A good line on a sports contest is defined by the action it generates from the gambling public. If 2 knowledgeable players with strong opinions on the game look at the line and want to take opposite sides then the line maker has done their job. Bookmaking should never be a gamble but rather a simple juice collection business.
This basic premise holds well for sportsbooks that take a large volume of wagers from a variety of diverse areas. The local bookie, however, often times finds himself in a situation where his players constantly pile onto the same teams week in and week out. This can create problems because the line is “suppose” to create equal speculation on the game and does not always reflect a true handicap of the teams playing it.
Host PPH has a simple and powerful solution to this conundrum that many local bookies face on a regular basis, they give you control of the line. With the ability to move and control their own lines, bookmakers who use Host PPH don’t have to sweat the Vegas odds man anymore.
Bookies need to be careful when it comes to posting an alternative line on a game as players are well informed these days through the internet and other media. Just because your players jump all over the Patriots any chance they can doesn’t mean you can move a line from -3 to -14 and think they won’t notice. The first thing you need to know about moving lines is that all numbers are not created equal.
The local bookie is in the unique position that falls outside of normal line movement conditions. Moving against the hometown heroes is unlikely to generate balanced action on both sides of the game. If you open the line to high, your players are more likely to accuse you of robbing them and won’t bet the game at all. When you do take control of your own line movement keep the following in mind.
- Add a half-point or a hook to the line to ensure that there will be a result.
- If you are reluctant to move off a number than move the juice instead so that players are required to risk more money.
- Keep in mind that some line moves are effectively meaningless. The ten most meaningful point spreads are 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, and 17. (Not in that order, however.) Almost two-thirds of all NFL games can be expected to end with one or another of only those ten margins of victory. In other words, 7 ½ is almost the same as 8s and 9s in that they all represent a 2 score margin of victory.
At the end of the day you know your players better than anyone and with Host PPH giving you the power to move, hide and control your lines you will have a more profitable business.
