Andrew Pace
Moneyline bets are a popular form of betting in basketball, especially in the NBA. Bettors simply need to select which team they think will win the game, without needing to consider the margin of victory. This makes moneyline bets one of the most straightforward and uncomplicated wagers in basketball, requiring little research. Moneyline odds are usually displayed as American odds, with a positive or negative sign in front of the value, indicating the underdog or favourite, respectively. For example, odds of -200 mean a bet of $200 is required to make a profit of $100. Moneyline bets can be placed on various basketball markets, including Over/Under, Point Spread, Futures, and Prop bets.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A moneyline bet is a wager on which team or player will win a game, match, race, tournament or fight. |
| Applicability | Moneyline bets are used in a variety of sports, including basketball, baseball, hockey and football. |
| Odds | Odds are expressed with a positive or negative sign. A negative sign implies short odds and a smaller payout, while a positive sign implies longer odds and a larger payout. |
| Payout | The bigger the underdog, the bigger the payout. Conversely, the bigger the favourite, the smaller the payout. |
| Strategy | Avoid wagering on big-time favourites. Look for teams at better value that you feel are being overlooked. |
| Research | Researching team form, head-to-head records, strengths and weaknesses, and player availability can help inform moneyline bets. |
| Flexibility | Moneyline bets are flexible, as bettors can wager on either the favourite or the underdog. |
| Simplicity | Moneyline bets are straightforward and simple, making them accessible to beginners and professional bettors alike. |
| Risk | Bettors should ask themselves, "Is the risk worth the return?" when considering a moneyline bet. |
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What You'll Learn
How to read basketball moneyline odds
Moneyline bets are some of the most straightforward in basketball. They simply involve picking which team will win the game outright, without any consideration of the margin of victory or loss. This means there are only two potential outcomes, and you’re picking one or the other.
When looking at the moneyline, each team will have either a positive or negative number next to it. The favourite will generally have a negative number, indicating how much money you need to wager to win $100. The underdog will usually have a positive number, showing how much profit you will make from a $100 stake. For example, if the Golden State Warriors are -110 and the Detroit Pistons are +110, you would have to bet $110 on the Warriors to make a $100 profit, whereas a $100 stake on the Pistons would return a profit of $110. In games that are expected to be very close, both teams may have a negative number, in which case, the team that is closer to zero is the slight favourite.
It is worth noting that the amount that can be wagered on moneyline bets varies depending on the sportsbook selected, so be sure to check your betting limits. It is also important to shop around to find the best moneyline for you, as they do change from sportsbook to sportsbook and can vary from hour to hour.
One of the biggest things to avoid when betting on moneylines is wagering on big-time favourites. For example, taking the Lakers at -300 means wagering three times what you could potentially win, and in the long run, will lead to a loss in bankroll. It is better to look for teams at better value who you feel are being overlooked by the books.
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Moneyline betting strategies
Moneyline betting is a simple and popular form of betting on basketball, where you select the winning team of a game. It is accessible to beginners and professional bettors alike.
- Avoid impulsive betting: Stick to your strategy and avoid chasing losses with impulsive bets.
- Learn from past bets: Keep a record of your bets and regularly review your betting history to identify patterns, strengths, and weaknesses in your approach.
- Avoid big-time favourites: Wagering on big-time favourites, such as taking the Lakers at -300, means betting much more than you could potentially win, leading to a loss in the bankroll over time. Look for teams at better value that you feel are being overlooked.
- Shop around: Moneylines can vary from sportsbook to sportsbook, so it's worth shopping around to find the best moneyline for you.
- Consider the underdog: Moneyline bets provide a higher payout if you back the underdog. If you feel an underdog has a good chance of winning, this can be a valuable bet.
- Understand the odds: When looking at the moneyline, each team will have either a positive or negative number next to it. The underdog will generally have a positive number, indicating higher payouts, while the favourite will generally have a negative number.
- Study the stats: If you plan to bet on individual players, it's important to study the stats as much as possible. Go beyond just watching games and look at official and betting-focused stats to make informed decisions.
- Consider other markets: While moneyline betting is simple and popular, consider other markets such as points spread or totals betting to find more value in your bets.
