Lines and Odds for Sports Betting in Arizona
Now that in-person and online sports betting is available in Arizona, Grand Canyon residents should take this opportunity to refresh their understanding of reading and interpreting sports betting odds. Having a solid grasp of the basics is crucial for making informed and successful bets.
Look no further if you’re looking for the latest odds from top Arizona Sportsbooks all in one place. We showcase odds from all major operators, giving Arizona bettors easy access to information on all major sports.
How Bookmakers Operate
If you’re new to online betting, a good way to start is by imagining a scenario where you bet on the outcome of a coin toss. You can wager $1 on either Heads or Tails. If you guess right, you’ll get back your original $1 bet plus an additional $1 in profit, but there’s a 10-cent fee taken by the operator.
If the coin flip game is played only once, the site must ensure that an equal amount of money is bet on both Heads and Tails in order to make a profit. However, if the game is played multiple times, the sportsbook is not worried about perfectly balanced bets as long as there is a steady stream of bettors and the coin is fair.
Just like in sports betting, people place wagers on NBA, NFL, or other sports games. The odds are set to ensure that overall, bettors will break even. However, as long as bets are being made and games are being played, the bookmaker will always make a profit.
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What are the workings of Arizona betting odds?
Let’s start by clarifying the definition of a term we have often referenced: odds. So far, we have used odds broadly to encompass all aspects of a bet. Odds serve as a price, a numerical value that the online platform can modify to influence betting towards a certain outcome.
To be more precise, odds indicate the potential profit gained by a bettor if their bet is successful. It is a ratio that shows the amount you stand to win for each dollar wagered. For example, odds of 5-to-1 (American odds of +500) suggest that a $5 bet would yield a $25 profit.
Aside from the reward/risk ratio, numerous bets incorporate supplementary numerical elements. For example, if the bet hinges on exceeding a certain statistic or conquering a handicap, a foundational number will be integrated into the bet. These figures are commonly found in spreads and totals, which are frequently derived from a game’s score (like points, runs, or goals depending on the sport). Nevertheless, they may also relate to other quantifiable statistics or results associated with the game or match being wagered on.
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Understanding Betting Odds in Arizona<br><br>In Arizona, learning how to read betting odds is essential for anyone looking to place bets on sports or other events.
In order to grasp betting odds, it is suggested that one analyze a typical event listing available on leading sports betting apps in Arizona.
Cowboys 47.5 +180
Cardinals -4 -220
The point spread for the Cardinals is 4 points, and the total for the game is 47.5.
Calculating the Point Spread and Total Score
A point spread is a tool used by sportsbooks to even the odds between the favorite and the underdog by adjusting the final margin of victory. When placing a bet on a team’s point spread, like the Cardinals’ minus 4, the result is determined by deducting the spread from the team’s final score. If the team still has a higher score than their opponent after factoring in the handicap, the bet is successful.
When placing bets on underdogs such as the Cowboys, the point spread bet provides them with a competitive edge. Cowboys bettors are given an extra 4 points above the final game margin, increasing their chances of a successful bet even if they don’t win the game outright.
A tie, also known as a push in betting terms, occurs when the point spread and the final game margin are equal. In this scenario, all bets are refunded by the site.
In Over/Under betting, the combined score of both teams is provided as a point of reference. For example, in this game, the total is set at 47.5. To win an Over bet, the teams must score a minimum of 48 points combined. Conversely, if you bet on the Under, you will win if the total score is 47 or less.
How much do you win on point spread and Over/Under bets? These bets usually have odds of 10-to-11, so you would win $10 for every $11 bet. In American odds, they are referred to as -110 bets and are shown as a moneyline.
Moneyline Odds
Moneyline is a frequently used betting term that represents the ratio of potential reward to risk. It is akin to fractional odds such as 10-to-1 or 5-to-2, but is based on a standard of 100. Moneyline odds are commonly seen in American sportsbooks, while decimal odds are more prevalent in other regions of the world.
When a moneyline is negative, it means that your potential profit will be less than the amount you bet. For instance, a -110 moneyline requires a $110 wager to potentially win $100. This means that if you win, you will receive a total of $210 ($110 initial bet + $100 profit).
When betting, a positive moneyline indicates the potential winnings for every $100 wagered, while a negative moneyline displays the amount needed to win $100. For example, a +175 moneyline on the Phoenix Suns to beat the Los Angeles Lakers would mean a $175 profit for every $100 bet. The higher the positive number, the bigger the underdog.
