Bookies are people who accept wagers at various sporting events. So when someone makes a wager on the New England Patriots against the New York Jets, then the bookie needs the opposite team to win or cover the spread for him to make money on that wager. So whenever any of the bookies’ players make a wager he will always need the other team to win or cover the spread to make money.
The good news is that gamblers always lose over the long term, which means that whatever the players’ losses will be money earned by the bookie. In addition, all sports wagers have a vig which is generally 10% which means if someone wants to win $100 then they need to pay the vig or the juice which means they need to risk $110 to win $100. That 10% juice on all wagers adds up quickly so even if a player wins half of his wagers, he will still end up losing money to the bookie, because of all the juice he lost on each of his losing wagers.
So if bookies make money from players that lose when they gamble, then the best way to make the most money is to either have players that give a ton of action or to just keep acquiring new players that want to bet with you. The more players you have, the more money you are going to end up making in the long run.
The other thing that bookies do to make money is to use a pay per head website that allows you to piggyback off their lines and betting platform. Price-per-head websites, such as AcePerHead.com charge a small fee as low as $3 per active player a week, and then in return, they provide the bookie with a website with thousands of betting options each day. They manage the lines up to the second and grade everything as soon as each game is over, and then everything gets automatically updated to the players’ and bookies’ accounts so they can see exactly how much they are up or down on the day, the week, month or lifetime of the account.
The reason this small investment of as low as $3 a player a week is well worth it is that between the time it would take a bookie to do everything on his own manually and the lack of betting options, you would have because there is no way one person can manually keep track of thousands of betting options per day, would make this a full-time job with limited profit potential. Instead, you just pay a company like Ace Per Head a small fee each week and this will mean you do not need to invest any of your own time to manage the website, and your players are going to lose a lot more money when they can bet on a mobile website 24/7.
Are you ready to start an exciting career as a bookmaker? Get started with this guide explaining how to earn money as a bookie.
Becoming a bookmaker isn’t for the faint of heart. It takes ambition and perseverance to make it in this cutthroat industry. If you want to be the next Bwin or Bet365, you’re going to need a carefully thought-out step-by-step plan to make your bookie business boom.
Luckily, this is easier than it sounds when you’re decisive and work with pay per head (PPH) professionals. Here, we’re going to talk about how to earn money as a bookie and make a name for yourself in the digital gambling world. Read on to begin making bank and interacting with bettors on the regular.
The first step towards running a bookie business is a fairly simple one- deciding what sports bettors you’ll work with.
Consider the reasons that you’re interested in bookmaking. Most bookies are passionate about sports as well as about rolling in money. You need to include the sports, events, and teams that interest and attract you.
This will make bookmaking fun and easy. It also is likely to attract clients. After all, the sports that interest you are likely to engage others as well.
In addition to sporting events that give you an adrenaline rush, you’ll need to research those that are popular among bettors. Do a few online searches to determine what the big upcoming events are in the sporting world. If a specific sport is having an event (like basketball’s March Madness or football’s Super Bowl), you’ll want to focus on that.
You also need to think about which bets are the most lucrative for bookies. While attracting customers is the first step towards getting good cash, you also need to select events that give you a decent house edge. Letting people place smaller bets on things besides game outcomes is a great way to do this.
When people bet on a very specific touchdown made by an individual player, they’re likely to make more money. Betting on games only gives you a 50/50 edge at best (and that’s assuming that your bettors have no clue what they’re doing, which is unlikely). Betting on specific aspects of a game is something people generally just do for an adrenaline rush since you have much higher odds.
Okay, so you have a well-organized spreadsheet containing all the things that you want to initially take bets on. Now what?
You’re going to need to create an engaging website that has integrated monitoring software for sports betting. Pay-per-head (PPH) technology is the only way to go here.
PPH bookie solutions are fully managed platforms in which you pay a company like Ace Per Head to manage everything for you. You simply give us a small amount of money (around $3-$10) for each bettor who signs up to work with you. We then handle everything from keeping track of scores, website updates and backups, troubleshooting, security features, and client communication.
Don’t worry- you’ll still have complete control over your lines, bets, rules, and limitations that you want to be in place. You just need to communicate what you want with a PPH expert and watch the magic happen while your bank account grows.
When you initially sign up for a PPH platform, you’ll create a webpage that users can visit and place bets on. Many people opt to design their site with a pre-made customized template.
