There is a common, annoying problem many of us face in sports betting, and that is sportsbook limitation. So, in this post, we will be talking about how to not get limited by sportsbooks. Sportsbooks will limit your account when you bet too profitably, such as plus EV (expected value) betting or arbitrage betting. The thing is, sportsbooks are in the business to make money, just like we are. But they hold most of the power—they can limit us. So, I want to share 10 tips that will possibly reduce the chances of getting limited on your betting amount.
It appears you have tried it all, but your accounts still get limited, which makes you struggle to place any bets. This is a pain for us bettors, and a lot of us have been there. So, this post is for those who have cracked the code on winning and are looking to place more bets without getting limited. You have to start applying these strategies as soon as possible to your betting account. That’s because once you are marked as a winning or sharp bettor, it’s nearly impossible to get your limits increased later on. Let’s get started already with these daily strategies for your betting routine that will reduce the risk of these restrictions.
How Sportsbooks Group Bettors
Sportsbooks do sort our betting accounts into certain categories. There are around four categories they use, and this sorting is based on your betting habits, like how often you bet, when you do it, the odds you choose, and so on. They put your account into one of these categories based on all this.
1. Casual Bettors
Sportsbooks prefer causal bettors because they tend to lose money over time, often betting on simple things such as moneyline bets, totals, or maybe a few player props. Those in this category are not very savvy; they’re just enjoying a bet while watching a game. This group is the sportsbook’s favorite because they don’t really pose a risk, so they are not closely monitored.
2. New Users with Promising Wins
The second category of accounts that sportsbooks keep an eye on could be new users or those who show some signs that they could be a problem for the sportsbook. This category hasn’t faced any restrictions or bans yet, but they are under surveillance.
3. Accounts with Limits
The third category includes those who have had restrictions placed on them. This means the sportsbook has set a maximum bet limit for them on certain or all markets. I’ve experienced this myself with several sportsbooks setting limits on how much I can bet, sometimes as low as $50 or even $5.
4. The Banned
Then, we have a fourth category for those who are banned. For this group, the sportsbook has directly told you to withdraw your money and leave because they won’t take your bets anymore. Or they could simply impose really strict limits. It could be a dollar per bet, and you know this is too pointless to even bother.
So, these are the four categories: casual, under observation, limited, and banned. Keep these in mind for the next set of tips that can make you limit-proof.
How to Not Get Limited by Sportsbooks
1. Avoid Exceeding Your Betting Limit
Don’t go all in with your bets or ask for more than the limit. For example, if the max bet is $1,000, avoid betting that much or asking for $1,500. Even $900 might be too much. Try to bet within 60 to 70% of the limit to stay under the radar. Yes, this can be tricky since many places won’t tell you the exact limit. You can figure it out by placing a reasonable bet to see if it needs approval. If it does, cancel and go lower. With some practice, you’ll learn the usual limits, but remember that these depend on the sport or market.
2. Only Withdraw Your Money When Done with a Betting Site
From the categories we’ve mentioned, you can tell that we want to appear like casual bettors to not get limited by sportsbooks. Casual bettors have the characteristic of not typically withdrawing their winnings right away. They usually play until they have spent all their money. So, avoid cashing out too often. If you must, try to do it when lots of others are too, such as after big events, to keep your account from standing out.
When you take money out from a betting account, it’s normal because you want to get your winnings, right? But this makes the sportsbook put your account under surveillance. They are quick to check things out, which means more attention to you. If you are worried about your account being restricted, especially if it’s happened before or you are using new accounts or someone else’s name, just wait a bit before taking money out and avoid the review process.
3. Don’t Rush Into Placing Your Biggest Bets
So, we are now in the third tip not to get limited by sportsbooks, and this is very important. When you first open your account, hold back on making your biggest bets. The initial bets you place will say a lot about your betting style to the sportsbook. For instance, if you start off by placing bets on player props right away, the sportsbook will pay close attention to your activities.
However, if you go for single game parlays on big NFL games, even with small bets, you’ll seem like the ideal casual bettor that sportsbooks prefer. Imagine opening an account with $1,000 to take full advantage of a bonus offer, but then you only place small bets on NFL games, like $10 or $20. Here, you are not really losing money, especially after getting the bonus. This also gives you the opportunity to build a history and sets the stage for possibly making much larger bets on player props down the line.
4. Try Not to Consistently Bet on Outdated Lines
Some lines are either outdated or not in line with the current market. The thing is, betting lines are always changing, and it’s a signal that bookmakers use to know winners if you only pick bets on their site that offer the best value compared to others. This situation comes up often. For example, let’s say Tua Tagovailoa is suddenly not playing. If you check the odds 10 minutes later and notice that DraftKings only moved their spread by 2 points while everyone else moved theirs by 4, grabbing that outdated number on DraftKings may seem like a good move in terms of value. However, you have to consider if it’s worth it, in the long run, to keep your account below the radar.
Another less obvious situation is when the less experienced betting sites are slower to update their lines compared to the more expert ones. Places like Circa, Bookmaker, Pinnacle, and Chris usually have the most accurate lines since they deal with the most professional bettors. So, if these sites have the Bills at -140, but a site like FoxBet or MGM has them at -110, betting on the Bills at -110 is probably a smart bet.
Now, there is a problem. If you constantly take advantage of these discrepancies, it can set your account up for a review, and then you’ll be monitored more closely. Bookmakers can notice when a bettor is picking up the best deals. They can check your betting history and see how your odds compare to those available elsewhere at the time. No, the suggestion is not for you to deliberately choose the worst bets. But just be aware that sportsbooks monitor bettors who always manage to get the best odds on their website.
