What Does ‘American Odds’ Mean in Sports Betting?
“American Odds” are just the way sportsbooks in the U.S. show you who is favored to win and how much you can win on a bet.
It all comes down to plus (+) and minus (-) signs.
Think of it this way: The odds are all based on the magic number $100.
1. The Minus Sign (–) = The Favorite
The minus sign shows you the favorite (the team expected to win).
The number next to it is how much you have to bet to win $100.
- Example: Lakers -150
- This means the Lakers are the favorites.
- You have to bet $150 to win $100.
- (If you win, you get your $150 back plus your $100 profit, for a total of $250.)
A very common one you’ll see is -110. This is the standard odd for point spreads. It means you have to bet $11 to win $10.
2. The Plus Sign (+) = The Underdog
The plus sign shows you the underdog (the team expected to lose).
The number next to it is how much you will win if you bet $100.
- Example: Celtics +130
- This means the Celtics are the underdogs.
- If you bet $100, you will win $130.
- (If you win, you get your $100 back plus your $130 profit, for a total of $230.)
That’s it! You don’t have to bet $100, it’s just the number they use to show the payout. A $15 bet at -150 would win you $10, and a $10 bet at +130 would win you $13.
Quick Summary
- Minus (–): How much you must risk to win $100. (Favorite)
- Plus (+): How much you will win for every $100 you risk. (Underdog)