Online sports betting has become more accessible and straightforward than ever before. Among the various betting options available, moneyline betting remains the simplest and most direct way to place a wager.
What is a Moneyline Bet?
A money line bet (also written as “ML”) is a wager placed on the outcome of a single event. Typically, there are two possible results: one team or player wins, and the other loses. In sports that allow for ties, such as soccer, an additional option for a draw may be available, which you can place through a platform like Sbobet88.
Unlike point spread betting, moneyline bets do not consider the margin of victory. For example, in a point spread bet, if the Dallas Cowboys win by four points but are favored by six, the bet would be lost. However, in a moneyline wager, the Cowboys’ victory alone would be sufficient to win the bet.
How to Read Moneyline Odds
Moneyline odds consist of three key components:
- Favorite: The team or player expected to win is assigned negative odds. For instance, if the Los Angeles Lakers have a money line of -180 against the Boston Celtics, they are the favorite.
- Underdog: The team or player anticipated to lose is given positive odds. In the Lakers-Celtics matchup, if the Lakers are favored at -180, the Celtics may have odds of +130 as the underdog.
- Even Odds: When neither side is favored, the moneyline odds are set at +100, often referred to as a “pick” or “pick ‘em.”
Calculating Moneyline Payouts
Although sportsbooks automatically compute payouts, understanding the calculations can help with bankroll management and bet selection.
- If the New York Yankees have a -150 moneyline, you must bet $150 to win $100, leading to a total payout (including your stake) of $250.
- If the Boston Red Sox have +130 odds, a $100 wager would yield a $130 profit, resulting in a total payout of $230.
Before placing a bet, you can view potential payouts by adding wagers to your bet slip. Additionally, you can learn how to compute parlay odds and payouts.
Moneyline Parlays
Moneyline parlays allow bettors to combine multiple wagers into a single bet, increasing excitement and potential earnings.
For example, instead of placing a $100 moneyline bet on the New York Giants (-130) with a potential payout of $176.92, you could combine it with a moneyline bet on the Cleveland Browns (-140). This parlay would increase the possible payout to $303.29 on the same $100 bet.
Parlays are flexible and not limited to just moneyline bets. They can include point spreads, over/under totals, and wagers across different games or sports.
Explore More Betting Options
- NFL Betting: Understanding NFL odds.
- Tennis Betting Guide: How to wager on tennis matches.
- NBA Championship Odds: A look at future markets for 2025.
- Glossary of Sports Betting Terms: Key terminology explained.
