If you're only betting with one sportsbook, you're leaving money on the table. Line shopping—comparing odds across multiple books—is the simplest skill that separates profitable bettors from losing ones.
What Is Line Shopping?
Line shopping means checking multiple sportsbooks to find the best odds on your bet.
Example: You want to bet on the Chiefs -3.
- Sportsbook A: Chiefs -3 (-110)
- Sportsbook B: Chiefs -3 (-105)
- Sportsbook C: Chiefs -2.5 (-115)
Each offers different value. The best choice depends on your analysis.
Why Lines Differ
Different Risk Assessment
Sportsbooks set their own lines based on:
- In-house analytics
- Betting patterns at their book
- Risk management preferences
- Sharp action they've received
Two books can legitimately disagree on the "right" number.
Market Timing
Lines move based on betting action:
- Sharp money moves lines first
- Retail books adjust slower
- Opportunity exists in the gap
Vig Differences
Some books charge less juice:
- Standard: -110 on both sides
- Reduced: -105 on both sides
- The difference matters significantly
How Much Does It Matter?
Half-Point Value
On NFL spreads, half a point is worth:
- -3 to -2.5: ~1% improvement
- -7 to -6.5: ~2% improvement
- -3 to -3.5: ~1.5% worse
Over 100 bets, these add up to significant money.
Vig Reduction
| Your Bet Size | -110 vs -105 | Annual Savings (1000 bets) |
|---|---|---|
| $50 | $1.19/bet | $1,190 |
| $100 | $2.38/bet | $2,380 |
| $250 | $5.95/bet | $5,950 |
Reduced juice alone pays for the effort of line shopping.
Combined Impact
Example scenario: You bet $100 per game, 500 bets per year.
Without line shopping:
- Average -110 odds
- Best available line 50% of time
With line shopping:
- Average -107 odds
- Best available line 80% of time
Annual difference: $1,500+ in expected value
Key Numbers in Football
NFL Key Numbers
Certain margins occur more often due to football scoring:
| Margin | Importance |
|---|---|
| 3 | Most common (scorigami) |
| 7 | Very common |
| 6 | Common |
| 10 | Common |
| 4 | Less common |
| 14 | Semi-common |
What This Means
Getting Chiefs -2.5 instead of -3:
- All games landing exactly on 3 become wins instead of pushes
- ~3% of NFL games land on exactly 3
Getting Chiefs -6.5 instead of -7:
- 7 is huge (~10% of games)
- Worth paying extra juice for
Setting Up for Line Shopping
How Many Books?
Minimum: 3 sportsbooks Recommended: 5-8 sportsbooks Optimal: As many legal options as possible
More books = more opportunities.
Account Requirements
For each book, you need:
- Verified account
- Funded balance (at least minimum bet)
- Understanding of their rules
Bankroll Distribution
Don't put all money in one book:
- Split across accounts
- Keep enough to bet your standard amount
- Transfer as needed
Finding the Best Lines
Manual Checking
For occasional bettors:
- Open each sportsbook
- Navigate to your game
- Compare lines and juice
- Bet at best book
Time-consuming but free.
Odds Comparison Sites
Aggregators show lines across books:
- OddsShark
- VegasInsider
- ActionNetwork
- OddsBoom
Advantages:
- See all odds at once
- Identify best value instantly
- Track line movement
Limitations:
- Slight delay in updates
- May not show all books
- Verify before betting
Line Shopping Apps
Dedicated tools for serious bettors:
- Real-time updates
- Alerts when target lines appear
- Historical data
- Expected value calculations
Line Shopping Strategy
Before Games Are Posted
Some books post lines earlier:
- Be first to grab advantageous opening lines
- Openers often move significantly
- Shop before sharp money corrects
When Lines Diverge
Maximum opportunity when books disagree:
- One book at -3, another at -2.5
- Shop heavily during these windows
- Divergence often corrects quickly
Close to Game Time
Lines settle as information comes in:
- Less divergence
- But injury news can create opportunities
- Monitor late-breaking information
Live Betting
In-play lines vary wildly between books:
- Fastest updaters have best lines
- Slow books offer value
- Requires quick decision-making
Sport-Specific Shopping
NFL
Focus on:
- Point spreads (key numbers matter)
- Totals near key numbers (37, 41, 44, 47)
- Reduced juice on heavy action games
Best opportunities:
- Early week (lines not settled)
- After injury announcements
NBA
Focus on:
- Point spreads (margins more variable)
- Totals (points are predictable)
- Player props (books differ significantly)
Best opportunities:
- Afternoon games (less attention)
- Back-to-backs (fatigue factors differ)
MLB
Focus on:
- Moneylines (no key numbers)
- Run lines (±1.5 standard)
- Totals (high variance between books)
Best opportunities:
- Pitcher changes
- Lineup announcements
Soccer
Focus on:
- Moneylines
- Asian handicaps
- Totals (low-scoring = sensitive)
Best opportunities:
- Less popular leagues
- Books specializing in different regions
Reduced Juice Books
Some sportsbooks consistently offer better odds:
Industry Standard
Most books: -110/-110 (4.5% vig per side)
Reduced Juice Options
Some books: -105/-105 (2.4% vig per side)
Value: Betting at -105 instead of -110 saves nearly 2% per bet.
Finding Reduced Juice
- Some books offer it on all markets
- Others on selected sports
- Watch for promotional periods
Advanced Line Shopping
Middling
Bet both sides at different books when lines diverge:
Example:
- Book A: Chiefs +3 (-110)
- Book B: Raiders -1 (-110)
If Chiefs lose by 1 or 2: Win both bets If either team wins: Win one, lose one
Risk: Need lines to cross for opportunity Reward: Potential double win
Scalping (Arbing)
Find guaranteed profit from line differences:
Example (rare):
- Book A: Chiefs +140
- Book B: Raiders +105
Bet proportionally on both → guaranteed profit regardless of outcome.
Challenges:
- Opportunities are rare and brief
- Books limit/ban arbers
- Requires many accounts and capital
Common Mistakes
Only Using One Book
The biggest mistake. Even checking one other book helps.
Ignoring Juice
-115 vs -105 seems small but costs significantly over time.
Shopping Too Late
Lines converge near game time. Shop early when divergence is greatest.
Forgetting Props
Player props often have the widest discrepancies between books.
Overlooking Alternate Lines
Books offer alternate spreads/totals at different prices—shop these too.
The Limits of Line Shopping
Account Restrictions
Sportsbooks limit winning bettors:
- Reduced maximum bet sizes
- Blocked from promotions
- Eventually closed
Sharp line shopping can trigger limits.
Time Investment
Serious line shopping takes effort:
- Multiple accounts to manage
- Constant monitoring
- Quick action required
Not All Markets Available
Some books don't offer all bets:
- Obscure sports
- Specific props
- Live betting options
The Bottom Line
Line shopping is the easiest edge in sports betting. You're making the same bet—just getting better odds.
Minimum approach:
- Use 3+ sportsbooks
- Check odds before every bet
- Take the best available
Serious approach:
- Use odds comparison tools
- Understand key numbers
- Shop alternate lines and props
- Track your improvements
The difference between winning and losing sports bettors often isn't analysis—it's execution. Line shopping is execution, and it's available to everyone.