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Moneyline vs. spread betting
Moneyline betting is a popular option among bettors because of its straightforward nature. Bettors simply need to select which team they think will win the game. There are only two potential outcomes, and bettors are picking one or the other. This is in contrast to spread betting, which introduces a points-based handicap. For a bet on the favoured team to pay out, it must win by a specific margin (the spread), while the underdog can either win outright or lose within the set margin to cover the spread. This format evens the playing field, making the payout similar regardless of which team is bet on.
Moneyline bets are extremely uncomplicated, requiring only that the team selected wins the game without having to cover any margin of victory other than one point. This makes moneyline betting suitable for all bettors, from professionals who love the simplicity of the bet to recreational bettors who just want to place a small bet on a team to win.
On the other hand, spread betting requires more research and handicapping, which tends to lead bettors towards this type of bet where a team has to win by a specific margin. While moneyline betting is simple, it can also be confusing and intimidating, especially when it comes to understanding the fractions and decimals that may be presented.
When looking at the moneyline, each team will have either a positive or negative number next to it. The underdog will generally have a positive number, indicating how much can be won for a successful $100 bet. The favourite will generally have a negative number, indicating how much needs to be wagered to win $100. The bigger the favourite, the smaller the payout, and vice versa for underdogs.
Moneyline bets provide a higher payout if you back the underdog, and a better chance of winning the bet altogether if you take the favourite. However, betting on heavy favourites often requires a large stake for a modest return, and upsets can lead to significant losses.
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Moneyline bets and underdog betting
Moneyline bets are a popular and uncomplicated way of betting on basketball. Bettors simply need to select which team they think will win the game, without worrying about margins of victory or spreads. This makes moneyline bets attractive to both professional and recreational bettors.
Moneyline bets are straightforward and easy to place, requiring bettors to select just one of two potential outcomes: the team they think will win. Bettors can place moneyline bets on a sportsbook by locating the moneyline odds and selecting their chosen team. The amount that can be wagered on moneyline bets varies depending on the sportsbook selected, with most accepting small wager amounts as well as larger bets.
When considering moneyline bets, value is the most important factor. Bettors should ask themselves, "Is the risk worth the return?". Moneyline bets on the underdog can offer higher payouts, as sportsbooks offer bigger odds on the team or player considered less likely to win. For example, if the Golden State Warriors were playing the Phoenix Suns, the Suns would likely be the underdog as the Warriors are currently the better team.
Underdog betting can be profitable, as the payouts are much more attractive. However, bettors should be aware that underdogs statistically lose more often than they win. Therefore, when betting on the underdog, it is crucial to ensure that the conditions are right. For instance, if a lot of people are betting on the favourite, the odds of the underdog will become more attractive, making them a more valuable bet.
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Moneyline bets and favourite betting
Moneyline betting is a simple and popular form of betting on basketball. It is a straightforward wager that merely requires bettors to select which team they think will win a game, without having to cover any margin of victory other than one point. Bettors need not worry about the margin of victory or loss, making moneyline bets a less stressful option.
Moneyline bets are extremely common, and odds will always be one of the first numbers visible when viewing any odds associated with an NBA game. Bettors simply need to locate the moneyline odds and select the team they think will win. The amount that can be wagered varies depending on the sportsbook selected, with most accepting small wager amounts as well as bets up to thousands of dollars.
Moneyline odds are expressed with either a positive or negative number next to the team. The underdog will generally have a positive number, indicating longer odds and a larger payout. The favourite will generally have a negative number, indicating short odds and a smaller payout. For example, odds of -200 mean that a bet of $200 is required to make a profit of $100. On the other hand, odds of +300 mean that a $100 bet will come with a profit of $300. The bigger the favourite or underdog, the smaller or bigger the payout, respectively.
When betting on favourites, it is important to consider the value of the odds. Betting on a strong favourite often requires a big stake investment for a small return. For example, when the Brooklyn Nets beat the Indiana Pacers in April 2022, they were heavy favourites rated at -2400, meaning a $100 wager would only have returned a $10 profit. However, if both teams are in good form, the odds will be closer, and bettors can often find fairly good odds on the home side in such closely matched contests.
It is also worth noting that betting on big-time favourites should generally be avoided. For example, taking the Lakers at -300 means wagering three times what could be potentially won, leading to a loss in bankroll. Instead, bettors should look to back teams at better value who they feel are being overlooked by the books.
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