| Spread
Betting
With
sports betting as with everything else in life, it's
important to set yourself a goal. If you don't have
a goal with your betting, it may get out of hand. You
may start betting every day, you may start betting
harder to make up for earlier losses, you suddenly place
impulsive bets, and the whole thing can become rather
unpleasant. Therefore, take a few moments thinking over
the following:
What is spread betting?
Spread
betting has become very popular in recent years, due to
the possible massive returns on low investments.� But
it's also possible to lose very large amounts indeed!
Spread
betting is the most exciting method of betting, but it's
not for novices. You should be aware of the risks with
spread betting, and be sure you understand the rules.�
DO
NOT BET BEFORE YOU UNDERSTAND THE GAME
In
spread betting, you do not know exactly how much you
will win/lose before the event has finished. Your return
will vary with every goal scored, every booking, every
corner, etc.� It's not like fixed odds betting. Spread
betting is much more "dangerous", and as a
result, more exciting.
In
spread betting, you will win a lot more than in fixed
odds betting, if you predict better than the bookmaker.
However, you will stand to lose quite a lot, if you fail
to predict better than the bookmaker.� Due to the nature
of spread betting,�one bad bet can make huge inroads
into your bankroll.
Spread
betting is a high-risk form of betting.
Only play with money you can afford to lose. Companies
who offer spreads will normally ask for a deposit,
but beware that your potential loss can exceed that
deposit.�
In
our opinion, spread betting is not for the ordinary
punter; we recommend it only to professional gamblers
who are fully aware of the risks that go with it. Spread
betting is a dangerous form of betting.� However, if you
want to win big, fast, and are willing and able to
absorb the losses, then spreads is the most exciting
form of betting available!
Fixed Odds vs Spread Betting�
Fixed odds betting is
"fixed", meaning you will always
know before you place the bet what the possible outcome
is. You will know how much you may win, and how much you
can lose.
Spread betting is different. You may lose a lot, or win
a lot, depending on how accurate you are with your
predictions.�
The bookmaker will offer a spread, within a range of
values (normally 0-100).�
The bookmaker will perhaps offer a spread of 40-60. This
is known as the bookmakers opening prediction. You must
then decide whether to bet higher or lower than the
bookmaker's predictions. If you bet higher than the
bookie's prediction, you think that the result will be
higher than the bookie thinks, and when you bet lower,
you think the outcome will be lower than the bookie
expects.
If you are right, you will win, but only with an amount
which is determined by the correctness of your bet (i.e
the difference between the actual outcome and the bookie
prediction).
If you are wrong, you will lose, but by a multiple of
your stake and the divergence between your prediction
and the actual outcome.
Example 2
The possible outcome for a bet could be 0-90 (also
called "the range")�
The bookmaker quotes an "opening spread of 40-50". In
other words, the bookie thinks the outcome will be
between 40 and 50.
The punter has now got 2 options:�
1 Higher than 50
(known as "Buy at 50")
You will win if the outcome exceeds 50 (ie 50-90 or
more)
2 Lower than 40 (known as "Sell at 40")
You will win if the outcome is lower than 40 (ie 0-40)
Important:
You can't make any bets other than the two listed above.
You can't place a bet, saying "Higher than 35", or
"Lower than 50".��
You place your bets staking for instance �10 per point.
When the bets are placed you sit back and wait for the
outcome. In this example, let�s say that the outcome
was 70.
Winning bet
If you bet "Higher than 50" you win, and the amount you
have won is found by the difference in points between
outcome and bet, ie. 70-50 = 20. You have won by 10
points, and multiplied with your stake of �10, your
return gives �10 x 20 = �200.�
Losing bet
If you bet "Lower than 40" you lose, and the amount you
have lost is found by the difference in points between
outcome and bet, ie. 70-40 = 30. You have lost by 30
points, and multiplied with your stake of �10, your now
owe the bookie �10 x 30 = �300!!!� (Now do you see what
we mean? Spread betting is a dangerous game!!)
No win situation
If
the outcome is between the spread quoted by the bookie
(in this case 40-50), then "nobody" wins. Actually the
bookmaker wins, due to his profit margin. If you had bet
on "Higher than 50", and the result was 45, then the
bookie will win the difference multiplied with your
stake.
Example�3
You bet "Higher than 50". Result is 45.�Bookmaker wins
(50-45) *�10 = �50!!
If you bet on "Lower than 40", in a 40-50 spread, and
the result was 45, you would also lose �10*5 points =
�50.�
This is of course the bookmakers� profit margin
The smaller the spread, the smaller profit margin for
the bookie.�
Placing the bets
Previously we've stated that spread bets are not placed
the same way as fixed odds bets.�
With fixed odds betting, you always know how much you
may win, and how much you may lose. No "hidden
surprises". Money are placed in front of the bet.
