The Key Difference Between Soft and Sharp Bookmakers
Understanding soft vs sharp bookmakers is essential for maximizing betting profit. Learn how sharp books provide accurate odds, why soft books create value opportunities, and how to use both strategically.
There are basically two types of bookmakers available: soft bookmakers and sharp bookmakers.
Understanding the difference between these two types is essential for anyone looking to maximize their betting potential. Knowing how they operate can be the difference between profit and loss in the long run.
Let's dive into what sets them apart, how to use this knowledge, and the limitations you might face (and how to conquer them).
What Is a Sharp Bookmaker?
Sharp bookmakers, like Pinnacle, Betfair Exchange, and Matchbook, are designed for professional bettors.
When we take a look at their historical data—how accurately they've been able to predict the right odds for matches—we can say they've been very sharp. They've been very good at it.
We can use the term "source of truth" here. Sharp bookmakers are usually pretty right when it comes to what the real odds should be for a match.
Key Characteristics of Sharp Bookmakers
- Odds accuracy: Extremely accurate at predicting outcomes based on tens of millions of bets
- Instant reaction speed: Adjust odds in seconds to new information like player injuries or weather changes
- High stakes allowed: You can bet tens of thousands of euros into a market
- No limitations: Sharp bookmakers will not limit your stake—bet freely with high volume
- Professional focus: Tailored for professional bettors, not recreational players
Why sharps don't limit: Sharp bookmakers use professional betting action to sharpen their lines. Your bets help them set more accurate odds. They profit from balanced books and efficient markets, not from limiting winning players.
For serious bettors, sharp bookmakers provide a reliable platform to place substantial bets without fear of limitations.
What Is a Soft Bookmaker?
Soft bookmakers such as Bet365, William Hill, Unibet, and Nordicbet cater to recreational players.
Most bookmakers are soft. There are hundreds of soft bookmakers available.
Key Characteristics of Soft Bookmakers
- Slower reaction speed: Much slower to react to new information than sharp bookmakers
- Intentionally higher odds: Can intentionally offer too-high odds on some markets to attract customers
- Recreational focus: Their primary goal is to entertain and attract new customers
- Will limit winners: Once a player proves consistently profitable, soft bookmakers impose betting restrictions
- Delayed updates: Might take 30-45 minutes to update odds when sharps react in seconds
Unlike sharp bookmakers which pretty much never will limit us, soft bookmakers offer their services for recreational players. At some point it's likely we will get a betting limitation once they see we are a profitable player.
This is actually a sign of success. Why would they limit us? Why would a bookmaker ever limit us? The only answer is that we have a winning strategy and the bookmaker knows it.
The Value Betting Window
Here's where the money is made:
Sharp bookmakers can react in seconds to new information. Some player is injured, there's some change in weather conditions, whatever it is—sharp bookmakers are super fast reacting to this new information and pricing it into their odds.
Soft bookmakers are much slower to accurately price new information. It might take 30 minutes, it might take 45 minutes, it might take a long time.
The profitable window: The time between when a sharp bookmaker changes their odds and the soft bookmaker hasn't yet followed—this is where we can make money.
This is where users have made tens of millions of euros in profits over the years. This window is very lucrative.
The window where new information enters the market and the softs haven't yet updated their odds—the odds that the soft bookmakers are offering are too high.
If we bet on these specific odds and only these odds over a long period of time, once we have enough repetitions, we can be sure we will profit. We have positive expected value for these bets. These bets are called value bets.
Soft vs Sharp Bookmakers: Quick Comparison
| Feature | Sharp Bookmakers | Soft Bookmakers |
|---|---|---|
| Odds Accuracy | Extremely accurate | Often higher odds but slower to adjust |
| Target Audience | Professional bettors | Recreational players |
| Betting Limits | Rarely limited | Frequently limited for profitable players |
| Reaction Speed | Instant (seconds) | Delayed (30-45+ minutes) |
| Maximum Stakes | Tens of thousands | Lower limits, especially for winners |
| Examples | Pinnacle, Betfair, Matchbook | Bet365, William Hill, Unibet, Nordicbet |
How to Use This Knowledge
Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of soft and sharp bookmakers helps your winning betting strategy:
1. Use Sharp Bookmakers as Your Benchmark
Sharp bookmakers provide the source of truth for accurate odds. Their odds reflect the true probabilities of outcomes.
