STRAIGHT WAGER LINES
A line is the set of rules used to calculate results
and payouts of straight wagers. The four standard line types are listed below.
- Point Spreads
- Money Lines
- Totals
- European Prices
Point Spreads
A Point Spread bet is placed on one team to win against another, subject to the Point
Spread.
The favorite is indicated by the minus sign
"-" and the underdog is indicated by the plus sign "+". To determine
the winner for betting purposes, the Point Spread is added to the final score of the team
you bet on. Point Spread rules are as follows:
- To win your bet, the team you bet on must win by the Point Spread.
- On certain events you can adjust the point spread by buying points.
- Games that tie when taking the point spread into consideration are no
action which means your original bet amount will be refunded to your account.
- The odds are $1.10 to win $1.00 (-110) unless otherwise indicated.
- You cannot place a Point Spread bet on opposing teams.
- You cannot place a Money Line and a Point Spread bet on the same
team.
- You can place a Point Spread bet on one team and a Money Line bet on
the opposing team.
- You can combine a Point Spread bet with a Totals bet.
- The Point Spread may change between the time you place your bet and
the time the event starts; regardless, your bet is subject to the point spread displayed
at the time you placed your bet.
For example, you wager on Miami
-7 to beat Buffalo +7. The following table shows possible wager results on three final
scores.
Actual Final
Score |
Final Score
with
Point Spread applied |
Bet Result |
Miami 21 Buffalo 19 |
Miami 14 Buffalo 19 |
Loss |
Miami 26 Buffalo 19 |
Miami 19 Buffalo 19 |
Tie |
Miami 27 Buffalo 19 |
Miami 20 Buffalo 19 |
Win |
|
Money Lines
Money Lines are the simplest form of sports bets. The team you bet on just has to win the
game. Your bet is not subject to a point spread. The amount you may win is determined by
the money line. Money Line rules are as follows:
- Money Lines are displayed with a plus "+" or a minus
"-" sign.
- Money Lines posted with a minus sign "-" require a bet
equal to the amount shown after the minus sign to win $100.
- Money Lines posted with a plus sign "+" require a $100 bet
to win the amount shown after the plus sign.
- To win your bet, the team you bet on must win the game.
- Tie games are no action, which means your original bet amount will be
refunded to your account.
- You cannot place a Money Line bet on both teams.
- You cannot place a Money Line bet and a Point Spread bet on the same
team.
- You can place a Money Line bet on one team and a Point Spread bet on
the opposing team.
- You can combine a Money Line with a Totals line, even on the same
event.
- The Money Line may change between the time you place your bet and the
event's start time. Payout of your bet is subject to the Money Line that was displayed at
the time you placed your bet.
For example, you bet on Miami
-160 to beat Buffalo +260. You must bet $160 to win $100 if Miami wins the game. Your
friend bets on Buffalo. Your friend must bet $100 to win $260 if Buffalo wins. The
following table displays the results of four different winning Money Line bets.
Winner |
Money Line |
Bet Amount on
Winner |
Payout
(including bet amount) |
Miami |
-160 |
$ 80 |
$ 130 |
Miami |
-160 |
$ 160 |
$ 260 |
Buffalo |
+260 |
$ 100 |
$ 360 |
Buffalo |
+260 |
$ 50 |
$ 180 |
|
Totals
Totals are also known as over / under bets. You bet that the actual combined total score
of both teams will be over or under the number displayed in your bet. The winning team is
irrelevant to this bet. Totals rules are as follows:
- If the actual combined total score of both teams is equal to the
number displayed in your Totals bet, the bet is no action; this means your original bet
amount will be refunded to your account.
- The odds are $1.10 to win $1.00 (-110) unless otherwise indicated.
- On certain events you can adjust the odds by buying points.
- You cannot place Totals bets on opposing teams.
- You can combine a Money Line or Point Spread bet with a Totals bet.
- The Total amount may change between the time you place your bet and
the time the event starts; regardless, your bet is subject to the Total amount displayed
at the time you placed your bet.
For example, the current Totals
line on the Miami-Buffalo game is Over 35 / Under 35. You bet on the Over and your friend
bets on the Under. The following table displays the bet results based on three different
game outcomes.
Final Score |
Combined
Score |
You |
Your Friend |
Miami 21 Buffalo 19 |
40 |
Win |
Loss |
Miami 21 Buffalo 14 |
35 |
Tie |
Tie |
Miami 21 Buffalo 4 |
25 |
Loss |
Win |
|
European Prices
European Prices are similar to Money Lines. We display them in decimal format and use two
formulas to calculate payouts.
European Prices above 1.0
(Wager Amount) x (European Price) = Total
Payout
European Prices below 1.0
(Wager Amount) x (European Price) + Wager
Amount = Total Payout
For example, you bet $100 on
Manchester City 2.40 to beat Arsenal 0.60. If Manchester City wins, you win $240. Your
friend bets $100 on Arsenal. If Arsenal wins, your friend wins $160. The following table
displays the results of four different winning European Price bets.
Winner |
Bet Amount on
Winner |
European
Price |
Payout
(including bet amount) |
Manchester City |
$20 |
2.40 |
$48 |
Manchester City |
$100 |
2.40 |
$240 |
Arsenal |
$20 |
0.60 |
$32 |
Arsenal |
$100 |
0.60 |
$160 |
|
Conversion
If you prefer Money Lines to European Prices or vice versa, you can
convert the line to your preferred type.
Use this formula if the Money Line has a minus sign "-".
European Price = (100 / (Money Line * -1)) + 1
Use this formula if the Money Line has a plus sign "+".
European Price = (Money Line / 100)+1
The following table displays conversions of Money Lines to European
Prices.
Money Line |
European
Price |
Payout per
$100 Bet (including bet amount) |
+140 |
2.40 |
$ 240 |
-200 |
1.50 |
$ 150 |
+160 |
2.60 |
$ 260 |
European Prices do not always convert evenly into Money Lines since
Money Lines are based on whole numbers.
Buy Points
Buy Points allows you to move the point spread in your favor by paying a surcharge. You
can only buy points on football and basketball point spreads and totals.
You can normally buy an extra 1/2 point by laying -120 instead of
the standard -110.
Buying points on or off key points or magic numbers is more
expensive. Three is usually the key point in football. Although there are no standard key
points in basketball, we may set key points on certain games.
After you buy a point and place your bet, check your betting ticket
to see the new price on the event.
For example, Miami plays
Buffalo. Miami is favored by 4.5 points. You want to adjust the line in your favor by
bringing the Miami line down to -2. You can do this for an additional 70 cents. This means
you will have to bet $180 to win $100. The following table shows the incremental cost of
various point purchases including purchases on and off Key Points.
Miami
Point Spread |
Buy Points
Surcharge on this Game |
Posted Line -4.5 |
standard -110 |
-4.5 to -4.0 |
10¢ or -120 |
-4.0 to -3.5 |
10¢ or -130 |
-3.5 to -3.0 |
20¢ or -150 |
-3.0 to -2.5 |
20¢ or -170 |
-2.5 to -2.0 |
10¢ or -180 |
|
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