In this guide, we'll cover all the basics of Moneyline betting, including what it means and how to place bets. Whether you're a seasoned bettor looking to expand your knowledge, or a casual gambler looking to spice up your betting game, this guide has everything you need to know about Moneyline betting.

Understanding Moneyline betting

Moneyline betting is a straightforward, yet popular type of sports betting. With a Moneyline bet, you are essentially picking which team or player you think will win the game or sports event outright. No point spread, margin of victory, or handicaps are involved, as you are simply betting on the outcome of the game.

The odds are expressed in the form of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign, indicating the amount you stand to win or lose on a particular bet.

How Moneyline betting works

When you place a Moneyline bet, you are betting on either the favorite or the underdog. The favorite is the team or player that is expected to win, and the underdog is the team or player expected to lose.

The odds for the favorite will have a minus sign (-) in front of them, indicating the amount you need to bet to win $100. The odds for the underdog will have a plus sign (+) in front of them, indicating the amount you stand to win if you bet $100.

For example, in an NFL game, if Los Angeles is the favorite, their Moneyline odds could be -150, while New York’s odds could be +200. This means that if you bet $150 on Los Angeles and they win, you would win $100, while a $100 bet on New York would yield a $200 profit if they win.

Moneyline betting is a popular way to bet on a variety of sports, including football, basketball, baseball, hockey, tennis, and more. It is a simple and straightforward way of betting and can be a good option for both beginners and experienced bettors.

How to place a Moneyline bet

Moneyline bets are a great place to start your betting journey. Placing a Moneyline bet is a simple process that can be done in these few steps:

1. Select your game: Pick a game or sports event you want to bet on. When navigating ESPN BET, there will be a list of upcoming games or matches, organized by sport and date, as well as live in-play events.
2. Choose your bet: Once you have selected the game, choose the Moneyline bet option for the player or team you are backing. The Moneyline odds for each team or player should be displayed next to their name. The favorite will have a negative number, while the underdog will have a positive number.
3. Enter your stake: Enter the amount you want to bet in the bet amount box. The potential payout will be displayed based on the odds and your stake.
4. Confirm your bet: After you have entered your stake, confirm your bet by clicking the confirm bet button.
5. Follow the game: Once your bet is placed, follow the game or match to see if you win. If the team or player you bet on wins, your winnings will be credited to your account.

What to know about Moneyline betting?

Moneyline betting uses several key terms and concepts that you should familiarize yourself with before you begin your betting journey. Here are some of the important terms that you should know about this type of betting:

Favorites

The favorite is the team or player expected to win the game, and as a result, will have a negative number next to their name. For example, if Buffalo is playing Pittsburgh, and Buffalo is -150, this means they are the favorite, and you would need to bet $150 to win $100.

Underdogs

The underdog is the team or player expected to lose and will have a positive number next to their name. Using the same example, if Pittsburgh is +200, this means they are the underdog, and you would win $200 if you bet $100 and they end up winning the game.

Even

The concept of evens, or pick 'em, means that both teams or players are so closely matched in their likelihood to win or lose that they have the same odds, and the payout is even money (1:1). This means that if you bet $100 on a team at evens, and they win, you would receive $100 in winnings. Even games will have the 'EV' for even or 'PK' for pick 'em on the Moneyline.

Three-way line

The three-way line is commonly used in soccer betting. This involves betting on a home win, draw, or away win. The odds for a three-way line can be quite different, as the odds of a draw are often much higher than the odds of either team winning outright.

Differences from spread betting

Spread betting involves betting on the margin of victory or defeat, while Moneyline betting focuses on simply picking the winner of a game or match.

When you place a Moneyline bet, you are betting on which team or athlete will come out on top, regardless of the margin of victory. This means that if you bet on the favorite to win, you will likely receive a lower payout than if you bet on the underdog, and you may need to bet a significant amount of money to make a worthwhile return on your investment.

On the other hand, spread betting uses the point handicap to give you better odds for the favorite compared to the odds for an outright win. However, spread betting also comes with its own set of risks and challenges, as the favorite must win by a specific margin for the bet to win.

Moneyline betting markets

Moneyline betting is a popular and straightforward betting market that can be used in a variety of sports. These sports include:

American Football

In American football, the Moneyline betting market is a popular choice for many bettors. For example, a Moneyline bet on New York to beat Carolina might have odds of -150 for New York and +180 for Carolina. This means that you would need to wager $150 on the New York to win $100, while a $100 bet on Carolina would return $180 in winnings if you win the game.

Basketball

Basketball also offers the Moneyline betting market, with odds typically given for the overall winner of the game. For example, a Moneyline bet on Indiana to beat Utah might have odds of -210 for Indiana and +160 for Utah.

Ice Hockey

Ice hockey is another sport that lets you enjoy the Moneyline betting market. For instance, a Moneyline bet on Florida to beat Colorado might have odds of -135 for Florida and +115 for Colorado.

Baseball

Baseball is a sport that attracts a lot of Moneyline betting activity. A Moneyline bet on Chicago to beat Oakland might have odds of -140 for Chicago and +120 for Oakland.

Soccer

Soccer offers the Moneyline betting option; specifically, the three-way line with odds typically given for a home win, draw, or away win. For example, a Moneyline bet on Manchester City to beat Liverpool might have odds of -260 for City, +400 for a draw, and +600 for Liverpool.

How are Moneyline bets calculated?

Moneyline bets are one of the most straightforward types of sports betting. With this bet, you simply pick which team you think will win the game, and your payout is based on the odds assigned to that team. The odds for each team are determined by their probability of winning, which is influenced by several factors, including recent form, H2H results, home advantage, injuries, suspensions, etc.

Moneyline odds are displayed with a plus or minus sign. A minus sign indicates the favorite, and the number represents how much you would need to bet to win $100. A plus sign indicates the underdog, and the number represents how much you would win if you bet $100.

For example, if the odds are -200, you would need to bet $200 to win $100, while if the odds are +150, you would win $150 if you bet $100. There are several Moneyline betting calculators available online that can help you calculate your potential payout based on the odds.

What are the advantages of Moneyline betting?

Are you wondering if Moneyline bets are good for you? Here are some of the reasons why Moneyline betting remains such a popular market amongst casual and experienced bettors:

• Unlike point-spread bets, Moneyline bets are not influenced by the scoreline. A Moneyline bet is determined by which team or player wins, making them a simpler alternative.

• Moneyline betting can offer frequent wins of low payouts when you back the favorites making it an ideal choice for conservative bettors.

Moneyline betting FAQs

Whether you are new to the world of sports betting or just looking to learn more about Moneyline betting, this section has the answers to some of the most common questions people ask about Moneyline betting:

What are Moneyline bets?

A Moneyline bet is a wager on which you back a team or player to win a specific game or match. The odds on a Moneyline bet can be presented in American, decimal, or fractional formats.

Are Moneyline bets popular?

Yes, Moneyline bets are very popular because they are easy to understand, and you do not need to have any knowledge of point spreads or other complex betting strategies. You simply pick a side you believe will win a game and bet on them.

How do Moneyline bets work?

To place a Moneyline bet, you choose which team or player you think will win the game or match. If you are correct, you win your bet. The payout for a Moneyline bet depends on the odds, with underdogs offering higher payouts than favorites.

Why do Moneyline betting odds change?

Moneyline betting odds can change based on a variety of factors, including injuries to key players, changes in team form, and betting patterns from other bettors.