If you’re new to betting, then you may well be wondering “What does moneyline mean in betting?”. It’s a good question, and below we will explain what the term means and how to effectively make moneyline bets.
The term “moneyline betting” is one that you’ll encounter quite often when getting into sports betting, so we’ll make sure you understand the concept. How does moneyline work? Read on to find out the answer not only to this, but to other questions including what the odds mean and when it is better to use moneyline betting over other ways.
Moneyline betting explained
What is a moneyline bet? Put simply, it is a bet on the outright winner of a sporting event. It is, essentially, the most straightforward bet you can place – there’s no point spread to calculate, no over/under to negotiate. It’s literally just a straight-up bet on who will emerge the winner in any contest. For example, if the Boston Red Sox are playing the New York Yankees, and you think the Yankees will win, you bet on the Yankees. If they win, you win the bet. It is that simple, and this is what sets moneyline betting apart from the other markets you’ll see on a sporting contest.
It is also worth underlining that although it is a term that can apply worldwide, moneyline bets are usually associated with North American betting, and when you hear the term used, it will often be interchangeable with the American odds system where odds are marked as numbers with either a + or a – before them. We’ll explain a little more about how these odds work in a moment, but if you hear people talking about moneyline odds and wonder what moneyline means in betting, this will usually be what it’s all about.
Advantages
- Easy to understand
- No handicap
- Common across sports
Disadvantages
- Lower return on favorites
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How does moneyline betting work?
As we have noted, moneyline bets are quite simple: you pick an outcome and you bet on it. The key part of the question of what moneyline means in betting – the part that some people may struggle with – is how the odds work, and here we have a more complex explanation. So we already know that moneyline odds come with a plus sign (+) or a minus sign (-). The basic explanation is that the minus sign will indicate that the team or player attached to it is the favorite. Now, the complex part:
If there is a minus sign, the number represents the amount that you will need to bet to win $100. If the Yankees are listed as -130 to win, then a bet of $130 will result in winnings of $100 if you are successful.
If it is a plus sign instead, this represents the amount you will win if you bet $100 and it is successful. So if, in the same game, the Red Sox are +200, a bet of $100 will win you $200 if it comes off.
If you’re not betting $100, or any amount like it, don’t be too concerned. When filling in the bet slip, the potential winnings will be calculated based on your stake and displayed for you before you click “Bet”.
Types of outcomes on a moneyline bet
When you place a moneyline bet, there are a few outcomes you need to keep in mind. Understanding these outcomes helps manage your expectations and allows you to get more out of your betting experience.
- ✅ Winning Bet: This is the simplest outcome. If the team or player you backed as a winner, wins, the your bet is successful. The return you receive will depend on the odds when you placed the bet. I.e. if you were betting on the underdog to win and the bet comes in, your return will likely be higher than if you had bet on the favorite.
- ❌ Losing Bet: If your chosen team or player loses, the bet loses and you lose the amount you staked. It’s simply a win or a loss based on the result of the game.
- 🤝 Tie/Push: If the game results in a tie, the outcome for your bet will depend on the betting site. For moneyline bets, this usually results in what is called a ‘push’. This is where your stake is returned, so you don’t lose any money, but you don’t win any money either. Always check the sportsbook’s rules, as ties may be handled differently.
Moneyline betting examples
Depending on the sport you are betting on, moneyline betting can vary a little. This is due to the sport itself, how the scoring works, and skill gaps between teams or people.
Below, we take the most popular sports and leagues and break down how moneyline betting works for each, with examples to help you understand what the betting might look like.
NFL games are one of the clearest examples we can show you for moneyline bets, mainly because they often feature clear favorites.
Let’s take a matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders. The Chiefs are favorites at -180 and the Raiders are the underdogs at +155.
- A $100 bet on the Raiders at +155 would return $155 profit if they win.
- A $180 bet on the Chiefs at -180 would return $100 profit if they win.
Factors that affect the moneyline tend to be injuries, home advantage, and recent quarterback performance.
