I Wish I Can More Effectively Bet On The Odds Changing Throughout A Game.

"I didn’t want to waste time devising an effective hedging strategy. The brilliance of this feature is that it streamlined my decision-making into a single bet."

Two key factors impacting the winnings received from a successful bet are the wager amount and the odds provided. Previously, we explored the typical wager amounts recommended based on a survey of Ontarians on this topic. In this post, we will analyze the betting odds of an actual game to observe how they change throughout the match and discuss how this important aspect can be a valuable asset to the bettor. 

Over the weekend, we saw the matchups for this year’s NFC and AFC championship games determined. In the NFC, the Washington Commanders will visit the Philadelphia Eagles, while in the AFC, the Buffalo Bills will take on the Chiefs in Kansas City. Although Saturday's games were entertaining and had their moments, Sunday’s games were competitive right down to the wire, with the visiting teams having opportunities to win or force overtime, where anything could happen. As I watched both events, I kept an eye on the betting odds from a well-known sportsbook, monitoring their fluctuations throughout the games. This has become a regular activity for me as my passion for in-game or live betting grows. As an NFL fan with over 30 years of watching experience, you start to feel as though you’ve seen it all, gaining intuition about how the games might unfold. Surprises are always part of the mix—that's why we watch and enjoy these games—but there are moments during play when you get a hunch that something significant is about to happen. For example, while watching the Rams and Eagles, after Saquon delivered a stunning 78-yard TD run to put the Eagles ahead 28 to 15, I felt that the Rams still had time and would likely keep things interesting. It wasn’t that I thought they would win, but this game didn’t seem like it would end as a two-touchdown victory for the Eagles. Plus, Stafford on the Rams in the playoffs is beastly—seriously, his numbers are tough. 

As the game unfolded, I began tracking the moneyline odds for the Rams to win. A moneyline bet simply involves wagering on who you believe will win outright, providing odds that best reflect the probability of an outcome. The line graph below showcases the available odds from this popular sportsbook during critical moments in the last 5 minutes of the game. 

A line graph that illustrates the moneyline odds during the final five minutes of the Rams versus Eagles game on January 19, 2025.

As illustrated above, the odds in the fourth quarter were at their widest following Saquon’s 78-yard touchdown with 4:36 left in the game. If I had placed a $10 money-line bet on the Rams to win after this touchdown, the odds would have been +5000, resulting in a payout of $510. However, it’s important to note that I didn't necessarily believe the Rams would win; I just anticipated that the game would become more competitive toward the end. Ideally, I would have preferred to wager at +5000 and then cash out when the odds adjusted closer to my expectations. Even better, I would have loved the ability to place this same wager with a sportsbook but have it automatically cash out at my predetermined odds or better; this way, I could enjoy the rest of the game without constantly monitoring the odds. In this ideal situation, I would have arranged to cash out if the odds improved to +350 or more or worsened to +6000 or less, enabling me to recoup part of my initial stake (though, honestly, I probably wouldn’t make this move on such a small wager). Given today's betting environment, my options would be to hedge with a counter bet or cash out—if that was possible—probably at less favorable odds than those currently offered.  While I appreciate having these options, what I valued most in the ideal scenario was that my intended bet was based on one strong intuition—my only solid instinct throughout the game. I didn’t want to waste time devising an effective hedging strategy. The brilliance of this feature is that it streamlined my decision-making into a single bet. A betting environment that offers this capability is more efficient and user-friendly to me.

*Shameless Plug Alert*

If you’ve come this far and believe that the betting feature described is something you’d love to have at your fingertips, I invite you to check out Sportto! It's a betting startup I’m excited to be a part of, aimed at making betting better for all Ontarians. Sportto is currently in development with plans to launch in Ontario sometime this fall. Our primary focus until the end of April is to gauge interest, so if you're interested, join us at Sportto! Signing up is free, takes seconds, and we won't spam you. Plus, during this "gauging" period, we're offering perks like Zero-Fee Betting—make a bet, cash out of any winnings, and access all our features at no cost if you refer a friend after signing up. Get five or more friends to achieve Hall of Fame status on the platform, giving you early access and allowing you to be the first to explore new features and products.

Happy Betting!

-Darius from Team Sportto

If you decide to bet, please do so responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call the Ontario ConnexOntario Help Line at 1-866-531-2600 or find a gambling counsellor.