What does “handle” mean in betting?
Comprehensive guide on betting handle and how arbitrage betting eliminates related risks.
What does “handle” mean in betting?
In betting, the term "handle" refers to the total amount of money wagered on a particular event or during a specific period.
Understanding handle is crucial as it indicates the betting volume and can reflect public interest and market liquidity in sports betting.
While traditional betting relies on predicting outcomes and managing risk, arbitrage betting eliminates guesswork by securing profit regardless of the event result.
What Does Handle Mean in Betting?
Handle is the cumulative sum of all bets placed on a sporting event, market, or time frame. It represents the gross amount wagered before any payouts or commissions. Bookmakers and sportsbooks track handle to assess betting volume and financial exposure.
- •Handle includes all types of bets: singles, parlays, futures, and more.
- •It is different from the sportsbook's revenue, which is the amount retained after paying winning bets.
- •High handle indicates strong public interest in an event.
💡Calculating Handle Example
If 1,000 bettors each place $50 on a football game, the handle for that game is $50,000.
1000 bettors x $50 bet = $50,000 handle
Why Handle Matters to Bettors and Bookmakers
Handle is a key metric for bookmakers to manage risk and set odds. A large handle can influence line movements as sportsbooks adjust to balance their books and limit potential losses. For bettors, understanding handle trends can highlight popular bets and market sentiment.
- •Bookmakers use handle data to identify where money is concentrated.
- •High handle on one side may prompt odd adjustments to balance the action.
- •Betting syndicates monitor handle to spot market inefficiencies.
Handle vs. Hold
Hold is the percentage of handle that a sportsbook retains as profit after payouts. While handle shows volume, hold reflects profitability. Arbitrage betting can reduce risks related to hold fluctuations by guaranteeing returns regardless of outcomes.
- →Hold is calculated as (Profit / Handle) x 100.
- →Large handle with low hold may indicate tight odds or balanced betting.
💡Impact of Handle on Odds
If a large handle is placed on one team, sportsbooks may shift odds to encourage bets on the opposite side and balance exposure.
Initial odds 1.90, after heavy betting on one side, adjusted to 1.80 on that side, 2.00 on the other.
Handle Across Different Betting Markets
Handle varies across betting types such as moneyline, point spreads, totals, futures, and props. Futures bets often have smaller handle but longer time horizons, while live betting can generate large handle volumes quickly. Managing exposure across these markets is complex, but arbitrage betting removes uncertainty by locking in profits regardless of market fluctuations.
- •Moneyline bets typically generate steady handle on popular events.
- •Point spread bets balance action between favorites and underdogs.
- •Futures bets have smaller handle but can affect long-term sportsbook risk.
💡Example of Handle Variation
A Super Bowl game might see $10 million in handle across all markets, while a minor league game might only generate $50,000.
Super Bowl handle = $10,000,000; Minor league handle = $50,000
Challenges Bettors Face Related to Handle
Large handle volumes can lead to odds shifting rapidly, making it difficult for bettors to get favorable lines. Additionally, sportsbooks may limit or ban bettors who consistently win or place large bets. These challenges increase risk and uncertainty, which arbitrage betting can mitigate by utilizing discrepancies across bookmakers rather than relying on guessing outcomes.
- •Rapid odds movement can reduce expected value for bettors.
- •Account limitations may result from heavy betting correlated with large handle.
- •Tracking handle trends manually is time-consuming and complex.
How Technology Helps
Tools like ArbitUp automate complex calculations and monitor multiple sportsbooks to find arbitrage opportunities efficiently, helping bettors leverage handle information without manual effort.
- →Automates odds comparison across markets.
- →Alerts users to profitable arbitrage situations.
- →Saves time and reduces human error.
💡Example of Odds Shift Impact
A bettor waits to place a wager but the handle causes odds to shorten, reducing potential profit margin.
Initial odds 2.00, after handle influx odds shorten to 1.85.
How Arbitrage Betting Solves Handle-Related Risks
Arbitrage betting exploits differences in odds across bookmakers to guarantee profit regardless of event outcome, eliminating risks caused by handle-driven odds shifts or betting limits. By focusing on mathematical certainty rather than predictions, arbitrage protects bettors from volatility inherent in handle fluctuations.
- •Secures profit regardless of which side the handle favors.
- •Bypasses risk of odds movement due to large handle.
- •Requires efficient tracking of multiple sportsbooks, simplified by tools like ArbitUp.
💡Arbitrage Example
If Bookmaker A offers odds of 2.10 on Team X and Bookmaker B offers odds of 2.10 on Team Y, placing proportional bets on both ensures a guaranteed return regardless of the outcome.
Bet $100 on Team X at 2.10 and $100 on Team Y at 2.10 results in guaranteed profit after stake allocation.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ⚠️Confusing handle with revenue; handle is total amount wagered, not profit.
- ⚠️Ignoring the impact of large handle on odds movement and betting value.
- ⚠️Failing to account for sportsbook hold percentage when interpreting handle data.
- ⚠️Attempting to predict market movement based on handle without sufficient data.
- ⚠️Overlooking how handle distribution across markets affects risk exposure.
- ⚠️Not using automated tools to analyze handle and odds changes efficiently.
The Power of Arbitrage Betting
Arbitrage betting eliminates guesswork by guaranteeing profits regardless of betting volume or odds shifts caused by handle.
- ✓Removes risk of loss due to unpredictable odds movement tied to handle.
- ✓Ensures consistent returns even when sportsbooks adjust lines.
- ✓Simplifies complex betting scenarios through mathematical certainty.
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IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
This content is for entertainment and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Sports betting involves substantial risk. Only bet with money you can afford to lose. See our Terms of Service for complete legal disclaimers.