NBA moneylines can shift dramatically depending on star availability and back-to-back schedules.
Suppose the Los Angeles Lakers are -160 and the Sacramento Kings are +140.
- A $100 bet on the Kings at +140 would pay $140 profit.
- A $100 bet on the Lakers at -160 would return a profit of $62.50
Overall, basketball is more predictable than many other sports, so favorites often come with larger minus odds. This means you’ll need to weigh up safety versus potential return when placing these bets.
In general, baseball moneyline odds are often closer due to factors like long series and starting pitchers. As MLB games tend to be low-scoring and driven by pitchers, the underdogs frequently win more times than in other sports.
Let’s zoom in on a matchup with the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals. The Cubs are underdogs at +115, whereas the Cardinals are favored at -135.
- A $100 bet on the Cubs at +115 returns $115 profit if they win.
- A $100 bet on the Cardinals at -135 returns $74 profit.
Hockey games are another market that can feature close moneylines odds. Again, this is likely because many matchups are low-scoring and can sometimes come down to a single goal.
Moneylines here do prove popular though, especially during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
For example, a match between Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks, with Oilers favored at -145 and Canucks at +125.
- A $100 bet on the Canucks at +125 would return $125 profit.
- A $145 bet on the Oilers at -145 would return $100 profit if they win.
Golf moneylines will look different, simply because the betting field is much bigger. Instead of betting on two teams, you’re picking between many different golfers.
You’ve got options like two-ball and three-ball markets too, where you are choosing the golfer with the lowest round score within a small group of golfers.
- Rory McIlroy +900 to win the tournament
- Scottie Scheffler +1100
- Two-ball matchup: McIlroy -120 vs Fleetwood +100
So, on this occasion, a $100 bet on McIlroy at +900 would return $900 profit if he wins outright.
3-way moneyline betting explained
A 3-way moneyline adds a third outcome to the mix. Where a traditional moneyline works on a win or lose outcome, the 3-way moneyline introduces a draw/tie outcome. This market is common in sports like hockey and soccer, where ties are more likely to occur.
So, instead of choosing between Team A or Team B and a win or lose, you can also bet on the match ending as a draw at regulation. This means if the game is tied after the regulation line such as 60 minutes, if you bet on the tie then you would win, regardless of any extra time that may occur.
As you have three outcomes here, instead of two, the odds on each will typically be better than a standard moneyline. However, the added risk of a draw means you must be confident in your bet.
Common moneyline betting mistakes
Even though moneyline wagering is a simple form of betting, it can be easy to make a few mistakes. Here are some of the more common ones to avoid:
⭐️ Betting on heavy favorites
Betting big on teams at -300 can feel like a ‘safe’ bet, but seasoned bettors will know there is no such thing. One upset could erase several winning bets, so make sure you do your research. This includes any bias, so evaluating personal favorites and weighing up their odds is crucial.
In sports like soccer, overlooking the draw/tie option in a 3-way moneyline could lead to unnecessary losses.
Before placing that moneyline, do a quick scout of other sportsbooks and check the odds. Even small differences like +135 vs +140 can add up over time.
Although backing a team that has won three straight matches seems tempting, don’t forget to look at the whole picture. Areas like injuries, opponents, venue all matter, and taking a more rounded approach could help you in the long run.
📊 Forgetting home and away impact
Across all sports, the performance of some teams is impacted on the venue and whether they are playing home or away. Try to factor this in when deciding your bets.
If you’re keen to start exploring moneyline betting, you’ll be pleased to know that many sportsbooks provide welcome bonuses for new bettors. These bonuses not only help you explore the site and get used to the layout, but can help you maximize your moneyline bets.
Sportsbooks will typically put on bonuses such as deposit matches, boosts, enhanced odds, and sports specific offers. Below are a few examples of the best sports promos available. Bonuses will vary by region though, so always check the banners on this page for the offer that is relevant to your location.
