How Ladder Betting Works in Sports
Ladder bets are a thrilling way to turn small stakes into big wins by building momentum. The idea is simple: start with a modest bet, and if you win, roll the entire amount into the next wager. Each victory takes you higher up the “ladder,” creating the potential for massive payouts with just a few consecutive wins. It’s like gambling with house money—but with every rung, the stakes (and the nerves) get higher.
The magic of ladder betting is in the drama. Will you cash out after a few wins, or risk it all to climb further? One wrong step, and the ladder collapses, wiping out your streak. It’s the perfect mix of strategy, suspense, and a dash of guts, making every bet feel like a high-stakes game of chance.
What is a Ladder Bet Play?
The ladder bet is a fairly simple method that sports fans are using to protect wagers and maximize their profits.
It’s a method that’s been on the rise in terms of popularity recently, with players using it to bet on a whole range of different markets across all the most popular sports.
The beauty of the ladder bet play is its unique ability to boost profits from winning bets, and allow players to take full advantage of the most competitive odds at any one time.
To use a ladder bet, players just need to bet on a number of different prop lines for the same player, or the same team, at once. Each of the lines will come with a higher potential payout than the last, with odds increasing by a significant amount as you rise up the ladder.
An Example of Ladder Betting
So, you’ve done your research, you’ve got a good idea of how tonight’s game is going to play out and you’re prepared to put your money where your mouth is. What’s next?
Well, you might be tempted to go all out with a bet on the highest odds for the outcome you’re expecting. But doing so could see you sacrifice a proportion of the winnings that you might be due if your chosen team or player falls even slightly short.
Opt for a ladder betting method instead and you could reduce risk while still keeping those real money wins coming in. Here’s how it works.
Take any game, like a matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Dallas Cowboys. Prior to games like these, top sportsbooks offer a huge range of odds on the various outcomes that could come to pass. And in some cases, they underestimate the potential of particular players.
Look at player props, and choose a player you think could transform the game. For this example, we’ll use odds on the Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase.
Say the sportsbook offers odds on Chase’s touchdown chances as follows:
- Anytime TD Scorer: -110
- 2+ TDs: +360
- 3+ TDs: +1700
You have $100 to bet, in this scenario. If you really think Chase can score three or more, your instinct could be just a single $100 bet on 3+ TDs, at odds of +1700. Doing so would win you a payout of $1,800 (with $1,700 profit), but it’s risky.
Instead, why not split that $100 across the three possible outcomes above? This allows you to protect your wager early on and take advantage of great profits too.
Your ladder play bet could work as follows:
- $55 on anytime TD Scorer at odds of -110 for a potential payout of $105
- $20 on 2+ TDs at odds of +360 for a potential payout of $90
- $25 on 3+ TDs at odds of +1700 for a potential payout of $450
The above example would mean that the full wager is covered as soon as Chase scores, and then it’s all profit if he scores on any other occasions.
Ladder bet play allows players to take advantage of higher odds, while also covering angles that are far more likely to happen. If Chase was to score three or more touchdowns, you’d still take a payout of $645 - but, thanks to the ladder method, you’re far less likely to lose your entire stake if he only scores two.
Where You Can Do Ladder Bets
All of our best sportsbooks offer ladder betting options for a wide range of sports.
Some of the best sportsbooks for ladder betting include the likes of BetMGM, FanDuel, bet365, Caesars Sportsbook, Fanatics and DraftKings. These are the standout sportsbooks to use if you’re looking for a good selection of different types of wagers. They also feature the best sportsbook promos - particularly if you’re a new player.
If you’re interested in trying ladder betting, take a look at our best sports betting sites below to explore odds for upcoming games.
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How Ladder Bets Differ Between Sports
Ladder betting can differ between sports, but the method itself remains the same.
For some sports, you’ll find sportsbooks offer a far greater variety of odds. This might allow you to place bets on a wider range of outcomes, and increase the size and complexity of your ladder.
In other sports, ladder betting will be much simpler, with fewer rungs to get through before you start taking advantage of the top odds for your chosen outcome.
Popular sports tend to have a number of different options available to those looking to take advantage of ladder betting strategies.
Here are just a few markets that you might consider using ladder bet play on:
| Sport | When to use Ladder Betting | Ladder Bet Play Options |
|---|---|---|
| Football | Suitable for events where a favorite team or player has relatively low odds. | Receiving yards bets, passing yards bets, Touchdowns, overall scores |
| Basketball | Use ladder bets for player prop betting when you think a player has a chance of exceeding expectations. | Number of 3-point props, point total props (20, 25, 30, etc), overall scores |
| Hockey | Try ladder betting on hockey matches with clear favorites, or use the strategy to bet on a player’s individual chances. | Number of shots on goal for a given player, shots on goal for multiple players, overall scores |
How to Make The Most of the Ladder Betting Strategy
Learning to use ladder betting is simple. But really mastering the strategy is far more difficult. While there is certainly an element of luck to betting on sports, knowledge is key to making informed decisions prior to a game - and taking full advantage of the best odds out there.
Research your chosen teams and players as much as you can, because the more you know about what they’re really capable of, the more likely you are to come out on top in your next ladder bet play.
There are other strategies that players often use to maximize the profitability of ladder betting, too. Let’s see how they work.
Dutching
Dutching is a form of ladder betting whereby a stake is divided in a specific way. The division of the stake over a number of different outcomes means that no matter which outcome occurs, the winnings are the same.
Dutching can be used to reduce or even eliminate the chance of any loss being made. We often see dutching used by players betting on horse racing and football, where it can be quite difficult to accurately predict the exact outcome of a race or game. It’s also a good way of using bonus credits, as there’s very little chance of a stake being lost.
Hedged Dutching
Hedged dutching works in a similar way to the above, but in this case players opt for a primary outcome which is then relied upon to bring in profits. Any other outcomes bet on through this method are then secondary.
The secondary bets won’t bring in a profit in hedged dutching. They’re just there to protect the stake and reduce the element of risk that would come with betting on a single outcome.
While hedged dutching is a good idea if the stake must be protected, it’s also likely that no profit will be made at all using this method. However, if you’re betting on a game and you’re far more confident in one outcome than any other, it’s a good one to use.
Calculating Bets
The beauty of ladder betting strategies lies in their inherent ability to protect a wager while still bringing in significant payouts. But for a ladder bet play to actually work, the bets need to be carefully calculated in advance.
Make sure that the first rung of the ladder brings in a payout that’s at least equal to your stake. If you do this, any progression up the ladder will mean a profit. How you split your wager across the higher rungs of the ladder is a matter of personal preference, and really depends on how much faith you have in your own predictions.
Online calculators like this one can be used to simplify the calculations involved. Some online tools will even tell you exactly how to split your wager across different outcomes to take full advantage of the odds on offer at the time.
Like in any bet, the more you risk, the more you could potentially win, but having that initial stake well protected does allow a little more leeway for players looking to put money on outcomes that might not be quite as likely (but could bring in huge prizes!).
