So you’re interested in betting, eh?
For those who haven’t yet considered wagering as a hobby, hobbyist, or even a way of making money, consider the following:
For decades, the sports betting industry has thrived in Nevada due to the state’s lax laws regarding gaming and wagering. As a result, millions of dollars are wagered daily in casinos across the state.
That being said, it’s not quite that simple. Before you can place a wager, you have to understand what betting on sports is all about and how to find the right lines. In this article, we will discuss what spread betting is, how it works, and how to bet on it.
What Is Spread Betting?
Spread betting is the practice of betting on a sports event, often referred to as a game or match, with a goal of making more consistent and predictable profits or losses. This is done by taking on the task of analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of both teams involved in a contest, looking for patterns and meaningful trends, and applying this knowledge to create profitable betting strategies.
This kind of analysis can be complex, but it can also be an exact science. Some people refer to the practice as ‘formula” betting because it requires a certain level of mathematical preparation. Others may view it as “simply” being a good guesser. Regardless of what you call it, spread betting requires a distinctive set of skills that can, and often do, translate into lucrative gaming careers.
Some people who practice spread betting for a living make a living by laying or taking odds on sporting events. They do this either for a sports book or a casino. In contrast, others who practice spread betting merely for recreational fun may not necessarily become wealthy, but they do enjoy the challenging mental exercise that comes with the activity.
How Do You Calculate The Spread?
The spread is simply the betting line set by the bookmaker or casino. It is expressed in terms of the points (or “spread”) that the sportsbook or casino is offering for a particular game. Naturally, the fewer points the sportsbook or casino is offering for a game, the more attractive it is for gamblers. For example, a 10 point spread on a college football game between Houston and Vanderbilt would suggest that Houston is a much bigger favorite to win than the 10 point spread would on a high school football game between Lincoln and Urbana.
Spread betting allows for much more precision and control than simple betting on individual teams. This is, in part, because one can take into account all sorts of variables and nuances that may influence the outcome of a specific sporting event. For example, a look at the current betting lines for the 2019 NBA Finals shows that the Golden State Warriors are listed as an 11-1 favorite to beat the Toronto Raptors in game 7 of the Finals. However, this is not the case at all. The Warriors are, in fact, a 4½-point underdog to the Raptors.
The key to successfully applying spread betting is being able to find the right lines. To do this, one has to look at the history of the sport and see how dominant certain teams or players have been in prior years. One also needs to look at the teams’ individual records and see how they have performed recently (and in some cases, over the last several seasons). This way, one can easily find the right spread for the game at hand.
How Do You Bet On The Spread?
To place a bet on the spread, one first needs to obtain a sportsbook or sportsgambling account with an appropriate online casino. After obtaining one of these accounts, one can then move on to obtain a reliable and trusted depositing method. Finally, one can make a withdrawal whenever and however often they like by using the same method they deposited with.
Once all of this is complete and the wagering parameters have been specified (e.g., the amount of money to wager, the number of games to wager on, etc.), one can then use the sportsbook’s or casino’s interactive calculator to determine the exact outcome of a given game. When this is complete, one must simply click on the “Bet” button and their wagering information is displayed on-screen.
At this point, one can either wait for the results of their wagers to show up or proceed directly to the next game by pressing the “Bet” button once again. Waiting for the results of one’s wagers is, in fact, an option that many people prefer because it avoids the need to constantly refresh the page to see the results of the last game.
Are Spreads Always Wise To Bet On?
Although it is fairly easy to predict the outcome of certain sporting events using spread betting, it is not necessarily always the case that such wagering is advisable. One should always consider whether or not they have enough information to make such precise and specific wagers. A good example of this would be a MLB baseball game where the spread is huge (e.g., a 200-200 game). In these types of situations, it is always best to bet on the totals rather than the spreads. This way, if one’s pick loses, it will not necessarily ruin their whole betting session because the money wagered on the underdogs will mostly likely backfire.
When Is It Advantageous To Bet On The Spread?
On the other hand, there are times when betting on the spread can be very profitable. For example, if one were to bet on all of the NBA Finals games this year, one’s investment would likely turn into a profitable venture. The reason for this is that one often does not know how certain teams will perform until the entire season is over. The key is to look for teams that are undervalued and to place bets accordingly. In the meantime, one can also monitor the outcome of these wagers using the sportsbook’s or casino’s online tools.
In Some Cases, It Is Better To Bet Against The Spread
Once again, just because something is profitable does not necessarily mean that it is always the best choice. In some situations, it may be better to bet against the spread. This is especially true if one is using betting lines that are more than a few points apart or if one’s team is significantly undervalued in comparison to its competitors. If one were to lay 10-15 points against the Packers in an NFL game, for example, they would be virtually assured of winning their wager.
In cases like these, it may be better to choose an underdog so that if they win, it will not necessarily ruin all of one’s bets because there was some value in the bets placed for the favorites. One must simply monitor the results of these wagers closely because it is quite possible that the favorites could cover the spread completely and completely annihilate all of the money wagered on them.
In What Circumstances Is It Best To Bet On The Over/Under?
Although it is fairly common for bookmakers to set lines that are more favorable to one team than the other (e.g., the New York Yankees are currently 3-1 favorites to win the World Series), it is generally not advisable to bet on the over/under in all circumstances. For example, one should never bet on a game where their team is more than 5½ points undervalued (i.e., they are listed at less than 5 points). In most situations, it is always better to lay the over. However, in cases where one’s team is significantly undervalued, it may be best to bet on the under. This is because if the underdogs win, it will likely cover the point spread and if the favorites win, it will not necessarily be because their skills were superior but because they were simply more accurate than the opposition.