteed cash.
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Open the Promo Tracker
Go to Promos in the nav. Every major Australian bookmaker sign-up offer is mapped — bonus amount, wagering requirements, minimum odds, and the estimated cash you can extract. 9 bookmakers tracked. Start with the offers with the lowest wagering requirements (e.g. "1× turnover" is better than "5× turnover").
Open Promo Tracker →2
Deposit Match offers — The 1-Step approach
A deposit match gives you a bonus equal to your deposit (e.g. deposit A$50, get A$50 bonus). Instead of the old 2-game approach, ARB//HQ uses a cleaner 1-step method:
Step APlace A$50 qualifying bet on Team A at the bookmaker (unlocks the A$50 bonus bet)
Step BPlace the A$50 bonus SNR bet ALSO on Team A in the same game
Step CLay the combined exposure (A$100 total) on the exchange in one lay bet
ResultGuaranteed profit regardless of outcome — one game, one lay, done.
The Deposit Match tab in the Matched Betting Calculator does all the maths.
Open Matched Betting Calc →3
Free bet offers — Qualifying bet + SNR extraction
Some offers give you a free bet after placing a qualifying bet (e.g. "Bet A$50, get A$50 free bet"). These use two separate games:
Game 1Qualifying Bet — back at bookie, lay at exchange. Small qualifying loss (~A$1–5). Unlocks free bet.
Game 2Free Bet (SNR) — use the free bet at higher odds (4.00+), lay at exchange. Extract 65–80% as cash.
💡 SNR = Stake Not Returned. Use odds around 4.00–6.00 for free bet extraction to get 68–75% extraction rate. The Matched Betting Calculator shows exact numbers.
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Check wagering requirements with the Rollover Calculator
Some bonuses come with wagering requirements — e.g. "bet the bonus 3× at minimum 1.80 odds before withdrawing." Before claiming, check the Rollover Calculator:
- Enter bonus amount and wagering multiplier
- Enter minimum odds and typical exchange lay odds
- Calculator shows: total bets required, expected qualifying losses, and net profit after clearing
- If net profit is negative — skip the offer. Not all promos are worth chasing.
Open Rollover Calculator →5
Track your progress in the Promo Tracker
Once you've claimed an offer, mark it in the Promo Tracker. It tracks which bookmakers you've signed up with, which promos you've claimed, and which are still available — including renewal promos that repeat monthly. The sidebar also shows your bookmaker accounts (status: active / limited / closed). Never double-dip on an offer or miss a renewal.
Open Promo Tracker →💡 Most Australian punters extract A$50–A$150 per bookmaker sign-up offer. With 9 bookmakers tracked across 22+ offers, that's A$1,100+ available from first-time promos — before you ever touch the live ARB scanner. Do 2–3 new bookmakers per week and you're adding A$100–300/week to your bankroll.
💳 Deposit Match1-step approach. Enter deposit amount, back odds, lay odds. Get your single lay stake and guaranteed profit.
📋 Qualifying BetFor "bet A$X to get a free bet" offers. Calculates lay stake and qualifying loss for the first bet.
🎁 Free Bet (SNR/SR)Extracts a free bet at your chosen odds. Toggle SNR (stake not returned — most AU offers) or SR. Shows extraction % and locked profit.
⚡ Multi BoostFor boosted multi odds promotions. Enter base odds + boost %, get EV and lay stake to lock in the edge.
Enter: Bonus amount · Wagering multiplier · Min odds · Exchange commission. The calculator outputs total amount to bet through, estimated qualifying losses per bet, number of bets required, and net profit after clearing. A negative result means skip the offer.
Enter odds from 2 (or 3) different bookmakers. If the combined implied probabilities are below 100%, an arb exists. The calculator shows: whether an arb exists, exact stakes for each bookmaker, guaranteed profit at any bankroll size.
💡 A 2-way market doesn't cover a draw. Always add a 3rd leg for soccer.
Find the best odds across any bookmakers for each outcome and enter them. The calculator distributes your total stake so each leg returns the same amount. If total implied probability is below 100%, you get a guaranteed profit with no exchange required — all on bookmakers.
💡 Ideal for 3-way soccer markets (Home/Draw/Away) where exchange liquidity can be thin.
