There is a wealth of information surrounding sports and betting. Most importantly, there is the knowledge that at some point you will inevitably need to place a bet. The most common forms of wagering are named after the places where the games are usually played: sports betting, horse racing, and casino gaming (in that order). When it comes to sports betting, there are numerous ways to place a wager on the outcome of a sporting event. You have the choice of going for single games or betting on the long-term trend. The latter is known as spread betting. For the uninitiated, here’s a quick guide to understanding and executing a spread bet!
What Is Spread Betting?
Spreading is the simultaneous or sequential placing of bets on multiple games, teams, or horses, rather than placing bets on the outcome of one game. In the sports world, betting on the spread is a popular way to have a flutter on the outcome of a sporting event without going all in on one game. Essentially, you are placing wagers on the outcome of one or more games, but instead of having to commit to a certain outcome, the bettor is essentially hedging their bet. For example, you may bet on the spread between Manchester United and Liverpool; however, you are not committed to backing either team, should one of them win. In reality, it is often said that backing both teams is the only way to ensure you are making a profit from the transaction. Similarly, you may bet on the Cincinnati Bengals to cover the spread between them and the Pittsburgh Steelers, or vice versa.
One of the biggest draws of betting on the spread is the relatively low risk of losing compared to outright bets. The downside is that, unless you are combining several bets on the same team or game, you are still exposed to the potential for losing money. For instance, should both Manchester United and Liverpool win, or should either win by a large margin, you will have lost money on the spread bet. A smart investor would only use spread betting as a last resort, in circumstances where they cannot afford to lose their investment.
How Do You Generate Alpha With Spread Betting?
An important element of successful speculation is the ability to generate alpha – the difference between the gains and losses of your portfolio. The vast majority of trading platforms allow you to track the performance of your chosen sports teams, and generate an alpha figure which represents the amount of money you stand to win or lose on the transaction. For example, had you placed a $10,000 bet on Manchester United to beat Liverpool and they did, your $10,000 would be converted into $16,666 in winnings (assuming they won by a certain margin). This represents an astounding 42.8% return on your investment – a phenomenal profit given the relative risk involved!
One of the great things about sports betting is that there are so many forms that you can take. If you are a fan of a particular sport, you can follow its fortunes through the seasons and take part in the excitement of an event you love. If you are lucky, you may also make some money from time to time, whether you win or lose. The key to making money in sports is through proper risk management and using the best platforms available to execute your wagers. Some forms of sports betting are more risky than others, and for the most part, the casinos and betting exchanges offer the safest and most convenient ways to bet. With careful planning and execution, anyone can enjoy the excitement of betting on sports and making some money too!
To give you a better understanding of how spreads work and how you can make the most of them, let’s take a quick example. Imagine you want to bet £100 on Manchester United to win the Premier League. The bookmaker will take £105 for that particular bet, so you will need to add another £5 (in this case, a 5% commission) to your investment to secure a profit. To calculate your return, you will want to multiply your initial bet by 2 (as Manchester United won by a 2-goal margin), then subtract the original stake from the winnings to arrive at a loss of £5. If you follow these steps, you will see that your investment has lost £105 in total, rather than the £100 you originally put in. In this case, you would have lost money on the spread bet.
In conclusion, in some instances, spread betting can be a lucrative strategy. However, you must not forget the risk involved in this type of wagering. Still, it is important to keep in mind that one of the major draws of betting on the spread is the ability to engage in multiple transactions, while limiting the risk of any one event. Hopefully, this article will help you understand the concept of spread betting and how you can make the most of it.