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Betting lines: how bookmakers price a market and why it moves
A betting line is the price and condition a bookmaker sets for a market: the odds on a match winner, a handicap of runs or a total such as over 160.5 runs. Every bet starts with a line.
Here we show how a line is built from probabilities plus a margin, why it moves, and how comparing lines between bookmakers lowers what you pay.
- Lowest margin
- 4.8% NAGAD88, example
- Highest margin
- 6.5% 20bet, example
- Gap per ৳1,000
- ৳18 dearest v cheapest
- Common near-even price
- 1.91 = 52.4%
Short answer
What makes a betting line?
A bookmaker estimates the chance of each outcome, adds a margin and turns the result into odds. That is why the implied chances add up to more than 100%: 105.1% for Krikya in our example.
Odds formats
Lines in three formats
The same price written three ways.
| Decimal | Fractional | American | Probability | Payout on ৳100 | Win on ৳100 | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.50 | 1/2 | −200 | 66.7% | ৳150 | ৳50 | clear favourite. |
| 1.91 | 10/11 | −110 | 52.4% | ৳191 | ৳91 | a common price on near-even markets. |
| 2.00 | 1/1 | +100 | 50.0% | ৳200 | ৳100 | even money: double your stake back. |
| 2.60 | 13/8 | +160 | 38.5% | ৳260 | ৳160 | the underdog in our example T20. |
| 4.00 | 3/1 | +300 | 25.0% | ৳400 | ৳300 | about one time in four. |
Margin Example odds
Take the margin out of a line
| Outcome | Odds (Krikya, example) | 1 ÷ odds | Fair odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | 2.60 | 38.5% | 2.73 |
| India | 1.50 | 66.7% | 1.58 |
| Sum | 105.1% | 100.0% |
Three steps
- Work out 1 ÷ odds for each outcome.
- Add them up: 105.1%.
- Margin = 1 − 1 ÷ the sum = 4.9%.
Example odds, not live prices.
Worked examples
Three kinds of line in a T20
-
Match winner
Two outcomes, home or away. The line is just the odds on each side.
-
Handicap
One side gets a head start of runs or wickets, so both sides are priced closer to even.
-
Total runs
Over or under a number set by the bookmaker. The number moves with conditions such as the pitch and weather.
Example odds Example odds
Same match, different prices
These are example odds set by our editors to show the calculation. They are not live prices.
| Sportsbook | 1 | 2 | Margin | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.60 | 1.50 | 4.9% | 95.1% | |
| 2.55 | 1.52 | 4.8% | 95.2% | |
| Onrake | 2.65 | 1.47 | 5.4% | 94.6% |
| 2.50 | 1.53 | 5.1% | 94.9% | |
| 2.62 | 1.49 | 5.0% | 95.0% | |
| 2.48 | 1.50 | 6.5% | 93.5% | |
| Best odds per outcome | 2.65 | 1.53 | 3.0% | 97.0% |
Example odds for a T20 match winner, two outcomes. Not live prices.
How to read the table
Yellow marks the best price per outcome. The margin shows how much each bookmaker keeps on average: green is lowest, red highest.
What it means: in this example the dearest bookmaker costs ৳18 more per ৳1,000 staked than the cheapest.
Glossary
Glossary
- Line
- The price and condition a bookmaker sets for a market, such as a handicap or a total. So what: the same line can be priced differently at different bookmakers.
- Margin
- The share of all stakes a bookmaker keeps on average, built into the odds. So what: a lower margin means more of your stake comes back over time.
- Fair odds
- Odds with the margin taken out. So what: the gap between fair and offered odds is what you pay.
- Handicap
- A head start of runs, goals or points given to one side. So what: it turns an uneven match into a close-to-even price.
- Over/under
- A bet on whether a total, such as runs, ends above or below a line. So what: you bet on the number, not on who wins.
FAQ
What is a betting line?
The price and condition a bookmaker sets for a bet: the odds, and where relevant the handicap or total.
Why do lines move?
Bookmakers adjust prices when new information arrives, such as team news or the toss, and when money comes in on one side.
What is line shopping?
Comparing the same line at several bookmakers and betting where the price is best. In our example the cheapest and dearest books differ by ৳18 per ৳1,000 staked in margin.
What is the vig?
The US term for the margin: the share of stakes the bookmaker keeps on average.
Do I need accounts at several bookmakers?
To compare prices, yes. Keep in mind that every account is another place to set deposit limits.
Is online betting legal in Bangladesh?
No. The Gambling Prevention Act 2026, passed on 1 July 2026, replaced the Public Gambling Act 1867 and makes online gambling and online betting offences, with prison terms of up to five and seven years respectively, or fines, or both. A bookmaker's foreign licence does not change this. See our responsible gambling page.