5. Focus on Betting in the Major Markets
This 5th tip is actually really important as well because a lot of serious sports bettors make this mistake. So, if you really want to not get limited by sportsbooks, you have to avoid those minor markets, even if it means ‘some times’. Sportsbooks have a lot of different things to manage. There are so many different sports, along with all the various bets such as derivatives, props, live betting, and futures. Unfortunately, the bigger the sport, the more money there is in its betting market, and sportsbooks are more willing to accept bets from experienced bettors.
If you keep placing bets on smaller markets like the WNBA, XFL, or specific player stats, the sportsbooks may not be too pleased. so, it’s just better to also place some bets on the big games like NFL and NBA games, specifically on the outcomes and total points. These are the areas where sportsbooks really want to see action. They understand that people betting on very specific stats, like a player getting less than 11.5 receiving yards, are likely to have a better chance of winning compared to those betting on a team to win by a certain margin.
6. Just Become a Casual Bettor
In fact, the whole of these tips are centered on becoming a casual bettor. You want the sportsbook to see you as just another regular player, so they won’t pay extra attention to your account, won’t be suspicious, and will just let you be. Now, place common bets, like on 50/50 chances, on the most popular types of bets—moneyline or spread bets that lots of people go for.
These bets usually have odds of -110 or -115 on either side, which covers spreads and totals, or picking who will win. Your target should be to bet like someone who’s not trying to outsmart the bookies, like someone new to betting. This is the type of bettor that sportsbooks prefer. So, just try to really blend in as a casual bettor, especially in the first few weeks of your account.
Stick to those simpler bets, keep your bets small, like $25 each, and build up a reputation as a casual bettor with the sportsbook. After a couple of weeks, they’ll likely stop monitoring your account, and you can then move on to bets that have a better chance of winning money. I did write an article about the safest sports to bet – I recommend you read it up.
7. Avoid Arbitrage Betting
You’d have to stay away from arbitrage betting, at least for the first few weeks, since your account is still too young. This is my 7th tip that will make sure you do not get limited by sportsbooks. It’s a tough take, especially if you already have the ideal bankroll for arbitrage, but you have to take it slowly for the sake of your account.
So, for now, drop your interest in arbitrage betting if you just want bets with a positive EV or bonuses. Arbitrage betting is when you bet on both outcomes of a game at different sportsbooks where the odds are mispriced. This allows you to find a small advantage and secure a profit. Sportsbooks are on the lookout for this. They know how their odds stack up against others, and if they notice a lot of bets on a particular line, they’ll figure out you are arbitrage betting. If they observe a pattern or it happens a lot, they’ll limit your account. So, if your goal is to make plus EV bets or get bonus benefits, best avoid arbitrage betting altogether. Meanwhile, you should still read my article about finding arbitrage betting opportunities – I promise is one of the best out there.
8. Go for Parlays, Single Game Parlays, and Teasers
Most professional bettors stick to straight bets—for example, betting $550 to win $500 on a specific team or $1,100 to win $1,000 on the total points scored in a game. On the other hand, casual bettors are big fans of parlays and teasers, even though these kinds of bets usually don’t offer great value for two main reasons.
First, the payouts for parlays and teasers often don’t match the real odds. Second, it’s tough for casual bettors to find even one bet that’s really in their favor, let alone multiple. But with parlays, single game parlays, and teasers in your betting, you can keep the sportsbooks guessing your strategies. If you can pair a solid bet with one that’s just okay, you won’t be sacrificing much value.
9. Don’t Bet the Maximum on Promotions
Our 9th strategy has to do with promotions. Yes, sportsbook promotions can be a way to not get limited by sportsbooks. When there is a promotion that allows a maximum bet of, let’s say, $50, you don’t want to bet the full amount. If you are allowed to bet up to $50 or $100 on a special bet with better odds, instead of betting the full $50, maybe bet $40 or even $30. While you will still take advantage of the better odds and make some profit, you are not betting the maximum.
You won’t automatically get into trouble betting the maximum amount, but it won’t make you look more like a regular, casual bettor. People who bet very professionally always bet the maximum on these special odds, knowing it’s more profitable. However, a very professional bettor may not always do this, especially if their betting budget isn’t large. So, try not to always bet the maximum on these special odds. It’s not a rule that you must follow, but it’s a smart strategy that makes you more of a casual bettor and does not attract unwanted attention.
10. Place Your Bets at a Kiosk or in Person
Finally, if everything else doesn’t work out and you have tried it all to avoid limitations, go ahead and place your bets at a kiosk or in person. Now, you actually need to dress up and maybe even disguise yourself. I understand that making your way to a casino’s sportsbook isn’t easy or convenient for everyone. It takes a lot more effort, but it’s a solid method that allows more bets. Most places accept larger bets in person, and kiosks often don’t track your activities. So, use this to your advantage since there’s not a lot of communication between online apps and physical locations.
Conclusion
We have looked at 10 solid tips here that you can implement and not get limited by sportsbooks. Go ahead and implement them to your advantage. Just one more thing, you’ll find yourself getting limited at some point. It’s typically inevitable. And really, there’s nothing much to do about it. It just happens. I see people getting really upset and frustrated over this, constantly complaining. But that’s not the right attitude to have. We have to deal with the betting world as it is and find ways to make it work. If you are good at betting, instead of just looking for the best bet, you should focus on finding ways to avoid these limits. You need to get better at working around the restrictions.