Video Summary

NFL Kickoff: A Beginner's Guide to Money Line Betting

The 2019 NFL season is here, and for many, it's their first time exploring the world of sports betting. A popular and straightforward bet type is the money line, which is essentially a flat-out bet on who will win the game. If you bet on the Green Bay Packers to win and they emerge victorious, you win your bet. However, if they lose, you lose your bet. Ties result in a push, where you get your money back.

When looking at a betting slip, you'll see the money line bet listed between the spread and the total (over/under) sections. The Packers, underdogs in this example, are listed at +145, which means if you bet $100 and they win, you'll receive $245. The Chicago Bears, favorites, are listed at -165, requiring you to bet $165 to receive $100 in winnings.

Understanding odds is key to making informed bets. A plus sign (+) indicates an underdog, while a minus sign (-) represents a favorite. The bigger the plus sign, the more you'll win on a $100 bet. Conversely, the bigger the minus sign, the more you'll need to bet to win $100.

With money line betting, the team that's underdog will always win more money, but you'll need to bet more on the favorite to win the same amount. This simplicity makes money line betting a great starting point for newcomers to sports betting. As you become more comfortable, you can explore other bet types, such as spreads and totals.