What Does -110 Mean in Betting?
American odds explained simply—with examples
5 min read
The Quick Answer
-110 means you bet $110 to win $100.
The minus sign (-) indicates how much you must risk to win $100. So at -110 odds, a winning bet returns your $110 stake plus $100 profit = $210 total.
Understanding Minus (-) and Plus (+) Odds
Minus (-) Odds
The number shows how much to risk to win $100.
• -110: Risk $110 to win $100
• -150: Risk $150 to win $100
• -200: Risk $200 to win $100
The bigger the minus number, the heavier the favorite.
Plus (+) Odds
The number shows how much you win on a $100 bet.
• +110: Win $110 on a $100 bet
• +150: Win $150 on a $100 bet
• +200: Win $200 on a $100 bet
The bigger the plus number, the bigger the underdog.
Why Is -110 the Standard?
You'll see -110 on both sides of most point spread and totals bets. This is called the vig (short for vigorish) or juice—it's the sportsbook's commission for taking your bet.
Example: Chiefs -3 vs Bills +3
• Chiefs -3 (-110): Bet $110 to win $100 if Chiefs win by 4+
• Bills +3 (-110): Bet $110 to win $100 if Bills win or lose by 2 or less
Notice both sides are -110. The sportsbook collects $110 from losers and pays $100 to winners, keeping $10 regardless of outcome.
Learn more about how sportsbooks profit in our guide: What is Vig (Juice)?
American Odds Reference Chart
| Odds | Risk | Win | Total Return | Implied Probability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -150 | $150 | $100 | $250 | 60% |
| -130 | $130 | $100 | $230 | 56.5% |
| -110 | $110 | $100 | $210 | 52.4% |
| -105 | $105 | $100 | $205 | 51.2% |
| +100 | $100 | $100 | $200 | 50% |
| +110 | $100 | $110 | $210 | 47.6% |
| +150 | $100 | $150 | $250 | 40% |
| +200 | $100 | $200 | $300 | 33.3% |
Use our EV Calculator to check any odds.
The Critical Number: 52.38%
At -110 odds, you must win 52.38% of your bets just to break even.
Here's the math:
Break-even % = Risk ÷ (Risk + Win)
Break-even % = $110 ÷ ($110 + $100) = $110 ÷ $210 = 52.38%
This means picking winners at a 50% rate (coin flip) guarantees you lose money long-term. You need an actual edge to profit. That's where expected value betting comes in.
Real Betting Examples at -110
$50 Bet
Risk: $50
Win: $45.45
Total return if win: $95.45
$110 Bet
Risk: $110
Win: $100
Total return if win: $210
$250 Bet
Risk: $250
Win: $227.27
Total return if win: $477.27
Formula: Win Amount = (Bet × 100) ÷ 110
Now That You Understand Odds...
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does -110 mean in sports betting?
-110 means you must bet $110 to win $100 in profit. This is the standard odds for point spread and totals bets. The extra $10 is the sportsbook's commission (called the vig or juice). If you win, you get back your $110 stake plus $100 profit ($210 total).
Why is -110 the standard betting line?
-110 on both sides of a bet gives the sportsbook approximately 4.55% margin. This built-in commission ensures the book profits regardless of the outcome, as long as they have roughly equal action on both sides.
What win percentage do I need to profit at -110 odds?
At -110 odds, you need to win 52.38% of your bets to break even. Anything above 52.38% is profitable. For reference, winning 55% of bets at -110 generates about 5% ROI on your betting volume.
What does +110 mean vs -110?
+110 means you win $110 on a $100 bet—you're the underdog getting better odds. -110 means you risk $110 to win $100—you're paying the standard price. The plus/minus indicates whether you win more or less than your stake.
Are -110 odds good or bad?
-110 is the industry standard and represents a fair market price when you have no edge. The key is finding situations where the true probability exceeds the implied 52.4%—those are +EV (positive expected value) bets worth taking.