Betting Strategies for Non-Regulated States

Sportsbooks don’t stay in business by accident — they win more often than bettors do. That doesn’t mean betting is a guaranteed losing game, but it does mean most people approach it the wrong way. To be profitable, you need more than luck — you need structured, repeatable strategies.

And note the plural: no single system is a silver bullet. Winning bettors build a toolkit of approaches they can use in different situations. This guide will walk you through some of the nuances of sports betting and the most effective strategies, and show you how to deploy them with purpose.

Before we dive into advanced betting methods, it’s worth noting that these strategies can be applied by anyone — even in places where sports betting is restricted or unavailable locally. Offshore sportsbooks, while not regulated in the United States, remain popular because they typically offer fewer restrictions, broader betting menus, and often more generous payouts. For many bettors in non-regulated states, these offshore platforms provide access to the full range of odds and markets that might otherwise be off-limits.

Best Sports Betting Strategies

We can't possibly mention every single sports betting strategy out there — there are simply too many. However, here's some perfect "jumping off" points to start with:

Understanding Betting Strategies

Bettors love to “go with their gut” when making picks. Look, if you’re dead serious about maximizing your chances of winning, you need to do better than that. We’re talking making a real plan of attack. Here’s the thing: betting strategies are there not just to help you make the right pick once (or else it would be a betting tip), but instead, it's to pick right over and over again. It’s a long-term plan.

And what better place to leverage these sports betting systems than offshore sportsbooks (sometimes referred to as international sportsbooks)? As we said, these bookies offer endless betting options — often more than licensed sportsbooks, which can’t offer bets on politics, entertainment, and other non-sport categories. These offshore bookmakers offer the full gamut of bet types too, which is perfect for using advanced betting strategies. Let us explain based on bet type.

Arbitrage Betting Strategy

Arbitrage betting — often called “sure bets” — is one of the rare strategies that can, in theory, guarantee a profit if executed correctly. The idea is simple: place bets on both sides of the same event at different sportsbooks when their odds don’t align. For example, if one sportsbook lists Team A at +120 and another offers Team B at +110, you can cover both outcomes and lock in a profit regardless of who wins.

Sounds easy, right? In practice, it’s anything but. Successful arbitrage requires a sharp eye for spotting discrepancies, a strong grasp of moneylines, and often a lot of time and effort. It’s not a beginner-friendly tactic — but for disciplined bettors, it can be a powerful tool.

Arbitrage betting really only makes sense for either-or outcomes and/or moneylines. Things get real dicey if you introduce more than two betting outcomes into the equation. The key to making this profitable is betting big. That’s why this strategy is more for “high rollers”, which again, are experienced bettors. Making 10 percent profit off arbitrage really adds up when you’re betting with size like high rollers can.

Just to really drive this home, let us give you a step-by-step example to arbitrage betting. Here's the process broken down into simple steps:

  1. Find Differing Odds: Identify a matchup where bookies are offering different odds on the same exact outcome.
  2. Calculate Stakes: Divide your total money by each outcome's odds to know how much to bet on each side.
  3. ​Place Bets: Place your different bets on separate sportsbooks.
  4. Collect Profit: No matter the outcome, the guaranteed profit comes from the difference in odds.

When scouting for these arbitrage opportunities, you shouldn’t be focused on heavy favorites versus heavy underdogs. You need a medium-sized favorite from one sportsbook that's considered a slight or heavy favorite by another. This is where you’re more likely to find odd discrepancies — not with lopsided favorites.

Here’s another reason we’re so big on international sportsbooks — they’re great for arbitrage opportunities. You see, a legal sports betting state might license 10 or so sportsbooks. However, there are hundreds of offshore bookies. This optionality makes it easier for bettors to find arbitrage and really take advantage of this sports betting system. And for bettors in non-regulated states? Well, offshore bookies are all you have to work with here. But again, that’s a good thing given how many options are out there.

