Moneyline Betting
The moneyline is the most common, most popular, and probably the most straightforward way to bet on sports.
Indiana sportsbooks post moneylines for every major pro and college sport. All you have to do is pick winners and book bets at the currently-posted moneyline odds for the NFL, NBA, NCAA and more.
Indiana sportsbooks also post moneylines for other major sporting events, including UFC fights, the Indy 500, NASCAR, PGA tournaments and tennis tournaments.
Want to get more familiar with moneyline bets? Below is a complete guide to moneyline betting in Indiana, including:
- Live moneyline odds for the NFL, NBA and more
- How to read moneylines
- How the moneyline is different for different sports
- Why you should bet the moneyline over other bets
- How to avoid the biggest moneyline betting mistakes
Live Moneyline Odds at Indiana Online Sportsbooks
Here's a look at the current moneyline odds from the top Indiana online sportsbooks for major sports, including NFL betting and betting on the NBA. Use the drop-down menu to change sports or look at point spreads and totals odds. Click on any odds to go right to the sportsbook, create a new account, and bet:
What is a Moneyline Bet?
A moneyline bet is a bet on any team or individual to win a typical game, match, fight, etc., booked at currently posted odds.
Pick the winner straight up, and you'll get paid at the odds posted when you booked the bet.
What does “+160†or “-110†mean in moneyline betting?
There are two types of moneyline odds: negative and positive.
Negative odds are posted for the favorite in a game and represent how much money you need to lay down to win $100. That means at -110 moneyline odds, and you'd have to bet $110 to win $100, plus your bet back.
Positive odds are posted for the underdog in a game and represent how much you stand to win for every $100 you bet. That means at +160 moneyline odds, and you'd stand to win $160, plus your bet back, for every $100 you bet.
How much does a moneyline bet pay off?
Moneyline bets pay off at the odds posted when you place your bet. That means moneyline bets payout at either:
- The posted negative odds represent how much money you had to lay down to win $100
- The posted positive odds represent how much you stood to win for every $100 you bet.
Either way, you lock in the odds the bet will pay when you place your bet. You get paid those odds on winning bets no matter how much the odds might change ahead of the game.
How much should you bet on a moneyline bet?
Proper bankroll management principles say to set a total bankroll amount you’re comfortable with and never bet more than 1% of it on anyone’s bet.
Based on how confident you are in each bet, you can also set a unit amount of 1% and bet anywhere from one to five units on any moneyline wager.
For example, if your monthly betting allotment is $100, a unit for your bankroll is $1.
The difficulty with moneyline betting is that low payouts on favorites might not be worth the risk, and underdogs with attractive prices might not stand a real chance of winning.
The Milwaukee Bucks, for example, is so heavily favored in most regular-season games that you have to bet big to get paid anything substantial on the moneyline. That's a big risk and might mean taking a huge bath when they have an off night.
On the other side, you might see a really attractive price on an underdog like the Oklahoma City Thunder when they visit the Bucks. Just remember, even +1500 odds pay $0 when the expected happens and the underdog loses.
All this is why it’s always a good idea to stick to proper bankroll management principles when betting the moneyline.
What is the Puck Line/Run Line?
The puck line in hockey and the run line in baseball are standard point spreads you can bet on for most NHL and MLB games. They are usually 1.5 goals or runs. These bets are booked at varying moneyline odds but are considered akin to point spread betting in other sports. The big difference is the puck and run lines rarely change; only the moneyline odds do. That said, alternative puck and run lines can also be bet on at alternative moneyline odds.
Betting on Live Moneylines at Sportsbooks
Live betting, also referred to as in-game betting, allows you to bet in the middle of the action. The odds change alongside what’s happening in the game, which means they change pretty fast most of the time. Indiana online and mobile sportsbooks will post full-game, quarter-, and half-live moneylines for most sports and adjust those lines. It’s up to you to lock in a bet quickly when you see moneyline odds you like, making Indiana mobile sportsbook apps the only way to bet live moneylines.
3 Moneyline Betting Mistakes
Here are three common moneyline betting mistakes you should try to avoid:
- Too many Favorites: Don’t make the mistake of betting the moneyline favorite too often. Favorites rarely offer any value and the payouts are so low they’re hardly worth the risk.
- Betting your Favorites: Don’t make the mistake of betting with your heart instead of your head and backing the teams you support. Picking winners is simple, but it’s hardly easy, and it can only be done by putting your emotions aside to make informed and educated picks.
- Ignoring Value: Don’t make the mistake of betting moneylines without looking at the real chances the team you’re betting on has of winning. Betting moneylines is really about more than just picking winners. You should compare the real-world chances of a win against the posted odds, look for value, and let that guide your betting.