Corridor in sports betting is a type of arbitrage opportunity. The odds of the placed bets determine the profit or amount of loss suffered by the bettor. You can make your play more secure by widening the corridor. Various gamers also use specialized tools in order to compare different betting strategies and decide on the best way to take.
Example of Corridor Betting
Let's take an example case. On bookmaker A, the probability of betting Over 215.5 points in a game of basketball is 2.0. A different bookmaker has Under 217.5 points in the same game at 2.1. The punter places $100 on both options. And here are the results:
- If both teams score more than 217 points: the Over bet succeeds, and together on both bets, the punter breaks even.
- When the teams score 215 points or fewer: Under bet wins, and the bettor gains $10 net.
- When the teams score 216 or 217 points: Both bets win, and the bettor gains $210 net.
Corridors can also be entirely positive, i.e., a small profit is guaranteed regardless of what happens in the match. Negative arbitrages exist as well, where some of the outcomes lead to a small loss. The best outcome occurs when the result falls within the corridor — the zone where both bets win. Its width is determined by the difference between the end values. In the previous example, the best range is 216–217 points.
Optimal Corridor Width
The bigger the difference of totals, the wider the corridor. This minimizes risks for the player and maximizes opportunities for profit. Wider arbitrages are more often found in lower leagues, while major competitions are monitored closely by bookmakers, which makes it more difficult to find such "juicy" arbitrages.
These narrow passageways are riskier. In the above example, both bets will pay only if the final point tally lands at 216 or 217 points — which is not likely. The bet on paper is fine, but the reality is that the bettor is most likely to get a small profit or even break even.
Betting on negative narrow corridors is more dangerous. The chances of losing are huge. While the bankroll will not vanish immediately, it will slowly diminish.
There can be no one ideal corridor width. A lot depends on the chosen sport:
- A 2-goal corridor in football (soccer) is excellent, since the game is low-scoring and the chances of hitting the range are high.
- In hockey, goals are scored more often, but even then, a 2-goal corridor can be beneficial.
- In handball, basketball, or volleyball (by set numbers), the difference can be too narrow, and betting risk is greater.
Are You Supposed to Bet on Corridors?
At first glance, such arbitrages may seem ideal. Positive ones can give a clear answer — they are always worth wagering on. Negative ones must be weighed. Players must weigh the following before wagering:
- Consider the potential losses if the outcome is out of the corridor.
- Consider the game being played in question in depth.
- Compare the risks and the odds of both bets winning.
With correct forecasting, one can stay profitable even with quite thin corridors. Risk reduction comes with accurate match analysis.