This is a very common occurrence in sports betting and sportsbooks have the full right to shift the spread or odds for any given match prior to its start. Many factors can influence a change of the spread such as injuries, the number of bets coming in for either team or the weather, to name a few. The run line in baseball betting is the equivalent to a point spread in other sports wagering. The run line is always set at –1.5 or +1.5. Example: A’s +1.5 (-130) Red Sox –1.5 (+110) In the above example, the Red Sox are a 1.5-point favorite, while the A’s are considered a 1.5-point underdog. Sports Betting Odds Explained Many people don’t know how to read or calculate sports betting odds, so below we have done our best on explaining how betting odds work. The most common type of sports betting odds used in North America are the American style odds which we explain. Dec 26, 2019 If you were betting on the Patriots and their 3/1 odds, you would win $3 for every $1 you spend. So if you bet $50 on the Pats and they ended up winning the Super Bowl, you’d win $150 (plus your. For lower-scoring sports, the point spreads will be low (often -1.5) but the odds on each side will be different, because it’s harder for a baseball, soccer or hockey team to win by multiple goals. For example, you could get paid +150 betting Yankees -1.5 against the Red Sox, and have to risk -200 for Red Sox +1.5 in that same game.

Following the Supreme Court's ruling that PASPA is unconstitutional, numerous state legislatures are discussing -- or already have passed laws -- that will allow sports betting at brick-and-mortar casinos and racetracks, as well as online.

The conservative estimate here is that by the end of 2018 eight or nine states will have licensed sportsbooks allowing full-fledged sports betting (straight wagers, parlays, futures and more) at casinos, racetracks and possibly in retail locations, such as gas station convenience stores. By the end of 2019, that figure could grow, giving residents and neighbors in 12 to 14 states access to legal sportsbooks and legal online/mobile wagering as well.

With that in mind, let's look at sports betting basics. You've walked into a sportsbook, you're staring at a wall of orange and green letters and numbers and it looks like hieroglyphics. You may find a patient clerk at the sportsbook counter who can explain some basics, but it's always better to go in with an idea how it works. Start by doing some research online, learning a bit of sports betting terminology and about types of wagers available at sportsbooks.

Here's a review of some basics. Joining us to cover some ground is Vic Salerno, a pioneering Nevada sportsbook executive and current President of US Bookmaking and US Fantasy Sports.

What are the point spread and the money line?

There are a few basic ways to bet on the result of a game. The most popular ways are to bet one team using the 'point spread' (or spread) or to bet the outcome on the 'money line' (ML).

'A point spread is a number of points by which one team is favored over the other,' Salerno explains. 'For example, let's say the Cleveland Cavaliers are playing the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Cavaliers are a 3.5-point favorite. That means that Cleveland has to win by three and half or more points. If they only win by 3, then someone betting on the Cavaliers would lose their wager.'

So suppose the Cavs edge the Bucks 93-90. Someone betting on Milwaukee would win there because the Bucks 'covered' the spread -- by either winning outright or by losing by three or less. The person who bet on the Cavaliers (the 'favorite') would have lost here, while someone else backing the underdog Bucks (or the 'dog') would have won their wager, despite the Bucks losing the game.

The point spread is the great equalizer. It's a game within a game.

The money line is straight up without the handicap.

'The money line is just who is going to win the game outright,' Salerno says. 'So in that same example, with Cleveland on the money line, just to win the game outright, you would have to lay, say, two dollars to win a dollar.'

Baseball Betting Meaning

That would be represented on the board (or on the mobile app) by -200, or 1-2 odds. Bet $200 to win $100, $100 to win $50 and so on. You have to bet more than $100 to win $100 because the outcome of the Cavs simply winning the game is a lot more likely.

And on the other side, the Bucks, who are at +3.5 on the spread (or 'getting' 3.5 points), would be somewhere around +160 on the money line (8-5 odds). So, you risk $100 to win $160, but only if the Bucks are victorious. If you bet the Bucks ML and they lose the game by any margin, you lose your wager.

What is handicapping?

Handicapping refers to a person's approach to predicting a game's outcome. Some people weigh certain factors differently than others. Do the Golden State Warriors play poorly on the second night of a back-to-back? Maybe you think that's just noise.

