Line Shopping: How to Get the Best Odds on Every Bet

You want to bet on the Chiefs -3.

At sportsbook A, the odds are -118 (1.87). At sportsbook B, they're -105 (1.91). At sportsbook C, they're -105 (1.95).

You bet $100. On a win: - Sportsbook A: +$87 - Sportsbook B: +$91 - Sportsbook C: +$95

$8 difference on a single bet. Multiply that by 300 bets per year, and that's $2,400 left on the table.

Line Shopping — comparing odds across sportsbooks — is the simplest way to improve your profitability. And yet, the majority of bettors don't bother doing it.

What Is Line Shopping?

The Definition

Line Shopping means comparing the odds and lines (spreads, totals) across multiple sportsbooks before placing a bet, in order to get the best possible price.

Line Shopping = Comparison shopping, just like any other purchase

Why Odds Differ

Sportsbooks don't all offer the same odds, for several reasons:

Reason	Explanation
Different opinion	Each book has its own models
Risk management	Adjustments based on money received
Different clientele	"Sharp" books vs "recreational" books
Different margin	Some take less juice
Timing	Some adjust faster than others

The Scale of the Differences

On a typical NFL game:

Sportsbook	Spread	Odds
A	Chiefs -3	1.87
B	Chiefs -3	1.91
C	Chiefs -2.5	1.87
D	Chiefs -3	1.95
E	Chiefs -3.5	1.95

The exact same bet can have very different conditions.

The Impact of Line Shopping

On the Odds

The difference in odds has a direct impact on your ROI:

Average odds obtained	Win rate 55%	ROI
1.87	55%	+2.9%
1.91	55%	+5.1%
1.95	55%	+7.3%

Consistently getting the best odds nearly doubles your ROI.

On Spreads and Totals

Half a point can change a bet:

Spread	Result if Chiefs win by 3
Chiefs -2.5	Win
Chiefs -3	Push
Chiefs -3.5	Loss

On Key Numbers (3 and 7 in the NFL), the half-point is worth 2-3% in win rate.

The Full-Season Math

Metric	Without Line Shopping	With Line Shopping
Bets/year	300	300
Average stake	$50	$50
Total volume	$15,000	$15,000
ROI	+3%	+6%
Profit	+$450	+$900

Line Shopping doubled the profit in this example.

How to Line Shop

Step 1: Have Multiple Accounts

The prerequisite is having accounts at several sportsbooks:

Number of books	Line Shopping quality
1-2	Insufficient
3-4	Decent
5-7	Good
8+	Optimal

Sportsbooks to Consider (US Market)

Type	Examples	Characteristics
Major operators	DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM	Wide coverage, competitive odds
Sharp-friendly	Circa, Pinnacle, Bookmaker.eu	Best odds, high limits
Value plays	BetRivers, PointsBet	Frequent promos
Exchanges	Betfair, Prophet Exchange	No margin, peer-to-peer

Step 2: Use an Odds Comparison Tool

Odds comparison tools do the work for you:

Tool	URL	Coverage
OddsPortal	oddsportal.com	Worldwide
OddsBoom	oddsboom.com	US sports
Odds Shark	oddsshark.com	US sports
The Odds API	the-odds-api.com	API-based, global

Step 3: Check Before Every Bet

Your routine should be:

1. Identify the bet (team, spread, total)
2. Open your comparison tool or apps
3. Note the best available odds/line
4. Bet at the book offering the best price
5. Document where you bet and why

The Different Types of Line Shopping

Odds Shopping

Same bet, same line, different odds:

Sportsbook	Bet	Odds
A	Lakers ML	1.75
B	Lakers ML	1.80
C	Lakers ML	1.85

Action: Bet at C (+10 odds points vs A)

Line Shopping (Spread/Total)

Different spreads or totals:

Sportsbook	Spread	Odds
A	Bills -6.5	1.91
B	Bills -7	1.91
C	Bills -7	2.00

Analysis: - A offers the best spread (-6.5) - C offers the best odds on -7 - If you want -7: take C - If the half-point matters: take A

Combined Shopping

Sometimes, a book offers both the best line AND the best odds:

Sportsbook	Spread	Odds
A	Celtics -4.5	1.87
B	Celtics -4	1.91
C	Celtics -4.5	1.91

Book B is the best choice: better line (-4 vs -4.5) AND good odds (1.91).

Key Situations for Line Shopping

Key Numbers (NFL)

Line Shopping is critical around Key Numbers:

Situation	Shopping importance
-3 vs -3.5	Critical (15% of games)
-7 vs -7.5	Very important (9% of games)
-6 vs -6.5	Moderate
-10 vs -10.5	Important

Tight Totals

When your estimate is close to the line:

Your estimate: 224 points
Book A: Over 224.5 at 1.91
Book B: Over 223.5 at 1.91

The half-point makes all the difference here.
Take Book B (Over 223.5).

Less Liquid Markets

The gaps are wider on: - Less popular sports - Minor leagues - Player props - Exotic markets

Market	Typical gap between books
NFL spread	0.5-1 pt spread, 3-5% odds
NBA props	1-2 pts prop, 10-15% odds
Tennis challenger	10-20% odds
Esports	15-25% odds

The Timing of Line Shopping

Opening Lines vs Closing Lines

Lines evolve between opening and closing:

Monday (opening): Chiefs -2.5 at 1.91
Tuesday: Chiefs -3 at 1.91 (movement)
Wednesday: Chiefs -3 at 1.87 (juice increases)
Sunday (closing): Chiefs -3.5 at 1.91

When to Bet?

