What Is Spread Betting? A Simple Guide for South African Punters

• WHAT IS SPREAD BETTING IN SPORT?
• HOW DOES A POINT SPREAD WORK?
• SPREAD BETTING IN FOOTBALL
• SPREAD BETTING IN BASKETBALL
• POINT SPREAD VS MONEY LINE
• WHAT DOES "AGAINST THE SPREAD" (ATS) MEAN?
• WHAT IS A PUSH IN SPREAD BETTING?
• HOW TO USE SPREAD BETTING AT LOTTOLAND
• IS THIS THE SAME AS FINANCIAL SPREAD BETTING?
• SPREAD BETTING: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

WHAT IS SPREAD BETTING IN SPORT?

The spread, also known as the point spread, is the number of points a favourite must win by for a bet on them to pay out. If a team is listed at -7, they must win by more than seven points. If they are +7, they can lose by up to six points and the bet can still win.

In traditional sports betting, you simply pick the winner. With spread betting, the bookmaker sets a line that represents the expected margin of victory. Your task is not just to predict who wins, but whether the favourite will cover that spread or the underdog will stay within it.

This approach helps level the playing field. When a strong side such as Manchester City faces a lower-table opponent, a straight win bet on the favourite offers very little value. A spread adds context, creating a more balanced betting market.

HOW DOES A POINT SPREAD WORK?

The bookmaker analyses both teams and sets a handicap line. The basic structure works as follows:

• The favourite is shown with a minus sign (for example -6.5)
• The underdog is shown with a plus sign (for example +6.5)
• You bet on whether the favourite wins by more than the spread, or the underdog stays within it
• Half-point spreads such as 6.5 eliminate the possibility of a push

The odds on each side are usually close to even money. In American odds format, this is often displayed as -110, meaning a stake of 110 returns 100 in profit. Some bookmakers display these odds in fractional or decimal format, so it is always worth checking how they are presented.

SPREAD BETTING IN FOOTBALL

For soccer betting, let's say you want to place a bet on a Premier League match. Tottenham Hotspur are playing against Fulham and the spread is set at:

If you back Tottenham at -2.5 and the final score is Tottenham 3-0, the bet wins because they covered the spread. If the match ends 2-0 or closer, the bet loses.

If you back Fulham at +2.5 and Tottenham win 2-0, Fulham covered the spread from the underdog side. Your bet wins.

SPREAD BETTING IN BASKETBALL

Point spreads are most commonly associated with American football bets and basketball betting, where high scores make the margin far more meaningful. Here is an NBA betting example:

The Lakers are favoured by 5.5 points. If the final score is Lakers 108, Warriors 101, the margin is seven points and the Lakers have covered the spread.

If the score finishes Lakers 105, Warriors 102, the margin is only three points. The Warriors covered the spread despite losing the game.

POINT SPREAD VS MONEY LINE

Many South African punters are more familiar with the money line, which simply means picking the outright winner.

The point spread is particularly useful when one team is heavily favoured. Rather than accepting very short odds on the favourite, the spread offers a more balanced market with competitive pricing on both sides.

WHAT DOES "AGAINST THE SPREAD" (ATS) MEAN?

You will often see the abbreviation ATS in sports betting. This refers to a team's record when accounting for the spread rather than just wins and losses.

A team might have a 12-4 record in the league but only a 9-7 ATS record. This means they win frequently but rarely by the margin the bookmaker expects.

Many experienced punters track ATS records to identify potential value in upcoming fixtures.

WHAT IS A PUSH IN SPREAD BETTING?

A push occurs when the final margin matches the spread exactly. For example, if the spread is -7 and the favourite wins by exactly seven points, neither side wins the bet.

In this case, bookmakers normally refund the original stake.

To avoid pushes, many sportsbooks use half-point spreads, often called the hook. A spread of -7.5 means the favourite must win by eight or more points, removing the possibility of a tied result.

HOW TO USE SPREAD BETTING AT LOTTOLAND

At Lottoland, you can explore a range of sportsbook markets that include spread-style and handicap betting options across football, international competitions, and major US sports.

• Head to the Lottoland Sportsbook section
• Select the sport and event you want to bet on
• Look for Handicap markets alongside the match result options
• Review the spread and compare the odds
• Place your bet with your chosen stake

IS THIS THE SAME AS FINANCIAL SPREAD BETTING?

No, and this is a common source of confusion.

Sports spread betting involves placing wagers on the outcome of sporting events using a handicap margin set by the bookmaker.

Financial spread betting, by contrast, involves speculating on the price movement of financial instruments such as stocks, indices, or commodities.

Although both use the word spread, the mechanics are completely different.

SPREAD BETTING: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Spread betting adds an extra layer of strategy to sports wagering. Once you understand how the line works and how to interpret it, you will find it opens the door to a wider range of markets and more competitive odds.