Moneyline Betting Explained
A moneyline bet is the simplest wager in sports betting: you pick who wins, straight up. No point spreads, no totals — just the result. It's the natural starting point for new Oregon bettors on DraftKings.
How Moneyline Odds Work
US sportsbooks (including DraftKings Oregon) display moneylines in American odds format:
- Negative number (e.g. –150) = favorite. You'd risk $150 to win $100.
- Positive number (e.g. +130) = underdog. A $100 bet wins $130.
- A "pick'em" matchup is listed as ±100 or "PK" — even-money proposition.
Oregon Example: Trail Blazers vs. Lakers
Say the Portland Trail Blazers are home against the Lakers. DraftKings posts:
- Blazers: +165 (underdog) — $100 bet returns $265 ($100 stake + $165 profit)
- Lakers: –195 (favorite) — $195 bet returns $295 ($195 stake + $100 profit)
If you wagered $50 on the Blazers and they win, you receive $50 × (165/100 + 1) = $132.50 back.
Calculating Implied Probability
Convert American odds to implied probability to evaluate value:
- Negative odds:
(–odds) / (–odds + 100)— e.g., –200 = 200/300 = 66.7% - Positive odds:
100 / (odds + 100)— e.g., +150 = 100/250 = 40%
If you think the true probability is higher than the implied probability, the bet has positive expected value.
The Vig / Juice
The two implied probabilities on a moneyline always sum to more than 100% — that extra cushion is the sportsbook's margin, called the vig (or "juice"). On a –110 / –110 spread, the book holds about 4.5%. On lopsided moneylines, the vig can be even higher.
Common Mistakes
- Always betting favorites: Heavy chalks (–250 or worse) require unsustainable win rates to be profitable
- Ignoring underdog value: Public sentiment inflates favorites — sharp money often lives on underdogs
- Parlaying moneylines: Two-leg moneyline parlays compound the vig — sportsbooks love them for a reason
- Not shopping lines: With only DraftKings online in Oregon, you have less leverage — but retail tribal books occasionally post different numbers