First of all we must define exactly “what is Steam”?
In the world of online sports betting “steam” is when a sports betting line all of a sudden starts to move very rapidly. Most “steam games” do not necessarily reflect objective circumstances, but these are games that a mass of bettors are drawn to around the same time for a particular reason.
Although this practice is rather normal, some of the more sharp sports bettors frequently will try to take advantage of a weak or soft line in order to improve their potential profits. For a bookie, knowing how and what to do with these types of players and the information can make a huge difference in their overall profit margin!
What can a bookmaker do to stop or deter a player from betting steam?
Once a bookie recognizes that a player is betting steam he should immediately put this player on a watch list. After confirming that the player is indeed betting steam a bookie that is using a pay per head service that utilizes the DGS betting software can simply put the player on the “delay feature”.
Using this delay option simply lets you the bookmaker immediately put the brakes on anyone you suspect of betting steam, sharp plays or simply beating you to the punch as it delays them from making a wager until you check and adjust the # to make sure that it is indeed sharp!
If I know a guy is betting steam should I immediately get rid of him?
The way you handle these types of players is important to your overall success. The first thing a bookie needs to do is to make sure that his lines are always sharp, after doing so and if you still recognize that this particular player is still beating you to the punch you can do a few different things such as;
- You can limit this players wagering limit to an amount that you feel comfortable with and simply use this information that the player is giving you to your advantage. In sports betting information is the key, so you can use this player to keep you on your toes to always keep your numbers sharp and stay ahead of the move!
- Another possibility if the player is not only betting steam but also winning is to follow the player by betting with him or laying off the action in exchange for the information.
- Another option is to simply hook up with a pay per head service, in doing so you will now have an experienced team of line managers and sports betting professionals on your side that will always keep an eye on your players and make sure they get the freshest line on every bet.
A good risk management team that is qualified to handle any type of wager, from syndicates to professional gamblers, from steam chasers to wiseguys; to a bookie is worth its weight in gold!
