For instance, a -240 favorite will have a greater winning chance than a -160 favorite.Īs common sense would suggest, it is the opposite with underdogs. This means you will need to ignore the „-„ sign and take only the number itself. However, there is one catch here: You will have to observe the absolute value of the number. The principle here is very simple – the higher the number’s value, the greater chance you will have to win.

The favorites will be marked with the – (minus) symbol. Favorites and Underdogs ExplainedĪs in any sports betting market, in American odds, you will also have favorites and underdogs. On the contrary, many players find them even more straightforward to understand and apply. They are in no way more complicated than decimal and fractional odds. However, rest assured, American odds are only one way to describe your likelihood of winning. If you are new to the world of US sports betting, the concept of American betting odds explained may initially seem confusing to you. If you plan to wager in the US, it is essential to learn moneyline odds because American sportsbooks use them by default. The favorite and the underdog odds are represented by the + (plus) and – (minus) signs. Unlike fractional and decimal odds, American odds focus on betting $100 on a single occasion. Have you heard about US odds or moneyline odds? Well, these are alternative names of the so-called American betting odds used by many best online betting sites.

When betting what does the plus mean