European Sports Betting
odds  |  multiple bets
pools and totes  |  Asian handicaps

North American Sports Betting
point spread wagers  |  money line wagers (odds)
total score (over-under)  |  parlays (multiples)
teasers  |  if bets

Point Spread Wagers - Sports Betting

This section of the Sports Gambling Tutorial on Sports Betting provides an explanation of point spread wagers in sports betting.  With point spread bets, the team wagered on must win by the point spread given at the time of the sports wager.  The team perceived to have less chance of winning is given a handicap of a certain number of points for wagering purposes.  This handicap is known as the point spread, and is sometimes called the line or price.  If a team has a greater number of points after the point spread has been factored into its final score, the sports bet is said to have covered the spread.

The favorite is always listed with a negative number.  Why a negative number?  For wagering purposes, points are subtracted from the favorite's final score to determine if the favorite is a winner.

Conversely, the underdog is given a positive number because points are added to the underdog's final score to determine a sports wager's winners and losers.

Unless otherwise indicated, the odds are generally £1.10 to win £1.00.  Events that tie are considered "no action" - no one wins or loses.  Due to changing events, point spreads may fluctuate at any time.

Example Point Spread Bet

These types of bets are common in American football betting, basketball and other sports wagers.  Let's say you make an American NFL football bet of £110.00 on the Chicago Bears -6 to beat the New England Patriots +6.

If the Chicago Bears win by more than 6 points, you win £100.00, so the total payout including the initial sports wager would be £210.00.  If the Chicago Bears only win by 6 points, then the game is considered "no action" and all money is returned to the bettor.  If the Chicago Bears win by less than 6 points the sports wager is lost.

sports gambling  |  sports betting  |  betting news  |  sports news  | gambling news  | 
online sportsbooks  |  sports gambling directory  |  newsletter  |  search  |  contact us  |  sports gambling sites  |  gambling sites