Timing	Advantage	Disadvantage
Early (opening)	Often the best lines	Less info (injuries)
Mid-week	Balance of info and line	Lines already adjusted
Late (game day)	Complete information	Lines often worse

The Optimal Strategy

1. Check opening lines (Monday for NFL, for example)
2. If the line is good -> bet early
3. If uncertain -> wait for more info
4. Always re-check before the game (last chance)

The "Steam Move"

A steam move is a rapid line movement caused by sharp money:

10:00 AM: Bills -3 (everywhere)
10:15 AM: Bills -3.5 (at Pinnacle)
10:30 AM: Bills -3.5 (everywhere)

The "steam" originated from Pinnacle.

Opportunity: If you spot the steam early, you can still find -3 at a slower book.

Managing Multiple Accounts

Bankroll Distribution

With multiple accounts, how do you split your bankroll?

Approach	Description
Equal	Same amount everywhere
Proportional	More at books with the best odds
Dynamic	Transfer as needed

Sample Distribution

Sportsbook	% of bankroll	Reason
Pinnacle	30%	Best odds, sharp-friendly
DraftKings	25%	Wide coverage, promos
FanDuel	20%	Competitive odds, user-friendly
BetMGM	15%	Backup, props
BetRivers	10%	Promos, alt lines

Transfers Between Accounts

When to transfer funds:

Account A: $50 remaining, but best odds are there
Account B: $500 available, worse odds

Option 1: Bet less at A ($50 max)
Option 2: Transfer from B to A (takes time)
Option 3: Bet at B (accept the worse odds)

Tip: Keep a sufficient "float" at each book to avoid this dilemma.

The Line Shopper's Toolkit

Odds Comparison Tools

Tool	Strengths
OddsPortal	Worldwide coverage, historical data
OddsBoom	US sports, alerts
Odds Shark	NFL/NBA excellent
Flashscore	Live odds, fast

Odds Alerts

Some tools send alerts when odds hit a threshold:

Alert configured: Over 220.5 at 1.95+
Notification: "Over 220.5 available at 1.97 at Book C"

CLV Tracking

Closing Line Value (CLV) measures whether you beat the closing line:

You bet: Chiefs -3 at 1.91 (Tuesday)
Closing line: Chiefs -3.5 at 1.91 (Sunday)

You beat the closing line by 0.5 points.
Positive CLV = sign of a winning bettor.

The Limits of Line Shopping

Betting Limits

Books limit winning bettors:

Type of book	Behavior
Sharp-friendly (Pinnacle)	High limits, accepts winners
Recreational	Limits winners quickly
Soft books	Limits very fast, sometimes closes accounts

Signs You're About to Be Limited

- Maximum stakes reduced
- "Your bet was partially accepted"
- Delay before bet acceptance
- Exclusion from certain promos

What to Do If You're Limited?

Action	Effectiveness
Diversify across books	High
Reduce bet size	Moderate
Bet on popular markets	Moderate
Use third-party accounts	Prohibited, risky

The "Limited Everywhere" Problem

Highly profitable bettors sometimes end up limited everywhere:

Solution 1: Focus on Pinnacle (doesn't limit)
Solution 2: Betting exchanges (Betfair)
Solution 3: Reduce volume, increase selectivity

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1: Not Line Shopping at All

Wrong: "I'm loyal to my sportsbook"
Right: "I go where the best odds are"

Loyalty doesn't pay. Odds do.

Mistake #2: Ignoring Small Differences

Wrong: "1.91 vs 1.93, it's the same thing"
Right: "Over 100 bets at $50, that's a $100 difference"

Mistake #3: Only Looking at Odds, Not the Line

Wrong: "Book A has the best odds on -3.5"
Right: "But Book B offers -3 at the same odds - that's better"

Mistake #4: Line Shopping After Deciding the Bet

Wrong: "I've decided to bet Over 224.5, now I'll find the best odds"
Right: "Over 223.5 is available elsewhere - I'll take that instead"

Mistake #5: Forgetting Promos

Wrong: "Book A has 1.93, Book B has 1.91"
Right: "But Book B has a 10% boost on this game - effective 2.00"

Full Example: Line Shopping in Action

The Bet

You want to bet on the Ravens ML against the Bengals.

The Research

Sportsbook	Ravens ML	Notes
DraftKings	1.72
FanDuel	1.75
BetMGM	1.74	5% boost available -> 1.83
BetRivers	1.70
Pinnacle	1.78

The Analysis

Best raw odds: Pinnacle at 1.78
Best odds with promo: BetMGM at 1.83 (after boost)

Difference:
- BetMGM (1.83) vs BetRivers (1.70) = +13 odds points
- On a $100 bet: +$13 in potential profit

The Decision

Bet at BetMGM at 1.83 (after boost).

If no boost available: Pinnacle at 1.78.

The Tracking

Date: 2025-01-15
Game: Ravens @ Bengals
Bet: Ravens ML
Sportsbook: BetMGM (boost)
Odds: 1.83 (vs 1.72 DraftKings)
Line shopping edge: +11 odds points

How ProbWin Makes Line Shopping Easier

Our picks include information to help with your line shopping:

Pick: Ravens ML
Our estimate: Ravens 58% to win
Minimum value odds: 1.72

Check your sportsbooks and take the best odds >= 1.72.

We always recommend comparing before following our picks.

Check out our daily picks with recommended odds thresholds.

Summary: Line Shopping in 7 Points

#	Key Takeaway
1	Line Shopping can double your ROI
2	Have accounts at 5+ sportsbooks
3	Use an odds comparison tool
4	On Key Numbers (NFL), the half-point is critical
5	Bet early for the best lines
6	Don't forget promos and boosts
7	Track your CLV to measure timing quality

Next Step

You now know how to get the best odds. But how do you know if a bet has value?

Discover Value Betting — the method for identifying bets where the offered odds exceed the true probability.