The handle is the total amount of money wagered at a sportsbook over a given period. It's one of the primary metrics used to measure the size and activity of a sports betting market.
Handle vs. Revenue
- Handle: Total dollars bet (gross wagering)
- Revenue / Hold: What the book keeps after paying out winners
- Hold %: Revenue / Handle = effective margin earned by the book
Example: A book takes in $100M in bets (handle) and pays out $93M. Revenue = $7M. Hold = 7%.
Why Handle Matters
For the industry: States report handle to track market growth and tax revenue. New Jersey regularly handles $1B+ per month.
For bettors: High-handle markets (NFL, NBA, March Madness) are more efficient — sharp money corrects lines quickly. Low-handle markets may have softer lines.
For assessing market efficiency: If a market has $10M in handle, many sharp eyes are on it. If it has $100K, it might be poorly priced.
Handle by Sport (Approximate US Ranking)
- NFL (dominates — often 40%+ of annual handle)
- NBA
- MLB
- College football
- College basketball / March Madness
The Takeaway
High handle = more efficient markets. Look for edges in lower-handle markets where oddsmakers spend less time calibrating lines.
[Track your performance across different sports in Oddible →]
