Basketball Money Line Calculator

Understanding money lines in basketball betting requires calculating implied probabilities and potential payouts. This calculator helps you determine the true odds behind money line bets and estimate your potential winnings.

What is a Money Line in Basketball?

A money line in basketball betting is a simple wager that predicts which team will win the game. Unlike point spreads, money lines don't involve a point handicap. Instead, they show the odds of each team winning outright.

Money lines are typically expressed as positive or negative numbers. A positive number means you need to wager that amount to win $100, while a negative number indicates how much you win for every $100 wagered.

Example: If the money line for Team A is +250, you need to bet $250 to win $100. If the line is -300, you win $300 for every $100 wagered.

How to Use This Calculator

Enter the money line for the team you're betting on (positive or negative number)
Enter the amount you plan to wager
Click "Calculate" to see your potential payout and implied probability
Review the results and adjust your bet size if needed

How Money Lines Work

The money line calculator uses these key formulas:

Implied Probability: For a positive money line (e.g., +250), the implied probability is calculated as: 100 / (100 + money line) = 100 / (100 + 250) = 28.6%.

For a negative money line (e.g., -300), the implied probability is calculated as: 100 / (100 + absolute value of money line) = 100 / (100 + 300) = 25%.

The calculator also determines your potential payout based on your wager amount and the money line.

Money Line	Implied Probability	Payout for $100 Wager
+250	28.6%	$250
-300	25.0%	$300
+150	40.0%	$150

Example Calculations

Example 1: Positive Money Line

If the money line for Team A is +250 and you wager $100:

Implied probability: 28.6%
Potential payout: $250
If Team A wins, you win $250
If Team A loses, you lose your $100 wager

Example 2: Negative Money Line

If the money line for Team B is -300 and you wager $100:

Implied probability: 25.0%
Potential payout: $300
If Team B wins, you win $300
If Team B loses, you lose your $100 wager

Example 3: Small Wager

If the money line for Team C is +150 and you wager $50:

Implied probability: 40.0%
Potential payout: $75
If Team C wins, you win $75
If Team C loses, you lose your $50 wager

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a positive money line mean?

A positive money line means you need to wager that amount to win $100. For example, +250 means you need to bet $250 to win $100.

What does a negative money line mean?

A negative money line means you win that amount for every $100 wagered. For example, -300 means you win $300 for every $100 bet.

How do I calculate the implied probability?

For positive money lines, divide 100 by (100 + money line). For negative money lines, divide 100 by (100 + absolute value of money line).

What's the difference between money lines and point spreads?

Money lines are simple bets on which team will win the game. Point spreads involve a point handicap where you bet a team will win by a certain margin.

How do I know if a money line is good value?

Compare the implied probability to the team's actual win probability based on their stats and recent performance. A money line is good value if the implied probability is higher than the team's actual chance of winning.