This is faster and easier to manage for those who aren’t well-versed in web design. It’s also cheaper than paying for a fully custom website. You may opt to use a template-based PPH software for a while until your business picks up and you can afford a custom one. It’s completely up to you.
However, if you don’t like any of the templates that you see, Ace Per Head can design a package with you that includes custom platform creation. You can tell us exactly what features you want your site to have and we’ll set it up for you. There’s no need for you to understand coding, web design, or anything else. Since we manage it for you every step of the way, you won’t even need to learn later.
You’ll need to make sure that your site is easy to read with bold text and clear fonts. You also will want to include images, graphics, and video content that will make clients view you as an authority. A strong navigation system is also critical so that bettors can see the many sports that they can bet on and make an informed choice.
PPH platforms are also distinct in their design because they require unique information for each bettor once they log in. Bettors need to be able to see the bets they’ve placed, how much they’ve won, and how much they owe. They also need to be able to manage payment methods and other aspects of their online gambling experience.
Speaking of payment methods, you’ll need to decide what you’re going to take. We recommend accepting:
Giving bettors leeway to choose their payment methods makes you appear more flexible. Customers who view you as adaptable are more likely to work with you over more rigid competitors.
Part of being a bookie is constantly managing your business. You need to adapt to changing tides within the gambling industry- once again, flexibility is key.
Make sure that you ask Ace Per Head to organize your website differently if something isn’t working. You may want to alter your navigation so that your site is constructed in an easier-to-read manner. You may want to make it easier for people to place bets and make deposits. You also might want to change the way that people on the user end view their bets and lines.
The bottom line is that you need to monitor your site to see what’s working and what’s not. It’s important to be aware of this so you can make necessary alterations, become more efficient, and expand your sportsbook.
Comprehensive client communication is essential when you want to earn more money as a bookie. The first step to making this happen is to be transparent.
PPH software shows bets on both the agent and player ends. Both parties can see exactly what bets were placed, when, and how much. This allows for the highest level of transparency since everyone will know where they stand and how much is at stake.
When players have questions, they also need to be able to reach out easily. Web-based betting gives them an easy way to contact you without blowing up your inbox or phone. If you want to, you can view and respond to messages directly on your PPH platform.
You also won’t need to wait by the phone as traditional bookies need to. Ace Per Head has a 24/7 call center that your players can reach out to with any inquiries. You won’t even need to take phone calls yourself if you don’t want to our experts have client communication covered.
To fully understand and plan out your bookie income, you must remember that some players will win. While you have a house edge, you must deal with the possibility of spending money regularly. This is especially true if an underdog wins a popular game that people bet on- one event can cost you thousands.
Luckily, successful bookies can make anywhere from $5000-$10,000 in a single week. Make sure that you have some money in reserve in case someone hits a jackpot. You can also legally cap winnings, but this will be an unpopular move that can damage your reputation. It’s best to avoid it if at all possible.
At this point, you are likely wondering how bookies make money after setting up their PPH software? How do they attract clients?
Being a bookie is a business like any other, and you need to invest in marketing strategies to gain visibility. Manage your social media pages regularly and invest in Facebook Ads. Target those who are in high-paying occupations, those who like gambling and sports-related pages, and those who have liked competitor bookmakers.
You’ll also want to invest in some advertisements on Google. Show off an ad for your PPH site at the top of the search engine or on its sidebar. Customers who enter sports-betting-related queries on Google can then click the link and be redirected to the sign-up page for your PPH platform.
Being a bookie, also known as a bookmaker, involves managing and accepting wagers on sporting events while ensuring that the betting process runs smoothly. The bookie acts as the middleman, facilitating bets, setting odds, and paying out winnings to players or collecting losses. While the concept may seem simple, successful bookmaking requires organization, risk management, and a strong understanding of betting markets.
At its core, a bookie facilitates wagers by offering betting lines on sporting events. Players place bets based on the odds and spreads set by the bookie. If the player’s bet wins, the bookie pays out the winnings. If the bet loses, the bookie collects the wagered amount.
One of the most popular types of bets offered by bookies is the straight bet, which revolves around the point spread of a game.
Let’s say the Green Bay Packers are playing the Chicago Bears, and the spread is -7.5 for the Packers. Here’s how it works:
If a player bets on the Packers, they must win the game by at least 8 points to cover the spread.
Conversely, if the Bears win the game outright or lose by 7 points or fewer, a bet on the Bears would win.
