Are you wondering what a ‘moneyline’ is in sports betting, how it works, or how you can bet on it? Read on, because we’ll answer all of those questions, so that you know everything you need to know about betting on the moneyline.
When I first got into sports betting, I had no idea what the moneyline was. While it sounds tough and confusing, it’s actually a super simple concept.
If you’re looking to learn all things sports betting, try reading our comprehensive sports betting guide. If you want to learn more about how to bet on the spread, we’ve got what you need to succeed.
What is the Moneyline?
Quite simply, the moneyline is betting on the outright winner of a game or event. If I bet on the Kansas City Chiefs moneyline, I’m betting on the Chiefs to win the game against their opponent.
What is the Positive Moneyline?
The plus side of the moneyline will be the underdog in any given game or match. The number next to the plus sign indicates how unlikely a win is by the given team or player. The higher the number, the less likely a team is to win. If a team is +1,200, they are incredibly unlikely to win.
For example, March Madness is currently in full heat and Gonzaga (#5) is set to play Kansas (#4). In this game, Kansas is the underdog at +165 odds on Bovada. While Kansas is the underdog, +165 is pretty close to even odds, which indicates that the two teams are almost evenly matched.
If you were to bet $10 on Kansas at +165 odds, you would win $16.50. The payout will increase as the moneyline increases, since the odds of having to pay you out decrease. If you were to bet the same $10 on a team at +750 odds, the payout would be $75.
When you bet on the plus side of the moneyline, you are betting on the underdog to win the game or match outright by any score.
What is the Negative Moneyline?
The minus side of the moneyline will be the team or player that is favored to win. In our March Madness example, Kansas is the underdog at +165, and Gonzaga is favored to win the game at -195 odds.
If you were to bet $10 on Gonzaga at -195 odds, you would only win $5.13. This is because they are more likely to win, so choosing the favored team will not win as big as betting on the underdog.
Similarly, Connecticut (#1) is favored to beat Northwestern (#9) at -1400 odds. Betting that same $10 on Connecticut at these odds would only render 71 cents if they were to win!
When you choose to bet on the favored team, your bet will win if that team wins outright.
The Best Sportsbooks for Moneyline Bets
Bovada provides their sports bettors with one of the best live betting features in the gambling industry. Betting on the moneyline with Bovada is always a good bet, and even better when the game is live!
Sports Betting has got a huge selection of game lines and player props to bet on. Their lines are available before most sportsbooks, so you can get your moneyline bets in early!
BetUS offers sports bettors nationwide a fantastic sports betting experience and wonderful customer service. Get all the game details in their news room, and bet on the moneyline with BetUS today.
What does a negative moneyline mean?
When it comes to sports betting, the moneyline is the projected winner and loser of a game or event. Usually, one team will have positive odds, like +500, and one team will have negative odds, like -500.
A negative moneyline shows the projected winner. The number in a negative moneyline will be higher depending on how likely a win is. A team at -500 odds is much more likely to win than a team at -100 odds.
In addition, a negative moneyline shows how much you would have to bet on that moneyline in order to win $100.
For example, you would have to bet $500 on a -500 moneyline in order to win $100, or $1,400 on a -1400 moneyline in order to win $100.
Why is the payout on a negative moneyline lower?
When it comes to sports betting, the payout calculations can be confusing. Let’s talk about it.
In the example below, Texas is the underdog at +230 odds, while Tennessee is favored to win at -280 odds.
As the game draws closer, more people will be placing their moneyline bets, which will cause the odds to change.
Usually, the more bets that are placed on a favored moneyline like Tennessee, the more the moneyline will go up. Why?
The goal is to keep the payout amount lower. The more people betting on the favored team, the more sportsbooks will have to pay out to bettors if the favored team wins. By changing the odds as more bets flow in, sportsbooks can accurately anticipate how much they will have to pay out on a favored team winning.
This can be hugely beneficial if you are looking to bet on the underdog at the last minute. As the odds increase, they will also increase on the underdog side of the moneyline. This means +230 odds can go up to +250, or even up to +300.
What happens if I bet on the moneyline and the game is a tie?
If you bet on the moneyline and the game ends in a tie, most sportsbooks will refund the amount that you bet to your account balance.
Can I parlay moneylines?
Yes, a moneyline parlay is the most common form of parlay. For example, the parlay below shows 3 moneylines I’m betting on. My parlay is +919 odds, so betting $10 on it will win me $91.93 if all 3 teams succeed and my parlay hits.
In this parlay, I’ve chosen Colorado at +145 odds, Gonzaga at -195 odds, and Oregon at +175 odds. Each of these games is projected to be close, and at +919 odds, it is not super likely to hit. However, if I’m confident in each of these teams, I’ll place a big bet on this parlay.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this site is for entertainment purposes only. Gambling comes with risk, and Game Plan Bets is not responsible for outcomes when betting with the sites listed in this article.
Be sure to check local laws in your state before gambling online.
If you have a gambling problem, do not hesitate to call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit one of the following sites for support: