To hedge a profit boost, first turn the boost into boosted decimal odds: 1 + (decimal odds - 1) x (1 + boost). Then bet the other outcome at a second sportsbook or on ProphetX with a stake of boosted bet x boosted decimal odds / hedge decimal odds. Whoever wins, you lock in the same profit. Small boosts lock in little, and are often better kept as positive expected value bets.

What is the difference between a profit boost and an odds boost?

A profit boost is a token that raises the winnings of one bet by a percentage, for example 50%. It applies to the profit only, not to the stake, and usually only up to a maximum stake. An odds boost is a special price the sportsbook posts on a specific market, for example a moneyline that normally pays +150 offered at +200. You see the boosted price directly, so there is nothing to convert.

Both are hedged the same way once you know the boosted price. This guide covers boosts on a single bet; boosts on parlays need a different approach.

How do you calculate the boosted odds?

A profit boost multiplies the profit part of the decimal price. The formula: boosted decimal = 1 + (decimal - 1) x (1 + boost). Some examples:

• +150 (2.50) with a 50% boost: 1 + 1.50 x 1.50 = 3.25, which is +225.
• +200 (3.00) with a 25% boost: 1 + 2.00 x 1.25 = 3.50, which is +250.
• -120 (1.83) with a 25% boost: 1 + 0.8333 x 1.25 = 2.0417, about +104.

The odds converter switches between American and decimal odds, and the profit boost calculator applies the boost for you.

What about max stake caps?

Almost every profit boost has a cap, for example "up to $50 stake" or "up to $25 in extra winnings". Stake above the cap gets no boost, so bet exactly the cap, no more. Everything in the hedge scales with the stake: halve the boosted bet and the hedge and the profit halve too. If the cap is on the extra winnings rather than the stake, work out the stake that reaches it and bet that.

How do you hedge a profit boost?

Call the boosted stake S, the boosted decimal odds b, and the hedge H at decimal odds o2 on the other outcome. The stake is your own cash, so:

• Boosted bet wins: S x (b - 1) - H.
• Hedge wins: H x (o2 - 1) - S.

Set them equal and solve: H = S x b / o2. A worked example:

1. A 50% profit boost, up to $50 stake, on a moneyline at +150 (2.50) at Sportsbook A. Boosted odds: 1 + 1.50 x 1.50 = 3.25 (+225).
2. The other side is -160 at Sportsbook B: decimal 1 + 100/160 = 1.625.
3. Hedge stake = 50 x 3.25 / 1.625 = $100.00.
4. If the boosted bet wins: it pays $50 x 2.25 = $112.50 profit, minus the $100 hedge = $12.50.
5. If the hedge wins: it pays $100 x 0.625 = $62.50 profit, minus the $50 boosted bet = $12.50.

You need $150 in total across the two accounts. With a $25 cap instead, the hedge is $50 and the locked profit $6.25.

How much does each boost lock in?

For example, a $50 boosted bet on a moneyline at +200 (3.00), hedged at -235 (1.4255) on the other side, a pair with a 3.48% hold (illustrative prices, October 2026). The last column is the expected value of the boosted bet left unhedged, using the no-vig probability of the +200 side (32.2%):

Boost	Boosted odds	Hedge stake	Locked profit, whoever wins	Expected value unhedged
25%	+250 (3.50)	$122.76	$2.24	$6.37
50%	+300 (4.00)	$140.30	$9.70	$14.42
100%	+400 (5.00)	$175.37	$24.63	$30.53

Two things stand out. First, the locked profit grows much faster than the boost: doubling it from 50% to 100% more than doubles the profit. Hedged with no boost at all, the same $50 bet would lose $5.22 to the hold, and every extra 25 points of boost add the same $7.46 on top, so the first part of any boost only pays off that cost. Second, at every level the unhedged bet is worth more on average. The hedge buys certainty and pays for it with the hold.

When should you not hedge a profit boost?

With a small boost, the hedge can eat most of the value. In the table, a 25% boost locks in $2.24, while the same bet left alone is worth $6.37 on average: you lose $50 about 68% of the time and win $125 the rest. Over many boosts, keeping them as positive expected value bets tends to earn more, as long as you can live with the swings and your bankroll can absorb a run of losses.

A simple rule many matched bettors use: hedge big boosts (50% and up) and large stakes, where the locked profit is worth having; keep small boosts unhedged when your bankroll allows it. Check the value with the EV calculator, and see the ValueBet tool for more positive expected value bets. Expected value is an estimate rather than a promise: it only shows up over many bets.

Where should you place the other side?

The hedge is where you pay the market's hold, so look for the tightest price on the other outcome. Hold is 1/decimal 1 + 1/decimal 2 - 1 on the unboosted prices. In the worked example, +150 against -160 is a 1.54% hold; in the table, +200 against -235 is 3.48%, and the locked profit is lower for it. The no-vig calculator shows the hold of any pair and the fair odds without it.

Shop the other side across every sportsbook in your state and ProphetX, a prediction market where other users set the prices. Use 2-way markets (a moneyline with no draw, or a spread or total on a half point) so no outcome is left uncovered.

How do you find the best hedge with NinjaBet?

1. Open the Bet Finder and choose the Boost mode.
2. Enter the stake in Bet Amount, the percentage in Boost, and set Boost Type to Net Profit for a profit boost.
3. Choose the sportsbook that gave you the boost and sort the pairs by rating.
4. Place the boosted bet first, then the hedge right after, and record both in the Bet Tracker.

With a free account the Bet Finder works with DraftKings and ProphetX; Premium unlocks every sportsbook in your state. For a pair you found yourself, the profit boost calculator gives both stakes.

Frequently asked questions

Is a profit boost the same as an odds boost?

No. A profit boost raises the winnings of a bet you choose by a percentage; an odds boost is a special price the sportsbook sets on one market. Both are hedged the same way once you know the boosted odds.

Does the boost apply to my stake?

Usually not: a profit boost applies to the profit only. That is why the boosted decimal is 1 + (decimal - 1) x (1 + boost).

What if I bet more than the max stake?

The extra stake gets the normal odds, which lowers your average price. Bet exactly the cap.

Should I always hedge a profit boost?

No. Big boosts lock in a useful profit; small ones often lock in very little, and many bettors keep them as positive expected value bets instead.

Can I hedge on ProphetX?

Yes. ProphetX is a prediction market available in every state NinjaBet serves, and the Bet Finder includes its prices. The ProphetX guide covers orders, fees and partial fills.

Why is my locked profit smaller than the boost?

Because the hedge pays the market's hold. A tighter pair, with a lower hold, keeps more of the boost.

Sources

• NinjaBet, profit boost calculator, no-vig calculator and EV calculator (formulas used in the examples).
• NinjaBet, Bet Finder, Boost mode.
• NinjaBet.com, Matched betting in the US.
• Commodity Futures Trading Commission, ProphetX designated contract market (cftc.gov).

You must be 21 or older (18 in a few states) to bet in the United States, and bet only with operators licensed in your state. Gambling can be addictive: if you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER, or the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET (ncpgambling.org), free and confidential, 24/7. Results vary and require time and capital; this article is information, not financial or legal advice. Last updated: October 12, 2026.