A moneyline is the simplest bet there is: you pick who wins. No points, no spreads. Just the winner.
How it works
Every team gets odds:
- Lakers -150: the favorite. Bet $150 to win $100.
- Hawks +130: the underdog. Bet $100 to win $130.
If your team wins, you get paid. The score doesn't matter.
How much do you win?
- Minus odds: stake × (100 ÷ odds). $50 on -150 = $33.33 profit.
- Plus odds: stake × (odds ÷ 100). $50 on +130 = $65 profit.
What the odds are really saying
Turn them into a probability:
- -150 → 60%
- +130 → 43.5%
That's the sportsbook's view, with its cut included. If you think the Hawks win 48% of the time, +130 is a good bet. If you think 40%, skip it.
When moneylines make sense
- Underdogs you believe in. Plus money on a team that's better than people think is where moneyline value usually lives.
- Low-scoring sports like hockey, baseball and soccer, where spreads are small anyway.
- Not huge favorites in parlays "for safety". At -400 you risk a lot to win a little, and upsets happen.
Key takeaways
- Moneyline = pick the winner
- Minus = favorite, plus = underdog
- Convert odds to % and compare with your own number
The bottom line
Moneylines are simple, but simple doesn't mean easy. The value is in the price, not the team. Only bet when your number beats the book's.