How to use scanner statistics to make money

 

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Article Info:

• Reading time: ~16-18 minutes

• Difficulty level: Intermediate (suitable for both beginners and experienced arbitrage traders)

• Main goal: Learn how to turn "raw" scanner numbers into real profit and stop losing your bankroll on "juicy" arb opportunities.

 

You open the arbitrage scanner. In front of you is a table. Dozens of rows, hundreds of percentages, columns with names like ROI, Yield, Turnover, Max Arb... Your eyes dart around. And almost always you want to do one thing: sort by the highest return percentage and start betting.

This is the most expensive mistake 90% of beginners make.

The scanner does not show "ready money." It shows raw numbers. And your task is to turn these numbers into real, stable profit. The difference between a losing arbitrage trader and a successful professional often lies not in internet speed or the number of accounts, but in the ability to correctly interpret statistics.

In this article, we will break down all the key scanner metrics from A to Z, learn how to filter out "junk" arbs, distinguish random success from a systematic approach, and build a step-by-step algorithm that turns raw data into your personal earnings plan.

The main idea: Statistics are a map of a gold deposit. But the map alone won't make you rich. What will make you rich is the ability to understand where to dig and where you shouldn't even pick up a shovel.

 

What do scanner numbers mean?

 

Before we start filtering, analyzing, and building strategies, let's honestly and without fluff break down what the main columns in an arbitrage scanner (like BreakingBet, for example) mean.

 

Arb Yield Percentage

 

What it is: The technical profitability of an arbitrage situation before deducting your margin, bookmaker fees, and other losses. Formula: (1 / Odds_1 + 1 / Odds_2) * 100% — 100%. If the result is positive, you have an arb.

How it looks in the scanner: "3.2%", "5.7%", "0.8%".

The catch: This percentage is theoretical. It assumes that you will:

• Place precisely calculated amounts on both legs.

• Both bets will be accepted by the bookmaker at the indicated odds.

• No bet will be canceled or settled at odds of 1.0.

In practice, from the stated 5%, often only 2-3% remain "alive." And from 1.5% — nothing at all, if one leg "drops" within seconds.

The rule of thumb: The actual return of an arb = Percentage in the scanner minus 0.5%–1.5% for technical losses (delays, rounding, differences in settlement). For live arbs, feel free to subtract 2-3%.

 

ROI

 

What it is: This is a global indicator. It answers the question: "How many cents of profit does every invested euro bring over the ENTIRE history of my bets (or over a selected period)?"

• Formula: (Net profit / Total sum of all bets) * 100%.

• Example: You made 100 bets totaling €1,000. Your net profit was €80. Your ROI = 8%.

Why it's important: ROI is your "average success rate." If ROI is positive, you are in profit. If ROI > 15% over a distance of 1000+ bets, you are a genius (or you are betting with micro-amounts at soft bookmakers). A realistic ROI for a professional arbitrage trader over the long haul is 3-8%.

 

Yield*

 

*that is, return per bet

What it is: Very similar to ROI, but with one important difference. Yield is often calculated in relation to the amount of a single bet, rather than the total turnover. Or as the ratio of net profit to total risk.

• In the context of an arb scanner, Yield more often shows the average return per one found arbitrage situation.

• Example: The scanner showed 100 arbs. On 80 of them, you made a profit of 3%, on 20 — a loss of 1%. Your Yield would be about 2.2%.

ROI vs Yield: If ROI is your "business result" (how much money you made from money), then Yield is the "quality of selection" (how well you select arbs within the scanner). A high Yield + a low ROI means you filter out junk perfectly, but bet too little. A low Yield + a high ROI means you bet a lot, but lose almost everything on "scrap."

 

Turnover

 

What it is: The total sum of all your bets (on both legs) over a certain period.

Why it's critical: Turnover is your "gross revenue." It is because of turnover that bookmakers block you. Turnover shows your real activity.

The most important nuance: Professionals count not just turnover, but the turnover ratio to the bank (bankroll turnover). If your bank is €1,000 and your turnover for the month is €5,000, you have rolled your bank 5 times. That's normal. If your turnover is €30,000 with a €1,000 bank, you are either a genius of speed or you will soon be blocked everywhere.

