What is an Odds Boost? How to Find Valuable Boosted Odds in Sports Betting

James Wilson

Sports Betting Analyst

If you've spent any time on sports betting apps or websites, you've likely seen "odds boosts" prominently displayed. These promotions are a popular marketing tool for sportsbooks, but many bettors don't understand how to evaluate whether they offer genuine value. In this guide, we'll explain what odds boosts are, how they work, and how to identify the truly valuable ones.

What is an Odds Boost?

An odds boost is a promotion offered by sportsbooks where they artificially improve the odds on a specific bet or parlay. Rather than offering standard market odds, the sportsbook "boosts" the potential payout, making the bet appear more attractive to customers.

For example, a standard moneyline bet that would normally be offered at +150 might be boosted to +200, increasing your potential profit from $150 to $200 on a $100 wager.

Sportsbooks typically advertise odds boosts prominently on their platforms, often with eye-catching graphics and phrases like "Super Boost!" or "Odds Surge!" to draw attention to these offers.

Common Types of Odds Boosts

1. Single-Game Markets

Boosted odds on standard markets like moneylines, spreads, or totals for individual games.

Example: Kansas City Chiefs moneyline boosted from -150 to +100

2. Player Props

Enhanced odds on player performance markets.

Example: LeBron James to score 30+ points boosted from +110 to +150

3. Same-Game Parlays

Pre-built parlays combining multiple markets from the same game with enhanced odds.

Example: Yankees to win + Aaron Judge to hit a home run boosted from +350 to +450

4. Cross-Sport Parlays

Boosted parlays that combine outcomes from different sports or games.

Example: Lakers to win + Dodgers to win boosted from +200 to +275

How Do Odds Boosts Work?

Sportsbooks create odds boosts by manually adjusting the payout odds on selected markets. This is typically done for promotional purposes, with the goal of attracting new customers, encouraging existing customers to place more bets, or generating excitement around particular events.

Most odds boosts come with certain restrictions:

Maximum bet limits – Often capped at $25-$100 to limit the sportsbook's exposure
No parlaying with other boosts – Preventing customers from combining multiple boosted odds
Time restrictions – Available only for a limited time before the event
Geographic limitations – Some boosts may only be available in certain states

It's important to understand that even when odds are boosted, the sportsbook is usually still building in their profit margin. However, in some cases, especially in competitive markets, odds boosts can actually create positive expected value opportunities for bettors.

Odds Boost Example

MARKET	REGULAR ODDS	BOOSTED ODDS	PROFIT INCREASE
Golden State Warriors to win	+130	+175	$45 per $100 bet

In this example, a sportsbook has boosted the Warriors moneyline from +130 to +175. Let's break down what this means:

At the original odds of +130, a $100 bet would win $130 profit
With the boosted odds of +175, the same $100 bet now wins $175 profit
That's an additional $45 in potential profit, or a 34.6% increase over the original odds

Are Odds Boosts Actually Valuable?

The key question for any bettor should be: "Does this odds boost offer true betting value?" The answer varies significantly depending on the specific boost and the sportsbook offering it.

Let's examine how to identify genuinely valuable odds boosts:

1. Compare to True Fair Odds

The most important factor is whether the boosted odds exceed the true probability of the outcome. This requires some research and calculation.

To evaluate true fair odds:

Check multiple sportsbooks to see their regular (non-boosted) odds for the same market
Look for the best available price in the market (this represents the sharpest assessment)
Convert those odds to implied probability
Compare the boosted odds' implied probability to this market consensus

Example Calculation:

Boost: Ja Morant 25+ points boosted from +110 to +150
Regular odds (+110) implied probability: 47.6%
Boosted odds (+150) implied probability: 40%
Best odds available elsewhere: +115 (46.5% implied)
The boost has reduced the implied probability by 6.5% points, suggesting it offers true value

2. Beware of "Sucker Boosts"

Some odds boosts, especially those heavily promoted, might seem attractive but actually offer poor value. These are sometimes called "sucker boosts" by industry insiders.

Common characteristics of low-value boosts:

Parlays with highly correlated negative outcomes (events that are unlikely to happen together)
Popular teams or players that recreational bettors would naturally favor
Boosts with minimal percentage improvement over original odds
Markets where the original odds already had a high vig built in

3. Consider Correlation in Same-Game Parlays

For boosted same-game parlays, check whether the legs are positively correlated (more likely to happen together) or negatively correlated (less likely to happen together).

Example of positive correlation: NFL team to win + their quarterback to throw 2+ touchdowns. If a team wins, their quarterback is more likely to have thrown multiple touchdowns.

Example of negative correlation: NBA team to win + opposing star player to score 30+ points. If a team wins convincingly, the opposing star may score fewer points due to reduced minutes or tougher defense.

How to Profit from Odds Boosts

With a strategic approach, you can leverage odds boosts to increase your overall sports betting profitability. Here are some effective strategies:

1. Shop for the Best Boosted Odds

Download multiple sportsbook apps and compare their odds boosts daily. Each sportsbook offers different boosts, and having access to more options increases your chances of finding valuable opportunities.

2. Use Promotions to Create Arbitrage

Odds boosts can sometimes be used in combination with regular odds at other sportsbooks to create arbitrage opportunities (risk-free profit by betting both sides).

Arbitrage Example:

Sportsbook A: Boston Celtics moneyline boosted from -150 to +100 (max bet $50)
Sportsbook B: Miami Heat moneyline at +130
Betting $50 on Celtics at +100 would win $50
Betting $38.50 on Heat at +130 would win $50.05
Total risk: $88.50, guaranteed return: ~$50 (a risk-free profit of ~$11.50)

3. Focus on Single-Game Boosts vs. Parlays

While boosted parlays look attractive with their high potential payouts, boosted single-game markets are typically easier to evaluate and more likely to offer true mathematical value.

4. Calculate Expected Value

For each odds boost, calculate the expected value (EV) to determine whether it's a mathematically profitable bet in the long run.

EV Calculation Example:

Boost: Patrick Mahomes 300+ passing yards boosted from +130 to +200
True probability (based on market consensus): 45%
EV = (Probability of winning × Profit) - (Probability of losing × Stake)
EV = (0.45 × $200) - (0.55 × $100) = $90 - $55 = $35
This boost has a positive EV of $35 per $100 wagered, or +35%

Odds Boost Restrictions to Watch For

Always read the fine print on odds boosts. Common restrictions include:

Maximum bet limits – Usually capped at $25-$100
Eligible customers – Some boosts are for new customers only
Minimum odds requirements – For parlay boosts, each leg may need to meet minimum odds
Settlement conditions – Special rules for when games are postponed or canceled
Opt-in requirements – Some boosts require you to actively opt-in

Failing to note these restrictions can result in placing a bet at standard odds when you thought you were getting boosted odds.