Sports Betting Explained: Money Line

In sports betting, the term "Money Line" is commonly used. It refers to wagers made purely on the outcome of a game, disregarding the point spread.

The "Money Line" in sports betting represents the odds for just the outright winner of a game or match. Unlike point spread betting, where the margin of victory is essential, money line bets focus solely on the ultimate winner, regardless of the score difference.

"Money Line" is Americanism and is frequently used in American sports betting. Its origins are tied directly to this sphere of activity, although the specific genesis needs to be documented.

This term intertwines with several others in sports betting jargon, such as "Favorite" (the team expected to win), "Underdog" (the team expected to lose), and "Odds" (the ratio indicating the payout from a successful bet).

It's crucial to note that in money line betting, the favourites often come with a minus (-) sign, indicating how much you need to wager to win $100, while the underdogs usually have a plus (+) sign, showing how much you can win from a $100 bet.

Example 1

On a sports betting show, the host might declare, "In tonight's game, the money line is -150 for the Lakers, indicating they're the favourites, while the Knicks have a money line of +130, suggesting they are the underdogs."

Example 2

In a sports betting tutorial, the instructor might explain, "If you're betting on the money line, you're betting on who will win the game outright. The margin of victory doesn't matter."

Example 3

In a casual conversation among bettors, one might say, "I prefer money line bets because they're simpler - all that matters is who wins or loses."