When first seeing pages of betting or live casino odds at Locowin Online Casino, and lines for upcoming games across sports from football to basketball to MMA, making sense of those numbers can certainly seem overwhelming for newcomers. However, grasping precisely what these odds and lines mean proves critical for making informed wagers rather than guessing aimlessly.
In this beginner’s guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know around common formats for odds and lines, how books set those numbers, plus what influences movements to understand as a bettor.
Fractions, Decimals and Moneylines
The three most frequent ways oddsmakers display price tags on a night with cleo games or events are fractions, decimals, and moneylines. Knowing how to interpret each matters tremendously:
- Fractional Odds show payout amounts based on $1 wagers. The denominator represents bet amount, while numerator is total returned including initial $1 stake. Ex. 7/2 means wager $1 to return $3.50 total.
- Decimal Odds display the full multiplier number for calculating returns on $1 bets. Simply multiply your stake by the odds. Ex. 2.50 means $1 bet returns $2.50 total. Popular globally outside the US.
- Moneyline requires no spread/odds calculations. Just bets on winners/losers accounting for heavy favorites and underdog payouts automatically. Ex. -150 means bet $150 to profit $100 more.
While all achieve the same purpose for payout math, moneylines appeal most to novice bettors thanks to sheer simplicity. Fractions and decimals give greater precision for seasoned vets.
Point Spreads and Totals
The two other vital odds types are point spreads and game totals. Books produce these projected numbers aiming to attract equal action on both sides of each market:
- Point Spreads – Oddsmakers set estimated margin of victories for games. Giving/taking points provides betting appeal to underdogs/faves. Ex. Dallas -7 means the Cowboys must win by > 7 points against the spread.
- Totals – Books predict the combined final scores by both teams. Bettors wager whether actual points will finish over or under posted totals pregame. Ex. OVER 43 points.
Note spreads and totals carry -110 odds reflecting ~52% break-even probability. This commissions the ~5% built-in house edge over huge bet sample sizes.
How Books Set Opening Lines and Move Numbers
Opening odds and lines for any event derive from seasoned oddsmaker forecasts of public tendencies and proportions of money expected to land on each side. Their expertise identifies early numbers attracting balanced action.
As actual wagers start flowing later, real betting patterns often force adjustments. If lopsided action appears headed one direction, the line moves accordingly to mitigate risk encouraging more opposite bets.
These movements also reveal which sides are attracting respected “sharp” bettors versus recreational actions. Understanding line moves proves critical for betting strategically.
For example, Dallas opening as 3-point favorites but quickly climbing to -7 signals heavy pro support believing the Cowboys should win big. However if that line dropped to -3 instead, that suggests pros detected initial overpricing and bet the other way.
Key Factors Influencing Odds and Line Movements
Many interacting dynamics continuously impact adjustments to odds and lines per sporting events:
- Injuries – Losing star players, especially quarterbacks, alter team quality overnight regardless of record. Saints may drop from 3-point to 7-point underdogs next week if QB Brees doesn’t play.
- Team Trends – Cold or hot streaks against the spread sway bet proportions days ahead. Public tends to overreact both ways.
- Betting Splits – As mentioned earlier, any lopsided action moves numbers trying to mitigate risk and encourage two-way bets.
- Market Moves – Initial line moves at one book prompt similar adjustments industry-wide called market moves. A ripple effect emerges.
- Weather Reports – Elements like heavy winds, rain or snow influence tactics and scoring potentials reflected in totals and spreads.
There are no shortcuts for developing skills, handicapping outcomes and forecasting line movements. But diligently hammering the above concepts will produce mastery sooner than later!