Underdog Betting Strategy

Underdog betting is all about spotting value where others might overlook it. You see, your average bettor typically loves latching on to betting favorites — which makes sense, they’re the favorites for a reason. However, there are times when the underdog presents a much more rich opportunity. By rich, we’re not just talking about getting a better payday (though that’s also the case). We also mean rich as in the odds on the underdog don’t accurately reflect the true chances of them winning.

Let's take a look at an NFL  example to really hammer this home. Take the San Francisco 49ers in 2025. Suppose their starting quarterback, Brock Purdy, suffers a toe or shoulder injury just before a matchup with the Seattle Seahawks, so they go in with a backup QB. The public reaction is huge: most bettors load up on the 49ers because they’re considered “the best team” and many assume they’ll win, even on the road — maybe the 49ers are −300 favorites.

But you—using a proper underdog strategy—realize that with Purdy out, the Seahawks are being undervalued. You place a moneyline bet on Seattle at +250. Maybe the backup QB for San Francisco is decent, but you believe the public’s bias toward the “best team” is overstating their edge.

If consistent, spotting these kinds of odds skew—where the great reputation of a team overshadows some real handicaps—can make underdog betting profitable over time.

Moneyline Betting Strategy

Moneyline betting is one of the simplest and most straightforward forms of sports wagering. You’re betting on a team to win outright. That’s it — no point spreads to worry about. While this simplicity is attractive, there’s more strategy involved than just picking the winner, especially when you’re looking to maximize value.

The key to effective moneyline betting is timing and understanding value. For instance, moneyline bets are perfect when you’re confident the favorite will win, but you don’t want to risk losing on a point spread. Think NFL here and that pesky 3.5-point spread, which is so easy to end up on the wrong side of.

Moreover, combining moneyline and underdog betting could really be a double-whammy. Of course, underdogs pay more than favorites here, but the key is to fall in love with the value of an underdog — and not just the possible payout. No need to repeat ourselves again, but this is all about finding mispricing.

One last thing here: offshore sportsbooks have a knack for offering the best moneyline odds in the business. The prices they offer can be more value-rich than what you’d find at a licensed sportsbook. What’s more, bettors in non-regulated states can find the moneyline odds they otherwise would be prohibited from using. It’s all on the table at these sites, no matter where you’re from. Combine that accessibility with some strategic betting, and it’s off to the races.

Teaser Betting Strategy

Let’s level-set things by explaining what teasers even are since many bettors, especially new ones, don’t have a clue about this bet type. Teaser bets give bettors the all-powerful ability to manipulate the point spread in your favor. Yeah, you read that correctly. Typically with teasers, you can shift the spread by a set number of points, usually between 4 and 6 points in sports like basketball or football.

Let’s say Alabama are 20.5-point favorites over Wisconsin in a marquee SEC vs. Big Ten game this season. If you use a 6-point teaser, you could shift Wisconsin to a 26.5-point underdog or turn Alabama into a 14.5-point favorite — either tweak gives you more cushion.

But the flip side of this edge is, well, worse betting odds (and payouts) for you. Sportsbooks aren’t just going to give you an advantage like this without taking something back. No, no, no the sportsbook compensates for this increased likelihood by offering a lower payout. You take the good with the bad.

Enough explanation though. Let’s talk actual teaser betting strategy now. One of the most opportune times to use a teaser is in close matchups where you’re not entirely comfortable with the original point spread. Even if the best NFL team in the league is playing the worst — a double-digit spread is enough to make you queasy. At the pro level, competitiveness is high so blowouts aren’t automatic. Teasers give you some breathing room and added security to your wager.

Teaser bets also come in clutch when parlay betting. Matter of fact, this is where teasers come most in handy. Why? Because parlays are hard bets to hit with un-teased odds. Really, really hard. Instead of risking tight spreads across multiple bets, bettors can create a more favorable betting environment by shifting the odds in your favor with teasers. Here again, bettors can lessen their risk (at the cost of the payout).

We can’t recommend offshore sportsbooks enough for unleashing advanced betting strategies with teasers. These platforms often offer teaser betting across a wide variety of sports — not just the big ones like the NFL, NBA, or Division I college games. CFL? Secondary college hoops? You’ll find teaser options there too. For bettors in non-regulated states, offshore books raise the stakes by providing access to markets that might otherwise be unavailable.

