Sports betting
Sharp money
Bets placed by professional or well-informed bettors, identified by their effect on the line rather than their size.
When a line moves against the majority of tickets, the move is attributed to sharp money: a few large, respected bets that the book adjusts for. Books limit or ban sharp accounts, so sharps spread action across books and, increasingly, prediction markets, which do not limit winners.
Following sharp money is harder than it sounds because the public cannot see who placed what. Reverse line movement and steam moves are the usual proxies.
Prediction market prices are a cleaner read of informed opinion because there is no book shading lines to manage its own risk.
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Frequently asked questions
- What does "Sharp money" mean?
- Bets placed by professional or well-informed bettors, identified by their effect on the line rather than their size.
- Why does sharp money matter for prediction markets?
- Prediction market prices are a cleaner read of informed opinion because there is no book shading lines to manage its own risk.