Line Shopping
Line shopping is comparing odds across multiple sportsbooks to find the best price for your bet. It's one of the simplest, most effective ways to improve long-term betting results.
Why Line Shopping Matters
Small price differences compound significantly:
| Finding | Annual Impact (1,000 bets × $100) |
|---|---|
| -108 vs -110 (2 cents) | +$180 |
| +3.5 vs +3 (half point) | +$300-500 |
| +155 vs +145 (10 cents) | +$400 |
Over a betting career, line shopping is worth thousands of dollars.
What to Shop
| Market Type | What to Compare |
|---|---|
| Spread | Get +3.5 vs +3, or -6.5 vs -7 |
| Totals | Get O47.5 vs O48 |
| Moneyline | -150 vs -160 matters |
| Futures | Can vary by 50%+ across books |
Key numbers like 3 and 7 are especially valuable to shop in NFL.
How to Line Shop
Manual: Check 5-10 sportsbooks before placing each bet.
Odds screens: Use comparison sites like OddsJam, BestFightOdds, or The Action Network to see all prices at once.
Automated alerts: Set up notifications when a line hits your target price.
Most sharps have accounts at 20+ books specifically for line shopping capability.
Account Management
Line shopping requires multiple accounts:
| Books Needed | Capability |
|---|---|
| 1-2 books | Minimal shopping |
| 5-10 books | Decent coverage |
| 15-20 books | Professional standard |
| 20+ books | Comprehensive access |
Different books are better for different markets. Some have better NFL lines; others excel at player props.
The Cost of Not Shopping
Betting at one book without comparing costs roughly:
- 2-3% additional drag on ROI
- Missed CLV opportunities
- Worse lines on stale line situations
- Higher effective vig
It's leaving money on the table.
Line Shopping on Prediction Markets
Kalshi, Polymarket, and traditional sportsbooks sometimes have the same markets priced differently.
Cross-platform arbitrage opportunities exist but require:
- Accounts on multiple platforms
- Fast execution
- Understanding of settlement differences
Prediction markets often have better prices due to exchange structure.
Related Terms
- Vig — What line shopping helps you minimize
- Stale Line — Found by comparing across books
- CLV — Improved through better price capture
- Sharp — Professional bettors who always shop
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