Live-bet latency occurs due to the time it takes for sports events to be broadcast, data to be processed, and odds to be updated on betting platforms. This delay can range from a few seconds to over 30 seconds depending on the sport, technology, and bookmaker infrastructure. During this latency period, bettors may see odds that no longer reflect the current state of the game, such as a recent goal or penalty that has not yet been accounted for in the odds.

• •Latency varies by sport and event complexity
• •Data transmission and processing cause delays
• •Odds update speed differs among bookmakers

If the pre-goal odds were 3.0 and post-goal odds are 1.5, betting during latency yields better value.

Courtsiding is the practice where individuals physically present at an event relay information faster than official broadcasters or bookmakers can update odds, exploiting latency for profitable betting. This can involve using communication devices or visual signals to alert remote bettors to in-game developments before odds reflect those changes.

• •Relies on real-time event observation
• •Exploits delays in broadcast and data feeds
• •Often considered unethical and banned by many bookmakers

Betting at odds of 2.2 before odds drop to 1.6 yields a significant edge.

Latency causes odds to lag behind actual game events, creating temporary arbitrage opportunities or risk for uninformed bettors. Courtsiding exploits this by acting faster than automated systems or official data feeds, placing bets at outdated prices. This dynamic distorts prices and may lead to market inefficiencies, but also increases risk for those relying on delayed data.

• •Odds lag behind real-time events due to latency
• •Courtsiders gain a timing advantage over others
• •Market prices may temporarily misalign with event reality

Odds before score: 2.5, odds after score update: 1.8.

Arbitrage betting involves placing bets on all possible outcomes across different bookmakers to guarantee a profit regardless of event outcomes or latency. Unlike relying on timing advantages or reacting to delayed odds, arbitrage exploits price discrepancies that exist temporarily between bookmakers. This method eliminates the uncertainty caused by latency and courtsiding since profits do not depend on event timing but rather on price inefficiencies.

• •Focuses on price differences, not event timing
• •Allows guaranteed profit regardless of latency
• •Eliminates the need for risky real-time decisions

Stake on Team A = (2.1 / (2.1 + 2.1)) * total stake; Stake on Team B = total stake - Stake on Team A.

To mitigate the risks caused by live-bet latency and courtsiding, bettors should use fast and reliable data feeds, avoid placing bets during high volatility moments, and consider arbitrage betting to avoid timing risks altogether. Staying informed on bookmaker odds update speeds and using specialized software can also improve decision quality.

• •Use bookmakers with minimal latency and fast updates
• •Avoid betting immediately after major game events
• •Utilize arbitrage betting to remove timing guesswork
• •Leverage software tools like ArbitUp for efficiency

Calculations handled automatically by arbitrage software like ArbitUp.