What is a Moneyline Bet?

What is a Moneyline Bet?

The moneyline bet is the simplest betting market you’ll come across in betting. You only need to wager on the team or player that will win a match. 

While the moneyline bet follows the same concept across the U.S. and the UK, the difference is in how the odds are displayed. In the U.S., moneyline odds are expressed using the “+” and “-” symbols. The U.K., on the other hand, shows moneyline odds in fractional format or decimal format.

Consider a match between Arsenal F.C. and Crystal Palace F.C. in the Premier League, for example. With Arsenal as the favourite, the odds might look like this: 

• -150 (moneyline)

• 2/3 (fractional) 

• 1.67 (decimal)

For Crystal Palace, who are the underdogs, the odds could be as follows:

• +200 (moneyline)

• 2/1 (fractional)

• 3.00 (decimal).

If you want to bet on boxing, consider a match between Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan. If Donovan is favoured to win, the odds might look like this: 

• -500 (moneyline)

• 1.2 (decimal)

• 1/5 (fractional)

On the other hand, Crocker, who is the underdog, could look like

• +350 (moneyline)

• 7/2 (decimal)

• 4.50 (fractional)

How Do Moneyline Bets Work?

Once you’re ready to place your moneyline bet, the first step is to understand how the odds work. With American odds, a negative(-) sign indicates the favourite team, while the positive(+) sign depicts the underdogs.

Let's examine a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors in the NBA, with the following odds.

• LA Lakers = -156 (Favourites)

• Golden State Warriors = +133 (Underdogs)

The positive symbol shows how much you win on a £100 bet, while the negative indicates the amount you need to stake to win £100. So, if you wager £156 on the Lakers, you will payout £256 (£156 stake + £100 profit). On the other hand, a £100 wager on the Warriors will see you win £133 for a total payout of £233.

For fractional odds of 1/3, for the Lakers, if you bet £90, you will receive £30 as your profit for a total payout of £120. On the other hand, if you wager £50 on the Warriors with decimal odds of 2.33, your total payout will be £116.5 (£50 stake + £66.5 returns).

Moneyline Betting in the UK

Bookmakers in the UK usually display moneyline bets using fractional odds. However, some operators like bet365 provide the option of selecting odds in decimal and American formats. 

While the moneyline betting market is common for sports like the NFL, NBA, and UFC, most UK bookies label moneyline bets differently. It’s more commonly known as “Match Winner” for sports like football, basketball, and tennis. Some may label it as “Match Betting” for American football and “Fight Winner” or “To Win the Bout” for UFC and boxing. It follows the same concept in all cases. You need to predict which team or player will win the match.

If you want to bet predominantly on sports with moneyline markets, you should focus on American sports like the NFL, NHL, MLB, and NBA. You may also switch your odds to American formats if you find it more comfortable. 

Advantages of Moneyline Bets

Most players prefer moneyline bets for several reasons. Here are the pros of this market.

• Simplicity: It is very easy to understand and ideal for beginners.

• Direct win/loss outcome: The goal is to predict the likely winner of a game. The win margin is unimportant.

• Popular for U.S. sports: It's a well-known option for U.S. sports like the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB.

• Offers versatility across sports: The same principle applies to both team and individual sports. You only need to choose a winner.

• Appealing for underdog bets: The return on underdog bets can be substantial.

Disadvantages of Moneyline Bets

While moneyline bets offer various benefits to punters, they also have some downsides. Here are areas you should watch out for.

• Less value on favourites: The odds and returns tend to be small when backing a favourite team.

• Harder to understand for UK punters unfamiliar with U.S. odds: Since UK players are more accustomed to fractional odds, the “+” or “-” system could be complicated for them to understand.

• Difficult to predict in some sports: For sports that allow a tie or draw, the chances of winning become slimmer.  

• High risk on underdogs: Backing underdogs for big potential payouts may lead to a loss of stake.

Example: Football Match Moneyline Explained

To give you a better understanding of how moneyline works, here is a real example using a football match in the Premier League.

Let’s say you want to wager on Manchester United vs Burnley, and the following odds are presented.

• Manchester United: -256 (Moneyline), 1.39 (Decimal), 39/100 (Fractional)

• Burnley: +686 (Moneyline), 7.86 (Decimal), 343/50 (Fractional)

• Draw: +275 (Moneyline), 3.75 (Decimal), 7/4 (Fractional)

If you want to stake £50 on Manchester United, your potential returns will look like this:

• Moneyline (Favourite): Profit = Stake x (100/odds). That is, 50 x (100/256) = £19.5. Payout = Stake (£50) + Profit (£19.5) = £69.5.

• Fractional: Profit = Stake x Odds. That is, 50 x (39/100)= £19.5. Payout = Stake + Profit = £50 + £19.5 = £69.5.

• Decimal: Payout is Stake x Odds.That is, £50 x 1.39 = £69.5.

Tips for UK Bettors Using Moneyline Bets

As a beginner, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the excitement of betting. To avoid making mistakes, follow these tips to maximise your stake. 

• Understand odds conversions: Knowing how to convert betting odds helps you determine if a bet offers good value. You need to understand how to change American odds to decimal or fractional, which you may be more familiar with. 

• Using betting calculators: Instead of calculating odds manually, betting calculators provide a simple alternative. It automatically determines the outcome of your bets in any format. All you need to do is input your stake amount and the specific odds format.

• Comparing markets: Sometimes, a moneyline bet isn’t always the best option, as it can require staking more money for little return. Therefore, always compare other alternative markets like Draw No Bet or Asian Handicap for more value.

• Bankroll Management: Proper bankroll management is crucial for success in any betting market. Dedicate a specific amount for your bets and avoid chasing favourites just to secure small returns. Additionally, always keep track of your bets to identify where you need to make necessary adjustments.

More Helpful Guides from our UK Betting Experts

• Guide to the Best Betting Sites in the UK

• Guide on How to Use xG (Expected Goals) to Bet Smarter on the Premier League

• Guide to What is a Point Spread?

• Guide to What is a Parlay?

Responsible Gambling

Gambling is meant for entertainment, and the UKGC take responsible gaming seriously. When you begin to notice it is becoming more of a problem, kindly sign up for GamStop self-exclusion to ban yourself from betting for 5 years. You may also reach out to GamCare and BeGambleAware for further support. 

Reputable betting sites provide tools such as deposit limits and time limits to help manage your behaviour. They also conduct identity and age checks by asking for your government-issued ID to ensure only those of legal age can access their platform.