Line Shopping Guide - Compare & Get the Best Odds at Stake
Line Shopping Explained - How to Compare Sports Betting Odds
Just like prices of goods in stores, the betting odds can vary between sportsbooks. Betting odds directly affects how much profit you make from winning bets, and as a result, it makes sense to always look out for the best odds. By checking for the best offers and lines before placing your bets, you can maximise your profits over time. Here at Stake Sportsbook, you’ll find amazing odds on a variety of popular sports and features that keep our bettors coming back for all their favourite sporting events. Find out more about how line shopping works in this guide to line shopping at Stake.
What is Line Shopping?
Line shopping is essentially comparing odds and lines across multiple sportsbooks. There are lots of different online sportsbooks out there, most of which operate independently. This means that the quality of the odds can vary a lot depending on the site and the event.
Why Do Odds Differ?
Betting odds are supposed to reflect the implied probability of an outcome. So for flipping a coin, there’s a 50% chance of the coin landing on either heads or tails. As a result, fair odds would be ½ (1.5 or -200 for decimal odds or American odds). Of course, the probability of an outcome in sports is harder to determine, with a lot of factors influencing the results.
Sportsbooks and odds providers carefully assess the data before calculating the implied probability. However, the exact data and calculations used might vary, which is why the odds will differ between sportsbooks.
Another factor in setting the odds is the vigorish, known as the vig or the margin. This is like the house edge in casino games. It ensures that over time, sportsbooks will still make a profit regardless of the outcome. Some sportsbooks may charge higher vig, resulting in worse odds for the users.
How Does Line Shopping Benefit You?
Line shopping benefits you by ensuring that you get the best odds no matter what you’re betting on, which increases your profits from winning bets. For example, let's imagine you were originally going to bet $100 on the Buffalo Bills to beat the Cincinnati Bengals at 1.32. This would give you a profit of $32 if the Bills win. However, you shop for better odds and find them available at 1.42 elsewhere. Instead, you’d make a profit of $42 if they win.
Over time, even small differences in the odds can add up over time, having a major impact on your profits. The only cost is the few minutes that it takes to compare lines, and the fact that you’ll need an account at a sportsbook in order to benefit from its odds.
Types of Lines Bettors Compare
Moneyline Prices
Moneyline odds allow you to bet on the outcome of a match, choosing which team or athlete you think will win. Moneyline betting odds can vary between sites, and judging the winner of a match is complex. When picking moneyline prices, you want to choose the larger odds for the best possible winning profit.
Point Spreads
Point spreads, also known as handicap bets, are typically set up so that both sides of the line are even odds. However, you can find different lines depending on the sportsbook you’re betting on. For example, one site might offer the Milwaukee Bucks -9.5 against the Washington Wizards while another might have them at -8.5 for the same odds. In this case, choosing the -8.5 point spread would give you an advantage, as the Bucks will need to win by one less point for your bet to be successful.
Totals
Much like point spreads, total points bets are normally set to give even odds on both sides of the over/under line. Even if the odds themselves are the same between sportsbooks, the line itself might be different. In this case, you want to choose the lower line if you’re betting over and the higher line if you’re betting under. For example, if the Asian total goal line for Bournemouth vs Everton is 2.5 at one site but 2.25 at another for the same odds, 2.25 will be better if you’re betting over, and 2.5 will give you more value if you’re betting under.
Prop Lines
Prop bets offer the opportunity to bet on outcomes not necessarily tied to the outcome of the match. For example, betting on the first goal/point scorer. The odds for prop bets tend to vary far more compared to other markets due to the fact that there’s so much variability. As such, it always pays to look for the best odds when placing player props or game props.
Futures Odds
Futures bets, also known as outrights, allow you to bet on the final outcome of a season or tournament. For example, predicting the 2026 Super Bowl champions. Once again, lines vary dramatically between sportsbooks, particularly at the early stage of the season. Make sure you get the best odds.
How to Evaluate a Line
Implied probability calculations - You can use a calculator to work out the implied probability of your sports betting odds.
