What Does -110 Mean in Sports Betting and Wagering
If you want to become a serious handicapper, the very first rule you need to live by is bankroll management. Bankroll management means several different things, including sticking to a standard size bet whether that be $10, $25, or $100 or to never play more than two percent of your entire bankroll on any game unless you are absolutely certain the value is worth the risk. But in my opinion, the most important rule of bankroll management finding the best lines available. Don't be sucked in to betting a -120 line when there are -110s available to be had. The line of -110 is the most common line found while betting the point spread option and is often referred to as a "dime line".
What Does the (-110) Line Mean?
Before you place any wager on the point spread, you will often see the line and the price associated with that line. The most common price associated with the point spread is -110, which means that in order for you to profit $100, you must bet $110. This extra 10 percent is what's known as the "juice" or "vig," and it's how sportsbook keep themselves in business.
How Sportsbooks Profit off the (-110) Line?
Since the "dime line" is the most common price for point spread bets, the sportsbooks ability to make money off them are second to none. Sportsbooks rely on their linemakers to set lines that would ideally draw in balanced action on both sides. If they are successful in doing so, the book will make a profit without any risk because of the 10 percent vig. For example, the losing bettors will pay $110 each time they want to try and profit 100. Winning betters will get $100 as the profit each time they make a $110 bet. This means that the extra $10 is the commission the books make for facilitating the bets. The best part is, sportsbooks often don't care which team covered the spread.
The Benefits of Playing the Dime Line
The (-110) line is the most common price for point spread bets, but it is not the only line available. Since betting the point spread is the most popular way to bet on football, a lot of square bettors don't consider the price they are paying when placing a bet. For example, some squares will place a bet on the Broncos at +3 (-120) without even thinking to look around for a better price. Often, you will find the same line at a different sportsbook for (-110), thus saving you an additional 10 percent. This savings may not make a drastic impact to the bankroll at the moment. However, over the long term, betting a higher line means a higher winning percentage is needed to break even.
If you constantly bet into -110 lines, you would need to win 52 percent of your bets to hit the break-even threshold. With -120 lines, you would need a 54.5 percent win clip to break-even. The higher the line, the higher the win percentage you will need.
The betting game is already tough enough, so trying to win an extra two percent of your plays puts so much added stress on yourself and the bankroll. If you have the ability to play -110 on a consistent basis, you will find yourself on the road to long-term profit instead of the gloomy path to being broke.
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