What Does Negative Betting Odds Mean
This simply means that the negative number is how much you need to place as a wager to earn $100. So here you would have to bet $150 to win $100 (which the equivalent of 1.67 decimal odds). Of course, you don’t have to bet the full $100. The positive number in US odds is how much profit you would pick up if you staked $100. So for that $100. A fractional listing of 6/1 (six-to-one) odds would mean that you win $6 against every $1 you wager (in addition to receiving your dollar back, i.e. $1 – the amount you wagered). The latter is regarded as more dangerous for players due to the fact that users are normally risking larger amounts of money after they have already lost a bet. Negative Progression Betting Systems. First, in order to understand any kind of progression betting system, players need to be aware of the fact what the term “progression” means.
An easier way to understand these odds is if you convert them to decimal odds. To convert -160 to a decimal odds divide 160/100+1 = 1.625. Then all you have to do is take your wager and times it by the decimal odd. So if you wagered $20 x 1.625 = return of 32.50 (Profit of 12.50). To convert a '+' odd to a decimal take +140 (+100 / 100) = 2.40.
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Most sporting events have a perceived favorite, so applying a spread to the game is the bookmakers’ way of creating an even playing field. This is most often seen when betting on the NFL. When you bet “against the spread,” it’s not enough for the favorite to win the game; now, they have to win by more than a specified amount (the spread) in order for them to “cover the spread.”
As we explained with moneyline betting, a negative number (-) indicates the favorite and a positive number (+) indicates the underdog.
ATS (Against the Spread) Betting: Case Study
As you can see, New England is the favorite in this game by 7.5 points, since they have the negative number. You will often see half-points attached to the spread to avoid “pushes,” or ties for the newbies. As we covered in our how to read odds guide, games with half-point spreads are said to contain a “hook.”
In this circumstance, favored New England is said to be “laying” 7.5 points. This means you subtract 7.5 points from their total score when the game concludes. If they still have more points than the Chiefs, then they “covered.” Therefore, the Patriots will have to win the game by at least 8 points for you to win your bet.
While New England is “laying” 7.5 points, Kansas City is “getting” 7.5 points. This means you add 7.5 points to their total score when the game concludes. If, after doing so, they have more points than the Patriots, then they “covered.” So, in order to win your bet, the Chiefs just cannot lose the game by 8 points or more. For example, if the Chiefs only lose by 3 points, you would win if you bet on Kansas City.
Here are a couple of mock outcomes, with the team who covered the spread in bold.
- Kansas City 21 – New England 24
- Kansas City 17 – New England 25
- Kansas City 3 – New England 41
- Kansas City 30 – New England 27
What Can Change the Spread?
The spreads in football games are subject to change based on where the money is going and weekly injury reports. If Tom Brady is hit by the Madden Curse before the season even starts and is unable to suit up, you’ll see the spread decrease, likely landing around New England -3.5.
Calculating Payouts Against the Spread
Now you may have noticed in the chart above that there is a three-digit number next to each spread, which looks an awful lot like a moneyline. It is, in essence. Those negative numbers (-110 in this case) indicate how much you have to bet in order to win $100. (Sportsbooks still take their cut when you’re betting against the spread.)
Generally, you will see “even bets,” meaning the payout is the same no matter who you bet on. But that’s not always the case, as you’ll see in the chart for our next example.
If the result of this game is Seattle 21 – Green Bay 28, would you win if you bet on Seattle to cover?
(NO! They lost by more than three points.)
Do Other Sports Have Spread Betting Options?
Betting against the spread on the NFL is undoubtedly the most popular form of spread betting, but there are other options.
You will also see point spreads in hockey, baseball, and soccer. They are referred to in different terms, but they refer to the same principle of operation as the spread.
In hockey, the spread is called apuck line; in baseball, it is a run line; and in soccer, it is a goal line.
Puck lines and run lines are almost always fixed at 1.5.
Learn the Basics of Sports Betting
Want to learn more about the basics of betting on sports? Educate yourself with sports betting 101.
How does the odds converter work?
Our odds converter allows you to enter any format such as US odds (+100), or decimals / Australian odds ($2.00) or fractional / UK odds (1:1) and we convert all these formats to the other betting formats for you.
Use the Odds Converter here
What is an odds converter?
What Does Negative Betting Odds Means
Odds can be displayed in many different ways, including as fractions, decimals and if you're in the USA, with a positive or negative sign. Therefore, an odds converter allows you to quickly convert US Odds (such as +100) to UK odds (such as 1:1) to Australian Odds (such as $2.00). It's important to realise that although they all look different they are all just indicating the same price of an event with numbers.
An odds converter is especially beneficial if you have moved to a new country with a new odds format, if you are travelling or if you are betting with an international sportsbook.
Decimal odds show the amount of money the bettor will receive back multiplied by the original stake. For example, if the price is $7.50, and the bet is successful, the bettor will receive 7.5 times their original stake.
Fractional odds are stating the same thing, in a different format. In fractional odds, whatever the second number is, can be seen as the stake, and whatever the first number is, is what the bettor will receive back should the bet be successful. For example, if the price is 15/2, the bettor will receive 15 'stakes' for every 2 they wager.
Why Bet Negative Odds
American odds are slightly different and are based of stakes off a $100 bet. When the odds are with a + sign, they represent the amount of money you would receive back from a bet of $100. When the odds are displayed with a - sign, that represents the amount if money the bettor would have to wager to receive a $100 profit. For example, if the odds are +750, the bettor would receive $750 dollars if their bet was successful. If the odds were -750, the bettor would have to wager $750 in order to profit $100 (and therefore receive back $850 in total).
What Does Negative Odds Mean In Betting
Now you can tell that $7.50, 13/2 and +650 all mean the same thing and the need for an odds converter!