One of the best reference points for any type of money line bet is $100. The math is simple, and it’s a bet amount that’s not too crazy for the average person when feeling confident. It also happens to be easily divisible or multipliable for any wager.
Before ever placing a bet, first make sure that the payout is the expected amount. Knowing how to read lines properly will help avoid any confusion when it comes to the payout.
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What Happens if you Bet $100 on a +140 Money Line?
Gamblers placing $100 down on a +140 line have the chance to win a total of $140. They also receive the original $100 to place the bet. If $100 is put on a +140 line and it’s a loss, no money goes back to the player.
What Does +140 Mean?
A +140 underdog is still in a position to compete in a contest. They are slight underdogs in a head-to-head matchup. If there are multiple choices for a winner, +140 can be the closest to an even money line. They might be the most likely winner, but their chance of winning is still below 50%.
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Every bet is different, so it’s impossible to say if +140 is worth putting money down on or not. If it’s a head-to-head matchup, most gamblers need to make sure that they are confident in the pick. This type of bet won’t win someone a ton, but it’s a consistent bet that helps people win as time goes on.
What are the Real Odds a +140 Bet Wins?
The true odds are impossible to calculate, since every matchup is different. However, in the eyes of the sportsbook, a team that has +140 next to them means that they have roughly a 40% to 45% chance of winning. Calculate this by adding 100 to the money line number. Then, divide 100 by that number to get a rough percentage. Keep in mind that the sportsbook is always making money, so those odds calculated will be worse than the actual payout.
The perfect way to showcase this is by looking at a truly even point spread bet. Instead of offering people a chance to win $100 after betting $100, they need to bet $110 to win $100. That extra bit of money is referred to as the vig. This ensures the sportsbook always has an edge.
How Likely is a Team to Win When Listed at +140?
Any team listed as a +140 underdog is still viewed as a team with decent odds to win the game. It wouldn’t be a total shock by any means, as it’s a fairly even contest. Sports bettors who take the time to look around will find this range of underdogs to be pretty solid picks.
Betting exclusively on underdogs is a risky proposition unless a person does a lot of research. A balance of favorites and underdogs is usually the type of strategy that people use to win long-term. However, being selective with underdogs only could lead to winning long-term, even if the winning percentage is less than 50%.
Are There Any Other Betting Formats Available?
Other than money line bets, the most common type of sports betting goes off a point spread. Instead of purely predicting a winner and loser, point spreads make the two sides “even” by giving the underdog points.
Take a team listed as +3.5 points as an example. In a basketball or football game with plenty of scoring, this team is a slight underdog. Picking them as the winner wins the bet, or if they lose by three or fewer points.
Gamblers have their preferences on format, but most should give them both a try before deciding. The great thing about a point spread bet is that the payouts for both teams are roughly the same, so there are no huge gambles.
Over/under betting options are also popular. Instead of picking the winner, a gambler only wishes for an offensive explosion if they take the over, or a defensive struggle if they take the under. These bets are great by themselves. However, a lot of people wager on the winner, as well as the over/under in the same game.
Parlay betting involves wagering on multiple winners for a big payday. They all must win for a sports gambler to collect their winnings. This is popular during big sports days. Some sportsbooks offer mixing and matching opportunities with other sports.
Finally, prop bets are great to bet on some of the smaller parts of a game. Common prop bets involve players reaching a certain statistic in the contest. During big games, such as the Super Bowl, prop bets become a lot more obscure. There are opportunities to bet on the length of the National Anthem or the Gatorade color for the winning team.
When Does it Make the Most Sense to Bet the Money Line?
Those who don’t want to mess around with betting with a point spread will prefer the money line. Yes, heavy favorites won’t pay out very well unless someone is willing to wager a lot of money. In some mismatch scenarios, betting $100 might only win someone a few dollars in the end. It’s a huge risk if that underdog team somehow pulls off the victory.
When trying to formulate whether or not it’s possible to win consistently with betting on the money line, keep the vig in mind. Simply breaking even will still result in slowly losing money. A gambler has to be a little bit better than average to start earning money little by little.
Finally, it takes time and research to win with money line bets. There are no “easy” bets when coming up with a long-term winning strategy. There might be some easier opportunities that pop up here and there, but winning consistently takes time and energy to develop a plan. Don’t expect to have success instantly with money line bets.
