The Logic of Sports Betting

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars | 740 ratings

Price: 17.46

Last update: 02-02-2025


About this item

How do sportsbooks make their lines? Which types of bets are the best? Can you beat the house?

The Logic Of Sports Betting answers all these questions and more with a dash of humor and a whole lot of real talk about how it all works. Peek behind the counter and learn how sportsbooks operate. Combine that insider knowledge with why-didn’t-I-think-of-that sports betting logic, and you have the winning formula.

Ed Miller is a best-selling (over 300,000 copies sold) author of books on poker and gambling. This is his first book on sports betting, but maybe his favorite book to write so far.

Matthew Davidow is a sports modeler, using proprietary methods to beat major sports betting markets for over 15 years, and co-founding two leading private sports analytics firms along the way.

What people are saying about The Logic Of Sports Betting:

"Matt and Ed are two of the smartest minds in sports betting." (Rufus Peabody, professional sports bettor)

"As a sportsbook employee for 30-plus years, I find it difficult to read or watch anything about sports betting. But I could not put The Logic Of Sports Betting down. It’s that good." (Robert Walker, Las Vegas bookmaker)


Top reviews from the United States

  • Elihu Feustel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Mandatory reading for beginner to intermediate sports bettors
    Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2019
    The Logic of Sport Betting teaches concepts of how to win with perspectives that have I have never seen published before. How does a Sportsbook generate a line for a given market? Looking at that process, you can identify when and what will be easiest to attack as a sports bettor. The process explains why it is nearly impossible to win at the NFL betting 30 minutes before a game starts, and which markets are easiest to beat. The math isn’t too heavy, but enough to teach basic concepts you must know to have a chance. What is a break-even percentage? How do you calculate a theoretical hold on a multi-way market, or a synthetic two-way market? Why do players lose so much on parlays (it isn’t the hold)?
    In addition to the process, this book teaches about the markets. What do different line moves mean? What types of market moves warrant betting more (or less)? Much of the book focuses on helping you understand the operation of a sportsbook, and the inherent weaknesses it has. If you see the enemy as they see themselves, you will better see and understand glaring weaknesses in what they do.
    The final section includes bread and butter things that winning players know and do. How can you best exploit a Sportsbook’s marketing (e.g., bonuses and other offers)? If you have exceptional information or an angle, how do you best use it to make money? How can you lower the market’s theoretical hold? When do you often see big value in derivatives and props?
    This book alone won’t make you a winning player, but it is a major stepping stone towards winning. If you are a losing player, there is a lot you need to learn from this book. If you are a winning player, it might make you think in more depth about (possibly incorrect) assumptions you have made. I gave this book 5 stars because it offered a lot of information I have never seen published, it was coherently themed to elevate players, and it was extremely well written and edited.
  • Dennis Justice
    5.0 out of 5 stars Critical read for new sports bettors and lawmakers!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2019
    I concur with others that this book is critical. I would suggest to get this book in the hands of lawmakers right away.

    Sports betting is a low margin business. The authors explain how the business actually works from the bookmaker's and bettor's point of view.

    I'd try to send it to lawmakers in Kindle form if possible as a gift. Mail a physical one, too. The strategies detailed require multiple sportsbooks, so lawmakers who limit sportsbooks to one with no mobile betting (cough cough NORTH CAROLINA!) are shafting the customers, treating them as suckers. Also, it'll confirm that tax rates for some of these states are way too high. If the hold percentage is too high, you might as well don't bother. (I am not advocating this but reality is many will bet offshore, some states got greedy and their high rates will be counter-productive.)

    The sooner people in states that have legalized or may shortly have this book, the better. Take four hours over a couple of days to read it. Reread parts you don't grasp right away. Then re-read the book.

    I don't know who said "Treat it like a business and it can pay like a business but treat it like a hobby and it will cost like a hobby," but that person was spot on.

    This book is a God-send for the cause.
  • Tom Barrister
    4.0 out of 5 stars Not a "how to" guide.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2019
    The book deals with some of the realities of sports betting and offers suggestions on how to win. This is not a get-rich-quick book, nor will it give you a workable methodology to automatically win. No such book exists, in my opinion.

    I generally buy such books in the hope of gleaning something that will be of use in everyday play. I found two such nuggets of information, and it's likely that you will, as well.
  • Vm
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great intro to booming business
    Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2019
    I have dabbled in poker. I am now at the point where I win any home games, and could probably do okay at the local casino. A large part of this was the foundational knowledge from Ed Miller's earler poker books (have not read the ones from the past few years).

    So, I am seeing great offers from the on-line casinos for sports betting now. This is similar to what was offer during the poker craze many years ago. How to take advantage? I looked around for a book. Picked up a couple and they were crap.
    '
    This book is a great introduction for a beginner like myself into sports betting. Sure, I followed sports and thought I knew what I was doing. I have always done well at the football pool at work. Nope, I didn't know what I was doing, and was merely lucky. This book gets into what you HAVE to know to have a chance at winning at gambling on sports, consistently and over the long term.

    However, it is not like you are given the keys to a car and can drive it away. This book suggests, to me, that you have to start modelling to choose winners. At least that is my take away. This will be hard work.

    It starts with a mathematical description of how to convert the odds that are given to the percentage of times your pick has to win to make money. THis is fundamental to a better understanding of what -110 means. For someone in the business, sure this may easy, but it was hard for me, as a beginner in the area. The hold is a crucial calculation which you have to be able to calculate. Then it helps you understand the market you are betting into. Then he finally gets into how to win , and exotic bets like prop bets and parlays.

    As he outlines, there are reasons to believe there are some good deals out there for sports bettors. If you want to get into the area, you would be wise to read this book.
  • ezrbt
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not much practical value.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2020
    The headline says it all. The game is rigged.
  • I needed it for class and it was super helpful !
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sports betting
    Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2025
    Great book for those looking for understanding in sports betting

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