01 Definition
Soft bookmakers are retail-focused betting operators whose odds can lag behind sharp bookmakers. This creates windows of value where their odds haven't yet adjusted to reflect the true probability of an event. They're called "soft" because their lines are easier to beat.
02 Example
A sharp bookmaker moves Over 1.5 Goals from 1.72 to 1.55 based on in-play events. A soft bookmaker still shows 1.68 for 30 seconds before catching up. That 30-second window represents capturable value.
03 Why It Matters
Soft bookmakers are where most value betting occurs in practice. The catch: they often limit or ban winning accounts. Professional bettors cycle through soft books, capture value while it lasts, and move on.
04 How thetipster.xyz Uses This
In-play markets inherently have more "softness" than pre-match because odds adjustments are more complex and slower during live events. Our algorithm specifically targets these latency windows where live odds haven't fully caught up to the match state.
Related Terms
See Soft in action
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