Moneyline betting is one of the simplest and most straightforward forms of sports betting. It involves betting on the outright winner of a game or event, without considering any point spreads or margins of victory. With moneyline bets, you are solely predicting which team or player will win, regardless of the score.

Positive and Negative Moneyline Odds

In moneyline betting, odds are presented as positive (+) or negative (-) numbers.

Negative moneyline odds indicate the favorite, and positive moneyline odds indicate the underdog.

The size of the number indicates how much you would need to bet (for negative odds) or how much you would win (for positive odds) on a $100 wager.

Betting on the Favorite (Negative Moneyline)

If you bet on the favorite with negative moneyline odds, you must risk more than you can win. For example, if the odds are -200, you need to bet $200 to win $100 (plus your original $200 back) if the favorite wins.

Negative moneyline odds represent the amount you need to bet to win $100. If you bet less than $100, you can calculate your potential winnings proportionally.

Betting on the Underdog (Positive Moneyline)

If you bet on the underdog with positive moneyline odds, you can risk less than you can win. For example, if the odds are +300, you would win $300 (plus your original bet amount) on a $100 wager if the underdog wins.

Positive moneyline odds represent the amount you can win on a $100 bet. If you bet more or less than $100, you can calculate your potential winnings proportionally.

Example

Let's say there's a tennis match between Player A and Player B, and the moneyline odds are as follows:

Player A (-150) vs. Player B (+200)

If you bet $150 on Player A and Player A wins, you would get a payout of $100 (plus your original $150 back). On the other hand, if you bet $100 on Player B and Player B wins, you would get a payout of $200 (plus your original $100 back).

Moneyline betting is a popular choice for beginners and those who prefer a more straightforward betting approach. However, keep in mind that the potential payouts can vary significantly between favorites and underdogs, depending on how the oddsmakers perceive each team's chances of winning.