The idea of spreads being set to get even action on both sides

[fearless]

Can someone explain to me how this concept of getting even action on both of sides of a game works? For example, let's say you're a sports book on the web and you have five guys who bet $20,000 a game. If one of the five guys bets on a favorite, what's the chances one of the other five guys will bet on the underdog for that same game to even out the action? What if four of the five take the favorite on a game and the favorite covers? There's no hope of "evening out the action" in a situation like that.

For any book, all you need is one guy to come in and bet $500,000 on a game and win and the whole "getting even action" idea is blown, probably for the whole year. One bet like that could even sink a whole book.

That was dramatized in the movie "Bookies." Some college students started a bookie operation and I believe they decided that they could only handle a max bet of $10,000. Somebody offers them a $100,000 bet and wins it, it bankrupts their operation.

[Chi_archie]

the idea of getting even action is false..... books don't always look to split the bets 50-50

prob pretty rare

[sickler]

How many books take a 500K bet?


If the first guy takes the fave for 20K, the book/bookie can move the line so those thinking about taking the favourite will lay off or take the dog at better odds and play the fave elsewhere (scalp).

Also, if a book/bookie is in a tough spot and has too much on one side, they can lay off action. Pretty easy to do.

[fearless]

How many books take a 500K bet?


If the first guy takes the fave for 20K, the book/bookie can move the line so those thinking about taking the favourite will lay off or take the dog at better odds and play the fave elsewhere (scalp).

Also, if a book/bookie is in a tough spot and has too much on one side, they can lay off action. Pretty easy to do.

I heard of a million dollar bet being taken in Vegas on a boxing match.

The thing about moving the lines... I don't see how moving the line one point will even out a big discrepancy too much either.

[sickler]

I heard of a million dollar bet being taken in Vegas on a boxing match.

The thing about moving the lines... I don't see how moving the line one point will even out a big discrepancy too much either.

Unless it's a whale without a clue, moving the line a point is a big deal to pros betting big bucks.

[Dark Horse]

Of course the line is set to balance the action. Otherwise everyone would always bet on one side, totally exposing the book.

Not all books may, at all times, be interested in balanced action, but that's another story.

[daggerkobe]

Well, in football, a hook can sway bettors.

For example, Steelers -3 got a lot of action this past Sunday..... so the books moved it to 3.5 to get more money on the Cowboys.

In the history of Vegas, they've only lost money twice in Super Bowls. Last year was the worst because of the horrible odds by the linesmakers as a lot of people took Giants ML at +400+. So they've basically been able to get 50/50 and live off the 10% vig over 90% of the time.

In a perfect gambling world, books want 50/50.... and usually do a good job of it.