What is Moneyline? Moneyline Explained in 2 minutes
Mike Goodpaster Last Verified
19/04/2026
Moneyline is another name for the use of American odds. Like other odds, such as decimal and fraction odds, moneyline odds are the way any legal online bookmaker that you might find on the site sets out how likely they think a certain result is, and how much the bettor will receive if they bet a particular stake. Moneyline odds are calculated using a stake of 100 and are written as either a plus moneyline, with a (+) sign, or a minus moneyline, with a (-) sign.
The plus or minus sign is used by the bookmaker to express how likely they think the result in question is and also as an indicator of how much the bettor will make. The plus sign means that the odds indicate how much profit will be made on a 100 stake, while the minus sign means that the odds show how much has to be bet in order to make 100.
How Is Moneyline Used In Sports Betting?
For a bettor who is used to dealing with fraction odds, moneyline odds may initially seem somewhat difficult to understand, but like most aspects of sports betting they soon become to feel like second nature. Minus money line odds are the favorites, while those with a plus sign are the outsiders. Moneyline odds of -250 represent a stronger favorite than those of -175, while a high plus number, such as +325 indicates a strong underdog.
A single example of moneyline odds:
In a match between Real Madrid and Stoke, Real Madrid would probably be regarded as strong favorites to win. This would lead to moneyline odds being offered such as the following:
Real Madrid: -825
Stoke: +400
This means that a bet of £100 on Stoke would, if Stoke pull off a shock victory, result in a return of £400, plus the original £100 stake. In contrast, a bettor would have to risk £825 on Real Madrid, in order to win £100, plus the £825 stake. In reality, of course, many bets placed are for less than £100, and most online bookmakers offer a calculator which can turn moneyline odds into decimal or fractional odds.
How to get Better Moneyline Odds
If a bettor is able to get better odds, they are more likely to make a profit when betting. One way to increase to those odds is to check out the offers bookmakers are currently giving bettors. We have a whole page dedicated just to this. Here you'll find things like free bets, odds boosts, and free bet credits. Find just some of those deals listed below.
