For sports bettors who regularly place wagers on sporting events, knowing the latest trends and lingo is important if they want to be able to properly interpret the results of their latest bets. One such term that has been steadily gaining in popularity is ‘+9′ – what does it mean, and how can sports bettors make the most of it?
What Is It?
As the name would suggest, ‘+9′ indicates that the bettor is willing to wager a sum of money that is nine times the original bet (this covers things like cash prizes as well as bets to win, place or show). For example, a $100 bet on a sporting event would yield a $900 win (assuming both teams win).
When Is It Used?
You’ll often see ‘+9′ next to the name of a team or player when there’s a significant amount of money on the line in a crucial game. When a team is heavily favored to win (usually by at least nine points), it’s common practice for bookmakers to set the line at +9 in order to make sure the bettor doesn’t walk away with any money owed. This is especially common in NCAA Football games where the spread is often set at +9 and the total combined wagering on both teams is usually in the 9-figure mark. When an upset occurs and a team that is heavily favored fails to cover the spread (usually by nine points or more), it’s common for bookmakers to lay the blame on the bettor who had the audacity to back the underdog and to offer them a deal – take the over. The theory behind this is that when a bettor gets burnt, they’re more likely to be annoyed enough to place a bet on the favored team the next time around.
How Does It Work?
If you’re unfamiliar, ‘point’ and ‘spread’ are two different things. The former is how much money you have to wager, while the latter is the amount you’re willing to win or lose. Points typically range from 2 to 6, with 5 being the most common number. The theory behind this is that most people have a tendency to think in terms of 5’s and 10’s, which makes even odds (1 unit) seem pretty attractive. A 6-point spread is a bit more common, but this can be tough to win considering there’s more money on the line.
As for how it works, when a wager is made on a sporting event with +9 next to it, the bookmaker is implying that the bettor will win a sum of money that is nine times the original bet. For example, a $100 bet on a team with an even money (1 unit) spread would yield a $900 win (assuming both teams win).
This spread can be an incredibly effective tool for low-balling (or “socking,” as it’s sometimes called) long shots. For instance, if a bookmaker feels like their chances of winning are low due to recent events in the basketball world, they might set the spread at +9 in order to “sock” in a frustrated bettor who had money on the underachievers. Another example would be if there was a huge upset and the spread ended up beating the point spread – in this case, the bookmaker would lay the blame on the bettor and try to avoid a confrontation whenever possible. This technique is a classic way of squeezing more money out of bettors who lack the mental fortitude to handle their own finances in such a way that they can avoid financial disasters.
What Are Some Popular Combinations?
It’s important to keep in mind that betting combinations such as these are just that – suggestions. Some bookmakers will have different ratios for different games and different timeframes. For instance, if you placed a $25 bet on the Cleveland Cavaliers to beat the Golden State Warriors in March and won, your $25 would be adjusted to $900 ($100 + $900 = $900).
One thing is for sure, however: whatever combination you choose, the over/under is always the same. This means that if you put together two bets with differing money amounts and at least one has a spread attached to it (such as the Cavs/Warriors example above), the odds of winning the two bets combined are simply added together. In this case, you would have 1 + 4 = 5, so your $900 win from the previous example would be increased by the $400 win from the other bet to make a total of $1,400 owed by the bookmaker. This is why betting combinations containing +9, particularly ones containing spreads, are considered high-risk ventures, as the odds of getting burned are very high. It’s always best to either choose two even money (1 unit) bets or one large bet (9 units) – if you go against the grain and try to combine large and small bets, you may end up owing the bookmaker more than you won.
What Should You Look Forward To?
If you’re a fan of a particular sporting event and find it on the bookshelf of a friend who is also a big sports fan, you might get a thrill out of reading the line for the game and knowing what the score will be without having to ask. When it comes to high-profile sporting events, people tend to tune in and follow the results online – getting the “good” news quickly and conveniently via text or social media is much more appealing than having to wait for the television broadcast to come around again.
Another perk of betting on sports is that, if you’re lucky enough to get multiple tickets to an event, you might find that the cost is discounted – or even completely covered – by the bookmaker. In some cases, you’ll even get a free buffet or a discount on soda at the venue. These are the types of perks that can make or break a sports fan’s day – it’s always nice to get something for free, even if it’s just a little bit.
What Are Some Of The Risks?
As we mentioned above, betting combinations containing +9 are usually considered high-risk ventures. If you’re going to wager on sports, it’s imperative to understand the risks associated with doing so. One of the primary risks is getting burned, although this can be a bit misleading. When a bettor gets “burned,” what they usually mean is that the team they wagered on did not meet the expectations they had set for themselves – it could be that they wagered on an underdog that barely pulled off an upset, or it could be that they backed a favorite that did not end up winning. In those cases, they would have lost, but it wasn’t because the bookmaker “burned” them. Instead, it was because their team did not meet their expectations.
Another common risk is getting injured while betting on sports. If you’re going to be out in the weather playing sports, be sure to follow the rules and take care of your body – it can be dangerous to play sports with a torn ACL or MCL. These injuries are largely unpredictable and can happen to anyone – they’re not specific to any sport.
One of the biggest risks, however, has nothing to do with the game itself. Bookmakers are always looking for ways to make money, and one of the simplest ways is through manipulation. This is why betting combinations containing +9 are usually considered high-risk ventures – if you’re going to wager on sports, it’s imperative to understand that you could be used by the bookmaker as a commodity and that they may try to “game” the system at any given moment. For this reason, it’s always best to either choose two even money (1 unit) bets or go with one large bet (9 units), as these are the safest and most effective ways to wager on sports.