What Is Moneyline Betting — Explained for Canadian Sports Bettors 2026

Moneyline betting means picking a winner with no spread or handicap involved. It is the most straightforward bet type in sports wagering and forms the foundation of NHL, NFL, NBA and MLB betting for most Canadian bettors.

American Moneyline Odds

Canadian sportsbooks commonly display moneyline odds in American format. A -130 moneyline on the Toronto Maple Leafs means you stake $130 CAD to win $100 profit. A +110 on their opponent means a $100 stake returns $110 profit. The minus sign indicates the favourite, the plus sign the underdog.

To convert American odds to decimal: for a positive line, divide by 100 and add 1 (+110 becomes 2.10). For a negative line, divide 100 by the absolute value and add 1 (-130 becomes 1.77). Most Canadian apps display both formats — use whichever is easier to read.

Moneyline in NHL Betting

NHL moneyline betting is straightforward — you pick which team wins in regulation, overtime or shootout. Puck line betting adds a -1.5 goal spread which changes the odds significantly. Moneyline is preferable when backing a team you expect to win regardless of margin, particularly in playoff scenarios where low-scoring close games are common.

Finding Value

Value on the moneyline exists when the odds imply a lower win probability than your own assessment. A -150 moneyline implies a 60% win probability. If you believe the team wins 70% of the time in that matchup, the bet has positive expected value.