While reading the odds for a sportsbook is fun, it’s not always easy to understand. The lines can be difficult to follow and sometimes there are issues with translation. Thanks to technology, we can now read a betting line easily and quickly. Let’s take a look at how to do that.
Look For The First Three Letters
The oddsmakers at the betting establishment will give you the odds for various sports. To get the most accurate results, you need to look at the first three letters of the odds. This will then display the straight up odds of the game. For example, if you look at UFC, you will see that the odds for this event are 5-1. This means that the straight up winner is 5 times more likely to win than an average fighter.
Pay Attention To The Full Number
If you’re reading the odds for a football game, you should first and foremost look at the full number. This is because most bookmakers use two systems to determine their odds. One is based on the current line and the other is based on betting market movements. If you’re unsure which one to look at, just focus on the full number. For instance, if you see 41.5, this means the betting public is fairly close to a $5 wager on the game. Keep in mind that this number can change often and it can be difficult to determine which one is the most accurate at any given time.
Use Resources
To make life easier for you, a lot of betting lines are provided in handy charts. These charts show the relevant statistics for each game and the odds are usually accompanied by a quick chart explaining the methodologies used by the bookmaker. Looking at these resources can help you get a better understanding of the odds and the way the betting public is viewing the game. For example, maybe you’re not familiar with the methodologies used by the books in Spain. In that case, you can look at the English speaking books to get an idea of how the spreadsheets work. Thanks to the internet, you can also find game-specific charts that can give you a boost in understanding the line.
Check The Bookmaker’s Website
One of the best things about the modern day world of internet commerce is the ability to research bookmakers online. Thanks to websites like OddsShark and Bookmaker, researching and comparing different sports books is no longer difficult. Bookmakers have also adopted a similar website-based approach and many of them make it easy for you to get the betting lines for any sport you want. By checking out the sites for each bookmaker, you can get a good feel for their overall offering and the level of quality when comparing them to other books.
Use Your Smart Phone
If you’re reading the odds for a mobile device, your options are pretty much limitless. You can either download the sports app to your phone or use a website like Betsafe, which is optimized for mobile use. If you choose the latter, you can then get the odds for numerous sports events, from all around the world, at the touch of a button.
Thanks to technology, getting the betting lines is now as easy as following a few simple steps. By looking at the first three letters of the odds, you can get a good idea of their style and the level of accuracy. If you want to become a better bettor, just keep in mind the basics: research, preparation, and most importantly, HATE LOSING MONEY!