The spread is designed to level the playing field, encouraging betting action on both sides of the game. This is a fundamental concept for bookies, as balanced action minimizes risk and maximizes profitability.
Bookies make money by charging a commission, known as the vig or juice, on each bet. This commission ensures that the bookie profits regardless of the outcome of a game, provided the action is balanced on both sides.
Example of Vig:
If two players each bet $110 on opposing teams, the bookie collects $220 in total bets. The winner is paid $210 (their original $110 wager plus $100 in winnings), leaving the bookie with a $10 profit.
This commission is the cornerstone of bookmaking profitability and is why managing the betting lines to ensure balanced action is so important.
Understand the Basics of Sports Betting
Before starting, familiarize yourself with key betting concepts, such as spreads, moneylines, over/under totals, parlays, and prop bets. A strong foundation will help you better manage your players and lines.
Pay-per-head (PPH) providers like Ace Per Head simplify the bookmaking process by offering a fully managed sportsbook platform. They handle everything from setting odds to updating player accounts in real time, allowing you to focus on growing your business.
Once you’ve chosen a PPH provider, you’ll need to customize your sportsbook settings. This includes:
Setting limits on bet sizes and payouts
Marketing is key to success as a bookie. Start by reaching out to friends, family, and coworkers who may be interested in betting. Leverage social media, word of mouth, and other promotional strategies to build your player base.
Manage Risks
As a bookie, managing risk is critical. Monitor player activity, keep an eye on betting trends, and use tools provided by your PPH service to limit potential losses.
Ace Per Head is one of the industry’s leading PPH providers, offering a comprehensive solution for aspiring bookmakers. Here’s why they’re the ideal choice:
Ace Per Head handles all the technical aspects of running a sportsbook, including:
From traditional sports betting to live betting, casino games, and horse racing, Ace Per Head offers a wide range of betting options to keep your players engaged.
Their platform includes features like global max payouts and individual betting limits, allowing you to minimize risk and protect your profits.
With round-the-clock support, you’ll always have access to assistance whenever you need it.
Ace Per Head offers free custom website promotions, allowing you to create a unique brand identity for your sportsbook.
While the PPH platform handles much of the heavy lifting, your success as a bookie will depend on your ability to attract and retain players. Here are some tips:
Offer Competitive Lines
Players are drawn to fair and attractive odds. Ensure your lines are competitive by leveraging the expertise of your PPH provider.
Building strong relationships with your players is crucial. Be responsive, fair, and transparent in your dealings.
Offer promotions, bonuses, or free plays to attract new players and retain existing ones.
Consider adding options like live betting or casino games to appeal to a broader audience.
Keep up with industry trends and player preferences to adapt your offerings accordingly.
Starting a sportsbook can be daunting, but Ace Per Head simplifies the process, providing you with all the tools you need to succeed. Their cutting-edge technology, comprehensive services, and exceptional support make them the go-to choice for both new and experienced bookmakers.
By partnering with Ace Per Head, you’ll have the confidence to grow your business, attract players, and maximize your profits—all while enjoying the flexibility and excitement of being your own boss.
Being a bookie is a rewarding venture that combines the thrill of sports with the opportunity to generate substantial income. By leveraging the services of a trusted PPH provider like Ace Per Head, you can focus on building your player base and growing your business without worrying about the technicalities.
Whether you’re just starting or looking to take your existing operation to the next level, Ace Per Head offers the tools, support, and expertise to help you succeed. Take the first step today and discover the benefits of becoming a bookie with Ace Per Head.
Nowadays just about anyone can become a bookie and accept wagers from people they know. The best way to be a bookie is to sign up with a pay-per-head service that provides a turnkey solution with a fully functioning sportsbook website. These services offer a ready-to-use sportsbook site where they post hundreds of thousands of betting options each day. They update all odds up to the second and then grade and update all wagers as soon as each game ends.
So if you want to become a bookie, you don’t even need to know how to make the odds and manage the lines, instead, that is all done by the pay-per-head provider. In addition, they have 24/7 customer support and can assist with any questions that you may have, such as advice on managing player limits, setting up sub-agents to work for you, how to grow your business, the best ways to collect and manage your players and other helpful information about the gambling and bookmaking business.
