Sports betting
Steam move
A sudden, coordinated line move across many sportsbooks, usually triggered by sharp groups betting the same side at once.
When a line jumps from -3 to -4.5 at several books within minutes, bettors call it steam. Chasing steam at a book that has not moved yet is a classic strategy, and books counter it by moving on air (before taking bets) and limiting accounts that do it.
Prediction markets show the same phenomenon as a step change in price with a volume spike. Because there is one order book per market, the move is visible to everyone at once.
Steam tells you where informed money went, not whether it was right.
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Frequently asked questions
- What does "Steam move" mean?
- A sudden, coordinated line move across many sportsbooks, usually triggered by sharp groups betting the same side at once.
- Why does steam move matter for prediction markets?
- Steam tells you where informed money went, not whether it was right.