You\u2019ll find dozens of different bet types at US sportsbooks, many of which may confuse beginners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, if you don\u2019t know your moneylines from your point spreads, this guide is for you. We\u2019ll cover the most popular bet types in the US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Moneylines<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nA moneyline bet is the simplest bet to learn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You predict which team (or athlete in individual sports like tennis) will win a game. If you\u2019re correct, you\u2019ll make a profit. However, you\u2019ll lose your money if you\u2019re wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With American odds<\/a>, there is an underdog and a favorite. The favorites are represented by a triple-digit number and a (-) symbol, while the underdogs are represented with a (+) plus sign.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe number next to the favorite (-) symbol\ntells you how much you need to wager to win $100. With underdogs, the number\nnext to the (+) symbol tells you how much you win if you bet $100.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, before the 2022 Super Bowl<\/a>, the Cincinnati Bengals were underdogs with odds of +175. The LA Rams were the favorites with odds of -200. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Moneyline](\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Moneyline_bet.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIf you placed $100 on the Bengals and the Bengals won, you would’ve made a profit of $175. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, you would’ve needed to put $200 on the Rams to make a profit of $100.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Point Spread<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nPoint spread betting asks you to predict\nwhether a team will win by or lose within a certain margin of points. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These bets will have American odds but also\nanother number with a (+) or (-) symbol. With the (-), this is the number of\npoints a team must win by for you to win your wager. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The number next to the (+) symbol tells you\nhow many points a team can lose by for your bet to succeed. The underdog can\nalso win, and your wager will still come through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Say the Golden State Warriors are listed at -9.5 and the Memphis Grizzlies are +9.5. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you wager on the Grizzlies, you will only win if the Grizzlies win the game outright or lose by 10 points or less as they are the underdog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Spread](\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Spread_betting-1.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlternatively, a Warrior’s bettor must see the\nteam win by more than 10 points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The American odds next to the point spread bet tells you how much you can win. Yet, this figure doesn\u2019t impact how many points a team needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Point spreads make games with a significant favorite more enjoyable, encouraging bettors to wager on both teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Parlays<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nA parlay (also known as an accumulator<\/a>) is a combination of multiple wagers into one single bet. Each wager, or leg, must come through for you to win a parlay. <\/p>\n\n\n\nParlays are much riskier than betting on each\ngame individually, but you also get better odds. In addition, you can wager on\nmore events with one stake. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, you could wager on the San Francisco\n49ers to beat the Dallas Cowboys, the LA Rams to beat the Arizona Cardinals,\nand the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to beat the Philadelphia Eagles in a parlay bet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Parlay](\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Parlay_bets.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nYou will need all three of your selections to win for your bet to return a profit. You will lose your bet if one of your selections fail to win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You don\u2019t just have to bet on match winners\neither, with some sportsbooks offering same-game parlays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a same game parlay, you could bet on the\nBengals to win the Super Bowl against the LA Rams, with Joe Burrow throwing for\nmore than 250 yards and Odell Beckham Jr. making four receptions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Over\/Under<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWith an over\/under bet, the sportsbook sets a\ntotal (number set by oddsmakers) for a particular statistic. You then predict\nwhether the result will be over or under that number. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A sportsbook could offer a total of 220 for a\ngame between the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors. You win if you\nchoose the over and the teams score more than 220 points combined. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It doesn\u2019t matter which team scores the\npoints, as long as the final amount matches your prediction. You\u2019ll also find\nover\/under bets for markets like passing yards or 3-pointers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Prop Bets<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The number next to the favorite (-) symbol\ntells you how much you need to wager to win $100. With underdogs, the number\nnext to the (+) symbol tells you how much you win if you bet $100.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, before the 2022 Super Bowl<\/a>, the Cincinnati Bengals were underdogs with odds of +175. The LA Rams were the favorites with odds of -200. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you placed $100 on the Bengals and the Bengals won, you would’ve made a profit of $175. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, you would’ve needed to put $200 on the Rams to make a profit of $100.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Point spread betting asks you to predict\nwhether a team will win by or lose within a certain margin of points. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These bets will have American odds but also\nanother number with a (+) or (-) symbol. With the (-), this is the number of\npoints a team must win by for you to win your wager. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The number next to the (+) symbol tells you\nhow many points a team can lose by for your bet to succeed. The underdog can\nalso win, and your wager will still come through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Say the Golden State Warriors are listed at -9.5 and the Memphis Grizzlies are +9.5. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you wager on the Grizzlies, you will only win if the Grizzlies win the game outright or lose by 10 points or less as they are the underdog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alternatively, a Warrior’s bettor must see the\nteam win by more than 10 points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The American odds next to the point spread bet tells you how much you can win. Yet, this figure doesn\u2019t impact how many points a team needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Point spreads make games with a significant favorite more enjoyable, encouraging bettors to wager on both teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A parlay (also known as an accumulator<\/a>) is a combination of multiple wagers into one single bet. Each wager, or leg, must come through for you to win a parlay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Parlays are much riskier than betting on each\ngame individually, but you also get better odds. In addition, you can wager on\nmore events with one stake. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, you could wager on the San Francisco\n49ers to beat the Dallas Cowboys, the LA Rams to beat the Arizona Cardinals,\nand the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to beat the Philadelphia Eagles in a parlay bet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You will need all three of your selections to win for your bet to return a profit. You will lose your bet if one of your selections fail to win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t just have to bet on match winners\neither, with some sportsbooks offering same-game parlays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n With a same game parlay, you could bet on the\nBengals to win the Super Bowl against the LA Rams, with Joe Burrow throwing for\nmore than 250 yards and Odell Beckham Jr. making four receptions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n With an over\/under bet, the sportsbook sets a\ntotal (number set by oddsmakers) for a particular statistic. You then predict\nwhether the result will be over or under that number. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A sportsbook could offer a total of 220 for a\ngame between the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors. You win if you\nchoose the over and the teams score more than 220 points combined. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It doesn\u2019t matter which team scores the\npoints, as long as the final amount matches your prediction. You\u2019ll also find\nover\/under bets for markets like passing yards or 3-pointers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n2. Point Spread<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Parlays<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n4. Over\/Under<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
5. Prop Bets<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Prop](\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Prop_bets-1.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n