Spread bets are different. Different methods of staking
are used. Spread bets are placed typically in � per unit
(or any other currency per unit). But the point is that
you don't actually place the stake before the event
takes place, as in fixed odds betting. Due to the high
risk of spread betting, your stake is the maximum
possible loss (related to your bet).
Depending on the type of account you have, there are 2
methods used for this:�
Credit Account
- funds are already deposited to an account. Wins/losses
are paid/withdrawn from the account. There are no money
paid when the bet is placed, but there must be
sufficient funds available in the account to cover a
potential loss. Check the rules, because they might vary
from bookie to bookie.
Debit Accounts - here debit cards are used, such
as Mastercard or Delta. Upon placing bets, the maximum
possible loss is debited from the card. Depending on the
result of the event, funds are credited back to the
card. Of course this form of staking are used in bets
where there is a defined win/loss cut-off, (ie a defined
range, for instance 0-100). A maximum loss can then be
calculated before the bet is placed.�
Be sure to check rules carefully on this point as well,
as they may vary with different bookmakers.
Debit Account Example:� If you place a bet
"Higher than 60" (buy at 60), the maximum loss you can
experience is 60 points (difference between 60 and 0). A
stake of �10 per unit requires that �10*60 = �600 is
debited from your card before the bet. Let's assume the
outcome of the bet is "50". You will then lose (60-50)
points * �10 = �100. �500 will be re-credited your card
(remember that �600 was originally debited)
Types of spreads
Soccer spreads are very popular. These are the most
common types of spread betting:
|
� |
Time of first goal |
Time of first booking |
Total goals |
Goal Margin |
|
Value range |
0-90 |
0-90� |
0-unlimited |
-unlimited� to� + unlimited |
|
Typical spread |
38-42 minutes |
28-32 minutes� |
1.7-2.3 (varies greatly) |
0.0 - 0.5�home team (but varies a
lot, of course) |
|
Example |
You predict there will be a goal
before the 38th minute. Then bet at��� "Lower than
38", at for instance �2 per minute |
You think that there will be 2 or
more goals in a game where the bookie offers the
spread 1.7-2.3. Then you bet on "Higher than 2.3
at�for instance �3/ tenth |
You think that there will be 2 or
more goals in a game where the bookie offers the
spread 1.7-2.3. Then you bet on "Higher than 2.3
at�for instance �3/ tenth |
The bookie believes the home team
will win by a narrow margin, thus presenting the
spread 0.0-0.5. You predict the home team will win
by�at least 1 goal, thus you bet on "Higher than
0.5" with a stake of, lets say �5 per tenth |
|
Result |
First goal scored in the 21st minute |
First yellow card in the 44th minute |
2-1 to the away team. (3 goals) |
Your team wins 4-1. (3 goal margin) |
|
Your return |
(38-21)* �2
= �34
win |
(44-32) x �3
�= �36 loss |
(30-23) x �3 = �21
win
(if it ended a 1-1 draw, you would lose (23-20)x�3 =
�9) |
(30-5) x �5 = �125
win
Lets assume your team lost by 2 goals. Result
becomes:
(-20-5) x �5
�= - �125 loss |
As you can
see, you pay a heavy prize if you are wrong in your
predictions. If you are correct, you are rewarded well, but
it's equally expensive for you wallet if you are wrong...
Other
spreads��
Other typical spread offers are listed
below:
Total Bookings:
The bookmaker awards a number of points for a yellow card
(normally 10) and a red card (normally 25). Add together the
points of all the cards in a match (for instance, 3 yellows
and 1 red gives a total of 55 points). The bookmaker quotes
a spread based on this total. You decide whether to bet
higher or lower.
Total Corners:
How many corners will there be in a match? This is of course
more like bingo, but can be very exciting and amusing when
watching a match in front of the TV with your friends
There are lots of other spread-betting offers. Generally a
spread can be offered for everything that can be measured!!!
Spread betting is a very exciting form of betting. Your
return will vary with virtually every kick of the ball. This
makes spread betting ideal for televised games. Nowadays
most bookmakers accept spreads on the most popular leagues.�
In-match betting has also become popular in recent years.
With in-match betting you can place bets during the match,
with the advantages and disadvantages that may follow.
Spread betting is the form of betting which best repays your
skills, but also the method which will rob you if you are
not up to standards. Be ware of that, and remember to read
the rules carefully. |
