
Understanding -120 Odds in Sports Betting: A Complete Guide
In sports betting and gambling, -120 is what's known as American odds notation, indicating how much money you need to bet to win $100. When you see -120, it means you must wager $120 to win $100 in profit.
This negative number indicates that you're betting on the favorite. The minus sign always shows you're betting on an outcome that's more likely to happen, which is why you need to risk more money to win less.
Let me break down how -120 odds work with a simple example: - If you bet $120 at -120 odds, you'll win $100 (plus get your $120 back) - If you bet $60 at -120 odds, you'll win $50 (plus get your $60 back) - If you bet $12 at -120 odds, you'll win $10 (plus get your $12 back)
The pattern is clear - you're always risking more than you can win because you're betting on a favorable outcome. The higher the negative number (like -200 or -300), the more likely that outcome is expected to be, and consequently, the more you need to risk for the same $100 profit.
To calculate your potential winnings with -120 odds, use this formula: - Potential Profit = (Your Bet ÷ 120) × 100
It's worth noting that -120 is considered relatively modest odds in betting terms. It suggests the outcome has a moderate probability of happening, with an implied probability of about 54.5%.
Remember, while -120 tells you how much to bet to win $100, you can always bet more or less. The ratio remains the same - you'll need to risk $1.20 for every $1 you hope to win in profit.
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