American odds
American odds is a format used to display betting odds. Positive and negative numbers are used to indicate potential profit relative to a 100 unit risk. American odds are frequently used in the United States.
How American Odds Work
The betting odds for any market will be either a positive or negative number. The negative numbers require an initial risk of that amount in order to profit $100. The more favored a market is to win the larger the negative number as the bettor is required to risk more money for a fixed return. In the example below the New England Patriots are -180 favorites on the moneyline. A risk of $180 would yield $100 profit for a total return of $280.
| Team | Spread | Total | Moneyline | |
|
New England Patriots | -3.5 (-110) | Over 44.5 (-110) | -180 |
|
Baltimore Ravens | +3.5 (-110) | Under 44.5 (-110) | +160 |
The positive numbers require an initial risk of $100 to profit that amount. Wagering on a market with +125 odds would give a $100 bet a profit of $125 for a total return of $225.
The industry standard for the odds of two teams or players with equal odds will be set at -110 for both sides. This means that a bet on either side
Two competing teams with equal moneyline odds would normally be set at -110 due to the bookmaker's commission (known as the vig). A risk of $110 would yield a $100 profit on either side. The more a team is favored to win the more negative the moneyline odds will become. Odds of -150 would now require a greater risk of $150 to profit $100.
| Moneyline Odds | Risk | Profit | Return |
| -500 | $500 | $100 | $600 |
| -250 | $250 | $100 | $350 |
| -200 | $200 | $100 | $300 |
| -150 | $150 | $100 | $250 |
| -110 | $110 | $100 | $210 |
Consequently, the larger the underdog the more positive the odds will be. A moneyline set at +150 will require a smaller risk of $100 to produce a greater profit of $150. The table below visualizes the transition from negative to positive odds:
| Moneyline Odds | Risk | Profit | Return |
| -105 | $105 | $100 | $205 |
| -101 | $101 | $100 | $201 |
| +100 | $100 | $100 | $200 |
| +101 | $100 | $101 | $201 |
| +105 | $100 | $105 | $205 |
In the example below the New England Patriots are favored to win with -180 moneyline odds. A bet of $180 would yield a profit of $100 for a total return of $280 in the event of an outright Patriot victory by any margin. The Baltimore Ravens are underdogs with +160 moneyline odds. A wager of $100 would produce a $160 profit and a total return of $260 should the Ravens win.
| Team | Spread | Total | Moneyline | |
|
|
New England Patriots | -3.5 (-110) | Over 44.5 (-110) | -180 |
|
|
Baltimore Ravens | +3.5 (-110) | Under 44.5 (-110) | +160 |