A teaser bet lets you shift point spreads or totals in your favor across multiple games, but you pay for that advantage with reduced payouts compared to standard parlays.

How Teaser Bets Work

Teasers function like parlays with a crucial difference: you control the lines. Here's the breakdown:

1. Select your legs: Pick two or more games—teasers are most common in football and basketball.

2. Adjust the lines:

• Football: typically 6, 6.5, or 7 points. A team listed at -7 drops to -1 with a 6-point teaser.
• Basketball: usually 4, 4.5, or 5 points. An Over/Under of 210 moves to 215 with a 4-point teaser.

3. Understand the trade-off: More points in your favor means lower payouts. Sportsbooks price teasers differently than regular parlays because you're shifting the lines.

4. Mix and match: Most books let you combine spreads and totals on the same ticket.

5. Know the rules: Teaser rules vary by sportsbook. If a leg pushes (hits the adjusted number exactly), some books treat it as a loss while others drop that leg and recalculate odds. Check house rules before betting.

Reverse teasers (or "pleasers") flip the script—you move lines against yourself for higher payouts but drastically increased risk.

Real-World Examples

NFL Teaser Bet

A two-team, 6-point teaser combines a spread and an Over/Under. Say the Ravens are -7 against the Browns, and the Packers-Bears total is 46.5. With a 6-point tease, you move the Ravens to -1 and shift the total to 52.5 if you like the under.

Result: The Ravens only need to win by two or more; the Packers-Bears game has extra cushion for an under. But the sportsbook cuts the payout to compensate for the easier lines.

NBA Teaser Bet

A two-team, 4-point teaser in basketball: Warriors listed at -8 against the Lakers; Heat-Celtics total at 212.5. With a 4-point tease, the Warriors line drops to -4 and the total moves to 216.5 if you like the under.

Golden State now only needs to win by five or more. You've added buffer on the under in a tight matchup. Again, friendlier lines mean lower payouts.

Payout Structures

Teaser payouts depend on number of legs, points teased, and sport.

• More legs = higher potential payout but more risk. Every leg must win.
• More points teased = lower payout. Two-team teasers typically pay around -120, not the plus-money values of standard parlays.
• Sport differences = Football teasers run 6, 6.5, or 7 points. Basketball teasers are smaller (4, 4.5, or 5 points) because scoring margins are tighter.

NFL Teaser Payout Chart

| Legs | 6 Points | 6.5 Points | 7 Points |

|------|----------|-----------|----------|

| 2 | -110 | -120 | -130 |

| 3 | +160 | +150 | +140 |

| 4 | +260 | +240 | +200 |

| 5 | +400 | +350 | +320 |

| 6 | +600 | +500 | +450 |

Example: A three-team, 6-point teaser for $100 pays +160. Win all three legs and you profit $160 on your $100 bet (total return: $260).

NBA Teaser Payout Chart

| Legs | 4 Points | 4.5 Points | 5 Points |

|------|----------|-----------|----------|

| 2 | -110 | -120 | -130 |

| 3 | +160 | +150 | +140 |

| 4 | +260 | +240 | +200 |

| 5 | +400 | +350 | +320 |

| 6 | +600 | +500 | +450 |

Example: A four-team, 4-point teaser for $100 pays +260. If all four legs hit, you profit $260 ($360 total return).

Best Books for Teaser Betting

FanDuel excels with an intuitive betslip. Select spreads or totals across multiple games, toggle the teaser option, and instantly see adjusted lines and odds. It minimizes mistakes when juggling multiple legs.

DraftKings goes further with a dedicated "Teaser" tab in the betslip. Instead of manually piecing bets together, you head straight to the teaser builder, pick your legs, and adjust points for each bet. It's smoother and beginner-friendly.

Caesars, Fanatics, and bet365 also support teasers with solid user experiences.

Reverse Teasers (Pleasers): The Evil Twin

A reverse teaser moves the line against yourself, making the bet harder to hit but with much bigger payouts if you win.

Example: Ravens are -7. In a standard 6-point teaser, they move to -1. In a 6-point reverse teaser, they move to -13. If the Ravens win by 14 or more, your bet cashes at significantly higher odds.

"Pleasers" are high-risk, high-reward bets—strictly for bettors hunting a bigger payday.

Are Teasers Worth It?

Teasers add value and entertainment but aren't a guaranteed edge. Recreational bettors love the flexibility. Sharp bettors often stick to NFL two-leg teasers that cross key numbers (3 for a field goal, 7 for a touchdown) for the best value.

The trap: adding too many legs. The odds look tempting but drastically increase risk. Stick to smaller teasers, know your sportsbook's push rules, and treat teasers as a strategic tool—not a shortcut to easy wins.