The Point Spread Betting Handbook
Fancy a punt on sports? You've likely seen point spread betting, a favourite at most online sportsbooks. Also known as "handicap betting," it levels the playing field, offering exciting ways to back your favourite teams.
Point spread betting is a top choice for South African punters who enjoy online sports betting. It adds spice to watching live games and offers a chance to win real money. Looking for that "cha-ching, cha-ching!" moment?
Whether you're a seasoned bettor or just starting, this guide explains point spread bets, how they work, different odds, placing bets, and more. Get ready to up your sports betting game!
Top casinos
Point Spread Bets Explained for South African Players
In the world of sports, teams and players rarely possess identical skill levels or perform at the same consistent level. This disparity often becomes apparent during matches, which is precisely why the spread bet is a staple in the thriving sports betting scene.
Spread betting is one of the most popular sports betting types in sports like basketball and American football. To even the playing field between teams and increase the excitement for gamblers, sportsbooks, oddsmakers, or ‘bookies’ create point spreads. These add allure for both the favourite (more likely to win) and the underdog (less likely to win). Essentially, point spread bets give the better team a handicap by setting a margin of points or goals they must win by. Conversely, the underdog gains an advantage, allowing them to lose by a certain number of points and still ‘cover the spread’.
New to betting? The concept might sound complex, but it's quite simple – let’s break it down with a real example.
When you look at a point spread list, you'll see a number next to each team. This is the point spread. You'll also notice a minus (-) or a plus (+) sign beside it.
- The minus (-) sign indicates the team is the favourite to win.
- The plus (+) sign indicates the team is the underdog.
Let’s imagine an NFL match is coming up, and here’s the point spread:
- Rams -110 -5.5 (must win by 6 or more points)
- Bengals -110 +5.5 (can win or lose by 1 to 5 points)
Now, let’s say the game is played and the Rams win, as expected, with a score of 30-27. This is a 3-point margin. However, since the example states they must win by 6 or more, the Bengals' spread bettors would be victorious. If the final score had a larger margin, say 10 points, then the Rams' spread bettors would win their wagers.
What about the -110 next to the spread?
These are the payout odds, often called the ‘vig’ (short for vigorish), ‘juice’, or American Odds. The vig is essentially the commission the bookie charges for taking your bet.
-110 is a common figure. It means that for every R1 you wish to win, you must wager R1.10. If you aim to win R100 at -110 odds, you’d need to risk R110. Here in South Africa, this is a standard way of displaying odds.
Point Spread Bet Results Explained
In a spread bet, there are three possible outcomes: win, lose, or a push. We’ve covered winning and losing, but what’s a push? A push occurs when the game's outcome lands exactly on the spread bet margin. While a win results in the sportsbook paying the bettor in full based on the wager's price, a push (often at -110 odds) leads to a cancelled bet, with bettors getting their original stakes back.
Evenly Matched Teams Explained
Sometimes, games are listed as ‘evens’, ‘pick ’em’, or simply ‘PK’. This signifies that the two competing teams are considered equal in their likelihood of winning or losing. In such cases, there won't be a point spread, but both sides might be listed at -110 for the price. For your bet to win, the side you chose must win the game outright by any margin. A push only happens if the score is a tie, in which case you'll get your original wager refunded.
The Hook in Spread Betting
This is another term frequently heard in spread betting. Simply put, the hook is the half-point that can alter the outcome, regardless of the whole point number. It's a crucial element for many South African sports bettors to understand.
Spread Betting Considerations for South African Bettors
We could delve deep into this topic, but we're keeping it focused on the essential mechanics of point spread bets for you. Here are a few considerations to keep in mind before you start betting:
Spreads Can Change
When you place a point spread bet, the odds you lock in are the ones used for your payout if you win. It’s quite common for spreads to shift or for lines to move as a game approaches, but these changes won't affect your bet once it's placed.
