What is moneyline in betting? Moneyline bets explained

If you’re new to sports wagering and still learning the ropes, one of the most common questions you may have asked yourself is, what does moneyline mean in sports betting?

Fear not, as everyone who has ever glanced at the range of sportsbooks wagering markets would have asked themselves this same question.

As a result, we’ve put together a guide where we answer all the key questions from “How does moneyline work?” and “What is the moneyline in gambling?”, as well as provide you with some handy examples of moneyline betting.

At the heart of a moneyline bet is the concept of wagering on the team or player you believe will win a game or a matchup.

Here, there are no special conditions needed for your bet selection; a moneyline bet depends purely on the result of the wagering market’s result, unlike other variable markets such as over/ under or spread betting.

Ahead of a sporting fixture, sportsbooks will present you with the perceived moneyline odds featuring either a plus (+) or a minus (-) figure next to the team or player you wish to bet on.  Based on these, whichever result comes in, this figure will determine how much you can win based on your stake amount.

If you have ever wagered on a sporting event outside of the US, the moneyline betting meaning can also be termed the “head-to-head” or a “win bet” market. It’s worth noting that whilst the concept remains the same, UK and European bookmakers typically present these odds in fractional or decimal format rather than the American plus/minus system.

So, you’re probably wondering what is a moneyline bet and why does it use a plus and a minus symbol.

Essentially, the minus symbol signals that the sportsbook has determined this team to be the favourite to win, with the team identified with plus odds deemed to be the underdog.

Simply put, the favourite costs more to bet on, while the underdogs offer higher payouts, although they are considered riskier bets.

To help illustrate this, say you’re looking to make a bet on an NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. In the example below, the bookies have priced the Chiefs at -150, whereas the Eagles are +130, meaning the Chiefs are slight favourites.

As you can see from this example: 

Once you understand the moneyline in sports betting and its easy-to-follow odds format, you can see why it’s not only one of the most popular betting markets in every sport but is ideal for new bettors who are learning their way around the sports betting landscape.

Responsible Gambling Notice: Please gamble responsibly by setting clear limits, using licensed operators only, and seeking help if needed. Never wager money you cannot afford to lose. 

Among different types of bettors, what does moneyline mean in sports betting? Is this market solely for newcomers learning the basics, or do experienced professionals regularly include moneyline bets in their strategy?

The answer might surprise you, as the simplistic nature of moneyline betting makes it incredibly popular with both betting newbies as well as highly-seasoned sports bettors.

For beginners, the moneyline markets are ideal for getting to grips with how sports betting odds work. Furthermore, it appeals because all you have to do is predict who will win, unlike other, more complex sports betting markets, including the spread or correct score markets.

But make no mistake – the pros love moneyline markets, too.

Experienced bettors enjoy moneyline as they use it to spot mispriced bets, where a team, often the underdog, has inflated odds in relation to their actual chances of winning.

These value bets arise if a sportsbook incorrectly determines a team’s chances of winning, or pro betters can ‘fade the market’, which occurs when sportsbooks increase a team’s odds to counter the surge in wagering on the other team, often the favourite.

Due to the format of moneyline bets and their easy odds calculations, you can wager on any sporting event you can think of.

Whilst we used an NFL Chiefs-Eagles matchup earlier, other examples of moneyline betting in sports include betting on the MLB or NBA, which also create high-value betting scenarios.

For those asking how does moneyline work in Major League Baseball, we only have to look at the final game of the World Series, where the New York Yankees (-140) were at home looking to prevent the Los Angeles Dodgers (+120) from securing their seventh World Series title.

Not unsurprisingly, many bettors correctly predicted the Dodgers would seal the series with a win, which at +120 odds gave excellent value to bettors.

Perhaps another great use of moneyline bets can be demonstrated by picking an NBA matchup with an outright favorite, such as when the Boston Celtics played the Charlotte Hornets.

Here, the sportsbooks correctly predicted the Celtics would win easily and listed their odds as -2000 against the Hornets at +1400. So, while the returns weren’t huge, it was a relatively low-risk bet for those confident in Boston’s firepower against Charlotte.  

Outside of the NFL, MLB, and NBA, moneyline bets are incredibly popular and can also be applied to all of your favorite sports, including:

So, what does moneyline mean in sports betting? Quite simply, it’s a no-frills, no-fuss betting market where all you have to do is pick the winner, making it appealing to both new bettors and seasoned pros. 

The great thing about moneyline bets, aside from their straightforward appeal, is that the more you practise betting, the better you’ll get at spotting value bets. Mastering moneyline markets can open up valuable wagering opportunities on your favourite sports.