Moneyline Betting Explained
A moneyline bet is the simplest wager in sports betting: pick the team or player you think will win the game outright. There is no point spread to cover — you just need your side to win. Moneyline odds in Ohio are displayed in American format, with negative numbers for favorites and positive numbers for underdogs.
Example
The minus sign on Steelers -180 means you must wager $180 to win $100. The plus sign on Browns +150 means a $100 wager wins $150 if Cleveland upsets Pittsburgh.
When to Use It
- You believe the favorite will win comfortably and the spread is too high
- You expect a close game and want to back the underdog outright
- In low-scoring sports like baseball or hockey where spreads are narrow
- When parlaying multiple favorites — moneyline parlays compound payouts faster
Common Pitfalls
- Heavy favorites pay tiny returns (e.g., -400 returns just $25 on a $100 bet)
- Moneyline parlays multiply the juice quickly — three -150 favorites parlay to less than 4-to-1
- Always check for reduced-juice promos before placing a moneyline bet
For Ohio bettors, moneyline shopping across DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, bet365, and Caesars can produce 5-15 cents of value on heavy favorites. Even a -160 vs -175 line difference compounds to meaningful long-term ROI.
FAQ
What does a -150 moneyline mean?
You must risk $150 to win $100 in profit. A winning $150 wager returns $250 total ($100 profit plus your $150 stake).
What does a +200 moneyline mean?
A $100 wager wins $200 in profit if the team wins outright. Your total return on a winning bet is $300.
Is a moneyline bet better than a spread bet?
It depends on the matchup. Moneyline bets are simpler but pay less on favorites. Spread bets require winning by a specific margin but offer better juice on favorites.
Place Your First Bet
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