'[Handicapping is] just knowledge. I mean every game is different,' Salerno says. 'In general, you look at applicable weather conditions, and in any sport, it's injuries. You should be up to date on those. Past statistics come into handicapping, and in some sports, past performances against that team. So, for example, in basketball, they play each other more often than they do in football, so you would use past performances for your handicap.'

Handicapping can be as simple or as complicated as you like. People who wager on sports professionally (or try) will devise their own rating systems and use them to help identify what a line should be.

What about the total?

Ever notice someone only rooting for offense or defense, regardless of who has the ball? He/she may have bet 'over' or 'under' the game's total, the total amount of points scored for both teams. It's a wager totally independent of the game's outcome (spread or ML).

Salerno provides an example why somebody may prefer that to picking a side (a winner or loser).

'Let's say that in football, the Green Bay Packers are playing the New England Patriots in Green Bay and the total was 45,' he says. 'The line might be Green Bay, say by three, and people feel that both teams would score more combined points than the 45. So in that case, and regardless of who wins, they feel that there will be more than 45 points scored, so they would bet 'over' on that. And vice versa, if they felt less points would be scored, they would bet on that.'

These scenarios often come down to the final minute of the game. Let's say that the Packers lead 24-20 late in the game and are trying to kill the clock on offense. Aaron Rodgers hits Davante Adams for a 23-yard reception, Adams runs to the Patriots' 20-yard line and then the Patriots lock down and force the Packers to kick a field goal on fourth down. Those on the over hold their breath. It's good, the game ends 27-20 Packers and the total skates past 45.

Keep in mind that in addition to a game total, most sportsbooks will offer a separate total for the first quarter, second quarter, first half, third quarter, fourth quarter and for the second half. You may think the game will start very conservatively. In that case, you might wager 'under' in the first quarter or half.

Also keep in mind that there are other types of wagers called 'props' that look at a variety of player-specific or team-specific events. A popular prop during the NCAA tournament is the first team to score 10, 15 or 20 points. It's just an exciting race to open things up.

What are teasers and parlays?

Now we're getting into 'exotics,' or types of wagers beyond the traditional kinds. Teasers and parlays are the two most popular variations.

'A parlay is when you take two or more teams, and they both have to [cover the spread],' Salerno says. 'In football, you might take, say the Packers -3 and the Detroit Lions +4. To win your parlay, they would both have to cover those spreads.'

So what is the benefit of having to win both legs of the bet? You get a bigger payout.

You can bet more than two teams in a parlay, too; the more teams you pick, the higher the possible payout. For example, a seven-team spread parlay pays out at about 75-1. But remember -- to win your bet, you have to win all legs of the parlay. So if you nail six Sunday football games, but lose the Monday night game, you can kiss that ticket goodbye.

A teaser is similar to a parlay in that you must take two or more teams, and they both have to cover the spread. The difference here is you get to add points to, or tease, the spreads. In football, one teaser option is to add six points to a spread. So going back to the Packers-Lions example, instead of Green Bay being -3, you would get +3. The Lions would go from +4 to +10 in this teaser.

Putting it another way, a teaser gives you some cushion, but again you have to be right on every team (or 'leg') you play. Teasers may seem appealing, but things often don't go the way we expect, so don't be easily seduced by the extra points.

Speaking of points, here's a good spot to mention how the 'book' or the 'house' takes a cut. Consider that -110 you'll frequently see. That extra 10 refers to the 'juice' or the 'vig.' For the ability to place a wager, the bettor has to pay that juice or vig. After all, the sportsbook and its employees have to eat, too -- they are taking the risk with every wager placed. And that's basically why -110 exists. Bet $11 to win $10 (plus your $11 back), or bet $110 to win $100 (plus your $110 back).

What does it mean to wager in-game?

Once the game starts, it's no longer true that all bets are off.

You can bet 'in-game' when a bookmaker has a moment to look at what has happened, reassess and offer a new line(s) accordingly. This type of wagering is becoming increasingly popular.

There are many in-game wagering options. Suppose the total for an NBA game is 200 points before the tip, but both teams come out on fire, on pace to go way past 200 points.

