If you are looking for an easy way to bet on a game, without having to think too hard about what you are betting on, then you might find what you are looking for in sports betting odds labelled as “-6 Line”.
What does that mean, exactly? Let’s dive into it.
What is The -6 Line?
If you recall, traditional bookmaker odds range from +100 to ‘-100′ (or ‘Evens’). This indicates that the betting shop or bookmaker is offering a payout of 2 to 1 (or 1 to 2) on the game. So, if you bet on a game and it ends up being a ‘-6′ (or ‘6’) winner, you will need to pay out a total of 6 (or 4) to 1 (or 1 to 4). Not bad!
However, if you look at the -6 Line, you will see that the betting shop is willing to pay out less money on a win, than they are asking for on a loss. For example, if you bet on a -6 Line football game and it ends up being a 6-point win, the bookmaker will pay you 6 (or 4) to 1 (or 1 to 4). But, if you bet on a -6 Line football game and it ends up being a -6 (or ‘6′) loser, the bookmaker will only pay you 2 (or 1 to 1) to 1 (or 1 to 2). So, you essentially have the same ‘bet’ (in the form of win or lose) but you are getting paid less for a win.
How Do You Calculate The -6 Line?
When you are looking at the -6 Line, you will notice that the betting shop or bookmaker is indicating that they will pay out less on a win than they are asking for on a loss. To determine the correct payout for a ‘-6′ (or ‘6’) winner, you would start by looking at the opposite. For example, if you lost a -6 (or ‘6′) line bet, what would be your incentive to risk more money on the same game? It is extremely unlikely that the betting shop or bookmaker will pay you the amount of money you lost plus additional interest, on top of that. So, you can see that the incentive for a losing bet is not very high. Therefore, the payout for a ‘-6′ (or ‘6′) win will need to be lower than what is indicated on the -6 Line.
Why Are Bookmakers Suggesting A Lower Than Even Money Odds On Wins?
The -6 Line is used primarily as a way to advertise that the betting shop or bookmaker offers lower than even money odds on winnings. While that is true for most sports books and betting shops, it is not always the case. Many books and betting shops will not use ‘-6′ (or ‘6′) odds on a win because they want to ensure that you have enough motivation to place another bet. For example, if you are at a -6 (or ‘6′) line and the game results in a 7-0 win, the bookmaker will not want you to leave the site empty-handed. So, even though they are paying you -6 (or ‘6′) on the win, you will end up in the positive because you got something for your money. Remember, in terms of odds, 100 indicates a 100 to 1 payout while ‘-100′ indicates a 1 to 100 payout. This is why most -6 Line bets are on losses. If you place a bet on a win, it is likely that your money will be tied up in that one bet for the rest of the day, which means you are not going to be able to place any other winning bets until that one is settled.
Do You Calculate The Odds Yourself?
The answer is yes and no. You are responsible for calculating the odds yourself, but you should always make sure that you are using the correct formula. Most sports books and betting shops will give you the correct odds, as long as you are following the formula correctly. The odds will not be -6 (or ‘6′) on a win, unless you know how to calculate them yourself, using the proper formula. For example, the -7 (or ‘7′) odds on a win, would be -7 (or ‘7′) times your total amount of money wagered, divided by 2. So, if you put $100 on a -7 (or ‘7′) line and the game ends in a 7-0 win, you will earn 7 (or 4) to 1 (or 1 to 4) payout. Easy math!
If you follow the above steps, you will be able to easily determine the odds for any sports bet. Remember, if you get odds that do not add up to -100 (or ‘100′ ), it usually means that you made a mistake in your calculation somewhere along the line. Make sure you check your numbers several times before you make a decision. If you are still confused after you checked your calculations several times, then it might be a good idea to contact the betting shop or bookmaker directly for more information.