What is a moneyline bet?

A moneyline bet is simply a bet on which side wins the game outright, with no handicap. The odds do all the work: a heavy favourite pays little because it usually wins, while an underdog pays more because it usually loses. In American odds a favourite is shown with a minus (e.g. -200) and an underdog with a plus (e.g. +170).

What does the point spread mean?

The point spread is a handicap that levels the two sides. The favourite must win by more than the spread (e.g. -6.5 means win by 7+) for a bet on it to pay; the underdog can lose by fewer than the spread, or win outright, and still cover (+6.5 means lose by 6 or fewer, or win). Both sides are usually priced around even money because the spread itself balances the contest.

What is an over/under (totals) bet?

A totals bet is on the combined score of both teams, not on who wins. The sportsbook sets a number (the total) and you bet whether the actual combined score will be over or under it. If the total is 45.5, 'over' wins on 46+ combined points and 'under' wins on 45 or fewer. A half-point total removes the possibility of a tie (a push).

Moneyline, spread & totals explained (the 3 main bet types)

Last updated: 2026-07-14 · Gamblerfy editorial team

Open any sportsbook and the three numbers next to each game can look like code. They almost always aren't — they're the same three bet types on every sport: moneyline (who wins), point spread (win by how much) and totals (over/under). Learn these three and you can read 90% of a betting slip. Here's each one, with a worked example.

1. Moneyline — who wins, straight up

The simplest bet there is: pick the side you think will win the game. No handicap, no margin — just the winner. The odds carry all the information about how likely each side is.

In American odds, the favourite has a minus and the underdog a plus:

−200 favourite: you stake $200 to win $100 (it wins often, so it pays little).
+170 underdog: you stake $100 to win $170 (it wins less often, so it pays more).

Backing favourites feels safe but the small returns add up slowly and one upset wipes out several wins; underdogs lose more often but pay for it when they land. Neither is "better" — what matters is whether the price beats the true chance, which is the whole idea of value betting. New to reading prices? Start with how betting odds work, and flip any price to decimal or fractional with the odds converter.

2. Point spread — win by how much

When one side is a strong favourite, a moneyline is dull (tiny odds). The point spread fixes that by handicapping the favourite: it must win by more than a set margin for a spread bet to pay. Both sides are then priced close to even money.

Say the favourite is −6.5 and the underdog +6.5:

Bet the favourite −6.5: it must win by 7 or more to cover.
Bet the underdog +6.5: it covers if it loses by 6 or fewer — or wins outright.

The half-point (the "hook") means there's no tie: someone always covers. When a spread is a whole number, say −7, a win by exactly 7 is a push and your stake is refunded. A spread is closely related to the Asian handicap used in soccer — same idea of a head start that removes the mismatch.

3. Totals (over/under) — the combined score

A totals bet ignores who wins entirely. The book posts a number — the total — for the two teams' combined score, and you bet whether the real total lands over or under it.

If the total is 45.5:

Over 45.5 wins if the teams combine for 46 or more.
Under 45.5 wins if they combine for 45 or fewer.

As with spreads, a half-point total rules out a push; a whole-number total (e.g. 45) can land exactly and refund the stake. Totals are popular because you can enjoy a game without caring who wins — you're rooting for pace, not a team.

The one thing all three share: the margin

Whichever you pick, the sportsbook builds a margin (the vig) into the price — most obvious on spreads and totals, where both sides are commonly priced at −110 (stake $110 to win $100). That extra is the book's edge, and it's why beating sports betting long-term is hard. See the true cost on any market with the margin & fair-odds calculator, and if you're combining several of these into one slip, read accumulators & parlays first — the margin compounds with every leg.

Knowing the bet types makes you a sharper reader of the slip, not a guaranteed winner — the margin is in every one of them. Only stake what you can afford to lose, and remember gambling should be entertainment, never a way to make money. Set limits and get help here.

Related guides

How betting odds work — decimal, fractional and American prices.
Asian handicap explained — the soccer cousin of the point spread.
The bookmaker margin (vig) — the −110 cost baked into both sides.
Accumulators & parlays — combining bets, and how the odds multiply.