 

Average Arb

 

What it is: The arithmetic mean of the percentages of all arbs you have betted.

• Example: You bet on three arbs: 2%, 5% and 1%. Average arb = 2.67%.

Why you need to know this: If your average arb falls below 1.5% (for pre-match) or below 2.5% (for live), you are most likely operating at a loss after accounting for commissions, errors, and drawdowns. Aim for an average arb of at least 2% (pre-match) and 3.5% (live).

 

Drawdown

 

What it is: The maximum drop of your bankroll from its peak value. Measured in percentages or money.

• Example: You had €1,000. After an unsuccessful series (cancellations of bets, "crooked" arbs, technical failures), your bankroll fell to €850. Drawdown = 15%.

Why it's sacred: Drawdown is a test of your mental strength. Beginners see a 10% drawdown and panic, draining the rest. Professionals factor a 20-30% drawdown into their strategy and handle it calmly. Never use a bank where a 25% drawdown would cost you sleep.

 

The Max % Trap

 

Let's reveal a terrible secret. That very arb with 15% in the scanner table, which glows red and winks invitingly, is the likely killer of your bankroll. Sounds paradoxical? Let's explain.

 

The Nature of "Juicy" Arbs

 

Where does an arb over 15% come from? From only two sources:

1. A bookmaker error. The bookmaker made a mistake in the line. Odds on the outcome are 3.0 instead of 1.5. Such arbs live for 3-10 seconds. Only bots have a chance.

2. A "dead" arb. The scanner "caught" an odds that has already changed, but has not been updated on the bookmaker's website due to a technical delay (cache). You bet — but the odds are already 1.01, and you lose your stake.

Reality: 95% of arbs above 10% in mass scanners are "phantoms" or arbs on exotic markets with zero liquidity (Uganda table tennis championship, 3rd Chilean cyber football league). It's impossible to place a normal amount there — the bookmaker simply won't accept a bet over €5.

 

The "Golden Range" Rule

 

Experienced arbitrage traders know: the best arbs are in the range of 3% – 8% for pre-match and 4 – 8% for live.

• Below 2% (pre-match): Doesn't pay for risks and time. Only as a "top-up" to an already open position.

• 3% – 5% (pre-match): Your "bread and butter." The main volume of bets. Stable, predictable.

• 5% – 8%: Good, but cautious. Check market liquidity.

• Above 8%: Only for emergencies and with a minimal amount. Or for bots.

 

How to filter out the junk

 

You turned on the scanner. You see 500 arbs. 400 of them are junk. How to weed out 400 in 2 minutes? Here is a step-by-step filtration system that professionals use.

 

Step 1. Turn off "Exotics" Completely

 

What we turn off: Any markets where it's not people playing in live broadcasts, but "mouse-click specialists."

• Cybersports (except top tournaments with prize pool > $100k)

• Table tennis (especially "championships" with unpronounceable names)

• Virtual sports

• Women's sports (except Grand Slam tennis)

• Championships of countries where it is currently night or war

Why: There is low liquidity, odds change chaotically, and bookmakers often cancel bets under the rule of "obvious line error."

 

Step 2. Filter by "Market Depth"

 

What it is: The number of different bookmakers offering a line on this event.

Algorithm:

• If for a top championship match (EPL, NBA, Champions League) 50+ bookmakers give a line — the arb is almost always "alive."

• If the line is given by 3-5 bookmakers and among them there are Pinnacle or Bet365 — maybe okay.

• If the line is given by 2 bookmakers, one of which is a "fly-by-night" office with odds of 7.0 — skip it. It's junk.

Tip: In the SmartScaner, pay attention to the "Bookmaker" or "Depth" column. The more well-known bookmakers in an event, the more reliable the arb.

 

Step 3. Analyze Line Movement Before the Arb

 

How to check it: Many scanners (including the SureBet premium subscription) show the history of odds changes over the last few tick points.

