Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about using The Best Betting Odds.

Odds Comparison

How do I find the best odds for a team? ▾

Find the event in the odds table. The cell highlighted in green shows the highest available price for that selection across all displayed bookmakers. You can also click the sort icon (↕) next to a team name to reorder all bookmakers from best to worst price for that specific selection.

How often are odds updated? ▾

Odds are refreshed every 15 minutes for free users. VIP members get real-time live odds via the dedicated VIP Live Odds page, updated as new prices come in. You can also click the Refresh button at any time to fetch the latest available prices.

How do I switch between regions? ▾

Use the 🇬🇧 UK / 🇺🇸 US / 🇪🇺 EU / 🇦🇺 AU toggle in the header. The page reloads with odds from bookmakers in the selected region. Your region is also auto-detected based on your location when you first visit.

Can I filter by sport or league? ▾

Yes. Use the Sport, League, Country, and Date filters in the filter bar to narrow the list. You can also search for a specific team or event using the Search field.

What does the Arb% column mean? ▾

Arb% (arbitrage percentage) shows the combined implied probability of an event across the best available odds at different bookmakers. A figure below 100% indicates a theoretical arbitrage opportunity — where backing all outcomes across different bookmakers may yield a mathematical return regardless of the result. Note that odds change quickly and an opportunity may not persist long enough to complete all bets; bookmakers may also restrict accounts engaging in arbitrage activity. The Arb Finder is an analytical tool — always verify current odds directly with the bookmaker before placing any bet.

What are decimal odds and can I switch formats? ▾

Decimal odds represent the total return per unit staked including your stake. For example, 3.50 on a £10 bet returns £35 (£25 profit + £10 stake). You can switch between decimal, fractional and American (moneyline) formats using the odds format toggle on the comparison page.

Which bookmakers do you cover? ▾

UK: Bet365, William Hill, Betfair, Paddy Power, Coral, Ladbrokes, Sky Bet, Betway, Unibet, 888sport, LeoVegas, BoyleSports, Casumo, Smarkets and more.

US: DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, ESPN Bet, BetRivers, LowVig, Bovada, BetOnline, BetUS, MyBookie.ag and more.

EU: Pinnacle, Betfair (EU), Winamax (FR), Betsson, Coolbet, Tipico (DE), Unibet (SE), NordicBet, Betclic (FR), Codere (IT) and more.

AU: Sportsbet, TAB, Neds, Betfair Exchange, Ladbrokes AU, PointsBet, TABtouch, PlayUp, Bet Right, Betr and more.

The list is updated as new licensed operators are added.

Bookmaker Reviews

How are bookmaker ratings calculated? ▾

Each bookmaker is rated out of 5 across multiple criteria including odds quality (overround percentage on key leagues), feature availability (cash out, live streaming, in-play betting), platform usability, regulatory standing, and account restriction activity. Ratings are not influenced by affiliate relationships — a bookmaker cannot pay to improve its score.

What is overround and why does it matter? ▾

Overround is the bookmaker's built-in margin — expressed as the sum of implied probabilities across all outcomes. A 103% overround means for every £100 bet across all selections, the bookmaker expects to keep £3. The lower the overround, the better value for the bettor. Sharp bookmakers like Pinnacle typically run 101–102%; recreational bookmakers often run 106–110% or higher.

Which regions have bookmaker reviews? ▾

We publish in-depth reviews for bookmakers across all four regions. Visit UK Bookmakers, US Sportsbooks, European Bookmakers or Australian Bookmakers to browse the comparison tables and individual review pages.

Do affiliate links affect your reviews? ▾

No. We may earn a referral commission if you sign up with a bookmaker via a link on our site, but this never influences the ratings, rankings, or written content. Every bookmaker rating is based on objective, independently measured criteria. Bookmakers with lower ratings still appear in our comparison tables — we do not remove them to favour higher-paying partners.

What does the "Visit" button do? ▾

Clicking "Visit" takes you to the bookmaker's website via our redirect system. We use this to track referrals for affiliate reporting purposes. The destination is always the bookmaker's official site — you will never be redirected to a third-party page without your knowledge.

Arbitrage Finder

How does the back and lay arbitrage finder work? ▾

The Arbitrage page pairs the best bookmaker back price for each selection with the lay price for the same selection on a betting exchange such as Betfair Exchange or Smarkets. When backing and laying locks in a profit after exchange commission whatever the result, the match is listed as an arbitrage opportunity. When there are none, it shows the 20 matches that come closest.

What is a sure bet? ▾

A sure bet backs every outcome of a match at different bookmakers, usually two or three, with stakes sized so the return is the same whichever outcome wins. It is only possible when 1 ÷ odds, added up across the outcomes, comes to less than 1, which happens when bookmakers disagree about a match. Sure bets use bookmakers only, so there is no exchange commission, and they work in every region, including the US. The Sure bets view is on the Arbitrage page.

How is the lay stake calculated? ▾

Lay stake = back stake × back odds ÷ (lay odds − commission), which makes the result the same whichever side wins. The return shown is that profit, or loss, as a percentage of the back stake. It uses each exchange's standard commission unless you enter your own rate in the calculator.

Is arbitrage betting risk-free? ▾

An arb only locks in a result if every bet is placed at the prices shown. Prices can move, an exchange may not have enough money available at your lay price, and bookmakers can void bets struck at obvious price errors or limit accounts that arb regularly. Always confirm every price before placing any bet.

Match Centre

What is the Match Centre? ▾

The Match Centre is a hub for in-depth fixture information. Each match page shows head-to-head history, recent form for both teams, league standings, top scorers, and predicted line-ups alongside the live odds comparison.

Which leagues does the Match Centre cover? ▾

The Match Centre currently covers the major European football leagues (Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League) plus selected US sports (NBA, NFL). Coverage expands as additional data sources are integrated.

VIP Membership

What does VIP membership include? ▾

VIP members get real-time live odds via the VIP Live Odds page and a real-time arbitrage finder via VIP Arbitrage, covering sure bets and back/lay, both refreshed every 3 minutes instead of 15, plus the VIP Dashboard and early access to new tools.

How do I join VIP? ▾

Visit the Pricing page to see VIP plan details and sign up. Once subscribed, you will receive a magic link by email to access the VIP Dashboard. No password is required — just click the link in the email.

How do I log in to my VIP account? ▾

Go to the Log in page and enter your email address. We will send you a magic link — click it to access your VIP Dashboard instantly. No password needed.

General

Is The Best Betting Odds free to use? ▾

The core platform is completely free — odds comparison, the arbitrage finder (sure bets and back/lay), bookmaker reviews, Match Centre, betting guides and calculators are all available at no cost. For serious bettors, a VIP plan unlocks real-time live odds and a real-time arbitrage finder, refreshed every 3 minutes instead of 15.

Can I place a bet directly on your site? ▾

No. We are an odds comparison and information service only. We are not a bookmaker and do not accept bets. To place a bet you need to visit the bookmaker's website directly.

Something is wrong with the data — what do I do? ▾

Please contact us and describe the issue. Include the event name, sport, bookmaker, and the odds or information you saw. We aim to investigate all reports within one business day.

Do you cover responsible gambling? ▾

Yes. We have a dedicated Responsible Gambling guide covering how to set limits, recognise problem gambling warning signs, and access support services. Key resources: BeGambleAware (UK), GamCare (UK), NCPG (US), Gambling Help Online (AU). If gambling is affecting you or someone you know, please reach out to one of these organisations.