Shopping lines across multiple books: Worth the hassle?

[FadeThePublic]

I currently have accounts at five different sportsbooks and I shop lines for every single bet I make. It's become part of my routine to check all five books before placing any bet to make sure I'm getting the best available number.
But lately I've been wondering if the time and effort is actually worth it. Like yeah, sometimes I find an extra half point or I can get minus 105 instead of minus 110. But is that really making a significant difference to my bottom line when you factor in the time spent checking multiple apps and managing multiple accounts?

Here's my typical process. I identify a game I want to bet. I open all five sportsbook apps on my phone. I check the line at each book. I place the bet at whichever book has the best number. The whole process takes maybe 2 to 3 minutes per bet which doesn't sound like much but it adds up.

I'm also dealing with having money spread across five different accounts which creates its own headaches. Sometimes I want to make a bet but my balance is too low at the book with the best line so I have to settle for a worse line at a different book or go through the hassle of depositing more money.
For people who line shop regularly, do you think it's worth the extra effort? And for people who don't, have you calculated whether you're leaving significant money on the table by not shopping?

 

[SharpEddie47]

Line shopping is absolutely essential and the math proves it beyond any doubt. This isn't even debatable. If you're not shopping lines across multiple books you're donating money to the sportsbooks.

Let me give you the specific numbers. In NFL betting, getting an extra half point is worth approximately 2% to 3% in win probability on average. Some key numbers are worth more, like getting minus 2.5 instead of minus 3, or plus 3 instead of plus 2.5. Those can be worth 5% or more in win probability.

Over a full season of 100 bets, consistently getting better numbers through line shopping can easily add 5% to 7% to your ROI. If you're betting $100 per game, that's $500 to $700 in additional profit just from spending a few minutes checking multiple books.

Now let's talk about the hassle factor. Yes, managing multiple accounts requires some effort. But we're talking about maybe 10 hours total per year dealing with deposits, withdrawals, and account management across multiple books. If that 10 hours of effort generates an extra $500 to $1,000 in profit per year, that's $50 to $100 per hour of value for your time. That's an excellent return on effort.

The balancing issue Fade mentioned is real but manageable. I keep the majority of my bankroll at two main books that consistently have competitive lines. Then I have smaller amounts at three other books specifically for line shopping opportunities. When I find a better line at one of the secondary books, I bet there even if it means a smaller bet size. Over time the account balances naturally rebalance as some books win and others lose.

For anyone betting seriously, I consider line shopping non-negotiable. You should have accounts at minimum three books, preferably five or more. Before every bet you should check all your available books and bet at whichever has the best number. The few minutes this takes per bet is completely justified by the improved results.

There's also a psychological benefit to line shopping that people don't talk about enough. When you're forced to check multiple books before betting, it creates a small friction that prevents impulsive betting. You can't just open one app and fire off a bet in 10 seconds. You have to go through the process of checking numbers, which gives you a moment to reconsider whether you really want to make the bet.

The only argument against line shopping would be if you're betting such small amounts that the improved numbers don't materially matter. If you're betting $5 per game, saving half a point isn't worth the hassle. But if you're betting $50 or $100 or more per game, line shopping is absolutely essential and the ROI on your time is massive.

Fade to answer your specific question, yes it's worth it. The 2 to 3 minutes per bet you're spending is generating real value that compounds significantly over hundreds of bets. Don't get lazy about this just because it feels tedious. It's one of the easiest ways to improve your results with minimal effort.

 

[ParlayPrincess_88]

I only have one sportsbook account and honestly I never even thought about having multiple accounts to compare lines. That seems like it would be really annoying to manage but based on what Eddie is saying maybe I'm leaving a lot of money on the table?

Like if I'm betting $30 to $50 per game, how much would line shopping actually save me over time? Is it worth opening accounts at multiple books for someone at my betting level?

The thing that seems complicated is doesn't each sportsbook want you to deposit money to open an account? So would I need to put like $500 into three or four different sportsbooks just to have the option to shop lines? That's a lot of money to have tied up across multiple accounts.

Also I feel like it would be confusing keeping track of which book I have bets at and what my balance is at each one. Like right now I just check my one app and I know exactly what I have bet and how much money I have. With multiple apps wouldn't it be easy to lose track?

I guess what I'm asking is at what level of betting does line shopping become worth the hassle? Or is it something everyone should be doing no matter how much they're betting?

 

[CoachTony_Bets]

I have accounts at four sportsbooks and I shop lines for most of my bets. Eddie's right that the math clearly favors line shopping, but I want to add some practical perspective on when it matters most and when you might be able to skip it.

For NFL and college football, line shopping is crucial because half points matter enormously. Getting minus 2.5 instead of minus 3 or plus 7 instead of plus 6.5 can be the difference between a win and a loss. I never bet NFL without checking all four of my books because those key numbers come up so frequently.

For NBA and higher scoring sports, line shopping still matters but it's slightly less critical. An extra half point in basketball doesn't impact your win probability as much as in football. That said, I still shop lines for NBA, I'm just not as obsessive about it.

For totals, line shopping can be huge. I've seen situations where one book has a total at 44 and another has it at 44.5 or even 45. That's massive value and it happens more often than you'd think because books adjust totals at different rates based on their action.

Princess to answer your question about betting level, I think line shopping becomes clearly worth it once you're betting $25 or more per game. At $30 to $50 per bet like you're doing, you should definitely be shopping lines. The improved numbers will add up to hundreds of dollars over a season.

On the practical side of managing multiple accounts, it's really not that complicated once you get used to it. I keep a simple spreadsheet with my balance at each book updated weekly. Most books have pretty good mobile apps now so checking lines takes maybe two minutes total. And you don't need to keep huge balances at every book. I keep maybe $2,000 total spread across four books with the bulk at my two main books.

