If you want to make a positive splash in the betting world55bet cassino then it pays to know about EV betting, also known as positive EV betting or +EV. Here in this guide, we will help you understand what that is.

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Table of Contents

• What is it?
• Understanding EV in Sports Betting
• Calculating EV
• Strategies
• Selecting the Top Sites for Your Next +EV Bet In Any State
• Conclusion
• +EV Betting FAQ

EV betting: Pros & Cons

• Increased winning chance
• Backed by math
• Tested by experts

• Vulnerable to downswings

What is it?

Positive EV betting is when a sportsbook offers odds that are not a realistic reflection of the chances of an event occurring. More specifically, it’s when a sportsbook offers odds that are longer than they should be.

EV in sports betting is to some extent in the eye of the beholder. Sportsbooks set their odds based on their interpretation of the likelihood of something happening. If your interpretation differs, and you have justification for that interpretation, then you have an opportunity for positive EV sports betting.

Experience and judgement are essential in finding plus-EV betting at thetop online sportsbooks. This is why we state that it’s not for beginners.

Understanding EV in Sports Betting

Bookmakers ensure a profit by including a margin which is commonly referred to as “vig” – short for vigorish, a Yiddish term that refers to interest. This means the odds are inherently unbalanced, and that imbalance is usually in favor of the sportsbook.

Sometimes, because odds-setters are human and can make mistakes just like the rest of us, that imbalance will tilt in favor of the bettor. It’s usually a very narrow margin, so most bettors won’t spot it – but if you identify the error, you can use it.

How Does it Work in Practice?

It helps to understand what positive EV betting is if you have an example.

If a sportsbook sets the odds for Team A to beat Team B at +100, that means they are giving Team A a 50/50 chance of winning. If you think their probability of winning is greater than 50% then this represents an EV betting opportunity.

What are the Drawbacks?

Positive EV betting is not infallible. You might be wrong when you calculate that the chances of an outcome are in your favor. Or you might be right, but it still isn’t your day. Surprises happen. Ultimately, the goal is to put yourself in situations with a positive expected outcome in the long term. That doesn’t make them immune from short term variance. Understanding this mentality is key if you’re trying to make it as a +EV bettor.

What Else Should I Know?

There are certain misconceptions that arise from people hearing about this type of wagering and thinking they understand it, and can use theirbetting bonusesto take advantage of it.

The first misconception is that EV betting is generally about betting on long shots and underdogs. It isn’t. It is, once again, about identifying where the value is in a bet. This could mean that a team starting as favorites is still priced longer than it should be. If you think there is a 9 in 10 chance of something happening and the moneyline odds put it at -400, that means the sportsbook has calculated it as an 8 in 10 chance, longer than it should be, and are offering positive EV on the bet. A lot of +EV betting is about backing overpriced favorites.

That leads us to another of the misconceptions, which is that EV will help you avoid placing losing bets. The truth is that unpredictability are everywhere in sports, unlikely winners come through far more often than the odds suggest, and sometimes you’ll lose a few bets in a row. This is referred to as a “downswing”, and it tends to correct itself over time.

Terms and Their Meanings