Moneyline

Moneyline

Also known as: ML, h2h, head-to-head

A bet on which team or contestant wins outright, regardless of margin. Listed as American odds: favorites have negative numbers (-150 means bet $150 to win $100); underdogs positive (+130 means bet $100 to win $130).

Moneyline (or h2h on the Odds API) is the simplest sports bet: pick the winner of a game with no point spread involved. Just win the game and the bet wins.

Pricing uses American odds. Favorites get negative numbers (the amount you must risk to win $100). Underdogs get positive numbers (the amount you win on a $100 risk).

Examples: - Lakers -150 vs Celtics +130. Lakers favored. Bet $150 on Lakers to win $100, or $100 on Celtics to win $130. - An "even" line is +100 / -100 (or "pickem"), implying 50/50.

Moneyline markets are the most liquid sports markets because they involve the least complexity. Vig is typically 4-5% for major-sport games. Kalshi's YES contract pricing maps directly to moneyline implied probability — buy Lakers YES at 60¢ ≈ betting Lakers at -150.

For events with more than two outcomes (golf majors, championship winners), the futures market replaces moneyline.

Worked example

Kalshi Lakers YES at 58¢ vs DraftKings Lakers -135 (de-vigged: 56%). Edge: 56 - 58 = -2pp. Kalshi is slightly more expensive — bet Lakers at DraftKings instead, or sit out.

Related terms