| Every game of chance offers the house a certain | | | | If a book starts with a $10,000 limit on NFL sides, then |
| inherent statistical advantage but none works off so | | | | a $1,000 limit on NFL totals would be in line. After all, |
| small a profit margin--theoretically between one and | | | | totals are esoteric wagers and limit bets on them |
| four percent--as sports betting. With so little room for | | | | almost always come from professional gamblers. By |
| error, sportsbooks have come to rely on a combination | | | | keeping total wagers comparatively low, sportsbooks |
| of accurate pointspreads and an understanding of | | | | and Internet sites can maintain leverage and manipulate |
| how and when to move lines as their primary defense | | | | play to their best advantage. |
| against players. Another significant tool at the | | | | Once having established side and total limits in the NFL, |
| bookmakers' disposal is sports betting limits. | | | | sportsbooks can assign numbers to other sports. A |
| Generally, there are three factors that sportsbooks | | | | sportsbook or site manager who accepts a $10,000 |
| consider when establishing sports betting limits, the | | | | wager on the NFL should feel comfortable with half |
| historical accuracy of the lines, their profit trends, and | | | | that amount, or $5,000, on college football. A |
| their customer mix. For those reasons, while sports | | | | sportsbook that takes a 10 dime side bet on the NFL |
| betting limits may vary greatly from one wagering | | | | might accept a wager of $3,000 on both Major |
| outlet to another, nearly all bet takers establish limits for | | | | League Baseball and the NBA. Total limits of $500 for |
| their biggest and best sport and work their way down | | | | baseball would be appropriate. A total limit of $300 on |
| from there. For almost any sportsbook dealing with a | | | | the NBA--where sophisticated gamblers have proven |
| clientele that is primarily American, the NFL rules | | | | particularly adept--would be in line with a $3,000 side |
| supreme. | | | | limit. College basketball, which has become more |
| But what should a sportsbook's NFL limits be? As a | | | | profitable for bet takers than the NBA version of the |
| general rule, if a book is unable to lose "comfortably" | | | | hardwood game, has edged closer, if not drawn even, |
| five times its stated limit, then that sports betting limit is | | | | with professional hoop limits. Where once a |
| too high. For example, if a sportsbook or Internet | | | | sportsbook that took a $3,000 pop on the NBA might |
| betting site has a limit of $10,000 and, as invariably | | | | only go as high as $1,000 on college basketball, the |
| happens from time to time, takes a limit hit on a single | | | | limits now have achieved equality at many outlets. |
| side in a single game five times before moving the | | | | Given our example of $10,000 for an NFL ceiling, |
| pointspread on that game, then that sportsbook or site | | | | betting limits on the NHL might fit comfortably into the |
| should be able to survive a $50,000 loss without half | | | | $2,000 range with total limits of about $300. Betting |
| the staff being fired. If a sportsbook can't sustain such | | | | limits on hockey need not be very high because casual |
| a hit, its sports betting limit is too high. | | | | players rarely wager that heavily on the sport. |
| Sportsbooks and sites establish their sports betting | | | | A major boxing attraction, especially one where the |
| limits based on their play. There's no reason for a | | | | line has been solidified and it appears that substantial |
| wagering outlet to have a $10,000 limit if its top wagers | | | | two-way action will result, can be booked to NFL limits. |
| consistently fall in the range of $500 to $1,000. In that | | | | On the other hand, events such as arena football and |
| scenario, the only time a sports betting site will see a | | | | games of the Canadian Football League, sports where |
| $10,000 wager is when it doesn't need it, when there's | | | | oddsmakers and sportsbooks may not have as much |
| something wrong with the game and the player has | | | | information as they would prefer and where there is |
| some informational edge over the bookmaker. | | | | not much interest from the general public, are booked |
| It's worth remembering that sports betting limits are in | | | | to much lower limits. Perhaps $1,000 is the right number |
| place as a defense against professional players. | | | | on those sports. |
| Sportsbooks in Nevada and other resort locations | | | | Players may not always like it but setting reasonable |
| often allow their frequent casino customers to wager | | | | sports betting limits is an important function of the |
| amounts that are larger than the house's stated limits. | | | | successful bookmaker. For while the dreams of |
| What's more, there also are a handful of transcendent | | | | gamblers may be limitless, the money a bookmaker is |
| sporting events, such as the Super Bowl, that benefit | | | | willing to lose isn't. |
| an entire property and may have no limit at all. | | | | |