Definition
A sharp book is a sportsbook that caters to professional bettors, offers lower vig, higher limits, and doesn't aggressively limit winning players. Pinnacle is the most famous sharp book. Sharp books are used as the benchmark for fair odds because their lines are highly efficient.
Example
Pinnacle offers -104/-104 on a spread while DraftKings has -110/-110. The 6-cent difference in vig adds up. Sharp books welcome your action at higher stakes without limiting you after a winning week.
Common Questions
Why do sharp books offer better odds?
Why do sharp books offer better odds?
Sharp books make money on volume with small margins rather than exploiting recreational bettors. They let the market find efficient prices and profit from the tiny vig on massive betting volume.
What are examples of sharp books?
What are examples of sharp books?
Pinnacle is the gold standard. Circa, Bookmaker, and some Asian books (like SBOBet) are also considered sharp. Most US legal books (FanDuel, DraftKings) are soft books by comparison.