Red flags (don't take):

• The odds on one leg fell sharply from 3.0 to 1.5 in 2 minutes, and then jumped back to 2.8. This is a "dead swell."

• The odds on the second leg have not changed for 2 hours, and then the scanner showed a 6% arb. Most likely, the first bookmaker has already changed the odds, but the scanner has not updated.

Green flags (can take):

• Both odds are smoothly moving towards each other over the last 3-5 minutes.

• The odds dropped after a goal/sending-off/point — this is a logical movement, the arb is real.

 

Step 4. Liquidity Assessment Through Maximum Bet

 

How to do it quickly: Open the bookmaker's website (not the scanner!) and try to mentally place the maximum amount. Or find the limit for this market in the bookmaker's interface.

Example: You see a 6% arb on the Barcelona — Real Sociedad match. At the bookmaker "Leon," the odds are 5.0. You go to "Leon" — the maximum bet on this outcome is €500. Excellent. But if the maximum is €30 — this arb is not for your bank of €2,000. Look for another.

 

Step 5. "Sniff Test" Using the Calculator

 

What to do: Before betting, quickly estimate in your head or in the scanner calculator what amount will go to each leg. If you need to put 90% of your deposit at this bookmaker on one leg — a bad idea. The ideal distribution is no more than 60/40.

 

From statistics to strategy

 

Now that we have learned to read numbers and filter junk, let's put this into concrete strategies. Below are three templates for different levels and styles.

 

Template 1. "The Conservative" (for beginners and medium bankrolls)

 

Goal: Minimize drawdowns, get used to the process, achieve a stable ROI of 3-5%.

Selection parameters:

• Only pre-match (live is too chaotic to start).

• Arbs 1.8% – 3.5%.

• Only the top-5 football leagues, top-8 tennis tournaments, top-4 basketball leagues.

• At least 15 bookmakers per event.

• No arbs with "exotic" bookmakers (where bonuses are 10000% on the first deposit).

How to read statistics:

• Focus on the average arb (should be 2.2-2.5%).

• Monitor drawdown — if it fell by 8% in a day, stop for an hour and analyze errors.

• Calculate ROI not for each arb, but once a week. If ROI > 0% after a month — well done.

Result after a month: Stable +4-6% to the bank. Without nerves and sleepless nights.

 

Template 2. "The Aggressive Pro" (for experienced bettors with large bankrolls)

 

Goal: Squeeze the maximum out of every hour, not afraid of risks, ROI 8-15%.

Selection parameters:

• Live + pre-match in a 70/30 ratio.

• Arbs 3% – 6% (sometimes 8% on obvious errors).

• All sports markets except obvious junk.

• Use of automatic calculators and semi-automatic input of amounts.

• Work through VPN and proxy (bypassing bookmaker restrictions).

How to read statistics:

• The main metric is turnover. You need to make 10-15 rolls of the bankroll per month.

• Yield by each sport. If tennis gives a Yield of 8% and football gives 3%, increase the share of tennis.

• Drawdown is acceptable up to 20-25%, but not more.

• Monitoring reaction time — from the appearance of the arb in the scanner to the submission of the bet should take no more than 7 seconds (otherwise it's not yours).

Result after a month: High workload, but also an income of 15-20% of the bankroll. There is a risk of blocks.

 

Template 3. "Hybrid" (Arbs + Value Bets)

 

Goal: Reduce the risk of blocking by putting part of your money into long-term value bets.

Selection parameters:

• 70% of the bank on classic arbs 3-7%.

• 30% of the bank on value bets (overestimated odds) according to the methodology from the article "Mix of Arbitrage and Value-Bet."

• Using the "Search for middles" function in the scanner.

How to read statistics:

• Calculate ROI separately for arbitrage and for value.

• Yield on value bets should be higher (6-12%), but they require more time.

• Drawdown on the value part of the portfolio can reach 30%, but on the arbitrage part — no more than 8%.

Result after a month: A "dirtier" (harder for bookmakers to track) betting profile. Fewer blocks.

 

Essential tools for your arsenal

 

One head and a scanner are not enough. To turn statistics into profit, you need auxiliary tools.

