The Point Spread Betting Handbook
Looking to add some thrill to watching your favourite sports? If you've tried your hand at online sports betting, you’ve likely encountered point spread betting. It's available on most sportsbooks in Pakistan.
Point spread betting is a popular way to wager on major professional sports from your device. It's a rewarding way to potentially profit while enjoying the excitement of live matches. Get ready for that "cha-ching, cha-ching!" moment!
Whether you're a seasoned bettor or just starting out, this guide will help you understand point spread bets, how they work, odds types, and how to place your bets. Learn the ropes and boost your winning potential!
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Point Spread Bets Explained for Pakistani Players
In the world of sports, teams and individual athletes are rarely perfectly matched in terms of skill or performance. This disparity is often evident when they compete, and this is exactly why the spread bet is a crucial element in the dynamic realm of sports betting. For Pakistani bettors, understanding this can significantly enhance their betting experience.
Spread betting is one of the most popular sports betting types and is particularly prevalent in sports like basketball and American football. To create a more level playing field between competing teams and to increase the excitement for gamblers, sportsbooks and bookmakers establish point spreads. These spreads add intrigue for both the favourite (the team expected to win) and the underdog (the team less likely to win). Essentially, point spread bets apply a handicap to the stronger team, requiring them to win by a specific margin of points. Conversely, the underdog gains an advantage, allowing them to lose by a certain number of points and still 'cover the spread'.
New to betting? This concept might seem a bit complex at first, but it's actually quite straightforward. Let's simplify it with a practical example relevant to Pakistani bettors.
When you look at a point spread listing, you'll see a number associated with each team. This number represents the point spread. You'll also notice a minus (-) or a plus (+) sign next to it.
- The minus (-) sign signifies that the team is the favourite to win.
- The plus (+) sign indicates that the team is the underdog.
Let's imagine an NFL match is scheduled, and the point spread is presented as follows:
- Rams -5.5 (must win by 6 or more points)
- Bengals +5.5 (can win or lose by 1 to 5 points)
Now, let's say the game concludes with the Rams winning, as predicted, by a score of 30-27. This is a 3-point difference. Since they needed to win by 6 or more points to cover the spread, the bettors who backed the Bengals would actually win their spread bets. If the final score had a margin of, for example, 10 points in favour of the Rams, then those who bet on the Rams' spread would be the winners.
And what about the '-110' next to the spread? What does it signify?
These are the payout odds, often called the 'vig' (short for vigorish) or 'juice'. The vig is the commission that bookmakers charge for accepting a wager. This is a standard practice across most sports betting platforms used by Pakistani enthusiasts.
The '-110' is a common odd, meaning that for every 100 Pakistani Rupees (PKR) you wish to win, you must wager 110 PKR. If you aim to win 10,000 PKR with odds of -110, you would need to risk 11,000 PKR.
Point Spread Bet Outcomes
In a spread bet, there are three potential results: a win, a loss, or a push. We've covered wins and losses, but what is a 'push'? A push occurs when the actual game result precisely matches the spread. Unlike a win where the sportsbook pays out the bettor, a push results in a cancelled bet, and the original wager is returned to the bettor. This is consistent across the board for Pakistani bettors.
Evenly Matched Teams
Sometimes, games are listed as 'evens', 'pick 'em', or 'PK', indicating that the two competing teams are considered equally likely to win. In such cases, there won't be a point spread, but both sides might be listed at -110 odds. For your wager to win, the team you bet on must win the game outright by any margin. A push only occurs if the game ends in a tie; in that scenario, your original wager is refunded.
The Hook
This is another common term associated with spread bets. In essence, the 'hook' refers to the half-point in the spread that can critically influence the outcome of a bet, turning a potential win into a loss or vice-versa, especially when the margin of victory is a whole number.
Spread Betting Considerations for Pakistan
We could delve much deeper into this topic, but our aim here is to keep it concise and focused on the essential mechanics of point spread bets for Pakistani players. Before you dive in, consider these important points:
Spreads Can Change
The odds you lock in when placing a point spread bet are the ones that will determine your payout if you win. It's common for spreads to shift and for lines to move as a game approaches. However, these changes do not affect the bet you've already placed.
Betting the Middle
Sometimes, one team attracts a disproportionate number of bets. To rebalance action, bookmakers may adjust the spread to make betting on the other side more appealing. This strategy aims to create a balanced betting scenario. If the game's outcome falls exactly between both adjusted spreads, a bettor who wagered on both sides would win both bets. This is known as 'betting the middle'.
Buying Points
Yes, this is a possibility! In sports like American football and basketball, you can sometimes purchase additional points to adjust the spread in your favour, potentially increasing your chances of winning the bet.
Home Field Advantage
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.
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FAQ
What is point spread betting in sports?
Point spread betting is a type of sports wagering used to even the odds between two unevenly matched teams. It involves betting on the margin of victory in a sporting event, such as cricket or football. The "spread" is the predicted point difference between the teams.
Is point spread betting suitable for beginners in Pakistan?
Point spread betting can be a good starting point, but it requires some understanding of the sport and the teams involved. If you're new to betting, consider starting with simpler options like outright win bets before diving into point spreads. It's always best to start with the basics.
Which sports are most popular for betting in Pakistan?
In Pakistan, popular sports for betting include cricket, football (soccer), and kabaddi. These sports attract a lot of interest and offer various betting opportunities.
What does "in-play" betting mean?
In-play betting, also known as live betting, allows you to place bets on a sporting event while it is happening. Odds change in real-time based on the current state of the game.
What is meant by home field advantage in sports?
Home field advantage refers to the perceived benefit a team receives from playing in their own stadium or venue, typically due to factors like crowd support and familiarity with the surroundings.
