Major League Baseball is the highest professional level of baseball you can find worldwide.  The season is a long hard fought battle for one of the few playoff spots that allow a team to play for the World Series in the fall.  The season contains so many games that there are seemingly endless opportunities to bet on MLB baseball from April right through until October.

On this page we look at where Americans can bet on MLB baseball, explain run line, money line and total bets with an example, and share some tips to help you win.

Where Can Americans Bet On The MLB?

Your options depend on where you live. Here are the main ways to bet on MLB games 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 MLB games. 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 MLB 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.

Types of MLB Bets

Run line and money line bets are the two most common forms of baseball wagers.

With run line bets the underdog is given a handicap (usually 1.5 runs) to even out the playing field.  A run line bet on the underdog then wins if the underdog either wins the game outright or loses by fewer runs than the run line, while a run line bet on the favorite wins if they cover the spread.

Money line bets involve betting on which team will win the game outright.  The odds for each team determine the payout.

Here is an example with both the run line and money line odds:

In this example the Chicago Cubs are favorites.  Their money line odds are -158, which means a bet of $158 on the Cubs would win $100 (payout $258) if they won the game.  Their run line odds are +133, but for a run line bet on the Cubs to win they would have to win the game by 2 or more runs.  If this did happen then a $100 wager on the Cubs (-1.5) would win $133 (payout $233).

The Marlins are +145 underdogs, so a $100 bet on the Marlins would win $145 (payout $245) if they pulled off the upset. You could also bet the Marlins run line bet at odds of -153. That bet would win $100 for every $153 wagered if the Marlins either won the game or lost by 1 run.

Total runs is another popular betting option where you wager on how many total runs will be scored in the game.  The sportsbook sets a number and you wager on whether there will be more or fewer than that number of runs scored.  In the above example the over/under on the runs was set at 7.5.

How To Bet On MLB 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 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.

MLB Betting Tips

Here are a few tips to help you win money right out of the gate betting on MLB baseball.

• Compare Odds – This is important in every sport, but it is especially true with baseball.  There are so many games throughout the season that it becomes that much more important to always bet at the best line available.  A 10 cent difference on 200 games throughout the season will add up fast.
• Do Research – Baseball is something of a chess match when it comes to pitching and hitting.  You should always be aware of who the starting pitcher is for each team and how they match up against the hitters they will be facing.  The more knowledge you have the better your chances are of beating the bookies.

You can also check out our sports betting tips page for more general tips that can also be applied to MLB betting.

To keep up to date on scores, injuries and more I suggest visiting the official MLB website.