 

Your Own Betting Log (Excel / Google Sheets)

 

What to write there:

• Date and time

• Sport and event

• Bookmakers and odds

• Amount on each leg

• Arb percentage according to the scanner

• Real percentage after settlement

• Note (was there a delay, cancellation, rate)

Why: Without a log, you are a blind kitten. After 100 bets, you will open the log and see: "Aha, arbs on tennis on clay somehow give me 30% less real return than on hard court." And you will adjust your strategy.

 

Arb Calculator With Commission Consideration

 

A simple but important point: If you withdraw money through a payment system with a 2% commission, each of your arbs must be at least 2.5% for you to stay in profit.

Use: The built-in calculator in SmartScaner or any external one where you can set the commission of the bookmaker and the payment system.

 

Monitoring Bookmaker "Health"

 

Keep a table:

• Which bookmakers most often cut maximums after wins?

• Where are the fastest payouts?

• Where are the most frequent "crooked" settlements?

After 3 months, you will have a ready-made map: with bookmaker "A" you can work safely, with bookmaker "B" — only with small amounts, bookmaker "C" — altogether on the blacklist.

 

Real case study: how one percent changed everything

 

Initial data:

• Bettor "Alexey" started in arbitrage 6 months ago.

• Bank: €1,500.

• Scanner: medium paid (without super-speed).

• First 2 months: just bet on everything above 4%.

Result of the first 2 months:

• Turnover: €4,000.

• Drawdown: 22% (there was a moment when the bank fell to €1,170).

• Real profit: €80 (funny ROI — 2%).

• Nerves: on the limit.

What Alexey changed after analyzing the statistics (according to our method):

• Stopped taking arbs >8%.

• Removed cybersports and women's football.

• Started recording the real percentage after settlement in the log.

• Switched to the "Conservative" strategy (arbs 2-3.5%, only top events).

Result of the next 2 months:

• Turnover: €8,500.

• Drawdown: 6%.

• Real profit: €340 (ROI = 4%).

• Nerves: calm.

Conclusion: Alexey did not find a "magic button." He simply began to read statistics not like a fan, but like an analyst. And his profit grew 4 times without increasing his bankroll.

 

Checklist "From Numbers to Profit"

 

Every time before you click "place a bet," run through this list.

Step 0. Global (once a week):

• Calculated your ROI for the last 7 days.

• Calculated the average real arb (not the one in the scanner, but the one that turned out after all deductions).

• Identified the most unprofitable sport — removed it for the next week.

Step 1. Quick selection (in 10 seconds):

• Is the arb percentage in the range of 1.8% – 5.5% (or 2.5% – 7% for live)?

• Is the event not "exotic" (not on the list of prohibited leagues)?

• Are at least 10 well-known bookmakers participating in the event?

Step 2. In-depth check (30 seconds):

• Looked at the history of line movement — are there sharp "sawtooth" patterns?

• Assessed the maximum bet at the bookmaker — is it enough for my bank?

• Does the distribution of amounts not take 90% of the deposit to one bookmaker?

Step 3. Post-bet (after the event settlement):

• Recorded the real percentage in the log (didn't forget?).

• Noted if there was any suspicious movement (delay, cancellation).

• Made a conclusion: "I'm not taking this bookmaker on these markets anymore."

 

Conclusion: statistics is not magic, it's discipline

 

In betting arbitrage, there are no secret "make money" buttons. There is boring, routine work with numbers. But it is precisely this that separates the person who will quit in six months with the phrase "arbitrage doesn't work" from the person who will build a stable additional (and sometimes main) income on it.

For beginners: Start small. Master the ROI and Yield metrics over a distance of 100 bets. Just keep a log. This alone will give you an advantage over 80% of other beginners.

For pros: Don't chase high percentages. Focus on drawdown and turnover. And remember: the scanner shows an opportunity, but only your head turns it into profit.

Use statistics not as a reason for joy ("Wow, 12% arb!"), but as a tool for cold analysis. And then the numbers in the scanner columns will begin to turn into real money in your account.