Line Shopping Moneylines — How to Find the Best Price Every Time
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Line shopping means checking the moneyline price at more than one licensed sportsbook before you place a bet. It is the single highest-ROI habit a bettor can build — no extra risk, no extra analysis required.
Why Does Line Shopping a Moneyline Actually Matter?
I spent years on the other side of the counter. I watched bettors leave money on the table every day simply by taking the first price they saw. A five-cent difference — say +150 versus +155 — is $5 on a $100 bet. Over 200 bets a year, that's $1,000 in extra profit without changing a single pick.
The math works the other way on favorites too. Getting -140 instead of -150 means risking $10 less for the same $100 return. That gap shrinks the vig embedded in the moneyline and raises your long-run expected value.
Which Licensed Books Should You Compare?
You need accounts at more than one licensed sportsbook. There is no way around that. The good news: opening an account is free, and welcome offers are often available on the qualifying bet. See the best licensed sportsbooks for moneyline betting for a current list of regulated options by state.
As of available data, Colorado alone has 20 active licensed sportsbooks — FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Novig, Tipico, and others. Arizona has 17. Vermont has exactly three: DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics Sportsbook. More options mean more price competition, which is good for bettors.
| Sportsbook | Example Moneyline (Underdog) | Example Moneyline (Favorite) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Book A | +150 | -170 | Wider spread, higher vig |
| Book B | +155 | -165 | 5-cent improvement on both sides |
| Book C | +158 | -162 | Tighter line, bettor-friendly |
The numbers above are illustrative of how prices diverge. Real prices vary by game, sport, and timing — always check live odds before placing.
When Should You Lock In the Price?
Sportsbooks shift lines as money comes in. A +155 you see at noon can be +145 by kickoff. For more on why prices move, check how moneyline line movement works and what it signals. If you have a clear edge, take the price. Waiting to shop further sometimes means the good number disappears.
Baseball is particularly worth shopping. Books use either a 20-cent line or a 10-cent line. A 20-cent line might read -145 / +125; a 10-cent line on the same game reads -135 / +125. That's a 10-cent gap on the favorite side alone. The MLB moneyline guide covers this in more detail.
How Line Shopping Fits Into a Broader Moneyline Strategy
Line shopping is one piece of a larger picture. Understanding implied probability, avoiding heavy-favorite traps, and knowing when the vig makes a bet unplayable all matter too. The full moneyline betting strategy guide ties these concepts together.
One more thing: geolocation enforcement is real. You must be physically inside a legal state when you place the bet — your home address does not matter. Sports betting is legal in 30-plus states as of early 2024; check where moneyline betting is currently legal before downloading a second app.
Must be 21+ in most states (18+ in states like Montana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming). Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.