Odds boosts are everywhere. Open any sportsbook app and you’ll see flashy banners like “Was +150, Now +200!” — all promising juiced payouts on popular bets. But are they actually good bets? Sometimes, yes — and that’s where +EV betting comes in. Here’s your quick guide to using odds boosts like a sharp bettor: How to find value, avoid traps and turn these promos into profits.
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How to Use Sportsbook Odds Boosts the Smart Way
An odds boost is when a sportsbook temporarily increases the payout on a specific bet. Maybe it’s a player prop (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to score 30-plus), a team moneyline, or a multi-leg parlay. Instead of betting at the normal odds, the book gives you a “boosted” version — usually with a max stake cap ($25 to $50).
These are marketing tools. Sportsbooks know a flashy boost can draw attention and encourage action. But in some cases, they do give bettors an edge.
What Makes a Boost +EV?
A boost is +EV (positive expected value) when the payout exceeds what’s justified by the actual probability of the event happening.
- Line shop: If FanDuel boosts a bet to +180 but BetMGM already offers +190 normally … not a real boost.
- Use an EV or odds boost calculator: Plug in the boosted odds and compare them to the “true odds” (or, at a minimum, what other books offer).
- Watch the implied probability: For example, +200 = 33.3% implied win rate. If your research says the bet hits 40% of the time, it’s a +EV bet.
If the boosted odds are meaningfully better than the market or the true probability, take it.
Best Types of Odds Boosts
- Single-leg, popular market bets: Easy to evaluate and often priced competitively.
- “No-brainer” promos: Examples: “Any NBA team to score 1+ point” at +100. These are close literal free money. Bet the max.
- Heavy favorite flipped to even money: Think -1000 boosted to +100. These don’t happen often, but they’re extremely +EV when they do.
- Fair boosts with reduced juice: If a -120 line is boosted to +100 and the true win rate is around 55%, that’s +EV.
Traps to Avoid
Not all boosts are good. Sportsbooks have tricks. Here are common ones:
- “Fake” boosts: The boosted odds look good, but other books already offer better and/or the true odds are way more favorable.
- Overhyped parlays: “Three favorites to win” sounds safe, but the parlay still has around a 40% hit rate.
- Correlated parlays: Player scores AND team wins — sounds logical, but books often underpay for the correlation.
- Longshot boosts: Boosting +5000 to +6000 doesn’t matter if the fair price is +10000. Avoid “lottery” bets.
- One-sided markets: You can only bet “yes,” not “no.” These are harder to hedge or fade. Sportsbooks frequently bury the two-sided bets in favor of these one-sided ones.
Red Flag: If the bet is a longshot or parlayed and the boost is minor, it’s probably bait.
5 Quick Tips for Boost Bettors
- Shop around – Never assume a boost is best-in-market. Check Portfolio EV to shop all the odds.
- Bet the max (if it’s +EV) – Most boosts are capped. If it’s a great bet, go full stake.
- Avoid chasing – Don’t bet just because it’s labeled a “special.” Only take the ones that actually help you.
- Track your results – Keep a log. Over time, you’ll see if you’re profiting from boosts (and which books offer the best ones).
- Use multiple books – The more options you have, the more good boosts you can grab.
Final Thought: Bet Smarter, Not Just Flashier
Odds boosts are one of the few times sportsbooks hand you an edge — but only if you know how to spot it. The sharpest bettors treat them like cash-back offers: Small gains that stack up over time when used correctly. If a boost is genuinely better than market value, bet it confidently. If it’s just smoke and mirrors, pass. You don’t win by betting more — you win by betting better.
