Changes

As the lines originated by the large offshore betting sites settle other sportsbooks clone them. This includes casinos with physical locations in Las Vegas. Because these offshore betting sites have a significantly larger handle their lines yield the most accurate reflection of the current market. Some sportsbooks use exact mirrors of the lines, while others adjust them slightly based on the betting tendencies of their respective customers. This introduces the concept of sharp and square betting sites.

Betting sites that offer lines that accurately reflect the current market are known as [[sharp sportsbook]]s. These lines mirror the ones currently available at the large offshore betting sites that originated them. Sharp sportsbooks generally offer high betting limits and do not penalize winning bettors. When deciding whether or not to register an account at a sharp sportsbook its important to deduce how early their lines are posted. The earlier one can bet into a market the larger the expectancy for their potential advantage. Betting sites that wait for the offshore market to settle before releasing their cloned lines inhibit their customers from having a chance at gaining that edge.

A [[square sportsbook]] adjusts the current market lines based on the betting habits of their respective customer base. These betting sites cater to beginner and recreational sports bettors. Because the majority of recreational bettors are more likely to be drawn to the same side of certain betting markets (such as a popular favorite) square bookmakers shade the line to make it less favorable to bet on. This puts customers who wager on that side anyways at an increased disadvantage relative to the widely available market.