You can maximize your winnings on every successful pick you make by shopping around for the best available odds. Line shopping is a reasonably simple process, but it can increase your chances of earning a long-term profit as a sports bettor.
This guide explains how to find the best odds and lines before placing a wager. We will provide examples to highlight the benefits of line shopping, and you will also discover our top tips and strategies.
What Is Line Shopping in Sports Betting?
Line shopping is the art of finding the online sportsbook that offers the most favorable terms on any pick you make.
Some bettors use the terms “line shopping” and “shopping for the best odds” interchangeably, but they are actually slightly different concepts:
Shopping for the Best Odds
This simply requires you to find the online sportsbook that offers the most attractive odds on your pick. For example, if FanDuel is offering +138 on the Cleveland Guardians to win and DraftKings is offering +145, it would make sense to place your bet at DraftKings.
Shopping for the Best Line
This requires you to focus on the odds a sportsbook offers, but you also need to consider the point spread or the total points line. For example, if BetMGM has -110 on the Arizona Cardinals -3 and Caesars Sportsbook has -110 on the Cardinals -3.5, you should place your wager at BetMGM if you expect the Cardinals to cover.
Odds Shopping Example
Shopping for the best odds is pretty simple. You just need to find the sportsbook that offers the largest potential profit on your pick.
This chart highlights the odds that various sportsbooks were offering on an MLB game during the 2024 season:
| Sportsbook | Pittsburgh Pirates to win | Cincinnati Reds to win |
|---|---|---|
| FanDuel | -146 | +124 |
| DraftKings | -155 | +130 |
| BetMGM | -145 | +120 |
| bet365 | -150 | +125 |
| Caesars Sportsbook | -155 | +130 |
| BetRivers | -145 | +125 |
In this case, BetMGM was the best sportsbook for anyone who wanted to bet on the Pirates to win. A $100 wager on the Pirates to win at BetMGM would have delivered a $68.97 profit, whereas a $100 bet on Pittsburgh at DraftKings would have resulted in a $64.52 profit.
That does not sound like a huge difference, but the extra money can add up over the course of the season. It may ultimately make the difference between ending the year at a loss or a profit.
Meanwhile, any MLB fans who wanted to bet on the Reds to win should have visited either DraftKings or Caesars Sportsbook. A $100 bet on Cincinnati at either of those sportsbooks would have resulted in a $130 profit if they won, compared to a $120 profit at BetMGM.
There are two simple concepts to keep in mind when shopping for the best odds:
- If the odds begin with a minus symbol, look for the smallest number. For example, odds of -105 are more attractive than -120.
- When the odds start with a plus, look for the largest number. For instance, odds of +150 are more appealing than +140.
Line Shopping Example
Shopping for the best line is slightly more complex. Sometimes all of the leading sportsbooks offer an identical line on the same game. If so, it is relatively easy to find the site or app offering the best terms.
| Sportsbook | Miami Dolphins -3 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers +3 |
|---|---|---|
| FanDuel | -110 | -110 |
| DraftKings | -112 | -108 |
| BetMGM | -110 | -110 |
| bet365 | -110 | -110 |
| Caesars Sportsbook | -110 | -110 |
| BetRivers | -109 | -112 |
In this example, all of the sportsbooks make Miami a 3-point favorite to beat Tampa Bay. If you expect the Dolphins to cover the spread, you will find slightly better odds at BetRivers than at any other sportsbook.
BetRivers customers only need to risk $109 to win $100, whereas bettors at other sportsbooks must risk $110. By contrast, anyone who thinks the Bucs will cover should head to DraftKings, which has the best odds on Tampa Bay +3.
Line Shopping Example 2
However, sportsbooks do not always agree on the same line. For example, FanDuel was offering this line on a Week 1 game between the 49ers and the Raiders in 2024:
- San Francisco 49ers -7 (-110)
- Las Vegas Raiders +7 (-110)
Meanwhile, Caesars Sportsbook had this point spread on the same game:
- San Francisco 49ers -6.5 (-110)
- Las Vegas Raiders +6.5 (-110)
In this case, FanDuel would have been the best option for anyone who wanted to bet on the Raiders to cover. Here’s why:
- If the Raiders had lost by 7 points, a bet on them at FanDuel would have been graded as a push. That means you would have got your money back.
- If the Raiders had lost by 7 points, a bet on Las Vegas -6.5 at Caesars Sportsbook would have been graded as a loser, meaning you would not get your money back.
By contrast, Caesars Sportsbook would have been the best option for anyone who wanted to back the 49ers to cover:
- If the 49ers won by precisely 7 points, a wager on San Francisco +6.5 at Caesars Sportsbook would have been graded as a winner. A $100 bet would have returned $190.91.
- Meanwhile, a bet on San Francisco +7 would have been graded as a push at FanDuel if the 49ers won by exactly 7 points. That means you would have got your $100 back, but you would not have earned the $90.91 in profit.
When betting on the spread or the total, make sure you consider the line as well as the odds that the sportsbook is offering.
How To Shop for the Best Odds and Lines
You have two options when searching for the best odds and lines:
Conduct Your Search Manually
Visit all of the legal sports betting sites in your state and navigate to the game you would like to bet on. Make a note of the odds available at each site and then place your wager at the sportsbook offering the best terms.
Use an Odds Comparison Service
This is a far quicker, easier, and more convenient way to shop for the best odds and lines on a game. You can navigate to the game and market you would like to bet on, and you will then see the odds and lines available at all the leading sportsbooks.
If you use an odds comparison service, just keep in mind that it may not feature every legal online sportsbook in your state. You may find better odds at a sportsbook that is not listed on the comparison service.
