In a Nutshell,
A bet referring to just the winner (if you bet on the Money Line, you are choosing one team to simply win, and nothing else)
For example, if you bet $100 on Lakers Money Line -200, you win your bet and profit $50 if the Lakers win the game
Moneyline betting involves betting on a specific team to win a game. Bettors can also bet on an individual athlete to win the match, in which case, they will wager on the Moneyline. After the players finish the game, the sportsbook categorizes a bet as a win if the selected team won or a draw if the game ended in a tie.
Moneyline Bets Definition With Example
A Moneyline bet is a bet that wagers that one team or player will defeat the other team. The best way to understand Moneyline bets is to use $100. For instance, if team A is -190 and team B is +160, a $100 wager would pay $160 in profits if team B won the game. If the Moneyline on team A was -190, you would bet $190 to win $100.
How Do Moneyline Bets Work?
The favored team in Moneyline bets usually has a minus sign followed by a number, while an underdog will have a plus sign with a number. The number with a plus sign usually reflects the potential winnings when you stake $100. The number that follows a minus sign reflects the stake you need to win $100. In Moneyline bets, you will risk a lot to win a little profit.
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How To Make a Moneyline Bet?
The premise of a Moneyline is always simple. In cases where one team is superior to the other, oddsmakers set steep odds on the favorite, minimizing the potential profit on a winning wager. When you decide to make a Moneyline bet, find the Moneyline column on the sportsbook and click on the Moneyline for the favorite or underdog, type in your wager, and then click confirm bet after checking the payouts.
Types of Moneyline Bet Outcomes
There are three types of Moneyline bet outcomes, and the first is a winning outcome. You can only win when the player of the team you chose wins. The second outcome is a loss, and this outcome occurs when you fail to predict the winning team or player. The last outcome, which is a draw or bet, occurs when a draw is not offered as a betting option, and the game ends up drawing.
Moneyline Bet Outcome
Win. You will win your bet when you correctly choose the winning player or team in the game. You will also win if a draw was offered as a potential outcome and you chose it. The draw is mostly offered as a winning option in soccer/European football matches or boxing matches. If you bet that team A will win the match and it wins, you make a profit.
Loss. You will lose your wager if you do not successfully choose the winning player or team. In addition, you will lose your wager if you do not select a draw in a game or a fight, and the match ends with a draw outcome. A draw occurs when both teams score the same, meaning if you choose that one team will win, you lose your wager.
Draw or Draw, no bet. A “Draw no bet” happens when a draw is not provided as an outcome on a Moneyline bet, but the outcome has the potential to take place. This mainly happens in soccer/European football matches when the Moneyline bet only offers the option for either team to win. When a draw occurs in this kind of wager, you will get your full stake returned.
How To Calculate Moneyline Betting Odds
To calculate the positive odds in Moneyline betting, you should divide the odds by 100 and then multiply the outcome of that by the amount of the wager. Therefore, if you want to calculate the payout of $50 for team A with +115, divide 115/100 and multiply by $50 to get $57.50. A winning $50 Moneyline bet on the bills returns $107.50 to you. This includes a $57.50 profit and the original stake of $50.
Moneyline Bets for Major US Sports
Moneylines in football and basketball, run lines in baseball, and puck lines in hockey are more straightforward for a beginner to understand. A wager of this type usually selects which team will prevail in a sporting event. Most daily baseball bets come through a Moneyline wager. Favorites have a three-digit number that is followed by a minus sign, while an underdog’s three-digit number is followed by a plus sign.
Moneyline Betting Example for NFL Football
Football Moneyline is very straightforward because you bet on the team you think will win the game. The team forecasted to win the game is referred to as the Moneyline favorite, and it has a negative value. The infirm team is the underdog, and its odds usually have a positive value. For instance, team A with a -130 is the favorite while team B with a +110 Moneyline is the underdog.
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Moneyline Betting Example for NBA Basketball
Betting the Moneyline in NBA means picking which team wins the game altogether. Moneyline favorites in NBA have a negative value (-110) while underdogs have a positive value (+110). For instance, if a sportsbook has the Dallas Mavericks listed at +110, you would have to wager $100 to get a return of $210. If the Atlanta Hawks are listed at -130, you will win $100 if you bet $130.
