What Does 'Line' Mean in Betting?

What does ‘line’ mean in betting?

“Line” in betting is basically a handicap. A bookmaker looks at two teams, figures one is better than the other by a certain number of points, and sets a “line” around that gap.

It levels the playing field to what the bookmaker thinks is a 50/50 outcome.

For example, in AFL, if it’s the Bombers playing the the Swans (in 2026), the line should be set around 10-goal mark. The Bombers would have a +59.5 line and the Swans would have a -59.5 line.

That means if you bet on the Bombers line, they essentially get a 59.5 head start – they need to lose by 59 points or less (or somehow draw or win the game) for you to win your bet. If you bet on the Swans line, it means they need to win by 60 points or more for you to win your bet.

Is line betting popular?

In Australia it flies under the radar a bit compared to head-to-head, but in North America it’s the go-to betting market in almost all sports. Most Americans couldn’t care less about the moneyline (their version of head-to-head) – the “spread” (their terminolgy for line) is king over there.

For punters here, line betting is worth a look when the head-to-head price on a favourite is too short to bother with. That’s where lines come into their own.

Which sports have line betting markets?

Anywhere there’s a scoreboard, really. AFL, NRL, NFL, basketball, rugby, soccer, tennis – all of them will have line betting markets.

Which bookmakers offer line betting?

Not something you need to shop around for. Any decent bookmaker or betting site running a betting app will have lines up on every major fixture, but it’s a good idea to compare a few bookies before placing your bets as sometimes the line can vary slightly – which can sometimes be the difference between winning and losing you bet.

Tips Writer

Murphy Adams

Murphy is an absolute greyhound racing tragic. If he's not eating or sleeping, he's consuming as much greyhound content as he can get his hands on.

Having worked as a greyhound racing journalist for more than 10 years, Murphy has an astute ability to match up various form lines to find the best value in each race he analyses and he enjoys nothing more than pulling off a huge plunge.

As a greyhound owner himself, Murphy loves cheering home a live winner down the road at Albion Park or at the pub on Sky Racing, and he hopes to tip you a few winners too!