Monitor sharp bookmaker odds to identify when soft bookmakers are lagging behind. This is your value betting opportunity.
2. Exploit the Delay in Soft Bookmaker Updates
Place value bets during the lag when soft bookmakers haven't updated their odds yet.
The window where new information enters the market but softs haven't reacted—that's where you profit.
3. Diversify Across Multiple Soft Bookmakers
There are hundreds of soft bookmakers to choose from. Diversify your betting portfolio across multiple soft bookmakers to:
- Maximize opportunities
- Minimize the impact of limitations
- Spread risk across different platforms
- Access different market offerings
Dealing with Soft Bookmaker Limitations
The good news? There are hundreds of soft bookmakers to choose from.
It doesn't matter if you get limited from one soft bookmaker. You can just switch to another and make thousands and thousands of euros in profits before you would be limited on all of them.
And there's new soft bookmakers coming to the market every single week.
Strategies When Limited
- Use betting clones to multiply your stakes
- Switch to another soft bookmaker from the hundreds available
- Start accounts on new bookmakers entering the market
- Keep using limited accounts with reduced stakes
- Use sharp bookmakers for arbitrage betting
Thankfully, as we discussed, there's so many soft bookmakers available that limitations are manageable.
Using Both Sharp and Soft Strategically
The optimal strategy combines both:
The Winning Formula
- Monitor sharp bookmakers (Pinnacle, Betfair) for accurate odds
- Compare soft bookmaker odds to identify discrepancies
- Bet on soft bookmakers when they offer value (odds too high)
- Use sharps for arbitrage on the other side of two-way bets
- Track your results to verify you're beating closing lines
This approach maximizes profit from soft bookmaker inefficiencies while using sharp bookmakers as your reliable baseline and arbitrage partner.
Why Limitations Are Actually Good News
When soft bookmakers limit you, it's undisputable proof that value betting works.
They only limit winning players. If you're getting limited, you have a winning strategy. The bookmaker knows it, and that's why they're restricting you.
Read our guide on avoiding bookmaker limitations to extend your account lifespan and maximize profits before restrictions kick in.
Summary: Soft vs Sharp
In summary, this is the difference between sharp bookmakers and soft bookmakers:
- Sharp bookmakers: Accurate odds, instant reactions, high limits, no restrictions on winners, source of truth
- Soft bookmakers: Slower updates, recreational focus, intentionally higher odds, will limit winners, hundreds available
Use sharp bookmakers for accurate odds comparison and arbitrage betting. Use soft bookmakers for value betting opportunities when they lag behind sharp market movements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sharp bookmaker?
A sharp bookmaker like Pinnacle or Betfair is designed for professional bettors. They accurately predict odds, adjust rapidly to new information, allow high stakes (tens of thousands), and rarely limit profitable players. They serve as the source of truth for betting odds.
What is a soft bookmaker?
Soft bookmakers like Bet365, William Hill, and Unibet cater to recreational players. They intentionally offer higher odds on some markets to attract customers and are much slower to react to new information, creating value betting opportunities.
Why don't sharp bookmakers limit winning players?
Sharp bookmakers use professional betting action to sharpen their odds. Winning players provide valuable market information that helps them set more accurate lines. They profit from balanced books and efficient markets, not from limiting sharps.
How do soft bookmakers create value betting opportunities?
Soft bookmakers are much slower to react to new information. When sharp bookmakers change odds in seconds based on player injuries or other news, soft books might take 30-45 minutes to update. This window is where value bettors profit.
Will I get limited on soft bookmakers?
Yes, likely. Soft bookmakers limit profitable players because they're designed for recreational action. But there are hundreds of soft bookmakers available, so you can switch to another or use betting clones when limited.
Which bookmakers are sharp?
Sharp bookmakers include Pinnacle, Betfair Exchange, Matchbook, and some Asian bookmakers. These accept professional action and rarely limit winning players. They're ideal for arbitrage betting and as a baseline for odds comparison.
Which bookmakers are soft?
Most bookmakers are soft, including Bet365, William Hill, Unibet, Nordicbet, Bwin, and hundreds more. They cater to recreational players and will eventually limit profitable bettors. New soft bookmakers enter the market every week.
Should I use sharp or soft bookmakers for value betting?
Use both. Sharp bookmakers provide accurate odds to identify value. Soft bookmakers offer the value betting opportunities due to slower odds adjustments. Monitor sharps, bet on softs when they lag behind.