Meanwhile, some of the odds listed at a comparison site may be out-of-date, so it is important to visit the actual sportsbook and verify them yourself. Lots of markets will not be covered by odds comparison sites, such as prop bets and same-game parlays, so you often need to do the legwork yourself if you want to find the best available odds on your picks.
Benefits of Line Shopping
There are two obvious benefits to line shopping:
- Shopping for the best line can make the difference between your bet being graded as a win, push, or loss.
- Shopping for the best odds will boost your winnings on each successful pick that you make.
If you routinely take the time to seek out the best odds and lines, you will stand a better chance of earning a long-term profit as a sports bettor. That is why sharp bettors always shop around before placing their wagers.
Line Shopping Strategies and Tips
These are our top tips for anyone interested in shopping around for the best lines and odds on their sports betting picks.
Sign up With Multiple Sportsbooks
It is important to hold accounts with all the leading online sportsbooks in your state if you want to maximize the opportunity that line shopping provides.
You can compare the odds they are all offering on a pick you like and then quickly place your bet with the sportsbook that has the best terms.
Do not leave it until the last minute to sign up with an online sportsbook that offers great odds on a bet you like. By the time you have created an account and completed the KYC process, the odds may have changed, or the game may have started.
Signing up with multiple sportsbooks also has an added benefit, as you will receive all the best welcome bonuses in your state.
Look for Early Value
You will often find the best odds on popular teams immediately after the opening lines are published. For example, if the Dallas Cowboys open as the -125 favorites to win a game, they may be priced at -140 by the following day.
That is because many fans bet on popular teams out of habit without conducting a great deal of research. The sportsbooks respond by offering less favorable terms on the popular team and more attractive terms on the opposing team, which helps them balance their risk and encourages a similar volume of wagers on either team.
Find sportsbooks that have a habit of publishing early lines, and shop for the best odds on popular teams before public sentiment causes them to change.
Fade the Public
At the other end of the spectrum, you will often find attractive odds and lines on unpopular teams just before a game is about to begin.
For example, the Kansas City Chiefs opened as -115 favorites to beat the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship game in Jan. 2023. However, the Chiefs had moved to +105 underdogs by the day of the game, as bettors felt that the Bengals would be too strong for a faltering Kansas City team with Patrick Mahomes carrying an injury.
In the end, the Chiefs won the game 23-20, so anyone that faded the public and grabbed odds of +105 earned a substantially larger profit than the bettors that placed their wagers earlier in the week.
Cross the Border
If you really want to increase your chances of getting the best odds on a particular game, you can consider leaving your home state.
For example, let’s say you live in New Hampshire, close to the border with Massachusetts. In New Hampshire, there is just one legal online sportsbook: DraftKings. By contrast, there are seven regulated online sportsbooks in Massachusetts, so you will have a better chance of finding sharp odds if you cross the border and visit another state.
The same advice may apply to a bettor in Arkansas who lives close to Louisiana, someone in Wyoming who lives near Colorado, or even a New Yorker who will find more choices by heading to New Jersey or Pennsylvania.
Pounce on Arbitrage Opportunities
Occasionally, when you are line shopping, you will find opportunities to cover both sides of the same bet and profit regardless of the result. Here is a basic example:
| Bet | Sportsbook A | Sportsbook B |
|---|---|---|
| New York Yankees To win | -125 | -148 |
| Detroit Tigers To win | +115 | +130 |
In this case, Sportsbook A and Sportsbook B are offering significantly different odds on the same game. You could bet on the Yankees to win at Sportsbook A and then bet on the Tigers to win at Sportsbook B, and you would be guaranteed to earn a profit irrespective of whoever prevailed.
This is known as arbitrage or dutching. If you spot opportunities for arbitrage, pounce on them before the sportsbooks change their odds.
More Resources for Line Shopping
We offer a wide range of additional online gambling resources for anyone interested in line shopping:
- NFL Spread Calculator: Use this tool to compare the point spreads at different sportsbooks and determine which line is the best.
- Moneyline Calculator: Discover the profit you can look forward to if your bet succeeds. This can help you understand which odds are the most attractive.
- Fair Odds Calculator: This calculator removes the house edge, highlighting the true odds you would be entitled to if the sportsbook did not charge vigorish.
- Arbitrage Calculator: Find out if you have landed upon an arbitrage opportunity by entering the odds available at different sportsbooks on the same game.
- Odds Calculator: Converting odds from one format to another may help you identify which sportsbook offers the best terms. For example, you may find it easier to compare decimal odds than American odds.
Line Shopping FAQ
Shopping for the best lines at multiple sportsbooks allows you to place your bets at the most favorable terms possible. You can increase your profits on successful bets by shopping for the best odds at the various legal sports betting sites in your state.
Yes, it is perfectly legal to compare the odds and lines at rival sportsbooks and then place your bet with the site offering the best terms. Sharp bettors always shop around for the best lines and odds before placing wagers, but it requires you to hold accounts with multiple sportsbooks.
Middling requires you to bet on both sides of the same bet after the line has moved, meaning that both wagers could pay out. For example, let’s say the Philadelphia Eagles open as the 2.5-point favorites against the New York Giants, and you bet on them to cover.
The line then moves, and the Eagles become the 4.5-point favorites. You can then bet on New York +4.5, meaning both bets will pay out if the Eagles win by either 3 or 4 points.
Yes, it is absolutely worth shopping for the best lines. It can be a time-consuming process, but you will significantly boost your chances of success if you take the time to find the best odds and lines. Just make sure you gamble responsibly and stick to a predetermined budget.
The oddsmakers at rival sportsbooks may interpret the relative strengths and weaknesses of both teams differently. That leads them to publish different odds on the same game.
Some sportsbooks also take a lower house edge than their rivals. This is known as the vigorish, and sportsbooks that take a low house edge provide the best odds on the market. Others simply like to be contrarian in a bid to attract new customers.
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