What Does ‘(To) Win’ Mean in Sports Betting?
“(To) Win” in sports betting refers to the most basic and straightforward type of wager, which is known as a Moneyline Bet in North America.
It simply means you are betting on a specific competitor (a team or an individual) to win the contest outright, regardless of the margin of victory or any point handicaps.
Key Concepts of a (To) Win Bet
- Simplicity: It is the easiest type of bet to understand, as the only thing that matters is the final outcome: did your selection win?
- No Point Spreads: Unlike betting the Point Spread, you do not care how much your team wins by—a one-point win pays the same as a blowout victory.
- The Draw Factor (Important for certain sports):
- Two-Way Moneyline: In sports that must have a winner (like basketball, tennis, or baseball, which use overtime/extra innings), there are only two outcomes. If the game ends in a rare tie in a sport like the NFL, the bet is usually declared a “Push“ and your stake is refunded.
- Three-Way Moneyline (or WDW): In sports where a draw/tie is a common final result (like soccer/football), the “To Win” market includes a third option: Draw (X). If you bet on Team A “To Win” and the game ends in a draw, you lose your bet.
Reading the Odds
The odds determine your payout on a “To Win” bet because they reflect the team’s perceived chance of winning.
| Odds Sign | Team Status | Meaning |
| – (Negative) | Favorite | You must bet this amount (e.g., -$200) to win $100 in profit. |
| + (Positive) | Underdog | You will win this amount (e.g., +$150) for every $100 you bet. |
Example
- Team A: -200 (Favorite) -> Bet $200 to win $100 profit.
- Team B: +150 (Underdog) -> Bet $100 to win $150 profit.