How To Read Gambling Odds

HOW TO READ ODDS. The first time you glance at the odds can be somewhat daunting. There are a lot of numbers on the board from spreads, to moneylines, to totals, and it’s somewhat unclear what.

Learn how to read the odds at VegasInsider.com. We provide betting resources to understand sports betting odds, point-spread odds, moneyline odds, over-under total odds, futures odds, halftime odds and much more for your sports betting needs. In a betting line between two teams, the team expected to win, or favorite, will have minus or negative odds. This means for every dollar wagered, you will earn less than a dollar if your bet wins. The team expected to lose, or underdog, will have positive or plus odds. Similar to decimal odds, the return can be determined by multiplying the odds and the bet. Above, 100 times 2.5 (5/2) equals 250. In horse racing, odds will dip to something like 3/5 or 5/7 which usually means that horse is a big favorite. A 3/5 favorite is equal to -167 in American odds and 1.6 in decimal odds. Read More Sports Betting Q&As.

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NFL is one of the most popular sports available for gamblers to bet on using the Vegas odds. However, understanding the difference between the odds available at Vegas odds sites such as Caesars Sportsbook is one of the most important factors that gamblers must take into consideration before making their wager. But, what are the biggest differences and what markets can you expect to bet on the NFL using?

What Are The Biggest Differences?

Many gamblers often wonder what the biggest differences between betting on Vegas odds and other sportsbooks are, and one of the most significant differences is the odds. Vegas odds are typically better value for customers, and that can be seen in the example below:

  • Jacksonville Jaguars +700
  • Green Bay Packers -1100

These odds were taken from Caesars Sportsbook, and are better than a number of offshore sportsbooks that we looked at. One offshore sportsbook offered +550 on the Jacksonville Jaguars on the Money Line, and -900 on the Green Bay Packers. As you can see from the odds, that means gamblers betting with Vegas odds would be able to win higher returns when betting on the underdog for this NFL fixture.

How To Read Gambling Odds

However, it depends on the market that you’re betting on. As the spread and over/under total points markets for the same fixture are exactly the same.

These are the odds for those markets with Caesars Sportsbook:

  • Jacksonville Jaguars (+13.5) -110
  • Green Bay Packers (-13.5) -110
  • Over 50 Points -110
  • Under 50 Points -110

How To Read Vegas Odds (NFL)

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Reading the odds are very straightforward, and we can use the same examples above to explain:

How to Read NFL Odds

If you stake a $10 bet on the Jacksonville Jaguars, then you could stand to win $80 in returns. The returns will be made up with $70 in profit after betting on the odds, while you will also get the $10 back that you wagered.

However, if you opted to bet on the Green Bay Packers, you would get $10.90 in returns on the Money Line. $10 of those returns would be the stake that you placed on the bet, while the $0.90 would be the profit from the odds that you have bet on. Vegas odds in the American format isn’t the only way to read odds, as the leading sportsbooks allow you to change the format to a fractional or decimal layout. You can see below how the odds convert:

Other NFL Markets Available With Vegas Odds

One of the other big differences between offshore and Vegas odds sportsbooks are the number of markets available. Offshore sites will allow gamblers to wager their money on markets such as First Drive Result, Double Result and Winning Margin. These markets aren’t traditionally offered with sportsbooks like Caesars. However, there are other markets that you will be able to find with this sportsbook.

How to read gambling odds
  • 1st Half Money Line- Gamblers will be able to bet on the team that will be winning at the half-time break.
  • 1st Half Total Points- There is an over/under market focused on the number of points scored in the first half. The site will set the total, and gamblers will bet on whether the number of points scored will be higher or lower.
How to interpret odds

Should I Sign Up To Take Advantage of Vegas Odds?

How To Read A Betting Line

Vegas odds are one of the best ways to bet on the NFL action, which means signing up to a site such as Caesars is a no-brainer. You will be able to bet on competitive odds on all the markets that are on offer, while there are excellent promotions that new customers will be able to take advantage of. Understanding Vegas odds is also straightforward, which means that it will appeal to beginners that are wagering their money on the NFL for the first time.