What Does Spread Mean in Betting?

Sports are one of the most popular hobbies globally. Its popularity is so big that numerous sports icons are among the most followed people on social media. This trend will likely continue, as everyone finds various sports amusing and entertaining.

Sports' popularity becomes obvious when you realize it has inspired many video games. This applies to popular Sony, Xbox, and PC games, as well as popular slots at online casinos. That’s something that players of Wolfy casino are well aware of, as the operator offers some slots inspired by popular sports. But the fun doesn’t stop there. Betting is another hobby that’s closely tied to sports.

One of the most popular bet types is point spread betting. In this article, we’ll take a deep dive and see what spread bets are and what does spread betting mean in sportsbooks.

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What is a Point Spread Bet? Spread Betting Explained

Spread betting meaning is simple - the bookmaker is obviously favoring one team over the other. They are doing that by handicapping the favorite. That’s why you’ll see -X.X points next to the favorite team’s name. That means that the favorite has to win by a certain number of points to cover the spread. If the team fails to do that, the bet is lost.

On the other hand, the underdog has +X.X points next to its name. That means that it has to lose by less than what the sportsbook is estimating. If they lose by more points, the bet will fail.

It’s a tricky proposition that makes betting much more interesting. But handicap means one thing: more challenging odds that can result in potentially higher wins for the bettor.

Let’s take a look at an example to clearly explain spread gambling meaning:

Team 1 has -1.5 point handicap - If you bet on this team, you are saying that they will win the match by two or more points against Team 2.

Team 2 has a +1.5 point advantage - If you bet on Team 2, you are betting against the spread, meaning that you are saying that even if Team 2 loses, it has to be a loss by two or more points by Team 1. You will win this bet even if Team 2 loses by only 1 point.

There is no draw in spread betting; we’ll explain later why.

Now that we know what is the spread bet meaning, it’s time to take a closer look at the odds.

How to Read Point Spread Odds?

Reading the odds works just as it would for any other bet type. The usual format is -110 or +110. Of course, these numbers can be higher or lower. Generally speaking, these numbers represent how much money you must spend to win $100 or more.

If there’s a number -110 next to the point spread, that means that you will have to spend $110 in order to win $100. On the other hand, if you’re looking at odds presented as +110, you’ll win $110 if you bet $100.

A favorite will have a -XXX value next to it whereas the underdog will have a +XXX value. Since a favorite is more likely to win, you have to spend more money to potentially win $100. On the other hand, betting on an underdog means that you potentially win more for betting $100, but the chances of winning are lower.

What is the Significance of Half Points in Spread Betting?

Half points in the point spread play an essential role for sportsbooks. It prevents a “push” from happening. If the spread is -2 on the favorite, and they do win by 2 points, it would lead to the bet being canceled and refunded. Introducing a half point prevents this from happening, as any sport has no half point.

A situation where your bet is a tie with a sportsbook is no longer possible; it can either be a winning or a losing bet. This helps sportsbooks process more bets, leading to more profit, which is one of the reasons the whole sector is on its steady growth path, projected to reach $93.31 billion by 2030.

What is an Over/Under in Spread Betting?

Point spread betting also includes betting on the overall number of points that will be scored by both of teams together. This is a faovrite way of betting for many sports fans, as they get to evaluate a match from a completely different perspective. Not who will win, but how effective each of the teams is going to be.

This doesn’t only apply to the number of points, but to any other statistic in a match. You are betting whether the value will be over or under it.

What Strategies Should You Use When Betting the Point Spread?

Now that you know the betting spread meaning, it’s time to talk about strategies to follow. The same applies as it does to all the other bet types.

Stay up to date with news - Any change with the lineup before the match will impact both the point spread figures and the odds tied to them. Stay informed before making a bet, every single news piece is important. That includes rumors.

Create a budget - Create a daily, weekly, and monthly budget and stick to it. Remember, the point is to have fun. No matter how good a run you are having, stay within the pre-set betting budget.

Don’t explore too many markets - Stick with the statistics you are familiar with and use your knowledge to your advantage. Betting on too many markets will spread you thin, leading to potentially more losses.

I (AKA CatBurg) have a lifelong passion for sports, especially football and basketball. I enjoy the thrill and excitement of sports betting and everything in between. My teams are (Packers #GoPackGo) and who I am betting on!