Baseball is the national pastime here in the United States, with the game resonating deeply in American culture. The World Series is always must-watch TV every October, and with each MLB team playing 162 games throughout the regular season there are plenty of opportunities to sit back, relax, and enjoy some baseball betting action. Online sportsbooks and betting apps are now the most common way to place baseball bets.

With games on the schedule every single day from April through October, baseball offers more betting opportunities than almost any other sport. Below we explain where Americans can bet on baseball, walk through every popular bet type with worked examples, and provide a step-by-step guide to help you place your first baseball wager.

Where Can Americans Bet On Baseball?

Your options depend on where you live. Here are the main ways to bet on baseball in the United States.

Licensed Sportsbooks

Sports betting is legal in more than 35 states plus Washington, D.C., where licensed sportsbooks such as DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM offer odds on baseball. You must be 21 or older in most states and physically located in a state where the sportsbook is licensed.

Prediction Markets

Prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket let you buy and sell contracts on the outcome of baseball games. Instead of betting against a sportsbook, you trade with other users, and the price of a contract reflects the market’s view of how likely an outcome is. These platforms operate under federal oversight from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) rather than state gambling law, which is why they are available in most states, including states without legal sports betting.

Daily Fantasy Sports

Daily fantasy sports (DFS) apps such as PrizePicks and Underdog offer player stat contests in most states. Rather than betting on who wins, you pick whether players will go over or under a statistical projection.

Offshore Sportsbooks

Offshore sportsbooks are licensed outside the United States and accept bets from across the country. They are not licensed or regulated by any US state, which means Americans who use them have no state regulator to turn to if there is a dispute over a bet or a withdrawal.

Outside the US

In Canada, Ontario has a regulated market of licensed online sportsbooks, and the other provinces offer online betting through their provincial lottery sites. In the UK, use operators licensed by the Gambling Commission. Elsewhere, check the rules in your country before signing up with any betting site.

Recent Baseball Articles

Baseball Betting Options

There are many options to choose from when it comes to betting on baseball online. Below we’ll walk through each of the most popular bet types with detailed examples so you know exactly what you’re wagering on.

Money Line (To Win Game)

Moneyline wagers are the most popular type of baseball bet because they simply involve betting on which team will win the game. The sportsbook sets odds for each team depending on their perceived chance of winning. The American odds format will indicate how much you need to bet to win $100 wagering on the favorite (-) or how much you will win with a $100 wager on the underdog (+).

Here’s an example:

  • Houston Astros -185
  • Seattle Mariners +175

In this example the Astros are significant favorites. To win $100 betting on the Astros you would have to risk $185. The Mariners are the underdogs – a $100 bet on Seattle would win $175 if they pulled off the upset. The bigger the gap between the two numbers, the more lopsided the matchup is expected to be.

Run Line

The run line is baseball’s version of the point spread. It is almost always set at 1.5 runs, which means the favorite must win by 2 or more runs to cover, while the underdog can lose by 1 run and still be the winning side of the bet. The run line is similar to the spread when betting on football or basketball, but with a fixed 1.5 run handicap rather than a variable spread.

Let’s continue with the Astros vs Mariners example to see how the run line works:

  • Houston Astros (-1.5) -123
  • Seattle Mariners (+1.5) +103

The run line brings the odds closer together compared to the moneyline. To win $100 betting on the Astros run line you would have to risk $123, and Houston would need to win the game by 2 or more runs. On the flip side, a $100 run line bet on the Mariners would win $103 if Seattle either won the game outright or lost by just 1 run.

Totals (Over/Under)

A totals bet involves wagering on the total number of runs scored by both teams combined. The oddsmaker sets a number and you bet on whether the actual total will be over or under that amount. Sportsbooks also offer team totals, which work the same way but apply to just one team’s run total rather than both combined.

