Let me first start by saying that if you live outside Canada, this article probably doesn’t apply to you. Pro-Line is a government sponsored sports betting system implemented in Canada, offering people an alternative to online sport books. You’re probably thinking, “wow, that sounds pretty cool–Canada has legalized gambling!” On the surface it appears pretty good, but like many government-sponsored things: looks can be deceiving.
Don’t Bet The House
While it is true that Pro-Line offers the sports better an opportunity to get in on the action, what’s also true is how much the odds are stacked against the players. There is no single game betting option, so you must bet on at least a two game parlay, which obviously decreases your odds. Pro-Line also has this little thing called the “tie”, which means if a game is decided by a certain number of points it is considered a tie, so even if the team you picked to win is successful, you get credited for a loss. A football tie is a game decided by 3 points or less, basketball is 5 points or less, and a baseball tie is a 1 run margin of victory. This essentially boils down to having three possible outcomes for each game, instead of the standard two, which further decreases your chances of winning. The potential payouts are large in comparison to online sport books, so it makes for fun low risk/high reward betting–just don’t get carried away and bet too much money.
No Value in Spreads and Totals
Pro-Line does offer the more commonly accepted methods of sports betting as well as the above method and again, you have to parlay at least two games together on a ticket. Again, you’re probably thinking that’s not so bad–until you see the actual odds that are offered. The standard price for a game at a respected sport book is -110, or if you were to convert to a decimal format, around 1.91 to 1. Pro-Line spreads and totals, however, typically fall in the 1.65 – 1.75 per game range–a substantial drop in potential winnings. Think of this way: betting $25 on an average two game spread/total parlay Pro-Line ticket pays a total of around $75. If you bet the exact same thing at a sport book, it would pay a total of around $91–that’s over $15 difference on a meager $25 bet, so you can imagine how much of a difference this would make if you are betting larger amounts.
Overall
While it is true that there may be some occasional line value on Pro-Line (they release their lines in the morning and do not adjust them all day like online sport books), it is basically a losing proposition. The odds are either stacked against you, or they’re not paying anywhere near as much money as they should be. If you’re the type who is just betting 5 or 10 bucks every once in a while, then Pro-Line is perfectly OK for some recreational fun.
However, if you’re playing everyday and find yourself spending $100+ on an average weekly basis, then you are seriously wasting your money. I know there is a certain convenience in going to your local store or bank to cash a winning ticket versus having to wait for your online sport book to pay you, but you will win FAR less often, and FAR less money than you would if you played at online sport books. Believe it or not, I don’t recommend anyone start gambling, but if you’re already in the game, then you’re better off playing at a sport book.