No-vigorish (no-vig) line conversion - Consider the vig when you bet. Choosing a site like Stake that offers lower vig will usually result in better odds and increased profits.
Expected value (EV) basics - It’s important to look at expected value, ensuring that your bets are positive. Value betting means that in the long run, your winnings will outweigh any losses.
Bankroll considerations - Manage your bankroll carefully and set responsible limits. When placing bets, choose a sensible bet size that reflects the implied probability and your current bankroll size.
Risk and Limitations of Line Shopping
Odds Can Change Quickly - Odds change over time as sportsbooks evaluate the latest data and betting trends. It’s possible to lose out on a superior price during the time that you’re comparing odds.
Market Discrepancies - In some cases, odds might be better in one country or market compared to another due to the costs involved in operating there.
Stale Lines - Stale lines are betting odds that haven’t been updated quickly enough by the sportsbook in light of new information. Taking advantage of stale lines can be beneficial, but some sportsbooks may cancel your bets or limit your account if you’re doing it regularly.
Difference Between Legitimate Odds Variance & Arbitrage - Some bettors like to leverage differences in odds to place arbitrage bets, where they cover both sides of the line for a small profit. This practice produces much smaller profit margins and is generally much more difficult to do effectively.
What to Consider When Line Shopping
Interface/UX differences - Aside from the odds, betting sites use different interfaces, which can make finding your bets and comparing odds challenging.
Live betting speed - If you’re looking at live betting markets, odds change fast, often too fast for you to accurately compare odds. Having access to live coverage on an event such as our free sport livestreams on Stake, also impacts your reactiveness when betting live. Check our guide on the differences between pre-match and live betting.
Market depth - Aside from looking for the best odds, you should also consider the market depth offered. More markets and betting options mean more opportunities to find value.
Odds volatility - Odds change over time based on data and current betting trends. Sometimes, you can get better odds by waiting closer to the start of the match.
Niche markets - Niche markets are growing in popularity, giving bettors more options, but these odds can vary much more than regular markets, so it’s important to compare odds carefully.
Promotional pricing - Odds boosts and other promotions can result in improved odds and better prices even if they’re not immediately shown in the sportsbook. Look at how promotions such as our exclusive betting odds and sport promotions at Stake can improve the value of your bets.
How to Deposit & Withdraw Funds to Bet on Stake Sportsbook
Deposit
Log in to your Stake account using your secure passkey and open your wallet.
Choose the deposit option, then select a payment method and one of the available local currencies, which include Canadian Dollars, Turkish Lira, Vietnamese Dong, Argentine Pesos, Chilean Pesos, Mexican Pesos, USD in Ecuador, and Indian Rupees.
It’s also possible to make deposits and bet with crypto at Stake. We support a range of cryptocurrencies such as BTC, ETH, USDT, EOS, DOGE, LTC, TRX, and SOL.
If you don’t already own any coins, you can buy crypto from a trusted exchange or platform such as Mesh, MoonPay or Swapped.com before transferring it.
Once your deposit arrives in your stake wallet, you can swap between supported cryptocurrencies and store your funds safely in the Stake vault.
Withdraw
Log in and open your Stake wallet before selecting the withdraw option.
Choose your payment method and enter your payment details if needed.
If you’re withdrawing crypto, make sure you have the right crypto network selected.
Enter the amount you’d like to withdraw before confirming your payment.
Stake Sportsbook Promotions, VIP Club & Responsible Gambling
While you enjoy the best odds and lines at Stake, you can also make the most of our betting promotions. We’ve got lots of offers to help you get the best value from your bets, including our VIP Club, which lets you earn rewards for placing bets and levelling up your account. Unlock regular rakeback, reload bonuses and even your own VIP host. Find out more on the VIP FAQ page.
Read our responsible betting guidelines for information on how to stay in control while you bet. Our Stake Smart page also offers more details on tools and tips to keep safe and avoid betting more than you can afford to lose.
