Understanding Moneylines
If you’re just getting into the world of sports betting, then you’ve probably already heard the term ‘moneyline’ being used. It’s an important keyword in the gambling realm as it’s used in almost every sport. It’s one of the basics that you’ll have to know if you’re going to play, so let’s take a closer look at what it means and where its used.
What Is The Moneyline?
The term moneylines can have two definitions: a type of bet and also the odds attached to certain bets. Starting with the type of bet, moneyline bets simply focus on the outright winner of a game. With point spreads, you have to consider a margin of victory. With totals, you’re looking at the combined score of the two sides involved in the game. But if you’re betting on the moneyline, your only focus is who will win the game outright. There is no tying; just winning or losing. But there is more to understanding the moneyline, including the odds and what they tell you. Read on below to get a better idea of how they work.
If you’re referring to the moneyline odds, those are frequently seen across the sportsbook next to point spreads, totals and many other types of lines. In many ways, “the moneyline” is just a synonym for the word “odds”.
Moneyline Betting
Remember that every spread still has a moneyline attached to it. While that might be a bit confusing, all that refers to is the cost of betting the spread; not how the outcome will be decided. For example, if someone says to you that “the Patriots are laying three points but I have low juice, so my moneyline is -104”, what they are referring to is the price of betting the spread. That merely means that they are betting the spread but the moneyline attached to betting that spread is -104.
Moneylines are found all over the place in this regard as you could see a moneyline with a total. You bet whether you want to go over or under, but the moneyline could be -110 or -125 to bet that side. You see moneylines with runlines and pucklines where you bet the 1.5 line and the odds attached to it are the cost.
Where Moneylines Bets Are The Primary Options
Moneylines are the primary betting option in a number of sports. In sports like baseball and hockey, that’s the main way the betting goes as players simply decide which team will win the game. There is some spread betting with runlines and pucklines, but that is a distant second behind moneylines.
In fight sports, moneylines are the main way of doing business. You’ll see two fighters with moneylines next to their name. The same goes for tennis. When you browse around the sportsbook, you’ll see this in many sections.
Where Moneylines Bets Are The Secondary Options
In sports like football and basketball, the moneyline is considered as the secondary option next to point spreads. Points spreads are the way that most people get their action in on basketball betting and football betting because the payouts are near doubling your money and it’s a fun way to handicap the game. Betting the moneyline in those sports is less popular because you might have some big mismatches and then it becomes too challenging to have faith in the underdog winning outright or too costly to bet the favorite.
Browse through the betting sites rating guide, pick your favorite sportsbooks and head over to check their moneylines so you can practice what you've learn.