When you enter the world of sports betting, one of the most common and straightforward types of bets you'll come across is the Moneyline bet. It's easy to understand and ideal for beginners. Let’s break down everything you need to know about Moneyline bets.
What is a Moneyline Bet?
A Moneyline bet is the simplest form of sports betting, where you select the team, player, or side you believe will win the game or match. There is no point spread to consider; it's simply a straightforward wager on the outcome.
If your chosen team wins, you win your bet. If they lose, you lose your bet.
How does a Moneyline Bet work?
In a Moneyline bet, each team or player is assigned odds, which are either positive (+) or negative (-). These odds determine:
Which side is the favorite (more likely to win)
Which side is the underdog (less likely to win)
How much money you will win relative to your bet
A minus (-) sign indicates the favorite. You have to bet more to win a smaller profit.
A plus (+) sign indicates the underdog. You win more money compared to your bet if the underdog wins.

What are Moneyline Bet Examples?
Let’s look at a real-world example of a NBA Match between Lakers and Bulls:
Team | Moneyline Odds |
Los Angeles Lakers | -150 |
Chicago Bulls | +130 |
If you bet on the Lakers (-150), you would need to wager $150 to win $100.
If you bet on the Bulls (+130), a $100 wager would win you $130.
So, if the Lakers win, you make a smaller profit compared to your stake. If the Bulls win, you make a larger profit.
Another example in baseball:
Team | Moneyline Odds |
New York Yankees | -200 |
Boston Red Sox | +170 |
Bet $200 on Yankees to win $100.
Bet $100 on the Red Sox to win $170.
The larger the minus number, the bigger the favorite. The larger the plus number, the bigger the underdog.
What does a minus Moneyline mean?
A minus (-) before the Moneyline number indicates that the team is favored to win.
You must bet the amount shown to win $100.
For example, -150 means you have to bet $150 to win $100 in profit.
In simple terms: minus = favorite, and you risk more to win less.
What does Moneyline +125 mean?
A Moneyline of +125 means the team is the underdog.
A $100 bet would win $125 in profit.
If you bet $200, you’d win $250 in profit (because 200 x 1.25 = 250).
The positive number shows how much you can profit if your bet is successful.