'There's an algorithm that takes and sees how much time is left in the game, and then divides that into points scored, and that's how we arrive at a new total,' Salerno says. 'So a game that was originally 200, if they're scoring at a more rapid rate, it would go up to say 210, and you can bet at 210 whether you want to go over or under.'

How about that bankroll?

The most common pitfall for newcomers comes back to the bankroll, or the amount of money you've set aside for sports betting.

'This is my opinion: You should always keep your bets relatively the same with each and every bet, no more than 5 percent on any one game,' Salerno says. 'And you should never chase or increase your wagers when you're losing. Saying, 'OK, I can't lose three in a row' and betting four times as much on the next game [gets you into trouble]. And you can lose four in a row, or five or six. So, you can't chase it.'

The other pitfall is a bettor letting his heart get into a place where his mind is -- in other words, falling in love with his home team or his favorite team.

Finally, as in every industry, technology is changing the game. Pretty much every sportsbook, existing or to come, will have a mobile app or online platform. That means if you have access to different sportsbooks, you can do what's called 'line shopping,' or looking for the line that gives you the best odds on the side or total you like. Think of it like shopping for a new pair of shoes online; find the pair you like and then get the best price on them.

'Having accounts in different locations gives a player a huge advantage,' Salerno says. 'If you want to bet on Cleveland, one place might have it at -3 and the other places all have -3.5. That can make the difference between a winner and a loser.'

Brett Smiley is the editor-in-chief of SportsHandle.com, covering sports betting legislation, the industry and culture.

There isn't a sport around that features more games during their year than that of Major League Baseball. There are 30 teams playing 162 regular-season games, plus the postseason as they each look towards the goal of winning the World Series. But with over 2,000 games in the regular season, oddsmakers form a bunch of MLB betting odds relating to the daily matchups, season totals, futures and more.

Betting on the MLB is not much different than wagering on NHL betting lines or those for other sports. With run lines, moneylines, and over/unders as only a minute amount of options for betting on the MLB, this page is designed to cover all of the topics to support you. Whether you are an experienced bettor and just getting started, the basics of Major League Baseball betting and the expected betting line options are all presented on this page.

MLB Game Lines

MLB Run Lines Explained

The run line for Major League baseball is essentially like a point spread. Though with the run line, it is consistent across the board. Whereas in football, oddsmakers will install various point spreads for different games, an MLB run line stays at 1.5. Where you see the changes are in the payouts on the run line. So, for every game oddsmakers will set a team in the role to have to cover 1.5 runs by winning by two or more, and a team to cover by losing by one run or winning straight up. But just because a team is set in the role of having to cover 1.5 runs, does not mean they will be favored to cover. In fact, a lot of times, teams installed where they have to cover with a two-run win or more payout more than the team on the other side of the line.

MLB Moneyline Betting Odds Explained

Betting the moneyline on Major League Baseball is simply betting on the straight up winner of the game. There is no run line, there is no point spread. If you think the Dodgers are going to beat the Padres, you bet on the Dodgers to win the game outright. However, the payouts on the moneyline can look a lot different than on the run line. Since there is no run line where a team has to cover any spread, the payouts for the favorite will be a lot less. And on the other side, the payout for the underdog will be quite a bit higher. Making a straight-up moneyline wager is definitely easier than betting the run line, but that will also be reflected in the payouts.

MLB Run Totals Explained

Betting on the run totals for the MLB is one of the easiest methods to sports wagering. As one of the most popular styles of MLB betting, oddsmakers project a combined total run amount from both of the teams playing in a given contest. A bettor must only select whether they believe the total number of runs at the end of the game will be higher or lower than the projections. Because there are only two options, the odds are generally close to even, with the exception of the vigorish. Oddsmakers may also set a run total line on individual MLB teams to give more betting options.

MLB Team Props

Team prop wagers for Major League Baseball are set for each game, but can also be for more broad betting lines relating to the entire season in a particular stat category, or whether or not a certain team makes the playoffs. In most cases though, oddsmakers will set down a variety of team + game prop betting lines for each matchup during the season. And these team props do not necessarily directly relate to the outcome of the game. They are wagers placed on smaller outcomes. For example, the team to hit the first home run in the game, or record the first hit could be examples of a team prop. Once the bet has been satisfied, it is done, and the rest of the results of the game do not matter.

