The same bet at five prices
The most reliable edge in betting, and it requires no opinion at all.
One book has your side at -115. Another has the identical bet at +100. Same game, same outcome, same everything. Taking the worse of those two is handing away money for nothing, and it is the most common mistake in betting.
What it is worth
The difference between -115 and +100 on a bet you were making anyway is roughly 7% of your stake. That is larger than almost any edge you will find by being clever about the sport. Shopping is not a supplement to handicapping — for most bettors it is worth more than the handicapping.
What it costs
Accounts at as many books as you can legally open in your state, and the discipline to check before betting rather than after. That is the entire price of admission. Different books are soft on different things, so more accounts is straightforwardly more edge.
Over 500 bets, the difference between the best price and the worst is $1,147 — on the identical bet, decided by nothing but where you clicked.
Tap the price on any card and every book's number on that exact line opens underneath it, best first.
The line-shopping strip on each card lists every book's number on that exact line, best first, with how recently each was seen. The check is a glance rather than five tabs.
1 of 2
Roughly what is the gap between -115 and +100 worth on a bet you were making anyway?
2 of 2
Why is opening more accounts straightforwardly more edge?
Never take the second-best price on a bet you have already decided to make.
Terms from this lesson
Education, not betting advice. 21+. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.