Today we are going to explore NHL lines and how
they are adjusted according once they receive betting action. The
example we are going to use today is a hypothetical game between
Dallas and Florida. Let’s say the bookmaker sets this hockey
line at open as Dallas -1/2 -140, Florida +1/2 +130. If this confuses
you we recommend reading our explanation of how
to read hockey betting lines before you go any further.
The books use the hockey money line to adjust the price up or down
depending on the betting action generated at a particular price.
So if players are laying more money on Dallas -1/2 -140 the sportsbook
may move the NHL line to Dallas -1/2 -145, Florida +1/2 +135 in
an attempt to discourage action on Dallas while promoting bets on
Florida. Sportsbooks will do move the NHL lines until they have
found a happy median in the betting publics eyes. Different sportsbooks
have different betting limits before they make a line move. This
all depends on how much handle they take as well as how confident
they are in their opening NHL lines. Remember books are happy getting
equal action on both teams, paying the winning bettors with the
losers money, and collecting their vig.
Because hockey deals with a moneyline it is a little different
and sometimes they are breaking even if one side wins, while collecting
when the other wins. An example would be a hockey bettor places
a $500 wager on Florida +130 to win $650 while another player places
a $700 bet to win $500 bet on Detroit -140. If Detroit wins the
game the sportsbook breaks even as they take the $500 losing players
bet (Florida +130) and pays the $500 to player who bet his money
on Detroit. Now if Florida wins the game the book makes a $50 profit.
They collect the $700 from the losing Detroit bet and pay out the
$650 winning bet on Florida.
If the sportsbook can manipulate the hockey lines they can still
derive equal action and get paid no matter which side wins, but
more often than not the sportsbook has a side they are hoping wins.
If this article has peeked your interest, check out our article
on hockey
gambling and how profitable it can be for the sharp player.
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