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Video Transcript:

Even though there are tons of ways to gamble on sports, sometimes you just want to make a simple straight up bet on which team’s going to win the game.

In sports betting that’s called the moneyline and today we’re going to explain everything you need to know about it step by step.
We’ll explain how it works, how to make sense of the odds and we’ll also run through a couple examples of moneyline bets to make sure it’s all crystal clear.

Let’s dive in.


WHAT IS BETTING THE MONEYLINE?

When you’re betting moneylines all you have to do is choose which team’s going to win the game.

There are no point spreads or anything else to worry about. If your team wins the game, you win your bet.

How much you win depends on the odds. Those are the numbers you see next to the team names on moneyline bets.

Let’s look at example to show you what we’re talking about.
In this example bet on the NFL, the Atlanta Falcons are set to take on the Washington Redskins.

You’ll always see both teams listed one above the other with the home team on the bottom.

Next to the team names are the odds. In this case the Falcons are listed at +105 and the Redskins are at -125.

There are a few things these numbers tell you.

First, the negative number tells you which team is the favorite. It also tells you how much you have to bet to win $100 in profit.

In this example a $125 bet on Washington would pay out $225: that’s $100 in profit plus the original $125 bet.

The positive number tells you which team is the underdog. It also tells you how much profit you’ll make for every $100 you bet.

In this example a $100 bet on Atlanta would pay out $205 total: your original $100 bet plus $105 in profit.

Favorites always pay out less than your bet and underdogs always pay out more.

Another thing to remember is that even though the odds use $100 units, you can bet any amount you want. When you place your bet the sportsbook will apply this odds ratio and tell you exactly how much you stand to win.


MONEYLINE MATCHUPS

The odds tell you how much you’ll win but they also tell you something about the matchup.

The bigger the numbers, the bigger the skill difference between the two teams. Another way to think about it is the bigger the numbers, the more likely it is for the favorite to win.

In this next example the Chicago Bears are playing the Buffalo Bills and the numbers are way bigger.

If you made a $100 moneyline bet on the Bills it would pay out a massive $425 in profit. Remember, the bigger the payout, the longer the odds and the less likely you’re going to win.

Betting on the Bears, on the other hand, is way more likely to win but you have to bet $550 just to win $100 in profit.

Just like everything in gambling, risk and reward are directly related. More risk means more reward and less risk means you’ll win more often but profit less.


MONEYLINE BETS IN MAJOR SPORTS

Regardless of whether you want to bet on the NFL, NBA, NHL or Major League Baseball, moneylines are probably the first betting lines you’ll see when you open up an online casino.

People love moneyline bets because they’re simple and they let you bet on your favorite teams to win.

They’re also popular because unlike point spreads and totals, moneylines offer relatively long odds on big underdogs. That means if there’s a big upset, you can cash in big.

For lots more information on how moneyline bets work plus tips and betting strategies, check out our full guide on WSN.com.


Thanks for watching and good luck.

Find out more about Kurt Long here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1273767/