What Is A Moneyline Bet Articles | Gambling

By: Richard Bleuze

The moneyline is used to equal out the attractiveness of the favorite and the underdog for the typical sports bettor. Moneyline results are decided by an event’s winner, without regard to any point spread, since there is no point spread. Oddsmakers set the moneyline so that more money must be risked on the favorite and less money on the underdog in an effort to balance the willingness of bettors to back the respective sides of a contest.

Keep in mind that sports books only make a commission (also known as juice or vigorish) when the favorite loses in a moneyline.  That's why few sports book offers a moneyline on major sports.

Besides sports like NASCAR and golf, where the margin of victory doesn’t really matter, the moneyline is also the standard way to bet MLB. If a point spread were used with baseball, the smallest amount a line could be moved would be a ½ run.  Thus, using a point spread in baseball would not allow an evening of the action with the necessary precision, so a moneyline is used.

Moneylines are offered on football and basketball too, in both college and pro. The moneyline is another option in those sports for bettors who choose to focus upon picking winners without regard for the point spread.

A good example was the footgame game where the Patriots were 7 ½-point favorites against the Philadelphia Eagles, but -265 to win the game on the moneyline. If you had wagered $265 to win $100 on the Patriots. The Pats won 24-21, failing to cover the spread, but winning on the moneyline. Now you know that there are other choices other than point spread betting, and you’ll be ready for next football season.

Check out the football odds by CLICKING HERE!