Pre-match vs live
The same arb is a calm five-minute job before kick-off and a three-second scramble during the match. Start with the calm one.
Arbs live in two modes, and for a beginner the difference matters a lot.
PRE-MATCH LIVE
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before the event while the match is on
odds move slowly odds jump with every goal
arb lives for minutes arb lives for seconds
time to do it calmly you need speed
less frequent percentages can be higherPre-match
Bets placed before the event starts.
- Odds change slowly: minutes, sometimes hours.
- Arbs live longer, so you can act calmly.
- Perfect to start with.
- But they’re fairly rare.
In pre-match the prices can sit still for a long time. That gives you time to open both venues, check the market properly, type in the amounts and confirm. That’s why you start here, even if the percentages are more modest.
Live
Bets placed during the match.
- Odds jump every second following what happens in the game.
- Arbs appear and disappear within seconds.
- Profit can be higher, but you need speed and experience.
The cost of a mistake is different too: while you’re hunting for the right market on the second venue, the first price has already moved.
How it looks in Pulse
Every arb in the scanner shows its status (Pre-match or Live) and its Age: how long ago it appeared. The All / Live / Pre-match switch above the table filters by mode.
The rule is simple. Get your reps in on pre-match first, learn where the markets sit on each venue, and only then go live.