What does -250 mean in betting?
-250 means you risk $250 to win $100, or $25 to win $10. The price says it wins 71.4% of the time, so you need to win more than 71.4% of your bets at -250 to make money.
In plain words
-250 is a heavy favorite. You put up $250 to win $100, so one loss wipes out the profit from 2.5 wins.
The price says it wins 71.4% of the time. That sounds safe, but it also says it loses about once every 3.5 tries, and at -250 you need 2.5 wins for every loss just to break even.
Heavy favorites feel like free money, and that is where bankrolls quietly leak: the win is small and the loss is big. Bet the same size you would on any other pick. A shorter price is not a bigger edge.
Where you see -250
A solid favorite: an ace pitching at home against a weak lineup, or an NFL team favored by about six points.
100 bets at -250
| Win rate | Wins in 100 | Result on 100 bets of $10 |
|---|---|---|
| 68.4% | 68.4 | -$42 |
| 71.4% (break-even) | 71.4 | $0 |
| 74.4% | 74.4 | +$42 |
Three points above break-even turns 100 bets of $10 at -250 into about $42 of profit; three points below loses about the same. The edge is the few points, not the pick.
Prices next to -250
| Price | Chance | $10 wins | Bet to win $100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| -500 | 83.3% | $2 | $500 |
| -400 | 80.0% | $2.50 | $400 |
| -300 | 75.0% | $3.33 | $300 |
| -250 | 71.4% | $4 | $250 |
| -200 | 66.7% | $5 | $200 |
| -175 | 63.6% | $5.71 | $175 |
| -150 | 60.0% | $6.67 | $150 |
One step better for you, -200 pays $10 more than -250 on every $100 bet that wins.
Convert -250 or any other price, see what a ticket pays, or get a suggested bet size for your bankroll.
Questions
What does -250 mean in betting?
-250 means you risk $250 to win $100, or $25 to win $10. The price says it wins 71.4% of the time, so you need to win more than 71.4% of your bets at -250 to make money.
How much does a $10 bet win at -250?
$4 in profit. You get $14 back in total: your $10 plus the win. A $100 bet wins $40.
What win rate do I need at -250?
More than 71.4% to make money over time. That is the price's implied chance, also called the break-even rate.
What is -250 in decimal odds?
1.4. A $1 bet returns $1.4 in total. As a fraction it is 2/5.
Is -250 a safe bet?
No bet is safe. By its own price, -250 loses about 28.6% of the time, roughly once in every 3.5 bets, and each loss costs $250 for every $100 you hoped to win.
One pick a day, free, with its price, the book and a suggested bet size, posted at least 30 minutes before the game. Every result stays public.
See today's free pick21+ · Gamble responsibly · 1-800-GAMBLER