McDonald's isn't the only place you can buy a hamburger in town. And, when it comes to sports betting, there's also more than one book offering up odds.
Sports betting odds can vary from book to book, and finding the best odds for your opinion is vital to the success of your wagers – both short and long term.
Like shopping for the best burger, bettors should shop various sportsbooks to find the odds with the best payout for the markets they want to wager.
Luckily, Covers is the top resource for the best betting odds across the industry and will help you action those best odds with every wager.
Why you should look for the best odds available
Finding the best betting odds for your opinion is just as important as what you're betting. It's also one of the easiest and most intelligent things new bettors can do.
The better the odds, the better the payout
It’s this simple:
Getting better odds means you win more money.
Consistently betting the best odds means you're making more money over the short and long term. Say you find a market you like to place a $10 bet on, and most sportsbooks offer the bet at -110 ($10 bet profits $9.10), but one book offers that same market at -105 ($10 bet profits win $9.52). In that case, your $10 on the -105 nets you an extra $0.42 (a 4.5% increase) than if you had bet the -110 option.
Even if you keep a small bankroll, that additional 4.5% gain adds up quickly, allowing you to grow your bankroll more efficiently. Use Covers’ odds calculator to track the difference in payouts between odds.
Why are the odds different?
Not all odds are created equal. Operators can present different spreads, totals, moneylines, futures, and props, all based on their oddsmaking, betting action, line adjustments, and liability.
Some sportsbooks charge a higher price for placing a bet – also known as vig or juice – based on their business model and aim for a higher hold (win %).
Get the best odds by opening multiple sportsbook accounts
Having access to those multiple markets means opening multiple sportsbook accounts and taking the time to shop for the odds that not only give you the best chance of winning but also offer the best return.
Don't rely on one operator for your bankroll. Instead, find contrasting bookmakers and spread that money around so you can instantly take advantage of those odds and any promotions, boosts, or sign-up bonuses those books offer.
Choosing the right sportsbooks
Before you sign up:
- Read in-depth reviews on the top sportsbooks available in your area.
- Familiarize yourself with deposit and withdraw methods, and size up bonuses and promotions to see how they'll benefit your bankroll.
- Look for firsthand user accounts regarding customer service, bet limits, and payout processes.
Sign up, deposit, and bet
It doesn't cost anything to sign up for a sportsbook account. Once registered with a comfortable number of sportsbooks, decide how much to deposit into each account. Funding a sportsbook account is extremely easy in most legal markets; you can take advantage of those best betting odds in minutes.
How to shop for the best odds
Shopping for the best sports betting odds is like shopping for any other product. Do your research and weigh the pros and cons and how those sportsbook operators suit your wagering needs.
What do you want to bet?
Figure out what you want to bet: be it sport or odds market. Some books have a long list of derivative and alternative markets for every sport out there, from NFL odds to Polish ping-pong. Others may offer a deep menu of team and player props, while others may not have many prop offerings at all. Look for books that fit your gambling tastes. Then, use Covers' insights and info to help handicap the specific wagers you want to place.
Odds comparison
Covers offers the best odds comparison tool in the industry. Covers odds pages show multiple markets across the top sportsbooks in the industry (even player props), highlighting the ones with the best odds.
You can also view in-depth line history to compare opening lines to current odds.
What to look for in the best odds
Point spread bettors can scour available markets for slimmer spreads on favorites and extra points on underdogs, especially regarding spreads around key numbers in the NFL. Similarly, Over/Under fans can go Over on the lowest numbers or Under on those higher totals while pricing out the vig for the best returns.
Moneyline bettors can shop for discounted outright odds on the favorite or squeeze every ounce of value from the underdog to win. Savvy bettors can find contrasting prices that, if appropriately wagered, can guarantee a profit – also known as arbitrage betting.
Different books offer ways to wager, such as derivatives and alternative odds. Having those select odds as an option is a great way to uncover value outside the standard offerings.
Betting the best odds FAQs
You should shop for the best odds that fit your opinion and offer the best possible return, increasing your chances of winning and sustaining long-term success.
You can find the best betting odds by using an odds comparison tool at Covers.com, showing you multiple odds on various markets across the sports betting industry.