So not only is it super easy and fast to get set up as a bookie through a pay-per-head site, but it is also an extremely profitable business. The old saying the house always wins for casinos is the same for booking action on sports. There is a standard 10 percent vig or juice that is charged on every bet so that immediately gives a house advantage. In addition, people typically are just downright bad at betting and are lucky to even win 50% of the time. However even if they win 50% of the time, the juice adds up and eats away any overall winnings, and when people lose they often become careless and chase and bet more and then lose even more money.
Sure players can get on lucky streaks, but over the long term players always lose, and the bookie always earns money. So the best way to earn even more money as a bookie is just by having more players. Every player the bookie has will earn more money exponentially and each player can easily lose hundreds to thousands of dollars a week from gambling.
So if you are looking to become a bookie, get set up with a top-quality pay-per-head service today.
Now that you know how to earn money as a bookie, it’s time to get started. Create your package and work with us to create comprehensive and personalized bookie software that meets your specific needs.
We offer a free 6-week trial so that you can make a more informed decision about working with us. Since we’re committed to designing a webpage that works for you and helping you with your clients, we look forward to hearing from you soon.
The most important part of any business is how much money you can get from the business. As a bookie, you are in charge of a lot of money, as you manage many bets. But when looking at the money you probably ask, what percentage do bookies take? The amount of money a bookie can make depends on many factors, such as; the number of players per week, how much per bet, and how often players place bets. The more money involved, players, and bets that are made per day equal more money for the sportsbook agent. As with any business, the more customers you have, the more money you will take home. But there is more to it than that when it comes to the salary of a sportsbook agent.
First, it is important to establish when a bookie makes money. A bookie makes money when a player makes a bet on an event with an agent. The bookie sets the point spread or the Moneyline to keep the action balanced on both sides of the outcome, whether that means favoring the Miami Dolphins to beat the New England Patriots by 3 ½ points or making the Moneyline Miami -120 / New England +160.
What percentage do bookies take? That question refers to the book fee that is collected from a wager. Bookies usually take around 10 percent, this is what they call the “juice” or the vig. This is the most definitive source of income for a sportsbook agent. The money that is not collected is returned to the book. For example, let’s say that a player bets on a game between the Washington Football Team and the Dallas Cowboys. Let’s say the Cowboys are favored by 10 points, so you take the Cowboys, at a -10 spread with -110 odds. The player puts down $110 for the bet. If the player wins then they would get $210 back total (the original bet plus $100) back, if they were to lose, the book would keep the $110. Over time, that $10 edge on the favorites contributes to the bookie’s profits.
For sportsbook agents to make a decent living, they have to maximize profits. To understand the question “What percentage do bookies take?” the bookie gets their money from a vig, also known as the book fee on a wager. So the only way to maximize profit is to increase the opportunities to collect wager fees such as vig. To do that an agent must bring more business to their service, offer and manage more bets, and offer a wide variety of bets. If an agent can be versatile and offer high-dollar bets as well as low-dollar bets, then the money they collect will be on a spectrum. Some players start low and go high, and vice versa. It is important to encourage these trends by having these options available in bulk. The faster an agent can process and complete wagers, the more money they will make. If an agent can use bookie software to operate an “assembly line” of gambling, then they will make good money — which is where having a spot on a platform like AcePerHead.com comes in.
There is a common saying, “Spend money, to make money”, and in this context it is applicable. The best way for a sportsbook agent to make money in the modern gambling market is to invest in high-quality price-per-head software services. Price per head service packages is an excellent way to increase profit margins, especially AcePerHead.com. Service packages like then include website-based software that includes all of the tools necessary to run a smooth operation. Price per head service processes all of the bets automatically and constantly updates the data, so your cash flow will increase because you will be able to handle numerous players and bets at the same time. And the price per head software, especially Ace Per Head.com, scales the growth as you go, so you will always meet demand. And meeting demand will increase your cash flow exponentially.
As you can see, to maximize the answer to “What percentage do bookies take?” for your own business, if you do decide to increase profit via pay per head services, AcePerHead.com is a premier option. With features such as live betting, automatic processing, expanded market, etc., it is the perfect software for making money. If you want to collect vig more often and “make bank”, then they are the way to go. The live casino in itself offers many opportunities to collect and process a wide variety of wagers.
