Bet Types

Moneyline Betting Explained

A moneyline bet is the simplest wager in sports betting: pick the team or athlete you think will win. No spread, no totals — just the outright winner. The moneyline price reflects how lopsided the matchup is. The bigger the favorite, the worse the moneyline payout, and vice versa.

How Moneyline Pricing Works

A heavy favorite like the Kansas City Chiefs at -350 requires a $350 wager to win $100. A heavy underdog at +280 returns $280 on a $100 bet. The asymmetry compensates the bettor for risk.

When to Bet Moneyline Favorites

Moneyline favorites win more often than spread bets but pay less per dollar risked. They suit bettors who value win-rate over per-bet payoff — for example, parlaying multiple favorites where each leg need only win outright.

When to Bet Moneyline Underdogs

Underdogs lose most of the time but their +EV upside is large when the line is mispriced. Look for divisional college matchups, regular-season MLB games (where moneylines often sit at +120 to +180), and any scenario where public money is heavily on the favorite.

Three-Way Moneylines

Soccer and some NHL markets offer three-way moneylines: home win, draw, or away win. Pricing accounts for the third outcome — soccer favorites at +110 in three-way markets often appear as -130 in two-way markets where the draw pushes.

Related guides

Point Spreads: How They Work

Point spreads equalize uneven matchups. Learn how to read NFL, NBA, and college spreads, "covering" the spread, and how Kansas sportsbooks set spread prices.

Over/Under (Totals) Betting

Totals (over/under) bets target the combined score of both teams. Learn how to bet NFL totals, NBA totals, alternate totals, and how weather/pace affects total markets.

Parlay Betting Strategy

A parlay combines multiple bets into one wager — all legs must win. Learn parlay payout math, same-game parlays (SGP), and which Kansas sportsbooks have the best parlay products.

Moneyline Betting Explained FAQ

What is a moneyline bet?

A moneyline bet is a wager on which team or athlete will win a contest outright, without consideration of margin or score. Moneyline odds are quoted as American (e.g., -150 for favorite, +130 for underdog).

Are moneyline bets better than spreads?

Neither is universally better. Moneylines are simpler and reward predicting outright winners; spreads reward predicting margins. Sharp bettors mix both depending on the specific matchup pricing.

Do all Kansas sportsbooks offer moneyline betting?

Yes. All seven licensed Kansas sportsbooks — DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, Fanatics, theScore Bet, and bet365 — offer moneyline markets on every major sport.