Definition
The term 'limit' in sports gambling has two parts: the minimum limit bet and the maximum limit bet. The minimum limit bet is the minimum amount of money a sportsbook will take on a sporting bet; the maximum limit bet is the maximum amount of money a sportsbook will take on a sporting bet.
Limiting a sports gambler
All online sportsbooks have maximum limits for each of their betting lines. Specifically, if one is successful, sportsbook may lower their maximum limit for such a gambler. The author has personally been involved with a certain sportsbook that limited the author's action. The maximum limit for all bets online was decreased to $250 (whereas the normal maximum limits were $2000). If the author wished to bet more, he would have had to call the sportsbook's customer service and talk to management-where most often, he would be told that the line managers have circled this game for him, meaning a resounding no for a higher limit request. Such instances have forced the author to drop the sportsbook and look elsewhere. A great high limit sportsbook with great lines and great odds can be found under www.pinnaclesports.com. This sportsbook caters to high rollers and professional bettors. For example in the National Football League games, maximum limits for the pointspread are $100,000.
Why do books have limits?
Although it is to limit exposure on any one game by any one player, sportsbooks place limits to dissuade gambler from using the Martingale technique of sports gambling (in this way of betting, the gambler simply doubles up on previous losses-for example if one loses $1, the next bet would be to win $2). This type of gambling can be dangerous, for losing streaks where one can go winless for a long time can wipe out one's bankroll.
Going beyond the maximum limit
Some sportsbooks have maximum limits online, but one may place higher bets if one calls their bets into a sportsbook's customer service. The sportsbook www.bodog.com accepts higher limit bets on their lines if one calls them in, with one caveat: a different line.
Summary
In closing, a limit in sports gambling terms, is the minimum or maximum amount of money that a sportsbook is willing to take from a sports gambler. Depending on the sportsbook, the average minimum bet online is $5, and the maximum limit can vary from sportsbook to sportsbook. One of the sportsbooks that offer higher limits includes pinnaclesports.com (where some of their maximum bets can go as high as $100,000 on pointspread gam