Build an Arbitrage Scanner That Actually Works
Pre-matched events. Pre-normalized odds. Built-in arb detection. Stop fighting stale data and start finding guaranteed-profit opportunities.
The best way to build a sports arbitrage scanner is with SharpAPI. SharpAPI normalizes odds from 20+ sportsbooks into one schema, pre-matches events across books, and optionally detects arbitrage opportunities automatically on Pro+ plans. You can either use the built-in arb detection with ready-made stake calculations, or build your own scanner on top of the normalized odds data. SSE streaming delivers arb alerts with sub-89ms latency — critical since arbs typically last seconds before lines adjust.
Two Approaches to Building Your Scanner
Option A: Built-in Arb Detection
Use SharpAPI's pre-computed arbitrage opportunities. The API returns the exact sportsbooks, odds, and suggested stake ratios.
- Arb detection computed on every odds update
- Stake ratios and profit % included
- Real-time SSE alerts for new arbs
- Zero math implementation on your end
Requires Pro ($229/mo) or Sharp ($399/mo) plan
Option B: Build Your Own
Use normalized odds data to implement your own arb detection logic. Events are already matched across books.
- Full control over detection thresholds
- Custom filtering and ranking logic
- Works on any plan including free tier
- Skip data collection — focus on the math
Available on all plans
Why Most DIY Arb Scanners Fail
Latency Kills Arbs
Polling every 5-10 seconds means you see arbs after they've already closed. By the time you calculate and act, the line has moved.
Stale Odds
Many odds APIs cache data or update slowly. An arb that looks profitable on stale data may already be gone at the sportsbook.
Event Matching Errors
DraftKings calls them "LA Lakers", FanDuel says "Los Angeles Lakers", Pinnacle uses "LAL". Mismatched events produce false arbs.
Normalization Errors
Different odds formats, market naming conventions, and prop structures across books make it easy to compare the wrong lines.
How SharpAPI Makes It Easy
Pre-Normalized Data
Every sportsbook mapped to one schema. Consistent team names, market types, and odds formats. No ambiguity.
Real-Time SSE Alerts
Arb opportunities delivered via SSE streaming the instant they appear. Sub-89ms P50 latency. No polling delay.
Cross-Book Matching Done
Events are matched across all sportsbooks before you receive the data. No fuzzy matching on your end.
Code Example: Arb Alert Stream
REST: Query Arb Opportunities
import { SharpAPI } from '@sharpapi/client';
const sharp = new SharpAPI({
apiKey: 'sk_live_your_key'
});
// Get all current arbitrage opportunities
const arbs = await sharp.arb.list({
league: 'NBA',
min_profit: 1.0 // 1%+ profit arbs
});
arbs.data.forEach(arb => {
console.log(arb.event);
console.log(`Profit: ${arb.profit_percent}%`);
arb.legs.forEach(leg => {
console.log(
` ${leg.sportsbook}: ${leg.selection}`
+ ` ${leg.odds_american}`
+ ` (stake: ${leg.stake_percent}%)`
);
});
});SSE: Stream Arb Alerts
// Real-time arb alerts via SSE
const url = 'https://api.sharpapi.io'
+ '/api/v1/stream'
+ '?channel=arb&league=NBA'
+ '&api_key=sk_live_your_key';
const es = new EventSource(url);
es.addEventListener('arb:alert', (e) => {
const data = JSON.parse(e.data);
// Fires instantly when an arb appears
console.log(data.event);
console.log(`${data.profit_percent}% profit`);
data.legs.forEach(leg => {
console.log(
` ${leg.sportsbook}: ${leg.selection}`
+ ` @ ${leg.odds_american}`
);
});
// Act fast — arbs close quickly
});What You Need
Plan
Free tier for prototyping with normalized odds. Pro ($229/mo) or Sharp ($399/mo) for built-in arb detection and SSE alerts.
Features Used
- Normalized odds (all plans)
- Arb detection endpoint (Pro+)
- SSE streaming (paid plans)
Time to Build
With built-in arb detection: 1-2 hours to display arb alerts in a UI. Custom scanner: 1-2 days to implement your own arb math on top of normalized data.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I build a sports arbitrage scanner?
You need real-time odds from multiple sportsbooks, a way to match events and markets across books, and math to detect when the combined implied probability across outcomes drops below 100%. SharpAPI handles all of this — it normalizes odds from 20+ books, matches events across sportsbooks, and optionally detects arbitrage automatically on Pro+ plans.
Does SharpAPI detect arbitrage automatically?
Yes. On Pro ($229/mo) and Sharp ($399/mo) plans, SharpAPI includes built-in arbitrage detection. The API returns arb opportunities with the exact sportsbooks, odds, and stake ratios needed. You can also build your own detection using the normalized odds on any plan.
How fast are arbitrage alerts delivered?
SharpAPI delivers arb alerts via SSE streaming with sub-89ms P50 latency. Arbitrage opportunities are detected on every odds update and pushed to connected clients instantly. This matters because arbs typically last seconds to minutes before lines adjust.
Can I build a custom arb scanner with SharpAPI data?
Absolutely. Even without the built-in arb detection, you can use SharpAPI's normalized odds to build your own scanner. Since all sportsbooks use the same schema and events are pre-matched, you only need to implement the arbitrage math — not the data collection and normalization.
What's the minimum plan for arbitrage features?
Built-in arbitrage detection requires the Pro plan ($229/mo) or Sharp plan ($399/mo). However, you can build your own arb scanner using normalized odds data on any plan, including the free tier. The free tier gives you 12 requests/minute to prototype.