What Is a Moneyline Bet? How Moneyline Odds Work

A moneyline bet is the simplest wager: you pick which side wins the game. The margin doesn't matter.

Moneylines are usually shown in American odds. The favorite has a minus sign and the underdog a plus sign:

• -150 (favorite): you must risk $150 to win $100. A $15 bet wins $10, and you get $25 back in total.
• +130 (underdog): a $100 bet wins $130. A $10 bet wins $13, and you get $23 back in total.

In sports that can end level (like soccer), a moneyline may have three outcomes: home, draw, away. In the NFL, a tie is rare. Many books grade a two-way moneyline as a push (stake refunded) if the game ends tied, but check each book's rules.

Because favorites pay less than even money, picking winners isn't enough. Your price matters, which is why comparing books helps (see line shopping).