As the “Sportsbook Wars” play out, one key feature matters more than all the rest: pricing. An app that looks and feels awful can still have my action if its odds are competitive compared to other, prettier books.
For all of its bells and whistles, there are times when Barstool Sportsbook in PA fails to shift its lines to remain on-par with the competition. You’ll often find odd numbers like Cowboys -3 (-117) as opposed to (-115), a common return offered on many books.
It may seem trivial, but every dollar counts, especially when placing larger-sized bets. This seems like a great time to repeat one of the most important keys to successful sports betting: always shop those lines between sportsbooks before placing a bet.
While it’s important to nitpick the disparity in odds between PA sportsbooks, Barstool does maintain overall comparable odds with its competitors. Kambi Sports runs the book’s risk-management and betting menu. Formerly with DraftKings before it switched to SB Tech, Kambi currently works with other major PA sportsbook apps such as BetRivers. Any sportsbook menu run by Kambi will usually carry similar, if not the same prices as Barstool.
Player Props
Player prop markets usually receive less action than the core lines such as the spread and total. As a result, they also tend to have larger disparities between sportsbook offerings, making it even more crucial to shop them.
As mentioned, we’d like to see Barstool offer more competitive odds on certain core bets. When it comes to competitive player prop odds, however, the book is top-notch. In this area, Barstool tends to shift its odds in favor of the bettor compared to other books.
Player Props Pricing
Most player prop bets are offered in the form of an over/under bet with odds of around -115 on both sides. Sometimes you’ll find disparity here, such as the under priced at -105 and the over at -120. While there’s always value to be found in offers such as these, Barstool consistently shifts the normal -115 return to -112 and sticks to those odds.
There’s always something to be said for reliable consistency!
Types Of Bets
More than just a solid sportsbook with competitive lines, Barstool opens up creative betting options for its users. Let’s run through the different types of bets placeable at Barstool Sportsbook in PA.
Moneyline
A moneyline bet is dependent upon who wins the game outright. The disparity in the opposing prices moneyline odds for each team is a good indication of how heavily the favorite is listed.
Let’s say the Buffalo Bills moneyline is -200 in a game against the New England Patriots, listed at +170 on the moneyline. The Bills are pretty heavy favorites to win in this scenario. Winning $100 would require a $200 wager.
Totals
A bet on the point total is dependent upon the combined number of points scored by both teams. Sportsbooks list a projected number for that total, allowing bettors to select over or under that amount.
For example, let’s say the point total in a game between the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles is set at 45.5 points. A final score of 25-20 would cash all bets placed for the game to go under.
Side Note: It’s crucial to remember that when you place a bet on the total and the game is tied when the clock runs out, all overtime periods are taken into account. Simply put, overtime helps a bet on the over and hurts a bet on the under.
Point Spreads
The point spread requires bettors to wager on the margin of victory for the winning team, rather than just who wins. Sportsbooks provide a line (or spread) for both teams and the public can choose to “take the points” or “lay them.”
Say the Eagles are -4.5 favorites over the Giants, with odds listed at -115. The Giants are +4.5 underdogs with the same -115 odds. If you bet on the Eagles, they have to win by more than four points. New York can lose by up to four points or win the game for a bet on them to cash.
Note that the little .5 means there won’t be a push here, as there’s no way to get half a point in the NFL. When a line is set at a whole number such as four, the bet can end as a push (or tie) and the initial bet is simply returned back into your account.
Parlays
The ever-popular parlay allows bettors to combine multiple different bets together for an increased payout.
Using the NBA this time, let’s say the New York Knicks are favored against the Miami Heat (-140 on the moneyline) and the Cleveland Cavaliers are favored over the Minnesota Timberwolves at -200 on the moneyline.
If you parlay these two moneyline bets together, the odds on your potential return increase since you incur more risk trying to correctly predict two teams to win instead of just one.
Teasers
A teaser allows bettors to move multiple point spreads or totals. Let’s say you like the Knicks (-4.5) in their matchup with the Sacramento Kings. In Brooklyn, you like the Nets (-5.5 favorites) to defeat the Utah Jazz.
You can tease both lines by four points (most books offer anywhere from four-to-six point teases) to shift the lines to New York (-0.5) / Brooklyn (-1.5). Now, both teams need to win by four-fewer points than the original lines for your bet to cash.
Player Props
Player props have become increasingly popular with the advancements in online betting, especially within team sports.
Rather than trying to predict the outcome of a game or team statistics, you can bet on a single player’s performance. These offers usually come in the form of an over/under bet, similar to the structure of a bet on the total.
PA Sportsbooks set a projected total for a particular stat category, allowing bettors to decide if they think that person will go over or under that number.
For example, New York Jets’ Quarterback, Aaron Rodgers may have a passing yards prop listed at 270.5 yards. Bettors can then wager on whether he will throw for more or less than that.
Live Betting
The betting fun doesn’t stop just because a game is already in-play. Barstool Sportsbook continues to offer updated lines and odds as a match progresses. If the Jets are -7 favorites in a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, an early New York touchdown will bump that line closer to about 13.5 directly afterwards.
This is one area that Barstool Sportsbook PA stands out from many available options. They clearly prioritize this option, not only by hosting prominently within their app, but also due to the diversity in betting options. PA sports bettors have the luxury of choice, with a ton of different types of sports and in-game bet types at their disposal.
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