Spread Betting

Very popular in Britain, Spread Betting offers you major opportunities to win by speculating on the total number of given actions that happen in a sporting event (e.g. runs scored in cricket or points in Rugby Union).

Sport Spread Betting allows you to bet on a given number of actions during a sporting event. You have to forecast whether this number will be above or below a certain level shown by a range of numbers (e.g.: corners in a football match). This range of numbers is also referred to as the "spread".

If you predict that the total number of actions will be above this given range, you are considered to be buying the bet. The upper limit of the spread is used to calculate your result:

Winning bet (total above): Profit = Stake * (Total number of actions - Top of the spread)

Losing bet (total below): Loss = Stake * (Top of the spread - Total number of actions)

If you predict that the total will be below this range, you are considered to be selling the bet. The lower limit of the spread is used to calculate your result:

Winning bet (total below): Profit = Stake * (Bottom of the spread - Total number of actions)

Losing bet (total above): Loss = Stake * (Total number of actions - Bottom of the spread)

In football, you may bet on the total number of goals, corners and red or yellow cards or more unusual things such as the sum total of the numbers on the players' jerseys. In tennis, you may bet on the number of aces or unforced errors made by a player for example.

Example of spread betting

Betting on the number of corners in a football match

The spread betting site is offering a spread of . You think that the number of corners will be greater than 11 and stake 100 euros. You are buying the bet.

Outcome 1: The number of corners at the end of the match is 15
Your profit = Stake * (Number of corners - Top of the spread) = 100 * (15-11) = 400 euros
Outcome 2: The number of corners at the end of the match is 7
Your loss = Stake * (Top of the spread - Number of corners) = 100 * (11-7) = 400 euros

You also bet on the number of shots on target

The spread offered is . You think that the number of shots on target will be lower than 10 and stake 100 euros. You are selling the bet.

Outcome 1: The number of shots on target at the end of the match is 9
Your profit = Stake* (Bottom of the spread - Number of corners) = 100 * (12-9) = 300 euros
Outcome 2: The number of shots on target at the end of the match is 13
Your loss = Stake * (Number of corners - Bottom of the spread) = 100 * (13-12) = 100 euros

Spread betting is both profitable and risky: the winnings can be very high, but the same can be said for the losses. Make sure you analyse the risks thoroughly before starting to bet!