Spread Betting Explained

To explain what spread betting is, let's start with a common question:

What does a spread of -7 mean? 

A betting spread of -7 means the favored team (indicated by the negative number) must win the game by more than 7 points. 

If the team wins by exactly 7 points, the bet is a "push"; If they win by fewer than 7 points or lose the game outright, you'll lose your bet. 

Spread betting levels the playing field, making games with strong favorites more competitive for bettors.

Understanding spread betting

Spread betting is one of the most popular bets. You might have heard the phrase “covering the spread” - that’s what we’re talking about here. But what does that mean, and how does it work?

In games where one team is favored to win, sportsbooks apply a spread to balance the odds. It's an equalizer that makes the matchup feel closer to a 50/50 proposition.

What does "covering the spread" mean?

When you bet on the favorite, they need to win by more points than the spread for you to win the bet—this is called covering the spread. On the flip side, if you bet on the underdog, they don’t have to win the game outright—they just need to avoid losing by more than the spread.

Let’s break it down with an example:

The Knicks are playing the first-place Boston Celtics. The spread is set at Celtics -5.5. 

Here’s what needs to happen for you to win your bet:

• Betting on the Celtics -5.5: Boston must win by 6 or more points. If they win by fewer than 6 points, or lose the game outright, the bet loses.
• Betting on the Knicks +5.5: New York can win the game outright, or they can lose—but by 5 points or fewer.

Example scenario:

If the Celtics win the game 111-108, they win by 3 points. In this case:

• A bet on the Celtics -5.5 loses because they didn’t win by enough to cover the spread.
• A bet on the Knicks +5.5 wins because New York lost by fewer than 6 points.

Ready to learn more?

Spread betting might seem a little tricky at first, but once you understand the basics, it’s simple and fun. 

Make sure to check out our other guides to learn more about different types of bets. And don’t forget to join our community for more betting insights and to connect with others who share your passion for sports betting!