Diving into the world of sports betting, one of the most fundamental wagers you’ll encounter is the moneyline bet. It’s a straightforward concept. You pick a team or player to win a particular contest, and if they triumph, so do you. But how exactly does one navigate this type of betting? Let’s break it down with some practical examples from popular sports like the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, and NCAA. Moneylines are also used for individual sports, like UFC, boxing, PGA, and NASCAR.
Imagine it’s game day, and you’re eyeing an NFL matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chiefs are listed as -150 favorites on the moneyline, while the Chargers are +130 underdogs. In moneyline terms, betting $150 on the Chiefs would net you $100 if they win. Conversely, a $100 wager on the Chargers could bring in $130 if they pull off an upset. It’s all about assessing risks and potential rewards.
The gap between the -150 and +130 is called a split. That is the part where the sportsbook makes its profit.
Switching courts to an NBA game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, let’s say the Lakers are at +200 as underdogs on the moneyline due to key players being sidelined with injuries. A successful $100 bet on them would yield a $200 profit. However, if you believe in the Celtics’ dominance and their -240 favorite status, you’d need to stake $240 for a chance to win an additional $100.
In both scenarios, no point spreads are involved. Your chosen team simply needs to win the game outright. Moneylines can be particularly enticing when you have strong confidence in an underdog. Those wins can be quite lucrative.
Moneylines When Betting Parlays
Moneylines may be parlayed. This is a risky way to play them. Some bettors pile on favorites. The belief there is that there will not be any upsets. This is usually a terrible idea. A parlay with several large favorites in it pays little when it hits and often finds an upset to kill it.
Gamblers looking for a big score may parlay several big underdogs. This has a huge payout when it hits. However, there rarely are more than a couple of upsets on the schedule. These are like lottery tickets, which often become worthless after the event.
Like with any type of gambling, you must play within your bankroll. Only bet money you set aside for entertainment that you can afford to lose. Responsible gambling is the key. Know when to stop. It is never too late to take a break from the action.