As mentioned earlier, AcePerHead.com can automatically process your bets and update player data. This constant flow of cash and data will make your business uber-efficient. The expanded market has a huge impact on profit. The numerous leagues and teams offer a multitude of spreads and lines to cover daily, and the international scale AcePerHead.com operates on provides options constantly for players. Earlier we discussed examples of individual spreads and what happened in each scenario. Even if the agent won, they got a small percentage of the pot, which is how the market works. So using price-per-head sportsbook software, such as AcePerHead.com, to increase your chances of collecting a vig is the foundation of your business. Agents have to depend on their player base, if it does not grow, then the business will falter. As in every business at this scale, consumers decide which service lives and dies. So as an agent, your business has to be geared toward the customer, using price-per-head services to create a fast-paced and exciting environment for players will go a long way in building your sportsbook business.
Have you thought about leaving your 9-5 job behind and using your sportsbook as your primary source of revenue? You’re not alone – after all, many people who scramble to take calls and texts for their neighborhood sportsbook while negotiating the demands of another full-time job have been where you are in terms of stress. Maybe your book brings in a little money on the side, enough to make you think that you can expand. Before you make the jump, though, consider whether you are financially ready.
There are other questions you’ll need to answer, particularly if you are just now launching your book, in addition to how much money you need to start a bookie business. These questions include:
If you use a sportsbook platform such as AcePerHead.com, some of these questions won’t matter as much. The platform will offer lines that you can choose (or you can still set your own). The big question is still up to you, so you’ll need to figure out what you can charge as opposed to what your betting clients will pay.
The questions about growth, tracking, and dealing with sharp bettors will remain. If you are online with AcePerHead.com, you don’t have to worry about the growth, because the administration is their problem – you just have to make sure you have enough money on hand to deal with the extra action. If you notice that some people keep winning, week after week, you can place limits on their actions.
The answer to the question, of how much money you need to start a bookie site, is complicated. You need to be able to afford licenses and fees to get your bookie site up and running. You will also need enough cash to cover every bet from the start. You should always have enough cash in reserves to cover every bet your clients have placed. Of course, if you set your lines correctly and then adjust them to keep the action in balance, you should not need to send all your cash out at once, but that is still an industry standard.
After all, you never know when a sports event will turn out poorly for you and leave you unbalanced. In the wild-card round of the 2020 NFL playoffs, the New Orleans Saints were 11-point favorites over the Chicago Bears. They led the Bears, 21-3, in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter, and a lot of the big sportsbooks were nervous because the action on the Saints to cover had been so heavy.
Then the Bears scored a touchdown as time expired, to draw within 21-9. An extra point would make the final score 21-10 – resulting in a push. However, in NFL games, you do not try an extra point after time has expired, when that point does not make a difference competitively. In the wild-card game, there are no tiebreakers to worry about, so the teams went into the locker room, the Saints won by 12, and a lot of big books were out a ton of money. All this is to say, of course, that you need to have money on hand to cover each bet.
Here’s an example of how it might work out for you. Let’s say you offer action on five games for a particular day and take in this action, all at 110 to 100 as the vig:
Game 1: $1200 on Team A and $1000 on Team B
Game 2: $750 on Team C and $900 on Team D
Game 3: $800 on Team E and $600 on Team F
Game 4: $750 on Team G and $650 on Team H
Game 5: $1000 on Team I and $900 on Team J
Because opposite bets cancel one another out, here’s your net exposure by game:
Game 1: $200
Game 2: $150
Game 3: $200
Game 4: $100
Game 5: $100
So even though your total handle is $8,550 (all of the bets totaled up), your total exposure is capped at $750 – and that’s if all six games go against you. Realistically, you can expect that about half the action will go one way and half will go the other, so the key is to make sure that all your wagers stay as balanced as possible. You also keep the $10 extra on the $110 on the games where you win.
Some people run successful bookies sites on their own, either the old school way, using cash, or through websites that they have designed. However, that takes a significant investment, in terms of developing the website. Also, it adds the hassle of having to manage things should the server go down. Over time, the investment in a pay-per-head bookie platform such as AcePerHead.com pays off. Wouldn’t you rather just focus on the fun parts of running a sportsbook? That means picking games, setting lines, choosing creative props, and telling more and more of your friends about your sportsbook. It doesn’t mean having to take frantic calls from your betting clients when the website crashes and dealing with collections from betting clients who don’t want to pay up.
Consider using a sportsbook platform like AcePerHead.com; the small weekly fee you pay for each betting client will pay off in time that you have back as you continue that transition into a full-time sportsbook agent.
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