Matched Betting Strategy

Here’s where offshore sportsbooks really shine — match bonuses. These sites love giving out free play like candy, some more than others. Most licensed sportsbooks couldn’t even dream of giving out the type of free play that international bookies do. The winners out of this are the bettors, of course. So much so that there are sports betting systems based on matched betting.

What is matched betting, you say? Let’s pretend you've just joined a new sportsbook that offers a 100% deposit match on your first transaction. You put in $100, get matched, and end up with $200 in your account. Now you scan this week’s NBA point-spread lines and see an interesting game: Oklahoma City Thunder versus the Denver Nuggets. Suppose the Thunder are −8.5 favorites.

With matched betting, instead of picking just one side, you bet both sides: one bet on the Thunder at −8.5, another on the Nuggets at +8.5, using your matched money. This way, regardless of who covers the spread, the bonus money works for you — you reduce risk while capitalizing on the promotion.

This might sound counterintuitive, but it’s really just arbitrage betting with house money. Point spreads typically pay out at −110, so the winning side pays $190 — your $100 stake plus $90 profit. Since you also lose $100 on the other side, your net result is $90 in profit. And because that profit came entirely from the $100 in promotional funds, you’ve essentially converted bonus money into real winnings.

There is one hangup to this strategy: bonus-money rollover requirements. Many sites demand you bet your free cash anywhere from 10 to 30 times over before it's officially yours. This could take a long time, especially if you’re depositing a lot of money to start with. You need to find a sportsbook that has a shorter rollover to really take advantage of this strategy.

Still, what we love most about match betting is the low-risk nature of it all. Bettors literally have nothing to lose here — and we mean nothing. You can not say the same thing for other strategies on this list. This guaranteed nature is simply too good to pass up.

If you live in a non-regulated state, you should be eating this information up. Not only do you get access to sports betting in your location, but you’re scoring guaranteed free play on top of that. This is a win-win scenario.

Live Betting Tactics

Live betting (also called in-play betting) allows bettors to wager as the game is happening in real-time — not just before it starts. Unlike pre-game betting, where decisions are made based on stats and predictions before the game starts, live betting demands real-time analysis. This means bettors must be quick on their feet, interpreting changes in momentum, injuries, and team strategies as the game is going down. There’s hardly any time to think, just react.

One of the most worthwhile live betting tactics is to “hedge” previously-made bets. Say before the game, you bet on one team. Now that the game is unfolding, that pick starts looking shaky. You can throw money on the other team, thus hedging the outcome. Depending on the odds, you can hedge to minimize your loss or do it just in time to remain profitable. It will vary by the occasion. The inverse is also possible. Bettors feeling extra confident about their pregame bet can “double down” and throw more money on the pick.

Another one of the advanced betting strategies as it relates to in-play is just looking for momentum swings. In football, this is usually a turnover or big play that reawakens the crowd and team. Basketball is a sport predicated on momentum and “runs.” The key is to time these perfectly when the momentum is beginning to shift — not when it’s already swung (by then, the betting odds already reflect the change and you’re not securing the best price).

Offshore sportsbooks will house live betting markets for all the major sports — football, basketball, baseball, fighting, and so on. If you happen to live in a non-regulated state, you’ll have zero issues getting live action on these platforms. Once here, you can unleash your offshore betting strategies and pounce on all the live wagering opportunities.

Betting Exchange Strategies

Betting exchanges differ from traditional sportsbooks. At an exchange, bettors are wagering 1-on-1 against each other — not against “the house.” On an exchange, bettors can back (bet for) and lay (bet against) outcomes, creating opportunities to act as both a bettor and a bookmaker.

One of the top betting exchange strategies is hedging again. We talked about this before, but the same thing applies: bettors can back an outcome before an event starts and then lay it during the event (or vice versa) to lock in profit or reduce potential losses. This is especially useful in volatile sports markets, such as horse racing or soccer, where odds fluctuate wildly based on news (e.g. Erling Haaland being ruled out of a match significantly affects Manchester City's odds of picking up 3 points).

