Spread betting is a term used to describe various types of wagering on the outcome of an event, where the pay-off is based on the precision of the wager, rather than a simple win or loss outcome. A bet is made against a spread, on whether the outcome will be above or below the spread.

The bookmaker is the one that states the spread. Remember that the decision to bet on a spread is entirely up to you. If you feel the spread set up by the bookmaker is unfair walk away from that bet.

Regular bookmakers do not offer spread bets. Spread bets are offered by specialist financial companies. Spread bets are a lot riskier than other bets, as there is no limit to the amount you can lose.

Spread bets on the total goals scored in a football match are the most common spread bets. The bookmaker predicts the number of the goals that will be scored. You then have two options:

- Buy - you wager that the number of goals scored will be greater than the number the bookmaker came up with.

- Sell - you wager that the number of goals scored will be lower than the number the bookmaker came up with.

Example no. 1

The bookmaker predicts 3 goals will be scored in a certain football match. You disagree and you wager $20 that more than 3 goals will be scored. Your prediction comes true and 6 goals are scored. You have won $60.

Payout formula: 6 (number of goals) - 3 (spread) = 3
3 X $20 = $60

Example no. 2

The bookmaker predicts there will be 10 corners in a particular football match. You disagree and you wager $20 that there will be 8 corners in that game. Your prediction does not come true and the match ends with 18 corners. You have lost $200.

Payout formula: 18 (number of corners) - 10 (spread) = 8
(8+2) X $20 = $200

Spread bets are a lot riskier than other bets, as you can very easily lose a lot of money. Because of this spread bets have a dangerous reputation. A run of bad luck with spread bets can cause you to lose considerable amounts of money. There is no limit to how much you could lose. The risks involved in spread-betting cause regular bookmakers to stay away. Spread-betting is run by specialist financial firms.

You can place a spread bet online, by registering with such a firm. Note that you will be subjected to a credit rating check. You must have a reasonably clean credit rating for any firm to tae your spread bet.

Total Goals

Spread bets on the total goals scored in a football match are the most common spread bets. It only makes sense as the goals are the most exciting part of the football match. You could also place spread bets on the number of corners, but who is really more interested in corners than goals. The goals are the most important part of the match, and it is a lot easier to guess and wager upon the number of goals that will be scored.

Most of the times, the betting firms will come up with a clear number of goals. Other times they will set up a spread such as “2.4 - 2.7�. This is where things get confusing. I mean, how could you score 2.4 goals, or 1.4 goals? A goal is a goal, there’s no .4 or .7.

Betting firms set up spreads such as “2.4 - 2.7� in order to eliminate the possibility of their being an in-between value. Let’s say there were 3 goals quoted for a match and you could only buy and sell one goal. In this case both sides of the bet will be eliminated and the game wouldn’t really be fair.

Odds

The spread that the betting firms come up with depends on certain factors. They will predict a certain number of goals will be scored and they will post that spread. A spread of 2.4 - 2.7 or 2.5 - 2.8 may not look like much at first, but the truth of the matter is that it will influence the amount of money which you stand to win or lose at the end of the match. Overall, the figures presented above mean the same. If you think fewer goals will be scored then you should sell, and if you think more goals will be scored then you should buy. In the end they don’t affect whether you win or lose your bet, as they mean the same thing.

The spread is taken into consideration when it is time to calculate how much you have won or how much you have lost. Your original stake is multiplied by the difference between the predicted amount and the actual amount, and this will determine the amount you stand to win or lose.

If you think a greater number of goals will be scored, then you should buy. If your prediction does not come true, the amount you stand to lose is limited to 0 or a match with no goals. The most common amount lost on such a bet is $60.

If you think a smaller number of goals will be scored, then you should sell. If your prediction does not come true, the amount you stand to lose is unlimited. Let’s say that you sold and a total of 8 goals were scored in the match. You stand to lose 8 times your wager.

Let us take a look at an example in order to better understand how the spread influences the amount of money we stand to win or lose:

Let’s say that the spread set up by the betting firm is 2.4 - 2.7.

If 5 goals are scored and you wagered $20, then you have won $46.
Payout formula: (5 - 2.7) x $20 = $46

Let’s say that the spread set up by the betting firm is 2.5 - 2.8.

If 5 goals are scored and you wagered $20, then you have won $44.
Payout formula: (5 - 2.8) x $20 = $44

As you can see from the example presented above, a slight change in the spread has influenced your payout considerably. The betting firm offering 2.4 - 2.7 odds felt there was likely to be less than 2 goals, as opposed to the betting firm offering the 2.5 - 2.8 odds.

The higher bound from the odds is used to calculate your winnings when you buy.

The lower bound from the odds is used to calculate your winnings when you sell.

Let’s take a look at an example in order to better understand how the payouts are calculated when you buy and when you sell:

Let’s say that the spread set up by the betting firm is 2.3 - 2.6

For a buy wager when 3 goals have been scored the payout is $8.
Payout formula: (3 - 2.6) x $20 = $8

For a sell wager when 3 goals have been scored the payout is $6.
Payout formula: (2.3 - 2) x $20 = $6

The Theory:

When you think about it your chances of winning a spread bet are 50:50. And those are not particularly good odds. So how can you make a profit by placing spread bets? Especially since the amount of money you could lose is large, very large.

The matched-betting process refers to going after the bookie’s bonuses. This is how you earn money. You can place a spread bet online, by registering with betting firm. Thus you can take advantage of the great sign up bonuses.

Thanks to the bonus you get from an online spread betting firm you counteract the bet which you make by using another spread betting website. You will lose some money on qualifying for the available bonus, but you will get to keep about 80% of it.

Here is what you should do. First of all find some online betting firms that offer cash bonuses. You will get these bonuses after playing with your own money for a while and putting it on the line. At first find two such online betting firms. At least one of them must offer a bonus. Finding such a firm should not be hard to do as they are widely advertised on the internet.

After you have found 2 online betting firms that best suit you, you should make a note of any set amounts which you have to risk. This will be one of the more important factors to take into consideration. Then buy a certain amount at one of the firms, and counter it at another spread betting firm by selling a certain amount. Even if you will lose a small amount of money you will meet the requirements needed to get a cash bonus.

By selling at one firm and buying at the other you will certainly get a payout on one bet. And you can use the money to cover your loses on the other bet. Losing a sell spread bet will cause you to lose some money, but this only means that you have won the buy spread bet at the other firm. By using one bet to cover the other bet you do not lose money, or at least not significant amounts. But you will qualify for a cash bonus and that is what you were after. Not to mention the sign-up bonuses and other various welcome bonuses.