2025 World Series Betting Odds: MLB World Series Betting Guide

• What Are Betting Odds? Betting odds represent the likelihood of an event occurring and determine the potential payout of a bet. For instance, if the New York Yankees have odds of +400 to take the World Series, a $100 bet would yield $400 if they win. Understanding these odds is crucial for making informed bets.

Types of Odds

• Decimal Odds: Common in Europe, these odds show the total payout, including the original stake. For example, odds of 5.00 mean a $1 bet returns $5.
• American Odds: Used in the U.S., these odds can be positive or negative. A minus sign (e.g., -200) indicates how much you need to bet to win $100, while a plus sign (e.g., +300) shows how much you win on a $100 bet.
• Fractional Odds: Common in the UK, these odds are presented as fractions (e.g., 5/1 or 2/3). The numerator (first number) shows potential profit relative to the denominator (second number), which represents the stake. For example, at 5/1 odds, a $1 bet wins $5 profit (plus the $1 stake returned). At 2/3 odds, you need to bet $3 to win $2 profit.

Betting on MLB futures like the World Series involves selecting a team to win the championship at the beginning or any other time during the year. 

You can bet before the season begins, after half the season has been played, or even during the offseason when a significant move is made that alters your opinion about who will win the Fall Classic.

The 2024 offseason shows how a single transaction can radically change the market. Shortly after the 2024 World Series, the New York Mets had +1400 odds to win in 2025 at DraftKings. Once they signed Juan Soto to a record-breaking contract, those odds changed to +800.

While World Series odds are related to a long-term outcome, they can change rapidly. If you are interested in betting on the Fall Classic, staying up-to-date on the MLB news cycle and current World Series odds is important.

There is no definitive method for winning World Series wagers, but here are a few things to remember.

Every World Series Bet is a Longshot

The MLB playoffs are known for being unpredictable. Even teams that appear to be extremely strong can easily fall in the postseason, and no individual club is particularly likely to win.

Before the 2024 season, for instance, FanGraphs' projections didn't give any team more than a 25.3% chance of winning the World Series. The eventual winner, the Los Angeles Dodgers, was given just a 15.7% chance.

Don't Rule out Underdogs

With the MLB playoff format expanding considerably in recent seasons, underdogs have more opportunities to make the postseason as wild cards and win it all. As recently as 2023, a World Series was played between two wild-card teams: the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks.

One of the most famous examples of a team shocking the world to win the MLB championship was the 2019 Washington Nationals. That team, led by strong starting pitching and an emerging Juan Soto, had a horrific start to the season before turning a corner midway through and going on a magical run.

Always Use Responsible Gambling Best Practices

It's always critical to practice responsible gambling strategies, and that's particularly true when dealing with a high-risk bet type like futures. Here are a few to remain cognizant of:

• Set a Budget: Decide in advance how much money you're willing to spend and never exceed that number. It's advisable to limit your budget to approximately 1-5% of your disposable income.
• Use Betting/Loss Limits: Making your own budget is a good first step, but you can take things further by setting betting or loss limits with your sportsbook of choice. Betting limits cap what can be wagered on a single bet or session, while loss limits restrict how much you are able to lose in a given period. These tools may stop users from gambling at times, but they are effective at keeping their gaming within reasonable parameters.
• Time Management: Allocate a specific amount of time for gambling and take regular breaks to maintain focus. Many sportsbooks offer time limits for how long you can spend signing on their website or app or 'cool-off' periods that allow users to take a break for a specific amount of time.
• Use Tracking Tools: Use sportsbooks' tracking tools to monitor your wins and losses carefully. This will help you assess how gambling is affecting your finances and can provide early warning signs that your betting is beginning to get out of control.
• Commit to Self-Exclusion if Necessary: If you recognize the signs of problematic behavior, take advantage of the option to put yourself on a self-exclusion list. This voluntary action will prevent you from accessing betting operators when your gambling has become a problem.

Understanding historical trends can help inform your bets when looking at 2025 World Series odds.

For example, examining clubs' performance in previous playoffs, head-to-head records, and performance in crucial games can provide insights into their potential performance in the upcoming season.

One famous example is the case of the New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins in the 21st century. Although the Twins fielded several quality teams, they could not beat the Yankees in the playoffs, going 2-16 against them between 2003 and 2019.

That's an uncommon level of head-to-head failure (or dominance from the Yankees' perspective), but it's an example of the type of trend useful to be aware of.

Past World Series Winners and Matchups

A summary of the last 10 World Series teams and champions shows which clubs have had consistent playoff success recently.

• 2024: Los Angeles Dodgers defeat New York Yankees
• 2023: Texas Rangers defeat Arizona Diamondbacks
• 2022: Houston Astros defeat Philadelphia Phillies
• 2021: Atlanta Braves defeat Houston Astros
• 2020: Los Angeles Dodgers defeat Tampa Bay Rays
• 2019: Washington Nationals defeat Houston Astros
• 2018: Boston Red Sox defeat Los Angeles Dodgers
• 2017: Houston Astros defeat Los Angeles Dodgers
• 2016: Chicago Cubs defeat Cleveland Indians
• 2015: Kansas City Royals defeat New York Mets

The main lesson here is that if you're placing a bet on the next World Series, it's worth considering how the Dodgers and Astros are looking because at least one of them has made the Fall Classic in seven of the last eight years.

Teams with Most World Series Titles

MLB history doesn't always repeat itself, but before making any bets, knowing which franchises have the best track record of bringing home championships is handy.

With a clear understanding of how the odds of winning the World Series are presented and some basic strategy and historical information, you may be ready to make a bet. Here's a step-by-step breakdown of how to place a wager on the World Series.

• Evaluate and select an online sportsbook after reading through real user reviews. Reading real user reviews will give you a sense of what you can expect from the legal sportsbooks available in your state.
• Register an account. To verify your eligibility, fill in the required personal details, such as name, email, and age. You'll also need to provide proof of age (21 and above in most U.S. states sports betting regulations).
• Fund your account. Deposit methods include credit/debit cards, e-wallets, bank transfers, and prepaid cards. Choose what works best for you.
• Go to the sportsbook's MLB section. It may be called "MLB" or "baseball".
• Browse the MLB futures markets. You can bet on a variety of futures beyond just which team will win the title.
• Choose 'World Series'. Click on the odds to add to your bet slip. It should pop up automatically when you click the odds you wish to bet.
• Decide how much you want to bet. A responsible gambling best practice is to bet with 1-5% of your monthly/annual disposable income. Another great rule of thumb is to focus on straightforward bets like the moneyline or a point spread rather than a high-risk parlay.
• Check your bet slip to make sure everything is correct. Confirm your bet by clicking "Bet."