Another advanced betting method specific to exchanges is arbitrage betting, another topic we’ve discussed before. You’re way more likely to find discrepancy in odds at a betting exchange since it’s peer-to-peer, and well, many folks aren’t nearly as good as bookmakers at this. Say you found Team A to be favored at an exchange, but then you see the same team as an underdog in a traditional sportsbook — boom, there’s an arbitrage opportunity to exploit.

Don’t overlook betting exchanges strategies in your toolbox like most bettors do. Exchanges aren’t as “buttoned up" as sportsbooks so opportunists are galore. This is especially the case for users living in non-regulated states or countries. Opportunities they otherwise wouldn’t get locally are abundant at these online offshore sportsbooks and exchange hybrids.

Analyzing Sports Bets

Data is everything in betting — and we mean everything. On one end, sports betting lines are spit out by advanced computer models that are being fed copious amounts of sports analaytics. Don’t think a modern bookmaker is a guy creating lines on his own. No, no, no this industry is being led by algorithms.

This is why you can’t just “go with your gut” betting-wise. That’s no way to “outsmart” the bookies consistently. As a bettor, you need to be analyzing sports bets rigorously. The keyword in the last sentence is rigorous. Stats, trends, weather, injuries — all of this is crucial information to factor in. Doing so will help you make more informed decisions and develop strategic betting systems rather than relying on blind luck to win.

Here are our favorite pieces of information to weigh: historical performances, head-to-head matchups, and recent form — which often reveals the real trend. While there’s no shortage of data to build systems from, these three tend to carry the most weight. On top of that, analytical tools that have now been around for years, such as expected goals (xG) in soccer or advanced tracking metrics in basketball, give bettors a far deeper view than the basic box score. At this level, betting starts to resemble applied statistics as much as it does strategy.

No matter how much of a data nerd you are and aren’t, offshore sportsbooks are the perfect outlets to give this a try. They offer even more betting markets than regulated counterparts so options will be everywhere. This is especially great for bettors living in non-regulated locations. Because the sites are international-based, they abide by their own rules — not that of where you live. This allows bettors to bypass oral regulations and bet worry-free.

Using Betting Splits in your Betting Startegy

When you look at the betting split, you can see how other bettors are betting. There are two main ways of packaging this information:

  1. Ticket percentage: This is the percentage of bets on each ticket. In other words, each bet, no matter how much is risked, is measured as one bet.
  2. Value distribution: In value distribution, you will see how much money is placed on each ticket, without regard to how many individual bets are placed.

Professional or sharp bettors tend to bet larger sums of money, as they have done lots of research and feel more confident in their decision. So, if you find that there are more tickets on one bet, but more money on the other, you can imagine that the sharp bettors are shooting for the latter and the casual bettors on the former.

This does not necessarily mean that you should just follow the sharp bettors. It could just be one person who is making a mistake because he has a favorite team who he or she wants to win. You should only take this as one piece of information in your overall betting strategy

Conclusion - Crafting Your Betting Strategy

We said it before but we’ll say it again: crafting a successful betting strategy is all about the long game. Any bettor can win the occasional bet or “get hot”, but only the most skilled of bettors can use strategies to stay “in the green” for years on end. Betting strategies minimize some of the chance of betting and replace it with calculated decision-making.

As you’ve just seen, winning betting strategies come in bunches — there’s no one single strategy that reigns supreme. Whether it’s focusing on value betting, hedging, or digging deep in the data, advanced betting can be had by anyone willing to wisen up.

As of 2025, more than 38 U.S. states have legalized sports betting in some form. But if you happen to live in one of the states where it’s still not regulated, offshore sportsbooks remain the go-to option. While they aren’t licensed locally, they’re accessible nationwide and abroad, and they often provide broader markets, more competitive odds, and richer statistical tools than many domestic operators. For bettors who know how to apply advanced strategies, that combination can be a real edge.

Other Pages in this Betting Guide

Software: Tools That Give you an Edge

Stats & Trends: Use them to your Advantage

Our How-To-Bet Guide for Newbies

Tips and Advice on Betting