Betting the Middle Strategy
Early in the betting process, one team might attract most of the wagers. To balance things out, the spread adjusts to encourage bets on the other side. This is a sportsbook's tactic to level the playing field. It creates an opportunity to 'bet the middle' – wagering on both sides, each with its own spread. If the game's outcome falls precisely between both spreads, you win both bets. This is a popular advanced technique among some South African players.
Buying Points in Bets
Yes, it's a real thing! In sports like American football and basketball, you can improve your chances of winning a spread bet by buying points. This effectively shifts the line in your favour.
Home Field Advantage in Spread Betting
While not directly part of the spread calculation, the perceived home-field advantage can influence how bookmakers set lines and how players perceive the odds. It’s a psychological factor many bettors in South Africa consider.
Apart from determining the favorite team with a more popular form, there are other factors oddsmakers must consider when creating point spreads. Like where the game is being played, because having a home field advantage benefits the team playing in their own stadium — we see this in most sports disciplines.
Moneyline Bets vs. Point Spreads
Moneyline and point spreads are both relatively easy betting types, perfect for beginners. We’ve explained what point spread betting is, but what is a moneyline bet, and which is superior? It depends.
A moneyline bet is the most basic sports betting type and it’s also the simplest to grasp. Essentially, bettors predict who will win (the final score isn't a consideration) in a given game or sporting event. If your guess materializes, you win and make a profit. If you’re wrong, you lose.
Point spreads require a bit more contemplation, since bettors are not choosing an outright winner — they’re selecting a team to win against the spread. A spread bet is largely focused on the final score and is slightly more intricate than a moneyline bet, but it has the advantage of bigger payouts.
Other Sports Betting Types
Parlays: A parlay or an accumulator is a mix of several wagers into one bet. Each wager, or leg as it’s commonly referred to, must come through for you to win a parlay. While parlays are the riskier bet option, they are attractive because the odds are greater and bettors can wager on more sporting events with a single stake.
Over/Under: With an over/under bet, the bookie determines the total score, and bettors predict whether the result will be over or under that amount. If you choose and the teams’ combined score is, indeed, over the set total, you win.
How to Bet on Sports Online
Most importantly, when placing a bet, choose a licensed sportsbook or casino that is renowned for using sophisticated software from leading providers in the trade. This guarantees a first-class betting service, delivering an elite overall gambling experience.
Unique Betting Software to Look out For
OpenBet
OpenBet creates the betting interface for some of the biggest online bookies in the world. They’re deemed tops in the software market, and the provider’s legendary Informix Dynamic Server allows millions of bets to be placed seamlessly and simultaneously through several bookmakers.
Geneity
Licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, Geneity is a software provider that falls under Playtech. The multi-channel bookie platform is most notable for being able to create over 100 football betting markets for a given match.
SBTech
Many new sportsbook operators in the UK team up with SBTech for their award-winning white-label solution that offers competitive odds across a variety of sports betting markets.
Betradar
Betradar is the brains behind sports-related live scores and digital content on many leading bookie sites, like bet365.
Inspired Gaming
Another software trailblazer in the industry, Inspired Gaming, knows a thing or two about producing world-class virtual sports betting services. They’re also leaders in Server-Based Technology and work alongside OpenBet to provide some of the best virtual sports products.
Kambi
When visiting leading sportsbook operators such as Unibet, 888Sport, and Leo Vegas, you will notice that they all feature Kambi’s user-friendly interfaces. The Malta-based software provider also offers a white-label sportsbook platform with over 120,000 live betting events every year and some 250,000 pre-match events.
Steps for Placing an Online Bet
The best solution to betting online is to simply dive in and begin. Start small and always remember to have fun!
- Find a reputable, regulated sportsbook or an online casino that you trust. We’ll share a few of our favorite sites in just a bit.
- Create an account or log in to place a bet.
- Browse the sports betting offerings and choose one that appeals to you.
