Sportsbook betting limits in the U.S. vary widely by operator, state, sport, market, bettor profile, and timing. Books also use risk-based profiling and manual reviews, so two customers can see different limits at the same time. There’s no single public “official” schedule of limits per book. That said, here’s a realistic, aggregated view of typical limits you might encounter at major U.S. sportsbooks (e.g., DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, BetMGM, Fanatics) and how they evolve from open to close. Treat these as ballpark ranges; sharp books (e.g., Circa, Pinnacle, Bookmaker) are often higher and more transparent, while recreational books vary more and personalize limits.
Key concepts
- Personal limits vs. market limits: Books cap both per-bet market limits and per-account limits. Sharper accounts often see lower personal limits on niche markets.
- Timing matters: Limits generally start lower at open (higher uncertainty), rise during the day as liquidity/market data improves, and peak near post/close. Live/in-game limits are smaller than pregame.
- Market type: Main lines (spreads, moneylines, totals) have the highest limits. Props/derivatives have lower limits. Same Game Parlays (SGPs) often have very low max stakes but higher theoretical payouts.
- Sport liquidity: NFL > NBA/MLB/NCAAF > NHL/NCAAB > soccer top leagues > tennis/golf > niche sports. Playoffs/primetime > regular season.
Typical pregame limit ranges (retail and sharp online books)
Note: “Open” refers to first widely available lines; “Close” refers to 15–5 minutes before start. Ranges are per bet and may be higher on request at retail counters.
Below is a compact, generalized table of typical U.S. sportsbook betting limits by sport and market, showing how limits tend to scale from open to close. Ranges are ballpark figures and vary by operator, state, bettor profile, and event stature. “Sharp” books (e.g., Circa, Pinnacle) skew to the high end; recreational books skew lower and personalize limits.
- Open = early markets; Midday = day-of or stabilized; Close = ~15–5 minutes before start.
- Props and niche leagues have much lower limits than main markets.
- Live/in-game limits are usually 25–50% of pregame main-market limits.
| Sport/League | Market | Open | Midday | Close |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFL | Spread/Total | $5k–$25k | $25k–$100k | $100k–$250k+ (Circa up to $1M sides) |
| NFL | Moneyline | $10k–$50k | $25k–$100k | $50k–$250k+ |
| NFL | Player Props | $250–$1k | $500–$2k | $1k–$5k |
| NBA | Spread/Total | $2k–$10k | $10k–$25k | $25k–$100k |
| NBA | Moneyline | $5k–$20k | $10k–$30k | $25k–$50k |
| NBA | Player Props | $100–$1k | $250–$1.5k | $1k–$2k |
| MLB | Moneyline | $2k–$10k | $10k–$25k | $25k–$100k |
| MLB | Runline/Total | $1k–$5k | $5k–$15k | $10k–$50k |
| MLB | Player Props | $100–$1k | $250–$1.5k | $1k–$2k |
| NCAAF (FBS) | Sides/Totals | $2k–$10k | $10k–$25k | $25k–$100k (top games higher) |
| NCAAF (FBS) | Moneyline | $5k–$15k | $10k–$25k | $15k–$50k |
| NCAAF (smaller conf.) | Sides/Totals | $1k–$5k | $5k–$10k | $10k–$25k |
| NCAAB (regular season) | Sides/Totals | $1k–$5k | $5k–$10k | $10k–$25k (marquee to $50k+) |
| NCAAB | Moneyline | $1k–$5k | $5k–$10k | $10k–$25k |
| NHL | Sides/Totals | $2k–$5k | $5k–$10k | $10k–$25k (sharp to $50k) |
| NHL | Player Props | $100–$500 | $250–$750 | $500–$1k |
| Soccer (EPL/UCL) | 1X2/AH/Total | $1k–$5k | $5k–$15k | $15k–$50k (top matches higher) |
| Soccer (secondary leagues) | 1X2/AH/Total | $500–$2.5k | $2.5k–$7.5k | $7.5k–$25k |
| Soccer | Player/Team Props | $100–$500 | $250–$750 | $500–$1k |
| Tennis (ATP/WTA) | ML/Handicap/Total | $1k–$3k | $3k–$10k | $10k–$25k |
| Tennis (Challenger/ITF) | ML/Handicap/Total | $100–$500 | $250–$750 | $500–$1k |
| Golf (PGA/majors) | Outrights (max payout) | $25k–$100k payout caps | same | same |
| Golf (PGA/majors) | Matchups/Rounds | $1k–$3k | $3k–$7.5k | $10k–$25k |
| UFC/Boxing | Moneyline | $1k–$5k | $5k–$10k | $10k–$25k+ (main events higher) |
| UFC/Boxing | Props/Rounds | $250–$1k | $500–$1.5k | $1k–$2k |
| Futures (team) | Win conf/title | Often max payout based (e.g., $100k–$250k) | — | — |
| Same Game Parlays | Multi-leg | Low stake caps (often $50–$500) with higher payout caps | — | — |
| Live/In-Game (major sports) | Main markets | ~25–50% of pregame limits | scales with liquidity | peaks late but still < pregame |
| Live Props | Player/derivative | $50–$500 typical | — | — |
- NFL
- Spread/Total: Open $5k–$25k; Midday $25k–$100k; Close $100k–$250k+ (Circa often $100k–$1M on sides at close; many rec books $50k–$100k).
