Point Spread Betting – How to Play

Point spread betting always goes hand in hand when you participate in betting at online sportsbooks. If you are not sure how point spread betting works in betting, this article by 188JILI is the simplest solution that provides all the knowledge you need.

What is Point Spread Betting?

Point spread betting is a handicap offered by bookmakers in a sports betting game to create conditions for players to bet on both teams. It is very common in sports that a team with more professional skills dominates the other team. Players always need a reasonable reason to bet on a team; bookmakers use point spread betting to create an equal chance of winning the match for both sides.

At this time, betting will balance teams by adding winning points to the underdog team (the team with the disadvantage) or taking away points from the favorite team (the team with the advantage). Therefore, you will see the (-) symbol indicated on your side of the favorite team name, while the (+) symbol will be for the underdog team. The point spread will be added or subtracted for both teams based on the final winning result recorded.

Common Terms: Point Spread Betting

Cover the spread

To be considered a winning bet with the point spread, the favorite team must win the other team by more than the Point spread, or the underdog team still cannot win or draw the match, even though points have been added to the final score.

Against the spread or ATS

When the player chooses to start betting with the symbol (-) – the underdog team. To win this bet, the team must lose less than the specified point spread, or draw, or completely win the favorite team.

For example, team A (-2.0) and team B (+2.0), you bet on team B, and to win this bet, team B must let team A lead by 1 goal or score a draw or win against team A.

Push

A push that causes the bet to be canceled because the team you bet on wins with a total number of goals more/less than the specified points of the bet. If this possibility occurs, the bettor will be refunded the exact amount of the bet.

Hook

Also known as a push that causes the bet to be canceled because the team you bet on wins with a total number of goals more/less than the specified score of the bet. If this possibility occurs, the bettor will be refunded the exact amount of the bet.

Run line/Puck line

Run Line is a betting point spread commonly used in baseball and is +/- 1.5. Meanwhile, Puck Line is a point spread widely known by hockey bettors and is +/- 1.5.

Pick or Pick’em

In the case of a bet with a point spread of 0 and no favorite or underdog is determined. At this time, the player simply chooses the odds and bets on which team wins.

Bookmakers can change the Point Spread over time

The course of a sports bet will change and evolve if any factor affecting it changes. Therefore, the point spread will also change. Similar to live betting, the odds are changing, and the bookmaker adjusts both the odds and the point spread based on conditions. Experts change the betting team, the amount of money bet on the competing teams, and consider factors that affect the match result, such as players being injured, being penalized, or being negatively affected by the weather.