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All odds instantly give you an implied probability of the result. The higher the number equates to a lower chance of them winning. Therefore, a number in the minus figures means they have a stronger chance.
For example:
Lakers to beat Bucks @ +190
Bucks to beat Lakers @ -140
In this example,
it is implied that the Bucks have a stronger chance of winning the game. Giannis must not be injured! If you know, you know. These odds are theoretical but this is the kind of thing you’ll see.
If you bet on odds and spreads with a plus symbol, you’ll have a low chance of winning your bet, but the returns could be impressive
If you bet on odds and spreads with a negative symbol, you’re more likely to win your bet, but the returns might not be as good
This is the format most people use here in the USA. When you decide to take on some lucrative
betting deals, you will quickly be able to see which team is the favorite. They don’t always win though…
Let’s have a closer look at what these plus and minus symbols refer to.
In betting what does + mean?
If you see the plus symbol in a sportsbook’s betting odds and spreads, it means that the team it is referring to the underdog. The higher the number beside the plus symbol, the less chance the team is perceived of winning the game.
Here is an example
to help you place your first bet and take advantage of
sportsbook promotions.
Lakers to beat Bucks @ +190
Bucks to beat Lakers @ -140
The same example as before. The + for the Lakers implies that they are the underdogs going into the game. +190 shows the game shouldn’t be a blowout but the Lakers are still less likely.
As games get closer to starting you may see odds fluctuate. This can depend on team news and general stuff coming out about either team’s staff or players.
For example,
if LeBron James pulled out a couple of hours before the game, you could see the Lakers’ odds shift to over +200.
If the odds and spreads are positive, it also indicates how much profit you'd make had you wagered $100. So in this case, you would get $190 in profit from a $100 stake.
Here’s a quick summary:
The team with the plus sign is the underdog
The odds and spreads number shows you how much of a return you’ll get if you wager $100
For odds of +190, a $100 bet will see you getting returns of $190 in profit
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Now, onto the minus symbol. From the above example, we can guess that the minus symbol indicates that the team is the favorite to win the game.
Going back to our example, we had the Bucks to beat the Lakers at -140. It’s not too far below evens which implies that they are the favorites but it shouldn’t be a complete blowout.
The minus symbol in betting odds and spreads also indicates what returns you’ll get in a way that’s different to the plus symbol.
Here, it indicates how much money you need to wager to win $100 in profit. So in this example, you would have to bet $140 to win $100 when backing the Bucks to beat the Lakers.
Here’s a quick overview of what we’ve just explained:
The team with the minus symbol is the favorite
The minus odds and spreads number lets you know the amount you have to wager to win $100
So if the odds and spreads were -140, you’ll have to wager $140 to get £100 in returns
How to bet + and - odds
Depending on how high and low the odds are there are many different strategies.
Here are some simple things to keep in mind when looking at the odds:
If you like multiple minus odds bets then you can combine them into a parlay for better odds
Odds over +200 are usually best to back as singles with low stakes
If the odds are +1000 or more then they are not worth high stakes
If you haven’t placed a bet before then here is a quick step by step guide to help you through the process:
First of all you’ll want to do some research and find your pick
Next, find your pick on your chosen sportsbook
Click the odds to add them to your bet slip
Go to your bet slip and choose your stake
Deposit the required funds
Hit the place button and you’re done
It’s that simple.
A quick word about -110 betting odds and spreads
The above plus and minus odds and spreads tend to be found when you are betting on the money line, whether you made a pre-game wager or you’re
live betting.
This is where the sportsbook simply gives you odds and spreads for either team to win the game.
For example:
+120 for the Boston Bruins to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL
However, when you get away from the money line odds and spreads, you’ll see that many of the sportsbook’s odds and spreads will tend to be -110. You may be wondering, why?
Simply put,
the -110 represents the 10% commission earned by the sportsbook that should be guaranteed assuming that people bet equal amounts on either of the teams.
After all, sportsbooks have to stay in business somehow, and the commission or ‘margin’ shows how they do it.
In betting what does + mean for the spread?
Let’s say that there was a big NBA game coming up between the Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets.
It was a game between two poorly matched teams and the Warriors had little chance of winning. This meant that the Warriors had money line odds of +350 which might have paid out well, but you’d be unlikely to win your bet.