- Moneyline: Similar or higher than spread for favorites; underdog ML sometimes lower due to volatility (e.g., $25k–$100k).
- Props: Open $250–$1k; Midday $500–$2k; Close $1k–$5k (some books higher on marquee games).
- NBA
- Spread/Total: Open $2k–$10k; Midday $10k–$25k; Close $25k–$100k.
- Moneyline: $5k–$50k depending on price.
- Props: $100–$2k; player points/rebounds/assists toward upper end near close.
- MLB
- Moneyline: Open $2k–$10k; Midday $10k–$25k; Close $25k–$100k.
- Runline/Total: Slightly lower than ML: Open $1k–$5k; Close $10k–$50k.
- Props (pitcher Ks, HR, etc.): $100–$2k.
- NCAAF (regular season)
- Sides/Totals (FBS): Open $2k–$10k; Midday $10k–$25k; Close $25k–$100k (top games higher).
- Moneyline: Often lower for big dogs; $5k–$25k.
- Lower-division or small conferences: Often 25–50% of FBS limits.
- NCAAB (regular season)
- Sides/Totals: Open $1k–$5k; Midday $5k–$10k; Close $10k–$25k (marquee games up to $50k+ at sharper books).
- Moneyline: Often similar or lower than sides.
- NHL
- Sides/Totals: Open $2k–$5k; Midday $5k–$10k; Close $10k–$25k (sharper books up to $50k).
- Props: $100–$1k.
- Soccer (EPL, UCL)
- 1X2/Asian Handicap/Total: Open $1k–$5k; Midday $5k–$15k; Close $15k–$50k (top matches higher).
- Secondary leagues: Often 25–50% of EPL limits.
- Props/players: $100–$1k.
- Tennis (ATP/WTA main draws)
- Match ML/Handicap/Total: Open $1k–$3k; Midday $3k–$10k; Close $10k–$25k.
- Challenger/ITF: Often $100–$1k.
- Golf (PGA/majors)
- Outrights: Often limited by max payout rather than stake (e.g., $25k–$100k max payout per market). Stake equivalents could be $1k–$10k depending on price.
- Matchups/Round markets: $1k–$5k open; up to $10k–$25k near start.
- Fight sports (UFC/boxing)
- Moneylines: Open $1k–$5k; Midday $5k–$10k; Close $10k–$25k+ for main events.
- Props/rounds: $250–$2k.
Live/in-game limits
- Generally 25–50% of pregame limits for main markets at high-liquidity sports; lower for props.
- NFL live sides/totals at sharper books can still reach $10k–$50k close to halftime/late game; many rec books cap at $1k–$10k.
Market hierarchy within a sport
- Highest: Main spread/total/moneyline.
- Medium: Derivatives (1H/2H, quarters/periods, alt lines).
- Lower: Player props, SGP legs, exotic props.
- Lowest: Niche leagues/competitions, futures player awards.
Operator tendencies (generalized)
- Circa Sports (NV/CO/IA/IL): Among the highest, public limits posted; will take six figures on NFL sides near post; higher on major events.
- SuperBook (Westgate): High limits on major U.S. sports, especially NFL; good for limits bettors at retail.
- Caesars: Higher than average on main markets, especially NFL/NBA/MLB; props lower.
- FanDuel/DraftKings: Solid on main markets but more variance; props and SGPs have low stake limits; personalized limits common.
- BetMGM: Similar to Caesars on mains; more conservative on niche markets.
- Exchanges/POOLS (where legal): Limits depend on liquidity; can exceed book limits on big events.
Timing pattern example (NFL Sunday)
- Open (Sun night/Mon for next week or midweek for props): Spread limits $5k–$25k; props a few hundred.
- Midweek Daytime: Sides $25k–$50k; totals $10k–$25k.
- Gameday Morning: Sides/totals $50k–$100k; props $500–$2k.
- 30–5 minutes pre-kick: Sides $100k–$250k+; totals $50k–$100k; props $1k–$5k.
- Live: Typically 25–50% of those, adjusted for game state.
What can change your personal limits
- Your history (wins, beating closers, arbing, fast-prop action).
- Bet type (manual review for props/alt lines).
- Geolocation/state rules and retail vs. mobile.
- Account verification, payment history, and responsible-gaming settings.
- Max payout caps (e.g., $250k–$1M per event) can effectively cap stakes at long odds.
How to find exact limits for your account
- Add a bet to the slip and increment the stake until you hit the “max” prompt; some books show Max Bet.
- Check house rules: many list max payouts per sport/league/event.
- Ask at retail counters for approval; managers can often take larger wagers on main markets, especially NFL.
- For very large bets, contact VIP/telephone trading; books may write the ticket in pieces or move price.
