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Sports betting basics: what is a betting line
A betting line is the list of prices for one game. Tap any cell in the sample line below to see what it means, what a $10.00 bet pays and the chance it implies.
Red 1.67
Moneyline – just pick the winner, no line. Red is the favourite (shorter price) against Blue. $10 returns $16.67 ($6.67 profit). In American terms: bet $150 to win $100. Chance by price: 60.0%.
Both prices in this column imply 103.5% together – the extra 3.5% over 100% is the bookmaker’s margin.
An example hockey line. Prices are made up for the lesson; every number in the notes is calculated from them.
How a sports bet works
- Read the priceEach side has a price, for example +150. In decimal odds the same price is 2.50.
- Choose your stakeThe stake is the money you put on the bet, for example $10.00.
- Wait for the resultYour pick wins or loses. If the bet is a push or void, the stake comes back – see the glossary.
- Get the payoutA win pays stake × decimal odds: $10.00 × 2.50 = $25.00. Profit is $15.00. A loss pays nothing.
Three main bets on a line
Moneyline
−200 / +150Pick the winner. The favourite (minus sign) pays less, the underdog (plus sign) pays more.
Point spread
The favourite must win by more than the line; the underdog can lose by less and still win the bet. In hockey this is the ±1.5 puck line.
Total (over/under)
Over / UnderBet on whether both teams together score more or fewer goals or points than the line.
Betting line columns explained
| Column | What it shows | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Team | The two sides of the game | Home and away |
| Moneyline | Price to win the game | −200 favourite, +150 underdog |
| Spread / puck line | Margin of victory plus its price | ±1.5 goals plus a price |
| Total | Combined score line, over or under | Over at −110 |
| Minus sign (−) | Favourite: risk this to win $100 | −200: risk $200.00 |
| Plus sign (+) | Underdog: profit is larger than the stake | +150 = 2.50 decimal |
| Decimal odds | Total return per unit staked | 2.50 = 40.0% implied chance |
The minus/plus format is American odds, which the sample line uses. See how betting odds work.
From price to chance
Implied chance = 1 ÷ decimal odds
Example: 1 ÷ 2.50 = 40.0%
Sources
- laws-lois.justice.gc.ca /eng/acts/c-46/section-207.html · checked Oct 27, 2026
- laws-lois.justice.gc.ca /eng/AnnualStatutes/2021_20/page-1.html · checked Oct 27, 2026
Questions
What is a sports betting line?
The list of prices offered on one game: usually moneyline, spread and total. Each price shows what a bet pays and the chance it implies.
How does sports betting work?
You pick an outcome, stake money at the listed price and wait for the result. A win pays stake × decimal odds: for example, $10.00 at 2.50 returns $25.00. A loss pays nothing.
What does a minus sign in betting odds mean?
It marks the favourite. −200 means you risk $200.00 to win $100. A $10.00 bet returns $15.00, a profit of $5.00.
What is the legal betting age in Canada?
It depends on the laws of your province. Check the rules on the province pages. This page is not legal advice.
Where can I learn more betting terms?
The betting glossary explains push, void, dead heat and other terms in plain words.