Moneyline Bets
The final factor to note in the Cowboys/Cardinals sports odds listed above is the numbers on the far right. When making a moneyline bet, you have the option to bet on either team without a point spread handicap. This means you are simply betting on the teams to win outright. The Cardinals, being the favored team, are indicated by a negative number, such as -220 in this case. If you decide to bet on the Cardinals winning, your bet will be considered a winner as long as they come out victorious in the game, regardless of the final score.
Other Kinds of Bets
Betting on the moneyline is a common way to wager on NHL and MLB teams. In contrast to sports leagues with fluctuating point spreads, bookmakers provide straight bets with a set handicap of 1.5 runs (baseball) or 1.5 goals (hockey). Referred to as the run line and puck line, these bets necessitate the team you bet on winning by a minimum of two scores.
Arizona usually offers better odds for the run line and puck line compared to the moneyline. For example, if the Coyotes are favored to beat the Stars with moneyline odds of -190, a bookmaker might provide a puck line bet with a 1.5 goal handicap at +150 odds. Bettors can also opt for a “reverse puck line” or “reverse run line” to get more runs or goals in exchange for less favorable odds.
Parlay and Teaser Betting
Parlay bets, which involve combining multiple sports bets into one, are becoming increasingly popular. Bettors have the option to select their preferred wagers from various leagues and start times and merge them into a single parlay bet. The more bets that are added to the parlay, the greater the potential payout. However, there is a risk involved, as if any one bet in the parlay fails, the entire bet is lost.
When you create a teaser with three point spread bets at an Arizona NFL betting site, it operates like a parlay in that all legs must win for your bet to be successful. The key difference is that each game in the teaser is adjusted by 6 points in your favor. For instance, if you wager on the Cardinals -4 in a teaser, it would change to Cardinals +2. The drawback, however, is in the payout odds. While a three-team NFL parlay would pay out +600, the same bets in a teaser would only pay out +180.
Live (In-Game) Betting
In Arizona, the FanDuel betting app and other well-known operators allow bettors to place live sports bets during ongoing games. These operators continuously update the point spread, moneyline, and total based on real-time events on the field. Additionally, some apps offer play-by-play betting, enabling bettors to wager on specific upcoming plays during the game.
Proposition Bets
If you’re interested in exploring beyond just the final score and point spread in sports betting, then game and player propositions, commonly referred to as prop bets, may catch your attention. Online betting platforms provide a diverse selection of individual proposition bets for every game, giving Arizona bettors the opportunity to wager on a variety of outcomes. These can range from the number of field goals in a game to specific player performances, like whether Kyler Murray will score a 2-point conversion against the Cowboys. Prop bets also cover team accomplishments, such as predicting if the Suns will be the first team to reach 100 points in a game against the New York Knicks.
Futures Betting
If you are confident in predicting the winner of the upcoming Super Bowl or believe the Suns have a chance to make it to the NBA Finals next year, you should think about placing a futures bet. These bets can take a while to be resolved, often not until the end of the current season or even the following one. Despite the longer wait time, futures bets can be quite profitable. They are usually listed as moneyline bets, with favorites listed first and underdogs at the bottom.
Winners of the NFC West in the 2021 NFL season
- Cardinals -120
- 49ers +250
- Seahawks +400
- Rams +700
Explanation of Arizona Sports Betting Odds
Sports betting odds in Arizona are tied to the likelihood of a bet winning. Bookmakers encourage risk-taking by providing higher payouts for riskier bets. For instance, in a game between Arizona State and Yuma Community College, the sportsbook will offer lower rewards for those betting on the favored Sun Devils, who are expected to win. Conversely, a bet on YCC could lead to a substantial payout if they cause an upset. There are additional factors to keep in mind when analyzing sports betting odds.
What causes Arizona sports betting lines to fluctuate?
Arizona bookmakers regularly adjust their sports betting odds to entice customers and minimize risk. Updates are made based on various factors, including recent sports news and betting patterns. The goal is to prevent a disproportionate amount of bets on one side, ensuring bookmakers are not overly vulnerable to potential losses.
To even out the betting action, BetMGM Sportsbook Arizona may adjust the payout odds or point spread to attract more bettors to a particular side of the wager. It’s important to note that unlike horse racing and other pari-mutuel events, once you place a sports bet in Arizona, the odds are fixed and cannot be altered.
Which sports are available for betting?
In some states where online betting is allowed, restrictions have been implemented to prevent bettors from placing wagers on local college teams or making proposition bets on individual college players. However, in Arizona, regulations will allow betting on state schools but will prohibit prop bets.
Furthermore, Arizona sports bettors can wager on a variety of sports such as golf, tennis, UFC, and auto racing. The state has a particular interest in NASCAR Phoenix races, with futures odds being a popular choice. Bookmakers are always innovating with new betting options like player-versus-player best score bets in golf tournaments and total game over/under bets in tennis matches.
