A moneyline bet is a wager on which competitor or team will win an event outright, with no handicap applied. Odds reflect each side's perceived chance of winning, so backing a strong favourite returns little, while an underdog pays more. It is among the simplest and most widely offered sports betting markets.
Decimal odds express the total return per unit staked, including the stake itself. A price of 2.50 means a one-unit bet returns 2.50 units in total if it wins. Widely used across Europe, Australia and many betting exchanges, the format is favoured for its clarity when calculating payouts and comparing prices.
Fractional odds express profit relative to stake as a fraction, such as 5/1 or 6/4. The first number is the profit, the second the stake required to win it. Long associated with British and Irish bookmaking and horse racing, they show winnings only, excluding the returned stake from the quoted figure.
American odds, also called moneyline odds, use positive and negative numbers based on a 100-unit reference. A minus figure shows how much must be staked to profit 100; a plus figure shows the profit from a 100-unit stake. The format is standard across United States sportsbooks and North American sports coverage.
A point spread is a handicap applied to level an uneven contest. The favourite must win by more than the spread to cover it, while the underdog can lose by less than the spread, or win, and still succeed. It shifts betting from who wins to the margin of victory.
An over/under, or totals, bet concerns the combined score, goals, points or other countable events in a match, rather than which side wins. The operator sets a line and bettors wager on whether the actual total finishes above or below it. It lets bettors engage with a contest without picking a winner.
A parlay combines two or more selections into a single bet, where every leg must win for the bet to pay. The odds of each leg multiply together, producing a larger potential return than the selections staked separately, but a single losing leg forfeits the entire stake. It carries higher risk and higher variance.
An accumulator is a single bet combining several selections, where all must win for a return. Winnings from each leg roll onto the next, multiplying the odds and the potential payout. Popular in British and Irish betting, it offers large returns from a small stake but fails entirely if one selection loses.
In-play betting, also called live betting, lets bettors place wagers while an event is under way. Odds update continuously to reflect the unfolding action, the score and time remaining. It opens markets that react to momentum and incidents in real time, and typically depends on fast data feeds and quick settlement.
Cash out is a feature that lets a bettor settle an open bet before the event finishes, accepting an offer that reflects the current position. It can lock in a partial profit or limit a potential loss. The value offered is set by the operator and includes a margin, so it rarely matches full theoretical worth.