Product
Moneyline
Last reviewed 24 September 2026
What is Moneyline?
A bet on which side wins outright, with no handicap applied. The simplest wager in US sports betting, priced in American odds.
Key takeaways
- A moneyline bet asks only who wins, with no spread or margin of victory, so the price alone reflects the difference in strength.
- In American odds a favourite at -350 needs 350 staked to win 100, while an underdog at +280 wins 280 from a 100 stake.
- Moneylines anchor pricing for handicaps, totals and derivative markets, and are the entry point for most new sports bettors.
Why it matters
A moneyline bet asks only who wins. There is no spread to cover and no margin of victory to consider, so the price alone carries the difference in perceived strength. A heavy favourite might be -350, requiring 350 staked to win 100, while the underdog is +280. In sports where draws are possible the market is three-way, and in North American sports where ties are rare it is effectively two-way with overtime rules resolving the result.
Moneylines are the reference market for pricing everything else. Handicaps, totals and derivative markets are all consistent with the same underlying win probability, so a moneyline that moves drags the rest with it. They are also the entry point for most new customers, being the easiest wager to understand, which is why sportsbooks feature them prominently in acquisition marketing. For heavy favourites the format becomes unattractive on its own, which is exactly why point spreads and handicaps exist.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a moneyline bet?
A moneyline bet is a wager on which side wins outright, with no handicap applied. There is no spread to cover, so the price carries all the difference in perceived strength. It is the simplest wager in US sports betting and is quoted in American odds, with a minus sign for the favourite and a plus sign for the underdog.
How do moneyline odds work?
A negative price shows how much must be staked to win 100: at -350 a bettor stakes 350 to win 100. A positive price shows how much a 100 stake wins: at +280 the bettor wins 280. In both cases the stake is returned with the winnings. Where draws are possible the market is three-way rather than two-way.
What is the difference between a moneyline and a point spread?
A moneyline pays if the chosen side wins by any margin, with the price adjusted for strength. A point spread applies a handicap, so the favourite must win by more than the line for the bet to pay, and both sides are priced near even money. For heavy favourites the moneyline becomes unattractive on its own, which is why spreads exist.