Stake.com is a well-known sportsbook globally, and it currently offers a generous 200% bonus when you deposit at least $50. The maximum bonus you can receive is $2,000, and you’ll need to use promo code
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The Stake.com sports betting site features thousands of pre-game and in-play markets each week. These sports include soccer, basketball, baseball, and much more. You can also access live streaming that covers many global events and matches.
BC.Game – 200% up to $500
BC.Game is known for its large sports coverage, with 40+ sports markets, as well as live betting and no maximum bet limits. New users can currently grab up to $500 in bonus bets with the 200% deposit boost.
This bonus is ideal for players who want to try moneyline wagering, as this will be an option on most markets. The site also boasts integrated livestreams, so you can easily follow your bets in real-time.
Shuffle – 100% up to $1,000
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The types of sports covered range from hockey to tennis to football, so it’s a solid option if you enjoy simple and intuitive moneyline betting. Just don’t forget the promo code
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Comparing moneyline to points spread betting
We already have an answer to the “What does moneyline mean in betting” question. The next thing to understand is what makes it different from other kinds of bet. We’ll look first at how it compares to points spread betting on a
new sports betting platform.
In a points spread bet, the odds will be the same for each team. Consider an NFL showdown between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets. The odds will be -110 for each team for the purposes of this bet. What makes it different from a moneyline bet is that the bookmakers will place a points handicap on the favorites. So it may be that the Steelers are considered likely to win by at least ten points. In this case, the odds will be:
- Pittsburgh -110
- NY Jets (+10.5) -110
If Pittsburgh wins by a score of 24-13, then a bet on them will win because they’ve “beaten the spread”. If it is 24-14, on the other hand, that would be a win for the Jets. In moneyline betting, however favored the Steelers might be, a bet on them would be a winner because all that matters is who wins the game. What does moneyline mean in betting on A vs B competitions? It simply means that the winner on the pitch is also the winner on your bet.
When to choose moneyline over points spread bets
The points spread has its place in betting, but you should choose a moneyline bet if:
- The spread seems too large and not great value
- You are confident in the upset and don’t think a spread is needed
- You simply want a cleaner wager – win/lose, that’s it
| Bet Type |
Main Focus |
Complexity |
Best For |
| Moneyline |
Who wins |
Low |
New bettors |
| Point Spread |
Margin of victory |
Medium |
Close matchups |
| Totals (Over/Under) |
Combined score |
Medium |
Scoring trends |
Conclusion–place your first moneyline wagers with ease
So, what does moneyline mean in betting? It is, all things considered, the easiest way to bet on a team or player who you think has a chance of winning a match or tournament. You simply back your chosen outcome and either it wins or loses – it’s that straightforward. You may choose to put your money on a points spread wager instead.
Once you have understood the odds, you can bet on moneyline markets at the
best online bookmakers
across the whole gamut of sports, from US baseball to German soccer, and it will remain every bit as simple.
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What does moneyline mean in betting FAQ
🏈 What happens if I bet on a moneyline market and the game is tied?
Good question – and the answer is that it depends on the sportsbook. At most sites, if the game ends in a tie, moneyline bets will simply be voided (or pushed). This means you get your money back and there are no winnings. It’s effectively as though the bet never happened. However, this isn’t always the case, so check with the bookmaker before betting.
🤔 Are moneyline bets better than points spreads?
No one type of bet is “better” per se than another, as it depends to a great degree on what you are looking for from the bet. If you want a simple win/loss bet or to back an underdog you feel has a real chance, then yes, moneyline bets are the better choice. Think of them as clubs in a golf bag; the best choice will depend on your situation.
📊 Can moneyline bets be used in parlays?
Yes! After all,
what is a same game parlay? It’s a type of bet that allows you to bet on multiple outcomes within a game that’s taking place – so you may want to bet on Team A to win, for there to be more than 40 points scored, and for player X to make more than 100 yards. Very often, a moneyline bet will be the first stage of a multi-part parlay.
