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Dodgers Betting Gives BetMGM a Spring Boost

Ziv Chen

Last Updated: March 27, 2025 1:51 PM EDT • 2 min 5 sec read.

Dodgers Betting Gives BetMGM a Spring Boost
Pictured: Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Dustin May reacts in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Photo by Kirby Lee via Imagn Images.

Opening day has brought some exciting records for one of our best sports betting sites.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have set a new benchmark in MLB futures betting ahead of Opening Day, with a record percentage of bets placed on them to win it all as the favorites by the 2025 World Series odds. The BetMGM Sportsbook reports that 37.8% of the overall World Series futures handle has been placed on the Dodgers, nearly double the previous preseason mark of the 2022 New York Mets, who had drawn 21.7% of the handle.

This gargantuan betting interest sets the Dodgers apart going into the 2025 MLB season. The team's unequal share of the handle speaks volumes about the betting public's confidence in a franchise that not only won the 2024 World Series but spent big in the offseason to remain a favorite among bettors.

Apart from their financial stake, the Dodgers' performance on the field has already begun living up to the hype. The team started regular season play 2-0 following a two-game series in Tokyo against the Chicago Cubs.

By ticket percentage, the Dodgers lead all MLB teams at 17.2% and are also first in handle at 37.1%. The Mets, whose handle is the second-largest (9%), are second in tickets at 8.4%, barely ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies' 8.4%. The New York Yankees are third in handle at 7.5%.

The surge of Dodgers wagers is unusual for our best MLB betting sites, which are accustomed to favorites receiving most early bets, but not to this degree. BetMGM trade manager Halvor Egeland described the scenario as a liability situation.

He described the current level of exposure as "a bit of a hole" for the sportsbook. He noted that while favorites traditionally receive most of the public cash, the Dodgers receive a record level of action.

Sportsbooks face significant losses

BetMGM has the Dodgers at +240 to win the 2025 World Series, which is significantly shorter than any other team. By comparison, the Yankees and the Atlanta Braves are the most favored teams, each priced at +900. Make sure to use our BetMGM bonus code, SBRBONUS, before placing your World Series bet.

The Dodgers are +290 at DraftKings Sportsbook, with the Braves +750 and the Yankees +850.

Contributing to the heightened betting enthusiasm for the Dodgers is the team's high-profile and expensive offseason, where they spent lavishly to retain and acquire top-level talent. The proactive roster-building approach has resonated with bettors who view the Dodgers as the most complete club in baseball heading into the season.

Meanwhile, the Mets have also been a massive talking point among futures bettors following their record 15-year, $765 million agreement with star outfielder Juan Soto. That agreement, among the largest in sports history, has helped the Mets capture the second-largest share of futures handle at BetMGM.

Listed at +1200 at BetMGM and DraftKings, the Mets are getting lots of love from bettors who are banking on a breakout season that would deliver the franchise its first World Series title since 1986.

March 27 is the Opening Day for most MLB teams, and as the season gets underway, sportsbooks will still be monitoring liability positions on the Dodgers and other contenders. With so much early betting pooled on one team, the 2025 campaign is a substantial financial risk for sportsbooks if the Dodgers repeat.

Written By:
Ziv Chen
Ziv has over two decades of experience in the igaming and sports betting industry, having served in senior marketing and business development positions with both B2C and B2B companies, including Playtech and Microgaming. In 2019, Ziv decided to pursue his passion for writing and became a fulltime industry journalist, covering casino, sports, and gambling business news. He’s specialties include casino games and technology, US state gambling regulation, company performance, as well as gambling affiliates and marketing. As a Pitt graduate, Ziv is a diehard fan of all Pittsburgh sports teams, with the Steelers at the top of the list. In his free time, he enjoys reading crime fiction, biographies (mainly of sports personalities, but not only) and American history. Ziv’s Favorite quote: “We're going to pursue perfection, knowing full well we won't catch it, but we're going to relentlessly chase it," Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach.