On sportbooks, I have noticed some odds lower than 1.1. I definitely know that if people are not going for such low odds, bookmakers would stop adding such low odds. Even 1.08 is still better (understand me correctly, I am not saying it is better), I have noticed odds like 1.02 and 1.01. On in-play (live matches), I have even noticed 1.001 up to 1.005 to be included. Why are people going for these kinds of low odds?
Assuming I have $10 to bet with this week, going for 1.02 odd, the profit is $0.2. That means I have to bet 50 times of the same 1.02 odds to get $10 in return. But my $10 betting fund which I could lose in just a single bet. Is it worth it?
I am thinking it does not worth it at all. Why are some people going for non valued bet of such low odds? It would only encourage them to increase the amount of money they stake on a bet and yet losing it at once is possible. Not a good strategy at all.
What is your opinion?
I have to agree that they are really not worth placing a bet on and for the risk involved I don't think even considering 1.05x payouts to be worthwhile either. I have actually seen several (in a row) bets of the 1.02/1.03 fail to win, so they are not guaranteed by any means. You also have to remember that most sportbooks will add in a buffer amount, so in reality the sportbook sees these bets as worth simply 1x or slightly less. Unless you have the facilities to really do mass and large scale arbitrage betting, you'd be better off avoiding this type of bet altogether because it will take you such a long time to pay off and just one miscalculation can wipe out a fifty successful bets that happened previous.y
Yes, it doesn't always mean low odds like 1.0x 100% to win. Sometimes, one team might be so popular while the other relative unknown/untested so everyone bets on the popular one, leaving that kind of odd. Still, in certain games, pass certain thresholds in a match, and the chance for a comeback is extremely low which make those low odd rate bet seems attractive to stack your fund for easily ~5% of returning.
Of course, bookmarkers ain't stupid. They also placed in criteria to close the bet sooner but not for every game. Look at Welsh's comment. Some do profit from a rare instance like that.