Vegas Betting
  • VEGAS SPORTSBOOKS & BETTING SITES
    • Bovada
    • BetNow
    • BetOnline
    • BetUS
    • MyBookie
    • Everygame
    • Betting Sites
      • NFL Betting Sites
      • NBA Betting Sites
      • Soccer Betting Sites
      • UFC Betting Sites
      • Boxing Betting Sites
      • Golf Betting Sites
  • LAS VEGAS ODDS
    • Nascar
    • NFL
    • NBA
    • NHL
    • MLB
    • MLS
    • NCAAF
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • UFC
    • Horse Racing
  • DEPOSIT METHODS
    • PayPal Betting Sites
    • Bitcoin Betting Sites
      • Best Bitcoin Wallets
      • Cryptocurrency Gambling Sites
  • IN-CASINO SPORTS BETTING
    • Aria Sportsbook Review
    • Bellagio Sportsbook Review
    • Caesars Palace Sportsbook Review
    • CG Sportsbook Review
    • MGM Grand Sportsbook Review
    • Venetian Sportsbook Review
    • Westgate Sportsbook Review
    • Wynn Sportsbook Review
    • Las Vegas Best Sports Betting Apps
    • Las Vegas Best Sports Betting Bonuses
  • VEGAS PICKS
  • ONLINE CASINOS
    • Betonline Casino
    • Betus Casino
    • Bovada Casino
    • MyBookie Casino
    • Everygame Casino

Home » Vegas Betting Guide » Moneyline Betting

Moneyline Betting

By Chris Wassel
Updated June 28, 2024

For the most part, bettors are constantly making moneyline bets whilst being completely oblivious to the fact they’re doing it. Even for the less experienced players, they’ll likely have made a handful of moneyline bets before.

But what is moneyline betting? Well, it’s probably the most simplistic and common way to wager on sports and simply put, it’s when a bettor chooses the winning side. The next question bettors will be asking is “what does it mean to bet the moneyline?”

Moneyline Betting

The favorite team or player on the moneyline is the team that’s expected to win and the odds are preceded by a “-” symbol to indicate the favorite with the rest of the pack, or underdog, with a “+” symbol before it. These symbols have more purpose than simply highlighting who is likely to win the contest; the “-” indicates that the payout will be less than the original wager, while the plus side will pay more.

For those of our readers that want more information regarding betting 101, we have a range of betting guides covering all the essential and going into depth about betting strategy and how to maximize bet value.

What is a Moneyline Bet?

We will now discuss how to bet moneyline and where to find the best moneyline betting markets. Moneyline markets are available on any and every sport, which makes it such a common way to get action.

As for how it works, let’s use an example from the Super Bowl odds since this title game attracts so much betting interest.

When calculating the payout of a moneyline bet, we’d highly recommend working with a stake of $100 as it makes the calculations quicker and clearer. Using an example from the Superbowl 58 with the San Francisco 49ers to win at +108, the breakdown looks something like this:

  • Bet $100 at +108 = $208 revenue ($108 in winnings, plus a $100 return from the original wager)

Betting on the Chiefs at the Super 58 would have been something around -125 and would break like this:

  • $100 at -125 = $180 revenue ($80 in winnings, plus the $100 from the original bet)

Betting on the underdog is a common habit for many bettors, as the potential profits are always much higher than wagering on the favorite. But at the same time, you don’t want to fall in love betting underdogs. They are underdogs for a reason and lose more often than not.

Some of the best odds of moneyline betting can be found at these major sportsbooks:

PLAY ONLINE NOW!
Bovada-logo
Bovada Review
Bonus$ 250

BTC Bonus 75% up to $750!

PLAY ONLINE NOW!
EveryGame-logo
EveryGame Review
Bonus$ 500
PLAY ONLINE NOW!
BetNow-logo
BetNow Review
Bonus$ 1,000

Bonus also available in BTC

How to Bet the Moneyline

This is the most straightforward part of this betting guide. The two different sides of the moneyline wager are fundamentally the opposite of one another.

When wagering on the favorite it’s easiest to work from the dollar amount that the bet will payout. But wagering on the underdog makes it easier to understand how the moneyline pays based on how much a $100 wager will pay.

For those that are still wondering what does a moneyline means in betting, we must direct you to the previous section of this guide. Moneyline betting isn’t simple, but it’s far from complicated. While the calculations are simple now, it can be difficult to make the calculations on the spot. But, with practice, it’ll become easier.

