Markets
Moneyline
Also called money line, ML, h2h
A bet on which side wins outright, with no spread involved.
The simplest market there is: pick the winner. Prices reflect the mismatch, so a heavy favourite might be −350 (risk $350 to win $100) while the underdog is +280.
In sports where favourites win often — basketball, football — moneylines on strong teams pay poorly and the spread is usually the more interesting market. In low-scoring sports like baseball, hockey and soccer, upsets are frequent enough that the moneyline is the primary market.
In soccer and other sports where draws are common, the equivalent market is three-way: home, away or draw.
Want the full version? Read the in-depth guide, with worked examples and the math.
See also
- Point spread — A margin handicap that makes an uneven matchup close to a coin flip.
- Favorite — The side expected to win, priced with negative odds or laying points.
- Underdog — The side expected to lose, priced with positive odds or receiving points.
- Implied probability — The chance of an outcome as expressed by its odds, including the bookmaker's margin.