Scoring Randomness: Why Lower-Scoring Sports Feel “Swingier”

This tool shows why lower-scoring sports feel swingier to bet. Holding your edge constant, fewer scoring events (soccer, hockey, baseball) mean higher variance in outcomes—one goal or swing can flip a bet. Use the controls to see how ROI dispersion and “time spent underwater” change as scoring intensity drops.

Not all edges feel the same. In low-scoring sports, a single event can decide everything, so variance dwarfs your long-run advantage. This calculator simulates that effect: set a scoring rate, pick a price, and see how often you’ll be down—even with a positive edge—and how wide your ROI can swing.

Scoring Randomness (Scoped, Two-Column, American Odds)

Scoring Randomness: Why Lower-Scoring Sports Feel “Swingier”

Holding bettor edge constant, lower-scoring sports (soccer, hockey, baseball) produce higher variance in outcomes. One event can swing everything.

Model controls

λ (events/game)2.6
Percent. Example: 2 = +2% ROI per bet on true odds.
Tip: Compare λ=2.6 (soccer), 5.6 (hockey-ish), 9+ (baseball-ish), 13+ (tennis games). Lower λ => fewer scoring events => more coin-flip volatility per edge.

Distribution of realized ROI over runs

Probability you’re down after N bets

Even with a positive edge, lower-scoring sports keep you underwater more often and longer.

Win-rate dispersion across runs

Estimated bet win rate varies more when scoring is sparse.

“One-event swing” sample timelines

Each line shows cumulative profit over bets in a single run. Spikes/air-pockets are more dramatic with lower λ.

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