So here you could take a look at the points spread odds and spreads that tried to level the playing field.
For example it could be:
-110 for the Warriors +9.5 points
This means the Warriors would be playing with a +9.5 points handicap for your bet, meaning they could lose and your bet might still hit.
However, it would come at the cost of smaller returns.
In betting what does - mean for the spread?
Points spread betting will also use a plus symbol. So in betting what does + mean for the point spread?
Let’s take a look at the above basketball example. Here the Denver Nuggets were the overwhelming favorites to beat the Golden State Warriors.
This meant that the Nuggets’ moneyline odds were -451 which had a great chance of winning, but you’ll get little in the way of returns. $451 would only return $100…
So here you’d go over to the points spread betting area.
This shows you that you could get odds and spreads of -110 if you put the Nuggets at a -9.5 points disadvantage.
As such, the Nuggets would have to win the game by 10 points or more for you to win your bet. A much tougher prospect, but you’d have the advantage of some much more potentially lucrative betting odds and spreads.
Plus and minus symbols for totals bets
The odds and spreads of -110 will also feature for totals bets. Here you are betting on whether something will happen more or less than a number of times specified by a sportsbook.
So for an NBA game between Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks, you might see odds and spreads of -110 for the Jazz to score over 217.5 points, while there might be odds and spreads of -110 for the Mavericks to score under 217.5 points.
Just so you know, these points scores feature halves to make sure that the bet is always either a winning or losing result. All of which offers you another great way to take on the sportsbooks!
What about other odds and spreads formats?
Still confused about the use of plus and minus symbols in betting? Then don’t worry as there are other odds and spreads formats that could work a little simpler.
Decimal odds are perhaps the easiest odds format to understand.
Low number = high chance of team winning
High number = low chance of team winning
2.0 is evens, meaning if you bet $100 you get $100 in profit
You may also see some sportsbooks that let you bet with fractional odds that may require a little extra figuring out.
All of which shows that there are still a few options remaining if you still can’t understand what a plus and a minus means in sport betting!
Conclusion - Never ask ’In betting what does + mean?’ ever again!
We hope that our guide has clarified a few things about sports betting. Above all, you won’t have to ask rookie questions like, ‘In betting what does + mean?’ anymore.
This means that you can simply browse a sportsbook’s odds/spreads and figure out which team is worth backing.
Plus you’ll be able to understand what kind of payout you should get should luck go your way.
Hopefully this will help improve your betting experience. If you’re looking for your first betting site then check out our detailed
sportsbook review
that’ll help you take your sports bets up a level at any of our recommended online sportsbooks!
Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose when you bet $5!
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Subject to meeting qualifying criteria. Minimum wager $5. Minimum odds -500 or greater. $10 minimum deposit. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. Available in app only. Max. prize, game restrictions, time limits and T&Cs apply. Deposit required. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
Odds that start with minus essentially show how much you would need to bet to make $100 profit. For example, if you saw odds at -300 you would need to bet $300 in order to make $100. This means it’s the favorite that will have minus odds.
👀 What does plus mean in betting?
Odds that start with plus are usually given to the underdog when it comes to the money line. The number after the + is how much profit you would get from a $100 wager. So if you bet $100 on a +500 then you would make $500 in profit if it landed.
☝ What does the + and - mean in sports betting?
The + and - shows you the implied probabilities of each team to win or a given event to happen. It also shows your potential returns. If you see +150 then you will get $150 profit from a $100 bet. If it’s -150 then you will need to bet $150 to make $100.
✨What do odds and spreads of -200 mean?
Odds of -200 mean that the outcome is pretty likely to happen and a $200 bet will return $100 profit. If it’s a sports game and a team's odds are -200, they will be the favorites.
⚡What does minus 1.5 mean in betting?
-1.5 will be used in a spread bet. This could mean you are betting on a team to win with a -1.5 disadvantage.
💎 What does minus 300 mean in betting?
Odds of -300 mean that the outcome is very, very likely to happen and a $300 bet will return $100 profit. If you see these odds, the team is a heavy favorite.
💡 What does plus 300 mean in betting?
+300 odds show that an outcome has a lower likelihood of happening. A $100 bet will return $300. If you see odds like this on the moneyline then the team will be the underdog.
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