What is the Moneyline?

Betting on the moneyline means you're just picking the winner of the game. That’s it. There are no point spreads, over/unders or any other factors that go into the bet. You are simply making a selection on the winner of the contest.

Since there is no point spread involved, betting on the favorite requires you to bet more to win a desired amount on the moneyline. Conversely, betting on an underdog on the moneyline will earn a larger profit.

Why Should I Bet on the Moneyline?

Moneyline betting is a great introduction into the complex world of sports betting. New bettors that aren’t ready to attack point spreads and totals will often start with moneyline bets. Placing a moneyline bet is simply a wager on the team that wins the game. That’s a concept that even the most novice of bettors can grasp onto.

How Much Can I Win by Betting on the Moneyline?

If you are looking to play the favorite on the moneyline, the number you see on the odds board is the number that you need to lay in order to win $100. If you are betting on a -200 favorite, you need to lay $200 to profit $100, and you would collect $300 if your team wins.

If you are betting on the underdog, the number that you see is the amount that you would win off a $100 bet. A $100 bet on a +200 underdog would profit $200 and you collect $300. Again, there are no point spreads involved, you are simply picking the winner of the game.

Moneyline Betting in Baseball

Betting on baseball is different from basketball and football because the majority of baseball betting is done on the moneyline, and not with a point spread. Generally speaking, baseball betting is all about picking the winning team with not as much emphasis placed on the margin of victory.

When good teams play bad teams, it's not uncommon to see the better team as a -300 favorite, or even into the -400's on occasion. The average bettor is afraid to lay a price like that, but for some professionals, there can be value in laying those big numbers in the right situation. But don't forget: Even the worst teams in Major League Baseball will still win 55+ times during the course of the season.

Baseball betting odds board from Circa Sports with the moneylines highlighted.

Moneyline Betting in Soccer

Up until this point, you’ve heard us say, “you are simply picking the winner of the game” a handful of times. Well, what about the sports where there aren’t always a winner? Meet the three-way moneyline.

Three-way soccer betting lines from FanDuel sports book.

In sports like soccer where the draw is a viable outcome, the moneyline gets split three ways. Regulation bets in hockey are treated the same way. Either Team A wins, Team B wins or the game is tied at the end of regulation and heads to overtime. Make sure you are aware of the two-way and three-way moneyline options in those sports.

What is a Moneyline Parlay?

A parlay is a multi-wager bet that requires all of the legs to win in order for you to cash your ticket. A moneyline parlay is when you combine multiple games on one ticket, and you’re just concerned with picking the winning teams. There are no point spreads involved in a moneyline parlay. The more teams you include, the more money you can potentially win. But if any of your selections fail to win, your ticket is toast.

Moneyline Betting Explained

As part of WagerTalk’s Betting 101 series for the recreational sports bettor, Host Kelly Stewart sat down with sports betting expert Teddy Covers to explain what a moneyline is and the differences between wagering on underdogs and favorites in moneyline betting.

***********************************

Free sports picks allow you to monitor a handicapping service to see how they perform before signing up for a long term package. WagerTalk provides daily free predictions to our visitors so they can find a handicapper that is right for them.

Looking for more free sports picks and sports betting tips?

  • Latest Betting Odds and Public Action: Vegas lines updated in real time, including who the public is betting on.
  • Last-Minute Handicapping Advice: Check out our extensive library of handicapping tips and advice from professional Vegas handicappers (we also recommend taking the time to look over our sports betting tips video library)
  • Want an expert opinion? Check out the latest Free Sports Picks and Best Bets from our team of expert sports handicappers.

Make sure to bookmark all the above!