What is a moneyline bet? This guide explains what moneyline betting means, how to read moneyline odds, and how you can place a moneyline wager.
What is a moneyline bet?
So, what is moneyline in betting? Well, moneyline is one of the simplest ways to bet on sports. When you place a moneyline wager you are simply betting on the team or player you think will win the game in question. There is no points or goals spread involved – all you need to do is pick the team you want to back and place your bet.
How does a moneyline bet work?
When moneyline betting, you will be presented with two options – team/player A and team/player B. All you need to do is select the team or player you think will win the game and place your bet.
Although placing a moneyline bet is very simple, there is one other thing that you need to understand: moneyline odds.
How do moneyline odds work?
Often you will see moneyline bets presented on a sportsbook with one positive and one negative three-digit number. These numbers represent the odds for that particular moneyline bet. The number preceded by a minus sign (-) usually represents the team that is the favourite for that game, with the plus sign (+) representing the underdog.
The odds that usually accompany moneyline bets are known as American odds – this is the most common odds format found in the United States.
Moneyline odds explained
So, how do you read moneyline odds? Well, they are easiest understood in the context of a $/£100 bet. The three-digit number accompanied by a plus sign – usually the underdog – represents the amount of money you would win with a $100 bet. The three-digit number preceded by a minus sign – the favourite – represents the amount of money you need to bet to win $100.
An easy way to think about it is that the minus number will return less than your stake, while the plus number will return more.
Other types of betting odds
Odds can be displayed in fractional and decimal formats too. Fractional odds (i.e. 2/1) show the potential profit relative to your stake. The number on the left (2) represents the amount you’ll win for every unit staked (1 on the right).
Decimal odds on the other hand (i.e. 6.00) include both your profit and your stake in the total return. To calculate your return, just multiply the stake by the decimal odds (in this case a £10 bet would return £60).
For more on fractional, decimal, and moneyline odds, dive into our full guide on how betting odds work. You can also use our betting calculator to calculate potential returns.
An example of a moneyline bet
To help you further understand moneyline betting, let’s look at a quick example.
Ahead of the 2021 Super Bowl, the Kansas City Chiefs were the favourites, and were priced up at -165 on the moneyline. This means that you would need to bet $165 to win $100.
On the other hand, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered as underdogs, and were +140 on the moneyline. This means that you would win $140 from a $100 bet.
What are the advantages of moneyline betting?
Moneyline betting is one of the simplest and most popular forms of sports betting. It involves picking the winner of the game, with no need to worry about complex point spreads or margins.
With moneyline betting, the odds clearly show potential payouts (with favourites requiring a larger stake for smaller returns and underdogs offering higher rewards for lower risk). This makes it easy for bettors to understand the risk-to-reward ratio and place bets with confidence.
Because of this simplicity, moneyline betting is ideal for beginners, also offering strategic value for those more experienced.
Does moneyline betting include overtime?
In sports leagues that automatically go to overtime to settle ties after regulation – such as the NHL and NFL – moneyline betting does include overtime. So, if the game is a tie after regulation, yet the team you backed goes on to win, then your bet is a winner and you will receive your winnings.
If you want to place a bet that does not include overtime, you can use the win/draw/win market.
A win/draw/win bet is slightly riskier in that you don’t get the added buffer of overtime, but the odds reflect that in offering you a better price.
And there you have it: moneyline betting explained. Whether you’re a complete beginner or just brushing up on your betting knowledge, understanding how moneyline odds work gives you a solid foundation for placing confident wagers.
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