Scanner modes — pick your strategy
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TRUE ARB
Two bookmakers price opposite sides of the same event differently enough that you can back both and guarantee a profit margin. No risk — locked in profit regardless of result.
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VALUE BETS
Scanner identifies odds where the implied probability is significantly lower than the true probability. High expected value over time. Use the Stop Loss slider to cap your max risk per bet.
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INSURANCE MODE
2-leg card: a roughie at high odds (the value pick) + a shorter-priced insurance bet at another bookmaker. If the roughie misses, your insurance bet recovers ~40% of the stake automatically.
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BONUS BETS
If you have a free bet or bonus sitting at a bookmaker, enter the amount and bookmaker. The scanner finds the best event to place it for maximum SNR extraction — typically 65–75%.
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Try the demo scanner first (free — no account needed)
Before subscribing, explore the scanner with sample data. The demo shows you all four modes — TRUE ARB, Value Bets, Insurance, and Bonus Bets — with realistic opportunity cards and pre-calculated stakes. You can adjust bankroll and stop-loss settings to see how they affect your stakes.
Try Demo Scanner →2
Set your bankroll and scanner mode
When you open the live scanner, set your bankroll in the sidebar — this is the total amount you're willing to commit to a single opportunity. Then choose your mode:
TRUE ARBUse your full bankroll — profit is guaranteed both ways
VALUE / INSURANCESet the Stop Loss % (5% default) — max loss per bet is bankroll × stop loss %
BONUS BETSEnter your free bet amount + which bookmaker it's at
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Reading an opportunity card
Each card shows everything you need to act:
Sport / MatchThe event and market (usually head-to-head)
TRUE ARB badgeBoth legs are back bets — one at each bookmaker (or Exchange)
Arb % / Edge %Your guaranteed profit margin or statistical edge on the total outlay
Stake Leg 1 / Leg 2Exactly how much to bet at each bookmaker
Guarantee boxShows locked profit for both outcomes (TRUE ARB) or best-case scenario (Value/Insurance)
BET → buttonOpens the bookmaker directly at the right market
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Back/Lay arbs — what "Exchange" means on a card
Some TRUE ARB cards use the Betfair Exchange as Leg 2. The card still shows it as "BACK [Team B]" — you're effectively backing the opposition on the Exchange, which is equivalent to laying the original selection. You need a funded Betfair AU account to execute these. 5% Exchange commission is already factored into the profit shown.
💡 Back/Lay arbs typically show 0.5–3% profit margin. The scanner only surfaces them if the margin is positive after commission.
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Act immediately — arbs close fast
Bookmaker pricing teams watch the same markets. A 2% arb window can close in under 60 seconds as odds are adjusted. When you spot an opportunity:
- Have both bookmaker accounts open and funded in advance
- Click BET → for each leg — opens the bookmaker directly at the right market
- Place both legs as fast as possible (ideally within 30 seconds)
- If odds have moved, use the ARB Calculator to re-check before placing
- Enable browser notifications — get an instant alert for any 2%+ arb
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Low Exposure Mode — for value betting & insurance
Switch from ARB Mode to Low Exposure Mode for value bets and insurance. Key differences:
Stop Loss sliderSets max loss per bet as % of bankroll. Default 5% = A$50 risk on A$1,000 bankroll.
STAKE / BET buttonsA$50/100/500/1,000 — set the exact per-bet stake. Card shows that exact amount.
Value Bets tabSingle-leg: high-edge bet at one bookmaker. Positive EV over time with stop-loss protection.
Insurance tab2-leg: roughie at Bookie A + insurance at Bookie B. Recovery ~40% if roughie loses.
💡 The scanner covers AFL, NRL, NBA, EPL, A-League, Tennis ATP/WTA, NBL, NHL, Cricket, MMA and more. Arb margins typically range 0.5–5%. Even 1% on A$1,000 outlay = A$10 guaranteed per arb. Five arbs a day = A$50/day, ~A$1,500/month — on top of your matched betting income. Higher bankroll = higher dollar profit at the same percentage.
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Vary your bet sizes
Bookmakers flag accounts that always bet exactly the same amount, especially in round numbers. Instead of always betting A$50.00, use amounts like A$47.50 or A$53.20. Small variation looks more natural and significantly extends account lifespan. The matched betting calculator gives you mathematically optimal stakes — round them slightly before placing.
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Spread across sports
Don't only bet on the same market type repeatedly. Mix AFL and tennis and NBA. Bookmakers compare your betting patterns against recreational bettors — someone who only ever bets on obscure tennis matches at exact arb stakes looks nothing like a normal punter. Vary your sports, mix in the occasional single-leg bet that isn't part of a hedge.
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Withdraw strategically
Don't leave large balances sitting at bookmakers after you've cleared a rollover. Withdraw your profit regularly, but not after every single bet. A withdrawal pattern of every 1–2 weeks looks normal. Also: depositing and immediately withdrawing without much betting activity triggers account reviews at most bookmakers.
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Track every account in the Promo Tracker
Use the Promo Tracker to log every bookmaker account — status (active/limited/closed), promos claimed, and renewal offers available. When an account gets limited (restricted to small stakes), note it and move to the next bookmaker. Don't waste time trying to bet meaningful amounts on limited accounts.
Open Promo Tracker →5
Read the Strategy Guides
The Strategies section covers advanced topics: soft bookmaker vs corporate strategy, timing withdrawals, multi-account households, handling gubbing (account restrictions), and maximising promo value per bookmaker before restriction hits.
Open Strategy Guides →💡 Most Australian punters get 3–12 months of solid volume from each bookmaker before restrictions kick in at meaningful stakes. New bookmakers launch in Australia regularly. Start fresh accounts early — the sign-up promo is only available once per person, and early action at a new bookmaker is when limits are most generous.
Common questions
Do I need a Betfair account?
For matched betting and back/lay arbs — yes, you need an exchange account (Betfair AU or Sportsbet Exchange) to place lay bets. For pure back/back arbitrage (two bookmakers) and dutching — no exchange needed at all.
What is a lay bet?
A lay bet is a bet against an outcome — you're acting as the bookmaker. If Team A loses (or draws), you win the lay stake. If Team A wins, you pay out the liability. On Betfair, the lay odds are always slightly higher than the back odds — the difference is the exchange margin.
What is SNR vs SR?
SNR (Stake Not Returned) — the most common AU free bet type. When you win, the bookmaker pays winnings only (odds − 1) × stake. The stake is not returned. SR (Stake Returned) — you get the stake back on a win too. SR free bets extract at higher rates but are rarer in Australia.
Is this legal in Australia?
Yes. Matched betting and arbitrage betting are legal in Australia. Bookmakers may limit or close accounts of profitable bettors (this is their right), but there are no laws against the strategies. The activity is similar to legal price-shopping across retailers.
How much money do I need to start?
For matched betting: enough to place a qualifying bet (often A$20–50) plus exchange liability (usually similar amount). You can start with as little as A$200 total. For live ARB: more capital means bigger dollar returns at the same margin %. A$500–1,000 is a practical starting bankroll for meaningful daily returns.
What sports and bookmakers does the scanner cover?
13 AU bookmakers: Sportsbet, Bet365, TABtouch, Ladbrokes, Neds, Betr, BetRight, PointsBet, BlueBet, Unibet, and more. Sports: AFL, NRL, NBA, EPL, A-League, Tennis ATP/WTA, NBL, NHL, Cricket, MMA, and MLB. 78+ bookmaker pairs scanned simultaneously.
What's the difference between TRUE ARB and Value Bets?
TRUE ARB: you back both sides of an event at two bookmakers. Profit is guaranteed regardless of outcome — zero risk. Value Bets: you back one outcome where the odds imply a lower probability than reality. Not guaranteed per-bet, but statistically profitable over many bets. The stop-loss setting caps your downside per bet.
What is insurance mode?
Insurance mode is a 2-leg value bet: you back a high-odds roughie at one bookmaker (the value pick), and simultaneously place an insurance bet at shorter odds at a different bookmaker. If the roughie misses, the insurance leg recovers approximately 40% of your main stake, reducing your net loss significantly compared to a single-leg value bet.
Can I try the scanner before subscribing?
Yes — the demo scanner is free with no account needed. It shows you all four scanner modes with sample data and realistic opportunity cards, so you can see exactly what you're getting before paying. Stakes are pre-calculated just like the live version.