Why You Need 3+ Sportsbook Apps: The Line Shopping Math

Here's a number that should get your attention: the average bettor who uses only one sportsbook leaves $500-$1,500 on the table every year compared to someone who line shops across multiple books.

That's not opinion. That's math. Let's break it down.

What Is Line Shopping?

Line shopping means checking the odds at multiple sportsbooks before placing a bet and taking the best available line. It takes 30 seconds and costs nothing—but most bettors don't do it.

Different sportsbooks offer different odds on the same game. Sometimes the difference is small (-110 vs -108). Sometimes it's significant (-115 vs -105). Either way, always taking the best line compounds into real money over time.

A Real Example

Let's say you want to bet the Browns +3.5 this Sunday. Here's what you might find across Ohio's books:

If you bet $100 on the Browns at Caesars (-115) instead of Prime Sports (-105), you win $8.28 less if they cover. That's the cost of not checking.

Do that 100 times per year, and you've left $800+ on the table—even with a 50% win rate.

The Compounding Effect

Here's how line shopping savings stack up over a year:

The "average line improvement" of 3-6 cents is conservative. On player props and less liquid markets, you'll regularly find 10-20 cent differences between books.

The Recommended App Stack

More apps = more line options = more savings. Here's how to build your stack:

The sweet spot is 5-6 apps. Below that, you're missing lines. Above that, the marginal benefit drops and managing accounts becomes a hassle.

Where Lines Differ Most

Some markets show more variance than others:

High Variance (Shop Harder)

• Player props: Routinely 10-20 cent differences
• Alt lines: Books price these inconsistently
• Live betting: Lines move at different speeds
• College sports: Less liquid, wider spreads

Lower Variance (Still Worth Checking)

• NFL spreads: Usually tight, but still worth a look
• Moneylines on popular games: Competitive pricing
• NBA totals: Generally consistent

Even on tight markets, you'll occasionally find -105 instead of -110. That's free money for 10 seconds of work.

Tools That Help

You don't have to manually check every app for every bet:

• Odds comparison sites: OddsJam, DarkHorse Odds, and others aggregate lines across books
• Browser extensions: Some tools overlay best odds on sportsbook pages
• Discord communities: Sharp groups share +EV lines in real-time

These tools cost money but can pay for themselves if you're betting seriously. For casual bettors, manually checking 3-4 apps is sufficient.

The Objections (And Why They're Wrong)

"I don't want to manage multiple accounts"

It takes 10 minutes to set up each account. After that, you're just opening apps. Use a password manager if you're worried about logins.

"The differences are too small to matter"

That's what losing bettors say. Professional bettors obsess over every cent because they know small edges compound into large profits.

"I'm loyal to one book for rewards"

Most loyalty programs return less than 1% of your action. Line shopping saves 2-3%. The math doesn't support loyalty.

"It's too much hassle"

30 seconds per bet. If you're betting $100, that 30 seconds is worth $3-5 on average. Would you work for $360-600/hour?

Start Today

If you're currently using one sportsbook, add two more. If you're using three, add three more. The marginal benefit decreases after 6-7 apps, but until then, more is better.

Every Ohio sportsbook offers signup bonuses—so adding apps pays you upfront AND saves money on every future bet. There's no downside.

Your future self will thank you when that extra $1,000+ is in your pocket at the end of the year.