What Are Rotation Numbers in Sports Betting?
With over 100 million Americans now legally allowed to place a sports bet in the state in which they live, the industry is as hot as it’s ever been. With that, however, comes plenty of new faces eager to learn more about key terms and how, exactly, to place a bet.
For those placing a bet in-person at a sportsbook, a “rotation number” is one of those key terms they’ll want to be familiar with. But what is it?
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What is a rotation number?
When entering a sportsbook, you’ll instantly notice a big board of all the available bets, from point spreads to totals to money lines. You will also notice that each of those bets, and specifically each team involved in every game, will have a numerical ID associated with them just in front of it. The rotation number.
Often, especially in Las Vegas, the brick-and-mortar sports betting location also has paper handouts available with each game/event listed, which also includes the rotation numbers next to each team. Typically, the rotation number will be three digits and located directly to the left of each team you can wager on.
How is a rotation number used?
Simply put, the rotation number exists so the bettor and the sportsbook ticket writer (the person who takes the bet) can avoid any confusion. For example, when going to bet on Team A against the spread, which has a rotation number of 724, you would simply tell the sportsbook ticket writer that you want $X on #724 against the spread.
This way, the ticket writer doesn’t have to account for teams who sound the same, the use of a city like “Pittsburgh” (Penguins, Steelers, etc.?), or similar issues which could lead to confusion for both parties. However, even with rotation numbers, it’s a good rule of thumb to always check your ticket before leaving the counter.
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Whether you’re new to sports betting or a betting pro, our Sports Betting Strategy and Advice page is for you. You can get started with our 101 section - including 10 Sports Betting Tips for Beginners - or head to more advanced strategies - like Key Numbers When Betting Against the Spread - to learn more.
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