What is the significance of betting odds in Arizona?
If you are new to online betting or betting on a mobile device, you may believe that winning consistently is just a matter of picking more winning bets than losing ones. However, it is also crucial to find the best odds or prices.
Just as football is a game of inches, success in sports betting relies on small margins. To turn a profit at standard -110 odds, you must pick winners correctly 52.4% of the time. Opting for games with a slight advantage, like -105 odds, lowers the break-even win rate to 51.2%. The best sports bettors often achieve a win rate of 56% or 57%, underscoring the importance of securing the most favorable sports betting odds in Arizona. Comparing odds can ultimately be the deciding factor between success and failure in the realm of sports betting.
Access to multiple sites in Arizona will give residents a competitive advantage, enabling them to effortlessly compare odds from different apps and find the most favorable ones for a game they’re keen on.
Examining the odds offered by AZ sportsbooks for various sports leagues.
Each sports league provides a variety of betting options such as futures, moneylines, over/unders, props, and more, with minor differences in their implementation across different leagues.
NFL Odds
Many NFL fans enjoy placing futures bets on events like the Super Bowl or NFL MVP. Moneylines and spread bets for games are also common in NFL betting. Game odds are typically released a week before kickoff and can change throughout the week based on injury reports.
Chiefs 
49ers 
Ravens 
Lions 
Bengals 
Bills 
Texans 
Eagles 
Packers 
Cowboys 
MLB Odds
MLB betting includes popular futures options like predicting the World Series champion or division winners, in addition to game-by-game bets. Baseball can be more challenging to bet on due to the high number of games (162 per team in a season). The outcome of a game is often determined by pitching matchups.
Dodgers 
Phillies 
Yankees 
Orioles 
Braves 
Astros 
Mariners 
Twins 
Guardians 
Brewers NBA Odds
Similar to MLB, NBA betting consists of a large number of games (82 in a season). Due to the unpredictable nature of the sport and the prevalence of injuries, odds for each game are typically not released until the day of. In addition, NBA betting also includes odds for the winner of the NBA Finals and awards like the MVP.
Celtics 
Nuggets 
Thunder 
76ers 
Knicks 
Mavericks 
Timberwolves 
Bucks 
Suns 
Lakers NHL Odds
The NHL and NBA each have 82-game seasons and share a similar format, making betting on NHL games akin to wagering on the NBA. The key difference lies in the scoring of hockey games, as teams often win by a narrow margin. Consequently, the spread, referred to as the puck line in hockey, is typically set at 1.5 goals. In addition to betting on individual games, NHL bettors can also place wagers on the eventual winner of the Stanley Cup.
Oilers 
Stars 
Panthers 
Devils 
Avalanche 
Hurricanes 
Rangers 
Canucks 
Maple Leafs 
Golden Knights NCAA Odds
When betting on college football, the procedure is akin to that of the NFL, with odds typically being revealed a week prior to the game. A popular bet in NCAAF is predicting the team that will emerge victorious in the College Football Playoff National Championship.
College basketball betting functions in a similar way to the NBA, with game odds typically being released on the day of the game. A common bet is predicting the champion of the NCAA Tournament.
Arizona Betting Odds FAQ
In countries outside of the United States, online bookmakers often use decimal odds to show the risk-reward ratio. Decimal odds are seen as the simplest format because they clearly show the total payout amount for a winning bet, which includes the original stake.
For example, if the decimal odds are 2.00, a successful $10 bet would result in a total payout of $20 ($10 profit plus the initial $10 wager). Conversely, odds of 1.41 would mean that the bookmaker would pay out 1.41 times your initial bet, including the initial stake. So, a $10 bet would yield a payout of $14.10 ($10 initial stake plus $4.10 in winnings). In decimal odds, favorites are indicated by a number between 1 and 2, while underdogs are represented by a number greater than 2.
Author
Phillips Zachery, a writer, author, and data & analytics professional based in Oregon, regularly contributes to yengols.com on a variety of topics. With a wealth of experience in sports betting, his most recent publication, Sports Betting for Dummies (Wiley, 2020), provides valuable insights for both new and seasoned bettors. Despite humorously claiming that his betting success rate only counts from Nov. 8, 2020, to Dec. 5, 2020, Zachery maintains a 60% success rate in sports betting. In addition to his expertise in gambling, he has written on technology, business, travel, and more. Zachery holds degrees in Economics, Finance, and Sports Heartbreak from the University of Texas and the University of Houston.
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