The deposit issue is minor. Most books let you open an account and browse lines without depositing. You only need to deposit when you actually want to place a bet at that book. So you can start by just opening accounts at three or four books, not depositing yet, and just checking their lines when you're about to bet. If one consistently has better lines, then you deposit there.

I will say that line shopping does create a bit more friction in the betting process which as Eddie mentioned can be a good thing. It slows you down and makes you think twice before placing bets. But it can also be annoying when you're trying to get a bet in quickly before a line moves.

Overall I think the benefits clearly outweigh the hassle for anyone betting more than $20 per game. The time investment is minimal and the ROI is substantial.

 

[FadeThePublic]

Eddie and Tony both make good points. I guess my question wasn't really whether line shopping has value mathematically, because obviously it does. I was more wondering if the practical hassles outweigh that value at some point.

But doing the math like Eddie laid out, if I'm making 200 bets per year at an average of $150 per bet and line shopping adds 5% to my ROI, that's an extra $1,500 per year. For maybe 10 hours of extra effort managing accounts. That's $150 per hour which is definitely worth it when you put it that way.
I think my frustration comes from times when I identify a good betting opportunity and I want to get my money down quickly, but then I have to check five different apps and sometimes the line has moved by the time I've finished checking all of them. That's annoying but I guess it's the cost of doing business properly.

The other issue I've run into is some books limit you faster than others. I've been limited at two of my five books which means even if they have the best line sometimes I can't bet there or I can only bet small amounts. So I'm shopping lines at five books but really only three of them are useful for full size bets. That creates additional complexity.
Princess to answer your question directly, yes you should open accounts at multiple books even at your betting level. The improved numbers will absolutely make a difference to your results. Start with two or three books, not five like I have. That's enough to capture most of the line shopping benefit without too much complexity.

The key is picking the right books. You want books that have competitive lines, reliable payouts, and good mobile apps. Do some research on which books are sharp and which books are soft. The sharp books will generally have tighter lines but they also respect winners more. The soft books might have worse lines but they're less likely to limit you quickly.

 

[SharpEddie47]

Fade's point about getting limited is important and it's actually another argument for line shopping. If you're only using one book and you get limited there, you're done. But if you have accounts at five books and two of them limit you, you still have three books to work with.

The limiting issue is real for anyone who's consistently profitable. Books don't want to take action from winners. By spreading your betting across multiple books you reduce your profile at any single book and you extend the time before you get limited. It's risk management for your betting business.

Princess I want to address your concern about having money spread across multiple accounts. You're right that it ties up capital, but think of it this way. That money isn't really tied up, it's deployed in your betting bankroll where it belongs. Whether you have $2,000 at one book or $500 at four books, it's the same $2,000 in your total bankroll.

The tracking concern is valid but easily solved. Use a simple spreadsheet or even just a notes app on your phone. List each book with your current balance and update it weekly. Takes five minutes. Or use one of the many betting tracking apps that allow you to track multiple sportsbooks in one place.
For someone at your betting level, start with three books. That captures probably 80% of the line shopping benefit with minimal complexity. Pick three books with good reputations, open accounts, deposit maybe $300 to $500 at each. Before every bet, check the line at all three and bet at whichever has the best number. Track your bets in a spreadsheet with columns for which book you used and what the line was.

Do this religiously for 100 bets and then calculate how much value you captured from line shopping. Compare the average line you bet to what you would have gotten at just one book. I guarantee you'll find the improved numbers added significantly to your results.
The friction Tony mentioned about slowing down your betting process is actually a feature not a bug. Quick impulsive bets are usually bad bets. Having to check multiple books before betting creates a speed bump that makes you think twice. That's valuable even beyond the improved line.

Line shopping is one of the easiest wins in sports betting. It requires minimal skill, just discipline. The math is clear, the benefit is substantial, and the effort required is minimal compared to the return. There's really no good argument against it for anyone betting more than $20 per game.

 

[ParlayPrincess_88]

Okay you guys have convinced me. I'm going to open accounts at two more sportsbooks and start shopping lines for my bets. Starting with three total books seems manageable and like Eddie said it captures most of the benefit without too much complexity.

The spreadsheet idea for tracking balances makes sense too. I can just update it once a week and that way I always know where my money is and which books I can bet at.

I feel like this is another one of those things that seems obvious once someone explains it but I just never thought about it before. Like yeah of course if one book has Chiefs minus 3 and another has Chiefs minus 2.5 I should take the minus 2.5. I just never had multiple books to compare so it wasn't an option.

Is there a good resource for figuring out which sportsbooks are the best ones to use? Or should I just go with the big names that everyone knows?

 

[CoachTony_Bets]

Princess I'd recommend starting with the major regulated books. The advantage of starting with the big names is they have good customer service and they're easy to use. The disadvantage is they're more likely to limit winners quickly. But for someone at your level that probably won't be an issue for a while.
Once you have your three main books set up, the line shopping process becomes automatic. Before you bet anything, just open all three apps, check the number, pick the best one. After a few weeks it becomes second nature and you won't even think about it.
One tip: some books offer better odds on certain bet types. Like one book might have better odds on player props while another is better on spreads. Pay attention to patterns and you'll learn which books tend to have the best numbers on different bet types.

 

[FadeThePublic]

I think we've reached consensus here. Line shopping is clearly worth it for anyone betting more than $20 per game. The effort required is minimal compared to the improved results.
The only time I'd say you can skip line shopping is if you're literally betting $5 per game for pure entertainment. At that level the few cents you save per bet isn't worth the hassle. But once you're betting $25 or more, the math says you need to be shopping lines.
Princess good luck setting up your additional accounts. You'll probably find that after a few weeks of shopping lines you can't imagine going back to using just one book. The improved numbers make a real difference to your results.