State-by-state legalization of sports betting, including online wagering, over the past five years has made it easier than ever for fans across America to place real-money bets on games. This new era of accessibility and choice gives individuals the ability to add thrills and stakes to watching their favorite sports.
Key Types of Odds Formats
While there are many potential formats, most U.S. sportsbooks like Winamax display betting odds in one of two primary styles:
American Odds
- Odds shown with a + or – sign followed by a number
- Favored team or outcome has the minus sign
- The number indicates how much you need to risk or would win on a $100 bet
- Example: New York -200 vs. Dallas +180
Decimal Odds
- Odds shown as a decimal number greater than 1
- Higher number means the outcome is viewed as less likely
- Number indicates your total payout on a winning $1 bet
- Example: New York 1.50 vs. Dallas 2.80
Now let’s explore how to interpret the most common betting lines you’ll see.
Moneyline Odds
This is the simplest type of bet, where you just pick an outright winner in a matchup or sporting event. But moneyline prices can reveal which team or outcome the bookmaker views as more likely.
Here’s an example moneyline in American format: New York Giants -150 Dallas Cowboys +130.
The negative number means the Giants are favored to win. The number indicates how much you’d need to bet to win $100. So -150 means $150 wagered returns $100 of winnings.
Dallas has positive odds, indicating an underdog. The +130 means a $100 bet would earn you $130 in winnings. Higher positive numbers signify bigger underdogs.
When assessing entertainment value in betting, bigger favorites usually bring less thrill. But choosing a big favorite on the moneyline allows you to win more modest amounts with less risk. Longshot underdogs provide more suspense and a chance at higher payouts for your entertainment dollar.
Point Spreads
The point spread is a handicap set by oddsmakers to provide a virtual tie for betting purposes if the score differential ends up matching the spread. This number must be surpassed to “cover the spread” and win a bet.
Here’s an NFL spread example: New York Giants +3.5 (-110) Dallas Cowboys -3.5 (-110)
Dallas is a 3.5-point favorite on the spread. That half point prevents a tie. New York is getting 3.5 points. To cover the spread, Dallas must win by 4+ points. New York covers by losing by 3 or less or winning the game outright.
The -110 odds on both sides represent the juice or commission charged by the sportsbook. It means you must bet $110 to collect $100 in winnings. You can also think of -110 as 4.55% commission on winning bets.
A lower-scoring game expected to be close provides the most entertainment value when betting point spreads. An underdog cover at the wire brings the ultimate thrill. Bigger spreads tend to attract more casual public bettors. You can increase your fun by analyzing mismatches to find smart bets against the masses.
Over/Under Total Points
Also called the total, this number posted by oddsmakers represents the combined points scored by both teams in a matchup. Your entertainment job when betting totals is to assess whether the game will prove higher or lower scoring than the posted number.
Here’s a professional basketball over/under example: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics Over 224.5 points (-105) Under 224.5 points (-115)
You’d bet over if you expect 225 total points or more to be scored. Bet under if you think 224 or fewer combined points get put up.
Like spreads, lower totals tend to generate close calls and bring more excitement. Fast-paced matchups like those in the NBA provide plenty of excitement when betting over/unders.
Tips for New Bettors Seeking Fun and Excitement
- Shop for the best odds and lines using multiple sportsbooks.
- Focus your bankroll on 1–3 games at a time.
- Bet small stakes that fit your budget.
- Let your bets ride or hedge them to manage risk.
While winning money provides its own thrill, sports betting is best treated as entertainment.