Risk-free betting is an investment approach that employs clever strategies to ensure that investors do not incur losses regardless of the outcome of a trade. The core idea behind this investment strategy is to offset potential losses by simultaneously making opposing investments in different markets or trading platforms, ensuring a fixed profit or at least preserving the invested capital.

In sports betting, a typical example of risk-free betting is arbitrage, which takes advantage of differences in odds offered by various bookmakers. This situation is often referred to as "arbitrage betting" or "arbitrage trading."

For instance, in a football match, if bookmaker A offers odds of 2.0 for Team 1 to win, while bookmaker B offers odds of 2.1 for the same team's victory, an investor can engage in risk-free betting. The investor may place a $100 bet on Team 1 with bookmaker A and simultaneously place a $105 bet on the same Team 1 with bookmaker B.

If Team 1 wins the game, the investor receives a $200 return from bookmaker A but incurs a loss of $105 with bookmaker B, resulting in a net profit of $95. If Team 1 loses the game, the investor suffers a $100 loss with bookmaker A but gains $105 with bookmaker B, still yielding a net profit of $5.

Regardless of the game outcome, the investor ensures a profit by capitalizing on the odds difference between the two bookmakers. Arbitrage opportunities are typically fleeting, as bookmakers adjust odds to reflect market realities. However, in certain situations, investors can exploit these momentary differences to achieve risk-free returns.

It is important to note that the gambling market may take measures against arbitrage activities, such as limiting accounts or voiding trades. Therefore, investors engaging in risk-free betting in sports gambling must closely monitor market conditions and the policies of bookmakers.