The Basics
When reading betting spreads, there are several basic things you should understand. First, is lay language. Second, what is a decimal point? Third, what is a point price? Fourth, what is a fraction? And finally, what is a true percentage?
Lay Language
When you are first learning how to read betting spreads, you will come across terms that are familiar to sports betting fans. These terms are used because the industry communicates in a way that is easy to understand. For example, when a sportsbook offers 2-point (2D) bets or 3-point (3D) bets, it means the bettor will win 2 or 3 points, respectively. You will also see decimal points used when describing the amount of a wager, for example, 5.10 is used to mean the bettor is risking $5.10 on a wager.
Decimal Points
When you are reading betting spreads, you will often come across decimal points. The use of decimal points can be confusing, so let’s examine the basics. A decimal point is a point that is used to represent a significant figure that is being cited. You will often see decimal points used when referring to the amounts of money bet, numbers of points scored, or fractional wins and losses. In the example below, you can see decimal points being used to represent the money being wagered:
Decimal points are used because there have been instances where people, especially newbies, have had problems with the decimal point notation. If you do not understand what a decimal point signifies, then simply pull out your phone and do some research. You will eventually learn what a decimal point is and how to properly use it.
Point Price
When you are first learning how to read betting spreads, you will come across point prices that are used to indicate the price per point. For example, if you see a point price of $2.50, then you can assume the points cost $2.50 to make the wager. If you see a point price of $9.00, then you should understand the point cost is $6.00 and you will have to win $3.00 to break even. It is important to keep in mind the point price does not necessarily indicate how much you will win or lose at the books, but rather the cost per point to make a wager.
Fraction
A fraction is a portion of a number that is expressed as a decimal or written as a proportion. In other words, a fraction is a version of a whole that is broken down into parts or fractions. You can also think of fractions as a version of a whole that is not equal to the whole. For example, there is one third of a pie, one-third of a cake, or one-third of a burger. You will often see fractions written as a decimal point followed by the appropriate unit, such as.33 for one third or.34 for one-fourth.
Percentage
A percentage is used to indicate a portion of a whole that is represented as a decimal or written as a proportion. For example, if you have 60% of the pie, 45% of the cake, or 25% of the burger, then you can say you have two-thirds of the pie, one-third of the cake, or one-quarter of the burger, respectively. You will often see percentages written as a decimal point followed by the appropriate unit, such as.60 for two-thirds or.45 for one-third.
Knowing how to read a betting spread and what each number means will help you make better wagers and understand where you stand after the fact. If you want to become a better sports bettor, then look into casinos that offer educational books or tools for beginners.