There are many worn-out terms that are used so often they seemingly lose all meaning. For sports bettors, "sharp money" is one of these terms and it is frequently used when breaking down line movement. At Sports Insights, we are typically focusing on large wagers made by single individuals or betting syndicates when discussing sharp money.
To understand why sharp money is important, bettors must understand how sportsbooks operate. Many bettors believe that oddsmakers are looking to balance their book by attracting 50 percent of the action on each side and thereby mitigating any risk. That is pure fiction.