Video: What Causes Betting Odds to Steam?
When it comes to gambling there are different strategies you can take and Sports Illustrated's Gambling 101 is here to help you know what they are.
One betting strategy that recreational bettors can easily follow is odds that are steaming.. What am I talking about?
Ok let me break it down.. steam refers to betting odds that change suddenly at virtually every sports book.
Steam moves occur when sharps and/or syndicates bet heavily on one side of a betting line.
Just like a kettle whistling steam- sport books offer an option to receive notifications when lines move!
Major sports books, which accept heavy volume and large wagers, are usually the source of steam. If they move an NFL line, from minus 8.5 to minus 9.5 odds, other sports books often do the same.
Here's the trick though, In order to wager on steaming odds, players need to be quick when placing their bets.
Although it's a game of speed, it's important to note that steaming odds do not always indicate which side the sharps are betting on.
For instance, if Green Bay is minus (-8.5) and the favorite over Detroit which is plus 8.5), a syndicate may bet heavily on the Packers in an attempt to move the line to 9.5 points. Once the odds move, they will wager an even larger amount on the Lions with the new plus 9.5 point spread.
So remember when it comes to chasing the steam- You have to be careful you don't get burned.
Make sure to book mark Sports Illustrated's Glossary of Terms and we'll see you next time for another gambling 101 here on SI.com
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