In the end, the most respected professional bettors will dictate what the betting line is, not the bookmaker. Bookmakers will react to these wagers looking to find the number that either divides the professional bettors or stops them from playing altogether. In theory, professional bettors will make a wager when they believe the current line does not accurately reflect what the information available suggests it should be.

In the largest markets such as NFL, information is accounted for in the betting line in almost real time Gambling markets are like all other markets in that they absorb information and reflect it. It serves as a starting place for professional bettors to enter the marketplace and hammer the line out to where they believe it should be.

The important thing to remember when discussing the opening line, is that it is just a jumping off point. Much of this had to do with liquidity and the fact that more money was being bet into these numbers than any other lines in the world. This led to certain offshore sportsbooks becoming the gold standard as far as the opening line was concerned. In the mid nineties as the internet rose to prominence and the most talented bookmakers migrated offshore, a new breed of oddsmakers emerged who set the lines from various island locales and were looking to deal higher limits than ever before to their growing customer base. The tradition of Las Vegas helping to establish the opening lines continued years later as the Stardust Line became a respected number with the assistance of Roxy Roxborough and his company LVSC. This line was gradually disseminated all over the country and more often than not tweaked based on anticipated regional action. Years ago, the legendary Bob Martin opened what came to be known as the Las Vegas Line during his stints at Churchill Downs and the Plaza. There was a time many years ago when most of the betting lines did in fact originate from Las Vegas.

But what does that really mean when we hear these expressions? Is there one sportsbook in Las Vegas setting all the lines? Do all the sportsbooks get together and agree on what the line should be? Does Las Vegas even really set the line at all? You will often hear media outlets say “Vegas” opened the line this or “Vegas” has the line at that. By Matt Metcalf / opening line can be a term that is thrown around pretty loosely when it comes to sports betting.

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