Sportsbook FAQ

majesty95

Admin
Staff member
I've had some questions from guys who would like to use the Sportsbook but aren't quite sure how to use it. So, this thread will explain how to use the "book" and answer the most common questions.

Reading a Line

Let's take a look at a typical line from the sportsbook:

Dallas +8 at SEA
(100/110)

In this example, Dallas is getting 8 points versus Seattle. So, let's say that you take Dallas +8 and the Cowboys lose 27-20. By adding the 8 points to their score it would make the score 27-28 and you would win the wager. If the score was 28-20 then by adding the 8 it would make the game 28-28 and that would be considered a "push" or a tie and your wager would be returned to you. If you took Seattle -8, then the Seahawks would need to win by 9 to "cover" or win the wager. If they won by 8 it would be a push and you would get your wager back.

The line on the bottom (100/110) is your money line. In the 100/110 example, you would win 100 by wagering 110. The easy way to remember it is that you win the amount on the left by wagering the amount on the right.

Futures

A futures wager is one in which you are betting on a team, player or event to accomplish a certain feat over a given period of time. The most common futures wagers are odds to win the Super Bowl, World Series, etc.

Here is an example of a futures wager:

Odds to Win the Super Bowl
Dallas
(10/1)

A futures wager still works the same way as a normal wagering line. You win the amount on the left by wagering the amount on the right. The only difference is that on futures you are being shown effective odds vs a money line. In the example above, you are getting 10-to-1 odds that Dallas will win the Super Bowl. So, you would win 10 times whatever you wager if Dallas did indeed win the Super Bowl. For instance, if you wagered 100 on Dallas at 10/1 odds you would win 1,000 if they won the Super Bowl.

The Vig

In a perfect world, the sportsbook would have 50% winners and 50% losers on their daily lines (the Dallas +8 example). So, they charge a fee (called the "vig") on each wager. In the 100/110 example, the vig is 10. So, you wager 110 to win 100. Let's say that the book had 100 wagers on that line and they all were 110 to win 100. The book would collect 11,000 in wagers. Now, let's say that there were exactly 50% winners. That means the book would return the original 110 on those 50 winning wagers plus the 100 that those wagers won. So, they would pay out 10,500 (50 x 110 + 50 x 100) and earn a profit of 500 (11,000 - 10,500). Not all sportsbook wagers are won by 50% of those wagering, but that is the intended goal of the lines.

Payout

As explained earlier, you win the amount on the left by wagering the mount on the right. However, what many people get confused about is their original wager. You get that returned to you as well if you win your wager.

For example, let's say you wager 110 to win 100 on Dallas +8. Dallas loses 27-20 but because you were getting 8 points, you won the wager. You would get your original 110 back along with the 100 that you won for a net win of 100.

A futures wager would work the same way. Say you wager 100 getting 10/1 on Dallas to win the Super Bowl. If Dallas did indeed win the Super Bowl, you would get your original 100 back plus the additional 1,000 (100 x 10) that the wager paid.

In the event of a "push" or tie, you would get your original wager returned but would not win or lose anything.

In the event that you lose a wager, the sportsbook keeps your wager.
 
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majesty95

Admin
Staff member
georgiafan Just tagging you here so you can understand how to use it a little better. I will likely add you as a bookie soon so you can set the lines and such.
 
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