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Timing of Betting Limit Changes at Sportsbooks

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Tanko

Tanko

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Oct 27, 2021
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42,546
This is a longer read than most posts. So those of you with ADHD will probably want to skip this thread. This is educational and informative for some who may be new at this stuff. :peace:
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I'm sure most posters realize there are betting limits on games early in the week during CFB season. They are pretty low when opening lines come out and gradually increase from day-to-day as the market develops and lines become more "fine tuned". Throughout this time books are basically gathering more and more information from the sharp bettors and can eventually increase the limits as they become more comfortable with the lines they are offering.

Many of you older posters know this but here's an example for "Big" CFB games for a big domestic book:

✳️ $5k limit from the open to 4PM on Sunday
✳️ Increases to $10k limit on Monday at noon.
✳️ Increases to $20k on Tuesdays at noon. etc...



How is this information leveraging?
Making bets early in the week allows you to be able to gain some CLV (closing line value) which should net better results long-term. If you bet late in the week, most of the value has been "worked out of the lines" by sharps making bets throughout the week. By the time the line closes, its usually about a 50/50 proposition on the odds so the earlier you make your bets the more likely you'll realize some value.

I've always wondered when books raise their limits for football wagers throughout the week. I don't bet enough to actually have to be worried about the limits but it does help to know when the limits increase (when sharps can make bigger and bigger plays).

Here is a table of one book that I found on the interwebs:
NFL GamesCollege Footbal "Big Games"College Footbal "Other Games"
TimingLimitTimingLimitTimingLimit
Open$5KSun 11 AM$3KSun 11 AM$3K
Mon 1 PM$10KSun 4 PM$5KSun 4 PM$5K
Tue 1 PM$20KMon Noon$10KTue Noon$10K
Wed PMTue Noon$20KThu Noon$20K
Thu 1 PM$30KWed Noon$30KDay of game$30K
Fri 1 PM$50KThu Noon$40K
Day of Game$100KFri Noon$60K
Day of game$100K


These limits will vary by book. Clearly you can make larger bets than the limits shown but typically you would have to work that out with the sportsbook manager. Also, this is a domestic book. Off-shore may vary.

This table indicates to me that I should be making CFB plays by Noon Mondays to get the biggest opportunities for value on the lines. As more and more days pass, line value dissipates.

Someone may say, you won't know about injuries early in the week. I find that if there is a question about an injury from the prior weeks games, take the game off your card until you hear more. Usually there aren't that many inuries to key players in CFB that will significantly impact the lines.

Finally, the way the betting limits change throughout the week was interesting to me. I could continue to write several pages about this topic and how I've read sharps get around these limits but that's for another time.
 
Last edited:

lapenti

lapenti

Joined
Dec 13, 2023
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149
What are you reading now ?
Do the limits in land-based casinos work in a similar way?

Like, if you wanted to bet Alabama@Georgia (11-12 days away), would they offer you a full limit today? Or only 20% of the full ML limit bet?

I think you posted a betslip from Hard Rock sb for 5k. Do you think you could make the same size bet a week before games actually take place?
 

Tanko

Tanko

Joined
Oct 27, 2021
Messages
42,546
I'm actually surprised that sportsbooks would publicize this information. I would think it would be something they would want to keep private
This was published by the book and made available to public bettors. Its to inform them of when they can place certain size bets.

Why would they want to keep this private? This book is one of the biggest domestic books. I don't they are worried about the competition knowing their process.
 

JDS

JDS

Joined
Dec 11, 2021
Messages
45,051
Do the limits in land-based casinos work in a similar way?

Like, if you wanted to bet Alabama@Georgia (11-12 days away), would they offer you a full limit today? Or only 20% of the full ML limit bet?

I think you posted a betslip from Hard Rock sb for 5k. Do you think you could make the same size bet a week before games actually take place?
At the Hard Rock 5K limits are accepted prior to the current week is over as far as I know. I had to get approval on a 10K bet on a NFL game the following week on a Monday morning. Tuesday is when the limits increase and each day after that.
 

Tanko

Tanko

Joined
Oct 27, 2021
Messages
42,546
At the Hard Rock 5K limits are accepted prior to the current week is over as far as I know. I had to get approval on a 10K bet on a NFL game the following week on a Monday morning. Tuesday is when the limits increase and each day after that.
Next time you're in the casino (mayber you're still there this morning), see if they have a limit sheet they will give you showing the day/time the limits increase throughout the week.

I'd love to see how it compares to the one I saw from Circa in post 1.
 

JDS

JDS

Joined
Dec 11, 2021
Messages
45,051
Next time you're in the casino (mayber you're still there this morning), see if they have a limit sheet they will give you showing the day/time the limits increase throughout the week.

I'd love to see how it compares to the one I saw from Circa in post 1.
Damn I just read this and I’m home now lol sorry maybe next time.
 

sleepy_mario

sleepy_mario

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Oct 8, 2022
Messages
374
This was published by the book and made available to public bettors. Its to inform them of when they can place certain size bets.

Why would they want to keep this private? This book is one of the biggest domestic books. I don't they are worried about the competition knowing their process.
Even if it's not publicized, it's very easy to track. Like Bookmaker.eu baseball Money lines go from -110/-110 to -105/-105 roughly the same time every day, 8.20-8.25am Eastern Time. And limits to go the absolute MAX shortly after. I know this even though I never bet more than $435 in my life
 

Tanko

Tanko

Joined
Oct 27, 2021
Messages
42,546
Even if it's not publicized, it's very easy to track. Like Bookmaker.eu baseball Money lines go from -110/-110 to -105/-105 roughly the same time every day, 8.20-8.25am Eastern Time. And limits to go the absolute MAX shortly after. I know this even though I never bet more than $435 in my life
Great point Sleepy. I've never really tracked the changes on off-shore books. I may start just to see how it compares.

Also, since Bookmaker is part of CRIS Sportsbooks it is a "market making" book so this is very good information.
 
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