Moneyline Betting Example for NHL Hockey
In NHL Moneyline betting, betting favorites are listed with negative odds (-200), while the underdogs are listed with positive odds (+180). For example, if Toronto is the betting favorite and Montreal is the underdog, you will have two options to bet on in this type of betting. For instance, Montreal will win (+180), and Toronto will win (-200).
Moneyline Betting Example for MLB Baseball
In baseball, betting on Moneyline means betting on who will win the game. For example, if team A is at +150 and team B is at -170, team B is the favored team, and you will need to bet $170 just to win $100. If you place a $100 bet on team A and they win, you will win $150. Betting on an underdog can give you significant winnings if they manage to pull off an upset.
Moneyline Betting Example for Other Sports
Betting the Moneyline in other sports is when you simply bet on a particular team to win a game. Therefore, if you bet on an underdog team with +160 using a $100 bet, you will make a profit of $160. However, if you bet on a favorite team with a Moneyline of -190, you will need to wager $190 to win $100.
Moneyline Bets and Points Spread Relation
While making a choice based on the point spread is not included in the Moneyline bet, it is linked to the point spread in terms of the potential cash-out price. For instance, choosing a team with a 5-point favorite will have a better payout than that of a team with a 9-point favorite. The conversion from Moneyline to spread varies from sport to sport.
Best Moneyline Betting Strategies for Beginners
Understand how to find value and how to take advantage of it. Value is simply finding sports bets that are paying you at a better rate than you think they should.
You will make more profits if you can predict when line movements will occur and in what direction.
Understand implied probability as it can help you determine the amount of money you will win if you are correct.
Moneyline Bets: Things To Follow and Avoid
Always analyze the current market trends as they can help you maximize what moneylines can do for you. Follow which team does better in certain conditions and which team does worse than others in certain conditions when placing a bet. You should avoid risking a high amount of money to win a small amount. You should also avoid chasing wins and instead start chasing profits.
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Moneyline Bets: FAQS
Can the Moneyline price for my bet change once I’ve bet?
No. With Moneyline betting, the price you get is locked in when you place the bet and it gets accepted.
Why Was My Moneyline Bet Canceled?
When the game perches exactly on the spread, your stake will be returned. This is usually possible when the spreads are even like +6 instead of +6.5.
Can You Parlay Moneyline Bets?
Yes. Parlays usually offer a much larger return than a straight bet. However, parlays aren’t always a great option because most bettors have a negative expected value on their wagers. For a parlay to possess a positive expected value, you must ensure that most, if not all, of the bets in the parlay, have a positive expected value. Consider staying away from parlays until you gain more experience in betting.
Could the Moneyline Change Once It’s Set/Bet?
Yes. Spreads, moneylines, and totals are always changing. They usually adjust based on the bets placed by the bettors. This is especially when the bookmaker knows the bettors are well-informed. Winning long-term means getting the best price and good value and being on the right side. For instance, if you wait until a day before the Super Bowl to bet, you could get a better price and payout.
Can You Parlay Money and Spread Bets Together?
Yes. Even though the Moneyline bet doesn’t include making a pick depending on the point spread, it is connected to the point spread in terms of its potential payout. This means you can combine any number of point spread bets and include them in the same parlay. Point spread bets include the number assigned by handicappers to create even odds on a game.
Do Moneyline Prices Change From One Sportsbook to Another?
Yes. Sportsbooks operate individually, meaning price changes are going to happen in relation to what is going on at their individual sportsbooks. In addition, sportsbooks mostly care about what is going on in their sportsbook. This is why two different sportsbooks could have completely different lines on the exact same bet. Thus, you should shop around for the best price.
Are Moneyline Bets Good Bets?
Yes. Moneyline bets are easier to comprehend because you are simply making a bet on which team will win a particular game. It is very easy to pick winners, which makes Moneyline betting a great alternative for beginners. The spread is considered a great equalizer, and there is nothing wrong with picking the winner right away. Again, betting on an underdog to win could seem like a good idea, but underdogs rarely win.
