What's the moneyline bet and how does it work?

The moneyline is one of America’s most popular bet types. Essentially, this is a wager on the outright winner of the event and is predicated on a player or team securing a game, fight, match, or tournament.

The odds are expressed as both positive and negative numbers to help players understand which participants are favored to win, and which are less likely to win based on oddsmakers' estimates. Let’s take a closer look at how all of this works.

Understanding how the moneyline works

The moneyline is expressed as numbers of +100 or -100 in the basic example we are going to use. Every dollar you wager is weighed against 100, and vice versa, and there are positive and negative numbers assigned to each moneyline bet.

This helps us understand two things: what your expected return on $1 is, and who is favored to win. The logic is as follows:

• A positive number, +100 means that for every $100 you bet, you can expect to win $100 back in profit. In other words, you are betting on the underdog, or the team or player that is less likely to win according to the oddsmakers.
• A negative number, -100, means that to win $100, you need to bet $100. In this example, this simply means that you are betting on the favorite in the game, match, or event to win.

However, the +100 and -100 are not the only reference numbers; they are just something that is used for the purposes of this explanation. Let’s check a real example.

A real moneyline example

In the NFL 2026/2027 Season opening game, the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots were priced as follows:

• Seattle -174
• Patriots +146

Based on what we already know, this allows us to determine several things. Our expected value from each bet and who is more likely.

Going off the example, the Seattle Seahawks are clearly the favorites with -174. This means for every $100 we want to win, we need to bet $174.

Vice versa, the New England Patriots are priced at +146, and they are the underdogs. In this case, you can expect to win $146 for every $100 you bet.

Are moneyline bets worth your while?

Yes, moneyline bets are worth anyone’s while. They are the simplest type of wager you may place, as you will only focus on the binary option - will a specific participant win? Not by how much, not by scoring first, but simply by outplaying their opponent.

Moneyline bets traditionally carry a lower theoretical risk, as they simply ask you to back one of two outcomes, and nothing else. There is no multi-leg betting as in parlays, nor trying to pinpoint results down to the points as in spread betting, or engaging in the high-paced action of live betting.

For all intents and purposes, moneyline bets are worth your while as they offer a simple way of engaging with sports betting, and do away with most of the added complexities of the game.

Sportsbook UI makes moneylines easy

Even if you feel a little intimidated by the numerical values and the plus (+) and minus (-) used to denote the underdog and favorite, respectively, sportsbooks make sure to offer you a simple enough way to comprehend the information you act on.

Further to that, players can use the Betting Slip. This is the tool that automatically calculates how much you stand to theoretically win based on the odds and the amount you have placed.

It serves as a great way to check if you have understood the selection prior to committing.

Mistakes to avoid when placing moneyline bets

Just like most forms of sports betting, moneyline bets also invite a certain risk, and this type of market needs to be approached with caution.

#1 Never bet big on a single wager

Although you may hear about Drake and Mattress Mack wagering hundreds of thousands on a single moneyline, you should definitely not do that. Remember to play responsibly and never overextend your budget.

#2 Don’t try to make up for a loss

Many sports bettors, especially beginners, feel like they should make up for a loss by increasing the size of their next bet(s). This is wrong. Remember to

#3 You are not obligated to bet

Another common rookie mistake is that people think that just because there is a big event around the corner, they need to bet. This is wrong. You should only ever bet on games or players that you feel comfortable backing - for whatever reason.

#4 Set a budget and stick to it

Always make sure to have a budget and never exceed it when it comes to your gambling, be that sports betting, casino gameplay, or even lottery games.

Moneyline Bets FAQs

Is moneyline betting a good market?

Yes, the moneyline is a good sports betting market. It is easy to comprehend and bet on, showing you both the value of your bet, as well as who is more likely to win. It does away with many of the variables that bet types such as parlays and spread bets introduce, making it a perfect fit for beginners.

What does +150 mean in a bet?

The numerical value in a moneyline bet expresses the implied probability of an event happening. The plus means that a contender is less likely to win and that for every $100 you bet, you would win $150 in profits. Conversely, a -150 would mean that you need to bet $150 to win $100 in profits.

Can you bet more than just the moneyline on the same game?

Yes, you may have a moneyline bet placed on a game, but you may still place other bets on the same game independent of your moneyline bet. You can also include the game as part of a parlay on top of already betting on it separately.

Is moneyline betting difficult to understand?

No, not at all. The implied probability and the favorite are easy to comprehend. You can also quickly calculate how you stand to win, making it a very easy format to bet on and follow.

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