Understanding Moneyline Betting: Your Guide to Basic Sports Wagering

Understanding Moneyline Betting: Your Guide to Basic Sports Wagering

By Michael Harrison

November 19, 2024 at 08:47 PM

A moneyline bet is the simplest form of sports betting where you pick which team will win the game outright. Understanding how moneyline odds work is straightforward.

How Moneyline Odds Work:

  • Favorites are shown with a minus (-) sign
  • Underdogs are shown with a plus (+) sign
  • Example: Vikings (-150) vs Bengals (+175)

For favorites (-):

  • The number shows how much you need to bet to win $100
  • Example: -150 means bet $150 to win $100

For underdogs (+):

  • The number shows how much you win if you bet $100
  • Example: +175 means bet $100 to win $175

Football player catching pass midair

Football player catching pass midair

Three-Way Moneylines:

  • Used mainly in soccer where ties are common
  • Example: Columbus Crew (-220) Tie (+150) LA Galaxy (+190)
  • You can bet on either team to win or the tie

Benefits of Moneyline Betting:

  • Easy to understand
  • Clear favorites and underdogs
  • Simple to calculate potential winnings
  • Good for beginners
  • Focuses on single game outcomes

Important Notes:

  • Odds vary between sportsbooks
  • All bets carry risk, even on heavy favorites
  • Generally applies to regulation time only in soccer
  • Perfect for those new to sports betting

Remember: Always compare odds across different sportsbooks to get the best value for your bets.

Related Articles

Previous Articles