Last updated on: November 21st, 2023
Betting On The Moneyline
When it comes to the most popular ways to bet on sports, moneyline betting is at the top of the list. This is due to its simplicity: the moneyline is simply the odds for each team to win the game outright. It is referred to as the “moneyline” because the odds are displayed in a format that provides the bettor with information about the payout. The team with better odds to win the matchup is referred to as the favorite. The favorite’s odds are represented at legal sports betting sites by a negative number (-150). This number is the size of the wager that would need to be placed to win a $100 profit. In this example, a bettor would have to place a $150 bet to profit $100.
The team that has a lesser chance of winning the game is referred to as the underdog. The underdog’s odds are represented by a positive number (+150). This number is the amount of money a bettor would profit on a $100 bet. Therefore, in this example, if a bettor placed a winning $100 bet on the underdog, the bettor would profit $150. It is important to note that the original wager is not included in a moneyline. A winning moneyline bet (favorite or underdog) will always return your original wager, plus the profit. Anyone looking for everything surrounding what is a moneyline bet should further explore this detailed page.
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#1
Bovada Sportsbook
Best Online Sportsbook For ML Betting
When it comes to how to bet a moneyline at Bovada, the process could not get much easier. When you first visit an online sports betting site, you will be overwhelmed with moneyline betting opportunities from a variety of sports. As long as you have already funded your Bovada account, you can wager on hundreds of different moneyline bets in a matter of seconds.
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#2
BetOnline Sportsbook
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When using BetOnline, you’ll enjoy being able to take advantage of not one but two $1,000 bonuses. The first is a 50% match on your first deposit of up to $1,000 when using any deposit method. When using cryptocurrency, they offer a 100% first deposit match of up to $1,000 as well. They make these bonuses very easy to use and easy to find as they are both offered to you right on their homepage and also right when you finish signing up for your account.
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#3
MyBookie Sportsbook
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Betting from your phone can be done extremely easily with MyBookie as they have one of the top mobile betting platforms out there. This is because their layout is almost exactly like their layout on a computer just from a mobile device like an iPhone or Android. They optimize their platform continuously as well to make it easier more often. From your mobile device, you can log in place bets, and cash out all within minutes.
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What Is A Three-Way Moneyline?
Three-way moneylines are almost identical to traditional moneylines, but with one major difference. This type of bet is only offered for certain sports, like soccer and hockey, that can end in a tie. A three-way moneyline offers bettors the ability to bet on one of the three possible outcomes of a game: the favorite wins, the underdog wins, or the game is tied at the end of regulation. The odds for each of these outcomes at legal sportsbook online are presented in the same way as traditional moneylines. This is the most popular way to bet on soccer and provides slightly longer odds than a two-way moneyline.
Opening Moneyline Odds Vs. Closing Moneyline Odds
A very important factor of betting the moneyline is referred to as “line movement.” This is when the moneyline odds for a matchup change. Moneylines are not set in stone, and often move for a variety of reasons. When a bookmaker releases their first set of odds for a contest, they are referred to as the “opening odds.” Often, bettors will place more action on one side of the opening odds than the other. In an attempt to balance the amount of money on both sides of the bet, a bookmaker may alter the odds to encourage more bets on the lesser-bet side. This can happen multiple times before the beginning of the game, and when the odds are set before live betting begins, this set of odds are called the “closing odds.”
Reasons To Follow Line Movement
- Provides valuable information about how the game is being bet.
- Allows you to “shop lines” and find a disparity between sportsbooks.
Is It Best To Always Bet On The Favorite’s Moneyline?
While it can be tempting to bet the favorite in a moneyline bet, it is not always smart to do so. This is due to the nature of the sportsbook payouts for moneyline bets. When betting a favorite, you will always have to risk more money than you would profit, which could quickly lead to a depleted bankroll if even one loss occurs. On the other hand, if you bet on the underdog, you will win more profit than you risked but will be able to lose more bets before running out of money. Therefore, it is important to look at the NFL team schedules to help decide which side you want to bet on only after weighing the risk and reward.
Sports That Have Moneyline Odds
- Football
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Hockey
- Soccer
- UFC/MMA
- Golf
- Boxing
- Tennis
- NASCAR
Does Every Game Have A Moneyline To Bet?
Not all games will offer a moneyline. Certain matchups may be so lopsided that no matter what the bookmaker sets the odds at, both sides will not be bet evenly. This is most common when college football betting, often in matchups between a member of a Power-5 conference and a member of a smaller conference. Sportsbooks that do not offer a moneyline for a game will sometimes still offer point spread betting, allowing bettors to still place their wagers on the game.
Why Are The ML Odds The Same For A Game?
Some games may be too close to choose a favorite and be considered a “pick ’em”. In this type of scenario, legal sportsbooks may offer the same odds for both sides of the matchup for moneyline betting. You can bet on either of these teams and receive the same payout for a winning bet.
How To Shop For A Better Moneyline
If you plan to bet on a team that is a (-135) favorite on one sportsbook, you should check other leading sportsbooks’ odds for the same game. It is very possible that one of these sportsbooks offers that same bet for (-125) odds, allowing you to risk less money for the same payout simply by using a different sportsbook.
