Mastering Spread Betting: A Complete Guide

Spread betting often refers to American-style point spreads; this is what gamblers mean when they use the term "betting the spread."

Yet, this term has a different meaning in other locales, especially Europe. There, spread betting is more driven by multiplication within a bet on a particular matchup.

There is a greater risk and reward factor when it comes to spread betting, and learning how to bet the spread successfully is similar to learning how to master other types of sports wagering.

What Is Spread Betting?

Spread betting is listed as a buyer-and-seller range.

For example, a read of a spread betting situation would be Total Goals for a soccer matchup, 2.8 to 3.0. For this example, if you believe the game will end up higher than the quoted range, you will make a BUY wager.

On the other hand, if you instead believe that the market outcome will be lower than the range quoted on the odds board, you will wager on SELL.

In a sports spread betting situation, the more accurate your wager, the greater the chance for increased multiples of your stake, depending on the final score, that you can potentially win.

How Spread Betting Works

When determining the spread, the objective is to create an active wagering market for both sides of a specific matchup.

That goal can be met even when the event's outcome shows bias to one side or the other. The gambler's objective is to find weak lines.

Spread betting is a calculation based on the final score vs. the amount wagered.

The details of this will be explained here shortly.

Buying and Selling in Spread Betting

When learning how to bet spread, the first thing to evaluate is the difference between buying and selling.

In a soccer matchup with a Total Goals of 2 to 2.2, you would SELL if you expected a tight game to stay under that number. Otherwise, you would BUY if you expected the match to go over that total.

Similar to over/under betting, spread betting has a multiple equation factor, which we will explain in the sections below. The more a game goes over or under the posted odds on the board, the more money you will make or lose.

Spread Betting Example: Total Goals in Soccer

Spread betting can pertain to the total in a soccer match.

If you buy $50 at three on a Total Goals 2.8-3 scenario and the game ends 4-2, you win a profit of $150 based on total goals of 6 minus the price of 3 multiplied by the original wager amount.

On the other hand, if you made a sell bet on Total Goals 2-2.2, and the game ended in a 0-0 draw, your winning profit would be $100 on a $50 bet.

Keep in mind that in a 2-2 game, your sell wager would lose $100 (2-4 x $50). The more a game goes over the price you wagered to sell, the bigger the loss.

Spread Betting vs Fixed-Odds Betting

Spread betting has more risk and reward factors compared to fixed odds betting. Thus, gamblers looking to bet spread for a greater payout will gravitate to the best scenarios.

Fixed odds betting is more comfortable for players who do not want to concern themselves with potentially large spreads with multiplication factors that could be costly for their bankroll.

Higher Potential Rewards, Higher Risks

When assessing the spread in betting, it comes down to how much a game's result compares to the original line and the stake.

The attraction of spread betting is that, because of its market and multiple-based nature, there can be a greater reward for the same amount of money bet on a lower-paying fixed-rate bet.

The tradeoff is that the multiplication factor can put quite a dent into a bankroll on a loss.

When to Choose Spread Betting Over Fixed Odds

Like any other form of betting, there are times when spread betting is advantageous and times when it should be avoided.

A gambler can set himself apart if he is knowledgeable about the sport and the teams involved in a matchup. A good gambler will know whether betting the spread makes sense based on the odds on the board vs. realistic probabilities.

The final decision should be based on which choice offers more upside, value, and less risk.

Calculating Profits and Losses in Spread Betting Formulas and Examples

When learning how to bet the spread, price movement calculation is a good place to start.

In price movement calculation, the profit or loss will be determined by the price you see on the board and the game's result.

Of course, the challenge is to correctly handicap the outcome and then assess the potential value and gain of the wager. The goal is to calculate the difference between the buy price and closing price and multiply it by your stake; you generate the total loss figure at a given price point.

To summarize, calculate your original buy or sell price, your stake, and the projected results.

Key Strategies for Spread Betting Success

The same situational principles apply to evaluating how to bet the spread as they would for any other type of wager.

Gamblers must assess whether the odds on the board are based on the merits of the two teams or if the public and its perceptions have a greater influence on the price.

Very popular teams or ones with good reputations will affect the price at which you are wagering.

When to Buy or Sell a Spread

Knowing when to buy or sell a spread involves the same principles as any other form of sports gambling.

It's important to be aware of handicapping trends and the recent form of the teams. Social media will drive the wagering public to make betting decisions that affect price and value.

Price vs. probability must be the deciding factor.

Managing Loss Exposure in Spread Betting

Managing loss exposure in spread betting comes down to the ability to assess value.

Never pay excess on a wager. If your instincts tell you a price is not what it should be, do not force the issue and avoid the bet. The more you focus on the value and merits of the prices and odds, the more often you will effectively manage loss exposure.

Assessing Spread Betting Value

To assess spread betting value, you'll need to look at several factors, starting with matching price to probability. If you have difficulty assessing that, the best guide is to observe what the betting public is doing and why.

Often, the masses will make the wrong bet, especially in this era of social media and hype that can become a force of nature that drives the betting markets just like the stock markets.

If you do the opposite of what the public does, you will often get a more favorable price.

Spread Betting Across Different Sports

What is spread betting? It is a way to get odds that can pay back more winnings on sports such as soccer, horse racing, cricket, rugby, greyhound racing, tennis, golf, darts, snooker, American football, basketball, and Formula 1.

Because you can get spread betting on so many sports, the opportunities abound for advantageous odds and the ability to make potentially larger profits with the multiplication factor.

Basketball: Point Spread Betting

Spread betting in America most often means wagering on the point spread.

In basketball, this means laying points with the favorite or taking points with the underdog.

For example, a basketball point spread would read Los Angeles Lakers -9 vs. Sacramento Kings +9. The Lakers would have to win the game by 10 or more points to cover the spread and win the bet.

Conversely, the Kings would have to win the game straight up or lose by less than nine points to cover the point spread.

Football: NFL & College Football Point Spreads

In the same way as basketball betting, the point spread in NFL and college football allows you to lay points with the favorite or take points with the underdog.

An example of a football spread would be the Kansas City Chiefs -11 vs. the Denver Broncos +11. Kansas City would have to win the game by 12 or more points to cover the point spread, while Denver would have to win the game straight up or lose by less than 11 points to win the wager.