Here is the over/under from the Astros vs Mariners game:

  • Over 8.5 runs (-110)
  • Under 8.5 runs (-110)

In this example a bet on the over would win if 9 or more runs are scored in the game, while the under bet would hit if 8 or fewer runs are scored. The half-run eliminates the possibility of a push.

Here is an example showing the run line, money line and total odds for an MLB game:

Run line, money line and total odds for an MLB game.

Parlays

Same game parlays have become the hottest trend in MLB betting. Instead of just betting the Astros to win, you can combine the Astros moneyline with a player to hit a home run and the over on total runs into a single wager that pays out significantly more. All legs have to hit for the bet to cash, but the combined odds make for exciting potential payouts on a single game.

You can also build traditional multi-game parlays across the nightly MLB schedule. With 15 games on some nights during the regular season, there’s no shortage of options. Stringing together three or four moneyline favorites is a popular approach, though remember that even heavy favorites lose in baseball more often than in other sports because of the inherent unpredictability of the game.

Prop Bets

Prop bets are popular baseball bets, with prop betting as a whole starting to take a larger percentage of MLB betting handle, especially with the emergence and popularity of same game parlays. Some typical baseball prop bets include which team will score first, which team throws more pitches, and whether the game goes to extra innings. You can also place prop bets on virtually every MLB statistic for every player in the game. For example, you can bet on home runs, hits, runs + RBIs, and total bases from every hitter, just to name a few.

Futures Bets

Futures bets are a lot of fun because you get to follow the bet over a longer period of time. The most common futures bet in baseball is a wager on which team will win the World Series, which can be placed before or during the season with the odds adjusting as the year progresses. Other popular baseball futures include American League and National League pennant winners, division winners, and individual awards like AL/NL MVP and Cy Young.

Live Betting (In-Play)

A starting pitcher exits after 4 innings and the bullpen door swings open – that’s the moment live baseball bettors are watching for. Pitching changes are the single biggest odds-shifting event in live baseball betting, and a weak reliever entering the game can move the moneyline and run total significantly within seconds. You can bet on adjusted moneylines, run lines, and totals that update throughout the game, as well as live props like whether a run will score in the current inning.

Baseball’s slower pace between pitches and between innings gives you time to think and evaluate situations before placing a live wager, which is one of the reasons it has become a popular sport for in-play betting.

Baseball Betting Odds

When betting on baseball online it is important that you understand the odds, so you know what your risk and reward is for each wager. Let’s take a closer look at a moneyline example using the American odds format (the most common odds format used online):

  • Atlanta Braves +108
  • Washington Nationals -118

The Atlanta Braves have odds of +108 to win the game, while the Nationals are given odds of -118. In this example a $100 wager on the Braves would win $108, while a bettor would have to risk $118 to win $100 betting on the Nationals. Notice how close the odds are compared to the Astros vs Mariners example above – this tells you the oddsmaker views this as a much tighter matchup.

How To Bet On Baseball Online – Step By Step

Whichever option you choose, the process of getting started is similar. Here’s a general guide.

Step 1. Choose Your Option

Decide which type of platform fits how you want to bet. Licensed sportsbooks offer the full range of bets where they are available, prediction markets let you trade contracts on the outcome, and DFS apps are built around player stats. Review the options above before signing up.

Step 2. Check The Age and Location Rules

Every platform has its own eligibility requirements. Most prediction markets and DFS apps require you to be at least 18, while licensed sportsbooks require you to be 21 in most states and physically located in the state where they are licensed.

Step 3. Create and Verify Your Account

Sign up with your legal name, date of birth and address. Regulated platforms are required to verify your identity, so you may be asked for the last four digits of your Social Security number or a photo of your ID.

Step 4. Fund Your Account

Deposit using one of the platform’s payment methods, which commonly include debit cards and bank transfers. Check how withdrawals work, and how long they take, before you deposit.

Step 5. Find The Market and Place Your Bet

Navigate to the MLB or baseball section, select the market you’re interested in, and choose your position. Before confirming, check the price or odds and how much you stand to win, using the bet types explained above as a guide.

Step 6. Set Limits

Decide on a budget before first pitch and stick to it. Most regulated platforms let you set deposit and time limits in your account settings. If betting stops being fun, help is available 24/7 by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.

Baseball Betting Tips

Baseball betting rewards patience and preparation more than almost any other sport. Here are some tips to keep in mind.

  • Compare Odds – There are so many baseball games being played at a time that sportsbooks are not able to really focus on each individual line. For this reason it is possible to find sharp baseball wagers, but you must compare odds at various sportsbooks. The difference between +120 and +130 can add up quickly, especially if you are betting large amounts. This is one of the main reasons to have accounts at more than one sportsbook.
  • Research Starting Pitching – Baseball comes down to pitching and hitting. The starting pitcher is the single biggest factor in any baseball game, so always check who is on the mound before placing a bet. Also look at how each team’s lineup performs against left-handed vs right-handed pitching – these splits can reveal significant edges.
  • Manage Your Bankroll – With so many baseball games being played every day throughout the season it can become tempting to bet on a large number of games. Be patient and try to find games with sharper lines. Betting bigger on games you are more confident on rather than a lot of small bets on slight leans will pay off in the long run. Learn more about sports betting bankroll management in our guide.
  • Pay Attention to the Bullpen – A team’s bullpen can make or break late-game bets, especially if you’re betting totals or live betting. If a team has been using their bullpen heavily in recent games, the relief pitchers may be fatigued and more likely to give up runs. This is especially valuable information for live betting and totals wagers.

Specific Baseball Betting Pages

Baseball Betting FAQ

Is it legal to bet on baseball online in the United States?

Sports betting laws vary by state in the United States. More than 35 states plus Washington, D.C. have legalized sports betting with licensed sportsbooks, prediction markets operate under federal oversight in most states, and offshore sportsbooks accept bets from across the country but are not licensed by any US state. Check out our USA sports betting guide for a detailed breakdown of the options in your state.

Where can I bet on MLB games?

In states with legal sports betting, licensed sportsbooks such as DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM offer odds on every MLB game. Prediction markets and daily fantasy apps are options in many other states. See the options above for more detail.

What is a run line in baseball betting?

The run line is baseball’s version of the point spread. It is almost always set at 1.5 runs. The favorite must win by 2 or more runs to cover the run line, while the underdog can lose by 1 run and still be the winning side of the bet. The run line offers different odds than the moneyline and can provide value when you expect a blowout or a close game.

How important is starting pitching when betting on baseball?

Starting pitching is the single most important factor in baseball betting. The starting pitcher has a larger impact on the outcome of a game than any individual player in other major sports. Always check who is on the mound before placing a bet, and look at their recent performance, ERA, and how they match up against the opposing lineup. If a starting pitcher is scratched after you place a bet, most sportsbooks will void the wager under their “listed pitcher” rules.

Can I bet on baseball games while they are in progress?

Yes, live betting (also called in-play betting) allows you to place wagers on baseball games while they are being played. The odds update in real time based on the score, inning, pitching changes, and more. Live betting is well suited to baseball because the pace of the game gives you time to evaluate situations between pitches and between innings.

What is a same game parlay in baseball?

Same game parlays let you stack multiple outcomes from one MLB game onto a single ticket. A popular approach is combining a team win with individual player performance – for example, the Yankees to win, Aaron Judge to hit a home run, and the game total to go over 8.5 runs. The payouts can be substantial since all legs must hit, but the ability to build a narrative around one game is what makes SGPs so appealing to baseball bettors.

How do I manage my bankroll when betting on baseball?

The key to bankroll management in baseball is discipline, because the long 162-game season means there are games every single day and it is easy to overextend. Most experienced bettors recommend wagering no more than 1-5% of your total bankroll on any single game. Focus on finding games where you have a genuine edge rather than betting on every game on the schedule. Read our bankroll management guide for a deeper look at managing your betting funds.