The parts of a bet slip
| Part | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Selection | The side you bet: a team, a player or Over/Under |
| Market | Moneyline, spread, total, prop or parlay |
| Line | The number, for example +2.5 or Under 45.5 |
| Odds | The price, for example -113 or +150 |
| Stake | How much you risked |
| To win / payout | Profit if it wins, and the total returned |
| Ticket ID and time | The book's reference, and proof of when you bet |
The line and the odds are the two parts people skip, and they matter most. Broncos +2.5 at -113 and Broncos +1.5 at -105 are different bets, and only the slip tells you which one you have.
A real slip from our ledger
On September 27, 2026, one of our Owner Selections was the Denver Broncos +2.5 on the spread at -113, for a stake of 1.70 units. Our public record counts one unit as $100, so that slip risked $170 to win about $150. The Broncos covered, and the play graded as a win for +1.50 units. You can open the photo of that exact ticket on the graded picks ledger, next to every other play since June 1, 2026, wins and losses both.
Parlay slips read the same way, with one line per leg. A Bonus Plays slip from September 26, 2026 held three moneylines (Georgia, Alabama and LSU) at a combined -118 for 0.50 units, and it graded as a win for +0.42 units. One price, one stake, three legs that all had to win. Our ledger lists each program on its own, so a Bonus parlay and an Owner straight bet never share a record.
How to check a payout on a slip
For negative odds, profit is stake times 100 divided by the odds: 1.70 units at -113 is 1.70 x 100 / 113, about 1.50 units. For positive odds, profit is stake times the odds divided by 100: $20 at +150 is $30. The bet calculator does both, and it shows the implied chance of winning that the price is asking you to believe. If the slip on your app shows a different payout, the odds changed before you confirmed, which is common when a line is moving.
Types of bet slips
- Straight bet: one selection, one price, one stake.
- Parlay: two or more legs on one ticket, one combined price, and every leg has to win. See what is a parlay bet.
- Round robin: one build that places every smaller parlay combination as separate tickets. See what is a round robin bet.
- Teaser: a parlay of spreads or totals moved in your favor for a lower payout.
- Live bet: placed during the game, with a price that can change between tap and confirm.
Most apps also offer cash out on an open slip. That is the book buying your ticket back at a price it sets, usually with a margin, so it is worth checking against the hedge calculator first.
Building a slip on a sportsbook app
- Tap a price on the board. The selection drops into the slip, usually a drawer at the bottom of the screen on a phone or a panel on the right on desktop.
- Choose the slip type. Most apps have tabs for singles, parlay and round robin once two or more selections are in.
- Enter the stake. Some apps let you type the amount to win instead, so read the label on the box.
- Review every line and price, then confirm. If the price moved while you were typing, the app asks you to accept the new odds, and many have a setting that accepts changes automatically. Leave it off, so you always see a change before you bet.
- Open your bets or history to find the confirmed ticket with its ID and time.
Odds formats on a slip
Most US apps show American odds, but many let you switch. The same price looks different in each format. American -113 is decimal 1.885 and means you risk $113 to profit $100. American +150 is decimal 2.50, or fractional 3/2, and means a $100 stake profits $150. Decimal odds include the stake, so a $20 bet at 2.50 returns $50 in total. Whatever format your slip shows, the implied chance of winning is the same: -113 implies about 53%, +150 implies 40%. The odds converter switches between all three and shows the implied chance, which is the number to compare with your own read of the game.
Slip words you will see
- Pending: the bet is open and the game has not settled.
- Push: the result landed exactly on the line, and the stake comes back. See what is a push.
- Void: the bet was cancelled under the book's rules, for example a postponed game, and the stake comes back.
- Settled: graded as won, lost, pushed or voided.
- Boost: a promotional price increase, shown on the slip as the boosted odds.
Common bet slip mistakes
Most slip mistakes happen on the build screen, not after. Check the line as well as the team, because the app may default to an alternate spread. Check the odds after every refresh, since a price that moved from -110 to -125 changes what you are betting. Check whether the stake box is your risk or your win amount. And read the parlay settings, because some books settle a pushed leg by dropping it and some by grading the whole ticket as a push. Take a screenshot of every slip you place so you have your own proof.
Why bet slips matter
A slip is proof. It proves the price you got, which is the only way to know whether you beat the market (see closing line value). It also settles disputes with a book, and it is the only honest way for a handicapper to show a record. That is why we photograph every play before the game and keep the photos public. Photos also protect against honest mistakes, such as misremembering whether you took the spread or the moneyline. A record without slips is a claim. Members can log their own slips in the bet tracker, which grades each one against the closing line.
Your next step
Frequently asked questions
What does a bet slip show?
The selection, the market, the line, the odds, the stake, the potential payout, and the ticket ID with the time the bet was placed.
Can a bet slip change after I place it?
No. Once confirmed, the line and odds on the slip are fixed, even if the market moves later. Before you confirm, the app can update the price, which is why the payout sometimes changes on the build screen.
What is a parlay slip?
A single ticket with two or more legs, one combined price and one stake. Every leg has to win, unless a leg pushes or is voided, in which case most books drop it and reprice the ticket.
Should I keep my bet slips?
Yes. Screenshots of your slips are your own record of the line, the price and the stake. They settle disputes with a book, show whether you beat the closing line, and keep your results honest when memory would rather forget the misses.
Why do handicappers post bet slip photos?
Because a photo taken before the game proves the pick, the price and the stake existed before the result. Our graded picks ledger keeps a photo for every play since June 1, 2026.
Your next step
- 1Learn itBet Slip (this page)
- 2Apply itSports betting for beginners →
- 3Run itBet Calculator →
- 4Master itDay 1: The Wise Guy Code →
Related terms
21+. For entertainment and educational purposes, not financial advice. If gambling stops being fun, take a break. 1-800-GAMBLER. Regulated US books only.