Opening a sportsbook is a lot of fun. Seeing your book generate a steady stream of profitable wagers is even more satisfying. But keeping the gamblers interested while maintaining healthy profits can be a challenge. After all, when the going gets tough, the tough stay at the games.
What happens when the gambler is the type of person who likes to place huge bets? One way to address this challenge is to adjust your betting units to make the games less attractive. You could limit the maximum bet to something more suitable for the average punter. Or, you could restrict the bet size for certain games or events. This tactic is commonly referred to as “scaring off the big bets.”
Making these types of adjustments can be a pain. That’s because you have to look up each bet individually and change its odds manually. And, since most sportsbooks are set up using automated odds-calculating software, making these changes can be extremely cumbersome. For example, if you’re using the Sportsbook.com software, and you want to switch from paying out winning bets within two days to paying out those bets two weeks later, you’ll have to manually adjust each and every bet that currently pays out in two days.
Fortunately, there is an easier way. Many sportsbooks now offer a “Locked in” feature. When you use this feature, your wagers will automatically apply to the next game as soon as the current game ends. So, in the example above, the two-day-turnaround option will be automatically applied to all of the wagers as soon as the New York Jets score a touchdown. At that point, the two-week-turnaround option will take effect and your bets will be locked in for the next two weeks.
The nice thing about locking in your wagers is that you don’t have to worry about manually calculating each and every one of your winning wagers. The sportsbook takes care of that for you. And since you already have an account with the site, the process is essentially automatic. So, next time you go to place a wager, you can rest assured that the betting units for the game have already been calculated and all you have to do is choose a side and make some money.
Make Sure You Are Using Genuine Books
As the name implies, a “locked in” feature only works if you are using an authorized sportsbook. Otherwise, the operator can simply change the rules and end-of-game scenarios for all active wagers at the end of the day. So, it’s essential that you verify that the site you are dealing with is properly licensed and that the “Locked in” feature is indeed available to all customers.
Genuine sportsbooks employ a technique known as “full-time encryption” to ensure the security of their players’ personal and financial information. This system employs cryptographic techniques to scramble player data at all times, preventing unauthorized access. Most importantly, whenever the site does upgrade its encryption software, all existing player records will be protected, ensuring that you can still use the book throughout the transition.
Now, you might be wondering how you can tell the difference between a legit and a fake sportsbook. One easy way is to look at the odds. If they are consistently higher than the current odds for the game, then you know you’re dealing with a legitimate site. And don’t worry, as long as you use the right tools for the right purposes, it’s quite easy to verify the authenticity of any sportsbook.
In some instances, a fake sportsbook will try to trick you into thinking that it is a legit site by appearing to be quite user-friendly. However, if you want to place a bet or check your account, you will be greeted by a seemingly endless parade of “login required” messages and endless pop-up windows. Naturally, since this is a scam, you will not want to comply.
Locking In Wagers For The Next Game
The concept of “locking in” your wagers is quite simple. Once you have placed a wager on a game using the internet, your winnings will be applied to the next game automatically. So, in the example above, when the Jets score a touchdown, your wager will be applied to the next game automatically. This feature allows you to essentially “buy” games for the upcoming weeks.
As a rule of thumb, you want to make sure that your wagers are locked in for the next game as soon as the current game ends. Otherwise, you could find yourself in a world of hurt if the opposite team scores a touchdown before the end of the game. Then, your wagers will be voided, and you’ll have to start from scratch again. Luckily, most sportsbooks will give you two options: either the win or the lay. So, in that case, you can reverse your wager and get your money back or try another match.
Managing Risk When Placing Bets
When you place a wager on a sporting event, there is always the possibility that the bet will not pay out as promised. For example, if Team A scores a touchdown and you bet on them, and Team B scores an equal number of points, then your wager will not pay out. In some instances, this could result in you losing money even though you thought you would win. This is why it is essential to manage your risks before, during, and after placing a wager. If you do not do this successfully, then it could very well be that your entire bankroll will be wiped out. So, here are some tips on how to manage your risk when placing bets:
Research The Team You Are Betting On
As the name implies, a “locked in” wager only applies to sportsbooks that offer this feature. But, it is essential that you do your research before making a wager. Due to the nature of the internet, it is quite easy to do research on your opponent. However, this comes with its own set of risks. For example, if you are unfamiliar with the rules of the game, then you could end up accidentally placing a wager on a rule that does not permit outside betting. Luckily, most sportsbooks will have a clearly marked FAQ page that answers many of your initial questions.
If you truly want to get the most out of your betting experience, then you should look into teams that you are unfamiliar with. Due to the nature of sports, many matches end in ties. So, for every game that you wager on, there is the possibility that the result will be a tie. In this case, you will not receive any payouts. So, in the example above, if you do not know the rules of American football, you could find yourself wagering on a game that has an odd number of points. This could result in you losing your entire stake. Luckily, most sportsbooks have a “tie team” option, which limits your losses in case of a tie.
Look At Several Books For Better Odds
If you want to place a successful wager, then it is important to do your research. Sometimes, getting the best odds can be difficult. The reason is that some books are simply better than others at giving favorable odds. In extreme cases, it can be difficult to find a book that gives you better odds than the current betting line. In these instances, it can be a good idea to look at other books to get the best of both worlds. For example, if you are looking for an Asian handicap, then you could try getting the best of both worlds by using one of the online resources that track the betting lines for specific games. In some cases, you will find that the spread, or the amount by which the predicted score is different from the actual score, is more advantageous than the “over” or “under” option. This is because in a tied game, the underdog has an advantage simply because they have to win by more than what is expected of them. So, sometimes the best strategy is to take the under. And in other cases, it can be optimal to go against the grain. So, in the example above, you could use one of these resources to get the best of both worlds and place a wager on the Jets in an attempt to lose. And if they win, you simply need to place another wager on the next game.