-110 means you must bet $110 to win $100 profit. It is the standard price for most spread and total bets in US sports betting.
Here's the complete explanation.
Understanding American Odds Format
US sportsbooks use American odds, which express how much you need to bet (for favorites, shown as a negative number) or how much you win per $100 bet (for underdogs, shown as a positive number).
- -110: Bet $110 to win $100 (you get back $210 total — your $110 stake plus $100 profit)
- -200: Bet $200 to win $100 (returns $300 total)
- +150: Bet $100 to win $150 (returns $250 total)
- +100: Bet $100 to win $100 (even odds)
Why Is -110 the Standard?
-110 exists because sportsbooks take a fee on every bet. This fee is called the vig (short for vigorish) or "juice."
On a fair two-sided market with no fee, both sides would be +100 (even odds). The sportsbook prices both sides at -110 instead, which means:
- If two bettors each bet $110 on opposite sides
- The sportsbook collects $220
- Pays out $210 to the winner ($110 stake + $100 profit)
- Keeps $10 — regardless of the outcome
That $10 on $220 in action is approximately 4.55% margin — the house edge on every -110 bet.
The Break-Even Requirement
At -110, you need to win 52.38% of your bets to break even.
The math: you need to win enough bets to offset the vig. If you bet 100 games at $110 each:
- You need 52.38 wins × $100 profit = $5,238
- You'll lose 47.62 bets × $110 = $5,238
- Break even at exactly 52.38%
Winning 50% is not enough. The missing 2.38% represents the vig's annual grind on your bankroll.
How -110 Compares to Other Lines
Not every bet is priced at -110. Moneylines on games with clear favorites are priced differently. Player props often have wider vig (sometimes -115 or -120 on both sides). Sharp books like Pinnacle may offer spreads at -105 — a significantly better deal.
Comparing prices across books before placing any bet is called line shopping and is the simplest way to improve your results without changing your picks.
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