Learn the basics
Everything you need to understand your bets — no jargon, no fluff. Play with the examples below to see exactly how each bet works.
The three main bets
Moneyline
The simplest bet: just pick who wins the game. No points involved.
Tap a team to see the payout.
Spread
A points head-start that levels a mismatch. The favorite gives points; the underdog gets them.
The Chiefs are 3.5-point favorites, so they must win by 4+ to cover. Take the Bills and you cash if they lose by 3 or fewer — or win outright.
Total (Over / Under)
Bet on the two teams' combined score — over or under the book's number. The winner doesn't matter.
Both teams’ points add up. Combine for 52 and that’s OVER 47.5 — who actually wins the game doesn’t matter.
Smart-money basics
The #1 mistake casual bettors make
Not shopping around. The exact same bet is priced differently at different sportsbooks. Always taking the best price is the single easiest edge there is — it's literally free money over time, and it's what this whole app is built to do for you.
What 'value' actually means here
Value is about the PRICE, not a prediction. A bet has value when the price is better than the true odds — even if it's likely to lose. We never tell you a bet is a lock, because none are. We tell you when you're getting a good deal.
Why parlays are a trap
Every leg has to win, so the real chance shrinks fast. A 4-leg parlay of coin-flips hits about 6% of the time. The huge payout is the bait; the tiny probability is the hook. Check any parlay on our reality-check page before you bet it.
Bet like it's entertainment
Only bet what you'd be fine losing, set a limit before you start, and never chase losses. If it stops being fun, stop. Call 1-800-GAMBLER any time.
Every term, defined
- Moneyline — Just picking who wins.
- The simplest bet: you pick which team wins the game outright. No points involved. A minus number (like -150) is the favorite; a plus number (like +130) is the underdog.
- Spread — A head-start (or handicap) in points.
- The favorite gives up points and the underdog gets them. If the Bills are +2.5, they can lose by 2 and your bet still wins. If the Chiefs are -2.5, they must win by 3 or more.
- Total (Over/Under) — Betting on the combined score.
- The book sets a number (say 48.5). You bet whether BOTH teams combined will score more (Over) or fewer (Under) than that number. The individual winner doesn't matter.
- American odds — The +/- number next to a bet.
- A minus number is how much you'd risk to win $100 (-150 = risk $150 to win $100). A plus number is how much you'd win on a $100 bet (+130 = win $130 on $100).
- Implied probability — The win % baked into the odds.
- Every price secretly contains a percentage chance. -150 implies about a 60% chance; +130 implies about 43%. It's just the odds translated into 'how often this needs to hit'.
- Vig (juice) — The book's built-in cut.
- The fee the sportsbook charges, hidden in the prices. It's why both sides of a coin-flip are usually -110 instead of +100 — the extra is the house's edge.
- No-vig / fair odds — The odds with the house cut removed.
- If you strip out the vig, you get the market's honest estimate of the true chances. Comparing a book's price to the no-vig fair price is how you spot a good deal.
- Line shopping — Checking every book for the best price.
- The same bet is often priced differently at different sportsbooks. Taking the best available price is free money over time — it's the single easiest edge a casual bettor can get.
- Parlay — Several bets combined into one.
- You link multiple picks together for a bigger payout — but EVERY pick must win or the whole thing loses. The more legs, the bigger the payout and the smaller the real chance.
- Push — A tie — you get your money back.
- If the result lands exactly on the number (you bet -3 and the team wins by exactly 3), the bet is a push and your stake is refunded. Half-points like 2.5 exist to prevent pushes.