Low-Hold Betting Guide: Maximize Profits & Rewards

Learn how to use low-hold betting to clear bonuses, earn rewards, and find hidden value.

The Low-Hold tool on FairOdds Terminal is one of the most powerful strategies at your disposal to maximize profits over sportsbooks while accumulating valuable rewards and benefits.

Unlike traditional betting where you pick one side and hope to win, low-hold betting lets you play both sides of a market with minimal or zero loss. This opens up entirely new ways to extract value from sportsbooks beyond just winning bets.

What is a Low-Hold Bet?

Low-hold bets occur when a bettor places wagers on both sides of an outcome for an extremely low loss, ideally 0%.

It's the same concept as arbitrage betting, except you don't quite make a profit on low-holds. Instead, you accept a tiny loss in exchange for other benefits. Because the profit requirement is relaxed, there are far more low-hold opportunities available than pure arbitrage.

Let's look at a practical example using a slightly worse-than-0% hold to illustrate the concept.

In this example, we can see several middle betting opportunities that create low-hold scenarios. Let's focus on one:

• Matchbook: Over 231 at 1.95
• 1xBet: Under 231.5 at 1.97
• Hold: -2.50% (shown in the percent column)

This New Orleans Pelicans vs Portland Trail Blazers total presents a -2.50% hold opportunity. While not a perfect 0% hold, it's extremely low and perfect for clearing rollover requirements or earning rewards points with minimal cost.

Reason #1: Clearing Rollover Requirements

This is the most common use case, especially with offshore sportsbooks and bonus promotions.

When you deposit and earn bonus funds at many sportsbooks, you can't simply withdraw that money. You have to "play through" your deposit amount, sometimes multiplied by a factor, before the funds become withdrawable.

Example: A sportsbook offers a deposit match up to $500, but you must play through it 10x before withdrawing. That means you need to place $5,000 worth of bets before you can cash out.

For bettors who wouldn't normally bet that much volume, low-holds provide the perfect solution. You can churn through the rollover requirement while losing only a tiny percentage instead of risking your entire bankroll on traditional bets.

The math: If you find consistent 0.5% holds and need to clear $5,000 in volume, you'll lose approximately $25 to convert a $500 bonus into withdrawable cash. That's a 95% conversion rate, which is exceptional.

Reason #2: Earning Rewards Points and Tier Status

Another powerful application for low-holds is progressing toward rewards points or tier status at sportsbooks with loyalty programs.

Caesars has one of the best rewards programs in the industry. You earn both redeemable rewards credits AND tier credits that grant you status levels within the Caesars ecosystem.

Caesars operates properties worldwide, especially throughout Las Vegas. High-tier members can earn:

• Free hotel nights at premium properties
• Complimentary dining at upscale restaurants
• Travel credits and experiences
• Priority customer service and faster withdrawals
• Exclusive event invitations

Low-holds, especially 0% holds, are an excellent way to reach higher rewards tiers while risking zero or minimal losses. The rewards you unlock can be worth hundreds or thousands of dollars, far exceeding any tiny hold percentage you pay.

Pro tip: BetMGM, DraftKings, and FanDuel also offer rewards programs. Stack low-hold volume across multiple books to maximize your total rewards earnings.

Reason #3: Moving Money Between Sportsbooks

Low-holds can be a strategic way to balance your account values across multiple sportsbooks without going through the withdrawal and deposit process.

Of course, you never know which side of the low-hold will win, so this doesn't always work exactly as planned. But if you want to essentially "transfer" funds from one book to another, here's how it works:

1. Place a 0% hold bet on two different books
2. Hope that the book where you want more money wins
3. If the wrong book wins, double your bet amount with those winnings and try again
4. Repeat until funds shift to your desired book
5. Worst case: the wrong book keeps winning and you withdraw/deposit normally

This technique is particularly useful when:

• You want to avoid withdrawal fees or delays
• You're trying to keep betting volume high on a specific book for rewards
• You want to consolidate funds for a larger bet opportunity

Using the Low-Hold Page to Find Profitable Bets

Here's an advanced strategy many bettors overlook: the Low-Hold tool can reveal profitable, positive expected value bets that may not quite qualify for the standard EV tool.

In the example above, you can see numerous middle betting opportunities that function as low-holds. Look at the Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers total:

• 1xBet: Over 228.5 at 1.96
• Pinnacle: Under 229.5 at 1.95
• Hold: -2.60%

This -2.60% hold involves Pinnacle, one of the sharpest sportsbooks in the market. When you see 1xBet offering competitive odds against Pinnacle on a middle, it often indicates both books are pricing efficiently.

The insight: While these middle bets work great as low-holds for rollover clearing, you can also analyze individual sides for +EV potential. If a recreational book is offering odds that create a low hold against a sharp book like Pinnacle, check if one side represents a standalone +EV opportunity.

How to Use the Low-Hold Tool on FairOdds Terminal

The Low-Hold tool (found in the Middle Bets section) automatically scans thousands of markets across 60+ bookmakers to find these opportunities instantly.

Step 1: Navigate to the Middle Bets section in the terminal. This displays all low-hold opportunities sorted by percentage.

Step 2: Filter by the sportsbooks you have access to. There's no point seeing a -2.50% hold if you can't bet both sides.

Step 3: Sort by hold percentage. The page shows holds like -2.50%, -2.60%, -3.00%. Start with the lowest holds (closest to 0%) for rollover clearing and rewards churning.

Step 4: Check the bet details. Each row shows the books involved (like Matchbook vs 1xBet, or 1xBet vs Pinnacle), the lines, odds, and the event.

Step 5: Place both bets quickly. Low-hold opportunities can disappear as odds move, so speed matters. In the examples shown, you can see opportunities on NBA totals (Pelicans vs Blazers, Thunder vs Lakers, Celtics vs Grizzlies) with holds ranging from -2.50% to -3.00%.

Best Practices for Low-Hold Betting

To maximize your success with low-holds, follow these guidelines:

• Target 0-1% holds: These are ideal for rollover clearing and rewards churning
• Move fast: Odds shift constantly, especially on popular markets
• Track your conversions: Monitor how much you're paying per dollar of rollover cleared or rewards earned
• Stack across books: Don't just clear bonuses on one book—use low-holds to churn volume on multiple books simultaneously
• Watch for outliers: Always check if one side represents a standalone +EV opportunity
• Avoid limits: If you're limited on a book, don't waste low-holds there unless necessary

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even experienced bettors make these errors with low-hold betting:

• Betting both sides on the same book: This violates terms of service and will get you banned
• Ignoring stake limits: Make sure both sides can accommodate your desired bet size
• Accepting high holds: Unless you're desperate, avoid holds above 2-3%
• Forgetting to track volume: Know how much rollover you've cleared and how much remains
• Missing better opportunities: Sometimes an outlier side is worth betting alone for +EV instead of hedging

Ready to start using low-holds to maximize your sportsbook value? Open FairOdds Terminal and explore the Low-Hold tool today.

Low-Hold Betting FAQ