Spread Betting

Spread betting is explained and made simple with IQsportsbets. We’ve included an short example to try to help you understand what you’re getting yourself in for when you spread bet.

In the US, spread betting, refers to betting on a range of outcomes. For example, in rugby, if a bookmaker gives a ’spread’ of 10 points, then a gambler has two possible ways to win. Should the underdogs lose by less than 10 points or the favourites wins by more than 10 points then the gambler wins. These are however two distinct and separate bets and the gambler must specify before hand if he/she is backing the underdog or favourite.

In the UK spread betting has a different meaning. Here a spread bet involves betting on the total number of events, such as goals, corners etc, in a particular game. It is a high risk form of betting where you can lose much more than your original stake.

For example, a bookmaker might offer a ‘goal spread’ of 2.4 – 2.7 in a game between Portsmouth and Bolton Wanderers. A gambler might place a £3 stake on there being less than 2.4 goals. This means that for every 0.1 difference between the spread and the number of goals scored the gambler will either win or lose £1.

If the game finished 0-0, then gambler would win £72. This is calculated by totalling the number of goals scored, subtracting the answer from 2.4 and multiplying by 10 (betting on each 0.1 diference).

So 2.4 – 0 = 2.4, 2.4 x 10 x £3 =£72.

If the game finished 3-2, then the gambler would have lost £69.

3+2 = 5, 5 – 2.7 = 2.3, 2.3 x 10  £3 = £69.

While there are large profits to be made from spread betting, there is also the capacity for large losses, especially if there is a large difference between the outcome and the expected outcome.