Sports Betting Guide and Terms - Dime Line

Definition

The term “dime line” refers to the amount of juice (10%) imposed by the books in sports betting wagers. It is the typical juice most sportsbooks impose on sports gamblers and is the inherent edge that such sportsbooks enjoy. Most pointspreads follow the “dime line”.

Example

For example, if a sports bettor wanted to bet USC –7 against Texas at a Las Vegas sportsbook, such a gambler would have to pay the dime line juice of –110 (meaning if the gambler wanted to win $100, he/she would have to lay $110 to win $100).

The inherent edge

The dime line is one of the reasons that sportsbooks have an inherent edge in sports gambling. In order for the sports gambler to win in the long run, he/she must win at a rate greater than 55% to show profit. If there was no juice in sports betting, this reduces to 51%. For example, if Joe Q. Public played 4 plays equally at –110 on NFL Sunday, playing with a $100 unit, and he goes on to win 2 games and loses 2 games, he would still be negative at the end of the day (-$20 overall). To show profit for the day, he would have need to win 3 games and lose just 1 game. This example highlights the need to limit one’s plays and simply play those games that one is comfortable with.

A way to avoid paying juice

There is a way to avoid paying juice in sports betting. Some online sportsbooks, and recently some land-based casinos, are allowing the sports gambler to sell points back for reduced juice and even for plus money. Online sportsbook www.pinnaclesports.com is a great site to utilize this way of betting. Take for example USC –7. If one placed this bet at a regular site, one would have to lay –110 to take USC –7. But, at pinnacle, one may sell ½ point to 2 points at various odds. By selling points, one avoids paying the juice and actually turns this bet into an underdog bet (by taking the odds). In the real world case, if one were to sell 2 points, USC would become –9 at +115 (laying $100 to win $115).

Summary

In conclusion, the “dime line” refers to the 10% juice imposed by a sportsbook. In ensures an inherent edge for the sportsbook and must be paid by the gambler in order for a bet to be placed at said sportsbook. A gambler can use other sportsbooks to avoid paying the juice through selling points.