- Make a direct/demand deposit.
- Familiarize yourself with betting rules and strategies.
- Always set a budget and never exceed the amount.
- Place your bets.
How to Choose the Best Sites for Point Spreads
When weighing in on the right sportsbook to pave the way for a fun and successful betting journey, it’s important to look at these non-negotiable features:
A Licensed Casino
Always choose a reputable and trusted bookmaker with a recognized online casino license that guarantees an experience that is safe, secure, regulated, and fair. Also, look at the site’s deposit and withdrawal methods to see if the payment options align with your needs.
Read Reviews
Do your research, find third-party reviews and engage with other bettors who know a bit about the market and where to bet. A good sportsbook review will include information about the platform’s available payment options, bonuses, promotions, the sports covered, etc.
Online Sportsbook Promotions
Bonuses, promotions, free bets, and other concessions can truly boost winnings, especially for first-time bettors.
Customer Service
A reputable online bookmaker will be transparent about its operations, and this includes having an expert help ‘desk’ or similar available to gamblers. Whether it’s a physical address, a call center, email, or chatting to a consultant via social media — customer service should always be available.
Top Sports to Bet on
We’ve said it before: sports betting, particularly partaking in a point spread, is a fun and entertaining activity that will keep you on the edge of your seat thanks to the thrill and excitement. It also happens to offer an opportunity for wagering to win real money. With these in mind, we’ve narrowed down our favorite sports to bet on and insist you give them (and the point spread bet) a try:
Football
Of course, we’re leading in with the most popular point spread team sport, football. Not only is it an iconic sport loved and followed by millions around the world, but football also offers many benefits from a betting perspective. It boasts remarkable markets in betting due to its heavily strategic style. And what’s more? It’s easily and widely accessible in trusted sportsbooks, and it also features incredibly competitive odds on several events.
Horse Racing
When you mull over betting, there’s no way you can overlook the horse racing bet market. It’s huge on a global scale and presents a great strategic advantage. Sportsbooks with the offering provide live coverage and streaming availability is readily accessible. Horse racing also offers several unique promotions and, just like football, the market range is profoundly impressive.
NBA
Basketball is possibly one of the most fast-paced, thrilling sports to watch and bet on. Teams are generally highly skilled and adept, so playing each other often results in very close games to stir even more excitement. Bettors who are intrigued by strategy and statistics can really delve deep into NBA betting.
Sports Betting Tips and Tricks for Success
Learn the Odds
Go back to basics, whether it’s online or live betting. Discover the ins and outs of betting odds to improve your opportunity to win.
Switch Things Up
Instead of plugging all of your money into one wager, spread it out over multiple bets.
Root for the Underdog
It’s normal to want to back the more popular, statistically better team, but generally, betting on the underdog offers greater value and a bigger payout if the outcome goes in your favor.
Related News
FAQ
What is point spread betting in South Africa?
Point spread betting is a popular form of sports betting that aims to even the odds between two teams. Essentially, you're betting on the margin of victory in a sporting event, like a rugby match or a football (soccer) game. The "spread" is the predicted difference in scores.
Is point spread betting suitable for beginners in South Africa?
Point spread betting can be a good starting point, but it requires some understanding of the sport and the odds. If you're new to betting, consider starting with simpler options like moneyline bets, which are easier to understand. Remember to gamble responsibly.
What are the most popular sports to bet on in South Africa?
South Africans enjoy betting on a variety of sports, with rugby, soccer (football), and horse racing being among the most popular choices. Cricket is also a favourite, especially during major tournaments.
What is in-play betting?
In-play betting, also known as live betting, allows you to place bets in real-time while a sporting event is happening. Odds can change rapidly based on the current state of the game.
What is home ground advantage?
Home ground advantage refers to the benefit a team gains from playing at their own stadium or venue. Factors like familiar surroundings, supportive fans, and reduced travel fatigue can contribute to this advantage.