Moneyline are some of the most common and competitive betting lines, so it’s worth shopping around the various sportsbooks to find which one is offering the best odds.

As seen above, lines and odds may be different at various sportsbooks so consider this just an example of point spread line and a moneyline.

Moneyline Betting

Moneyline Parlay Bets

Often known as accumulators, parlay betting is growing in popularity in the betting industry and not just for mainstream sports. A parlay is a single wager that consists of multiple results. Obviously the more options mean the higher risk the wager carries, with a much bigger payout. This high-risk high reward betting line is extremely popular, as the huge payout for underdog moneyline parlays is proving to be a huge success among bettors.

The perceived ease of winning by making a selection of multiple favorites is likely what is drawing in bettors. But it’s important to remember, wagering on one team to win isn’t easy let alone on multiple games.

The below bookies are parlay specialists:

PLAY ONLINE NOW!
Bovada-logo
Bovada Review
Bonus$ 250

BTC Bonus 75% up to $750!

PLAY ONLINE NOW!
Xbet-logo
Xbet Review
Bonus$ 200
PLAY ONLINE NOW!
BetOnline-logo
BetOnline Review
Bonus$ 250

BTC bonus up to $1,000

Find the Best Moneyline Bets at VegasBetting

For our readers that have now finished the guide, they’ll be well informed about what a moneyline bet is and will be ready to start wagering. For those that qualify for this, we’d strongly advise taking a look at our list of recommended sportsbook providers.

The experts here at VegasBetting don’t miss a beat, as soon as the latest odds come in we are the first to post the odds online.

1
Bovada-logo
Read Review
BTC Accepted
50% bonus up to $250

Bonus

$ 250
Play now
2
BetOnline-logo
Read Review
BTC Accepted
50% bonus up to $250

Bonus

$ 250
Play now
3
BetUS-logo
Read Review
BTC Accepted
125% up to $2,000 (Promo Code Top125)

Bonus

$ 2000
Play now
4
MyBookie-logo
Read Review
BTC Accepted
50% bonus up to $1000

Bonus

$ 1000
Play now
5
BetNow-logo
Read Review
BTC Accepted
200% Sign-Up Bonus Up to $1,000

Bonus

$ 1,000
Play now

Related Betting Guide

  • Betting 101
  • Legal Betting Sites
  • Props Betting Guide
  • How to Read Odds
  • Matched Betting
  • Safest Betting Sites
  • Sports Betting Strategy
  • Round Robbin Betting
  • Vig Betting Explained
  • Futures Betting Explained
  • Over Under Betting Explained
  • Bankroll Management
  • Kenpom vs Sagarin Rankings
  • Arbitrage Betting Explained
  • Spread Betting
  • Betting Glossary
  • Parlay Betting

 

Chris Wassel

Chris Wassel

Chris Wassel is someone who has covered a little bit of everything: business, writing, sports, food, grilling, the Olympics, injuries, politics, and more. He has climbed mountains like Mount Washington and Mount San Jacinto in Palm Springs, California, and for those who don’t know, he is also big into food challenges. With friends like Joey Chestnut and Casey Webb, Chris has tackled eating feats like finishing a 16-pound turkey or a 32-inch meat lover's pizza. Since 2013, he has focused on fitness, fishing, and sports while managing to fit in running, hiking, rock climbing, and even the occasional mini-triathlon. He can lift more than his body weight with ease and is the person you turn to when you want to know if a NASCAR rain delay means a Monday race. Over his career, Chris has worked at places like Amazon, USA Today, and various rumors and fantasy sports sites. He has been nominated for awards such as the Fantasy Sports Writers Association's Hockey Writer of the Year and has a collection of high-stakes fantasy trophies and rings on display at home. With all this, Chris sums it up best with his motto: "Shut up and play."

Twitter Linkedin Facebook
Vegas

Vegas Betting offers helpful advice, objective information, and expert insights. You’re here to have fun and relax! Leave the work to us.

  • Vegas Betting Guide
  • Betting Glossary A To Z
  • Las Vegas Betting Videos
  • Meet Our Authors
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • About Us
  • Contact
NCPGambling Be gamble Aware

© 2025 Vegas Betting. All Rights Reserved. Terms and Conditions apply to all advertised bonus offers on this website. Visit operators for details. We are not a sportsbook and do not take any wagers. The unique odds we produce in select news articles are for amusement and are not available to be wagered on. Using any of the information found at VegasBetting.com to violate any law or statute is prohibited. Check the online gambling regulations in your jurisdiction before placing any wagers with any of the links advertising gambling sites.