The Complete Guide to Line Shopping: Finding the Best Odds

Line shopping is one of the most straightforward ways to improve your betting results. The concept is simple: before placing any bet, check the odds at multiple sportsbooks and take the best price available. Over time, those small differences add up to significant gains.

Why Line Shopping Matters

Sportsbooks don't always agree on odds. One book might have the Chiefs at -110, while another has them at -105. That 5-cent difference might seem trivial, but over hundreds or thousands of bets, it represents a substantial amount of money.

Consider this: if you bet $100 at -110 odds, you need to risk $110 to win $100. At -105, you only risk $105. That's $5 saved per bet, and it compounds over time.

How to Line Shop Effectively

• Create accounts at 3-5 reputable sportsbooks
• Before each bet, check odds at all your books
• Use odds comparison websites to save time
• Pay attention to juice/vig, not just the spread
• Factor in promotions and odds boosts when relevant

Best Categories for Line Shopping

Some markets see more variation than others. You'll often find the biggest discrepancies in:

• Player prop bets
• Alternate lines and totals
• Live/in-game betting
• Less popular sports or leagues
• Early lines (before sharp money moves them)

Tools to Help

Several free and paid tools aggregate odds across sportsbooks. These can save you time and ensure you never miss a better line. Popular options include OddsJam, OddsBoom, and the Action Network.

A Note on Bankroll Management

Line shopping works best when you maintain consistent unit sizes across all your accounts. Having funds spread across multiple books also helps you stay disciplined and avoid the temptation to chase losses at a single sportsbook.