MLB Player Props

Just like with team props, player proposition betting lines within Major League Baseball are based on smaller outcomes within a game, as opposed to the run line or moneyline for a matchup. These are player performances, or can put players against each other. An example might be how many hits a player will have in a specific game. The result is not based at all on the score of the game, but only on how that player performs. The bet is won or lost on how you bet on that player prop.

MLB Live Betting Odds Explained

With the increase in online sportsbook technology, Live Betting is a new facet of betting that is gaining a lot of momentum. It's very interactive, and with Major League Baseball having so many games during the season, they occupy a large section of this area. Betting live on the MLB can involve a number of different wagers, from alternate moneylines, to team and player props and more. Most online sportsbooks will detail which games are available within their live betting platform along with a list of the bets that are available at the time. These live wagers change all the time, which is part of the fun of it.

World Series Odds Explained

World Series Betting odds for Major League Baseball are up and formed almost year-round. From the moment the World Series from the previous season is completed, oddsmakers from World Series Futures for the next season. They are up during the offseason, and through the regular season on into the playoffs. They can change throughout the year, obviously hinging on the performance of the teams during the season. This allows bettors to gain access to a variety of teams’ odds to win the World Series no matter how poorly or amazingly the team is playing.

Bovada Sportsbook - Top Sportbook With MLB Games

This something that all players know when it comes to signing up for Bovada. There are always baseball games on the site for players to bet on. The games are great and even during the playoffs, players know that the games will still be very important and very good all season long. This means that players can place all kinds of wagers which only means more money.

Prop bets will be everywhere for MLB games and that also means using the live betting feature as well. Bovada also offers mobile betting as well for players and this means that players can use their phone to place their bets. With Bovada, they make sure players can place wagers at any tim

BetOnline Sportsbook - MLB Games Will Always Be On BetOnline

There should be no issues with players who have an account on BetOnline. The reason this is true is that there is so much on here for players to bet on and that includes wagering on MLB games. All sports are here for players to wager on but players like all the MLB games that are presented to them to wager on during the regular and the playoff season. The MLB season is so long that many bets can be made and then there are also the MLB feature bets as well that have great odds as well.

The point spreads, moneylines, and other options are here for all players to take advantage of and when players put in big cheese, the return is even greater! There are also surprises that occur during the season so players that take upset capitalize big time. Knowing that there are live betting options and mobile betting feature here on BetOnline is just another bonus that lets players know this is the best sportsbook out there to sign up for.

Understanding Baseball Betting Lines

MyBookie Sportsbook - MLB Games Big On MyBookie

Signing up for a MyBookie account is one of the top things that players should do. No matter what sport you like, MyBookie has it all and sticks out because every sport is on the sportsbook. MLB has all of their games on here as well! Baseball games can be very long from time to time so now that means that live betting on baseball games is one thing that many players take a glance into. With nine winnings in each game, live betting will have many prop bets pop up and that means more money to be won.

Live betting isn’t the only thing that is exciting when playing MLB games on MyBookie. Using your phone and using the mobile betting features is something that many players use as well so they can travel and still make the huge wagers they want to on their favorite team. MyBookie has great banking methods as well which means players have no issues transferring their money on and off their MyBookie account. This online sportsbook is so easy for players to use it only makes sense to sign up for an account!

SportsBetting Sportsbook - Top Betting Options On MLB On SportsBetting

One of the things that stick out to players about SportsBetting is the age requirement to sign up for an account. All players have to be is 18 and older and all the things that these online sportsbooks offer are there for players to use. MLB is one of the hot sports to bet on so there will be a lot of games here to bet on for your baseball fans! Even with all sports here on SportsBetting, MLB has a lot of different games which means more prop bets are here for players to wager and make money on.

Betting On Baseball Games

The New York Yankees are one of those teams that are always good and the thing is sometimes when players choose the upset of them to lose, SportsBetting has the odds set up to where players can cash out huge. This is the main reason why this online sportsbook is better than any other one out there for players to choose from. Check out SportsBetting before the real MLB games show up!

Baseball Betting Lines Explained