Spread Betting – The Myths v The Truth
The biggest myth about spread betting in general, is that it is exceptionally dangerous, that is utter rubbish. It is as dangerous as betting fixed odds, if you bet more than you can afford, then you are going to run into trouble.
Spread Betting is something I have been doing for a while now myself. One thing you must do is start off with small stakes.
The next myth is one I hear all the time – “Spread Betting is too complicated, I just don’t understand it”.
The reason being this, is quite simply you have not given enough time or patience to fully understand it, and it is nowhere near as difficult as some people make out, it’s alarmingly easy in fact.
Spread Betting is something every punter should know how to do, otherwise, you can’t even begin to understand, what you are missing. I’ll go as far as saying, fixed odds only punters, are living in the dark ages, and denying themselves so many more opportunities to earn good profits.
Spread Betting has lots and lots of different markets – so how can you begin to use them all ?
Quite simply, you don’t. You find which markets you feel you have an edge on. Just like when you find a football league, or perhaps Grand Slam Tennis events, that you always seem to punt well on, you stick to those.
Learning and punting spread betting is not a sprint, it’s a marathon, take your time, understand it, and anything you don’t understand, then you can ask in The Punters Lounge “General Betting Help” forum for advice.
Have you an example of how to spread bet and exactly how it works ?
Ok, below I will give you two different markets on Football.
Hearts v Ferencvaros - Total Goals Spread
(SELL) 2.50 – 2.60 (BUY)
This means that you can predict lower (SELL) or higher (BUY), just like the Over/Under 2.5 Fixed Odds Goals Bets.
To “SELL” the figure in question is always on the left. To “BUY”, it is always the figure on the right, which is your interest. The Spread Betting Firm here, is basically saying they think there will be between 2 and 3 goals. If Man Utd were playing Dover, you could expect that spread to go from 2.50 – 2.60 to probably 4.80 - 4.90, because naturally Man Utd should hammer Dover.
Now, say you have a very strong opinion that there is definitely going to be a goal fest in this match, you would “BUY” @ 2.60 for say £10.
If the result was 5-3 at full time, that is a total of 8 goals. You take those 8 goals, deduct the amount you bought at, which was 2.60 goals, leaving a total profit of 5.40 goals at stake of £10. So, £10 x 5.40 = £54.00 profit. If your stake had been £100, you would have made £540.00.
If the result was 0-0 at full time, then you have made a loss. You would have bought at 2.60 goals for £10, and the total goals are 0. So, your loss is 2.60 x £10 = £26.00, if you had bet £100, your loss would be £260.00.
Please bear in mind, you can “close” the bet, at any point during the match.
For Example:
You have sold goals @ 2.50 for £100 and Hearts are leading 3-0 in the 30th minute. Obviously your bet is in serious trouble at this point, as you are already showing a 0.5 goal loss per your stake. You have the choice to close your bet and take it on the chin, something all good spread bettors have and continue to do at times.
Hearts v Ferencvaros - Hearts Supremacy Spread (Supremacy is basically the amount of goals a team will win by over the opposing team)
(SELL) 0.70 – 0.80 (BUY)
This means that you can predict lower (SELL) or higher (BUY), on how many goals you think Hearts will or won’t win by.
To “SELL” the figure in question is always on the left. To “BUY”, it is always the figure on the right, that is your interest. The Spread Betting Firm here, is basically saying they think Hearts are favourites, but not big favourites.
Now, say you have a very strong opinion that Hearts will win this match, you would “BUY” @ 0.80 for say £50.
If the result was 3-0 at full time, then that would be mean you have made a profit. You take your 3 goals, deduct the 0.80 goals you bought at, leaving a total win of 2.20 multiplied by your £50 stake. So, £50 x 2.20 goals = £110.00 profit. If your stake had been £200, you would have made £440.00.
If the result was 3-3 at full time, then you have made a loss. You would have bought Hearts @ 0.80 goals for £10, Hearts supremacy will be 0 because they have drawn the match 3-3, so your loss is 0.80 time your stake. So, your loss is 0.80 x £50 = £40.00, if you had bet £200, your loss would be £160.00.
Please bear in mind, you can “close” the bet, at any point during the match.
For Example:
You have bought Hearts Supremacy @ 0.80 for £50 and Hearts are leading 3-0 at half time. At this point, you are looking at a healthy profit, and have the choice of letting the bet run, in the hope Hearts score more and increase your profit, or take the profit and run, because you think Ferencvaros may come back into the match.
Where can I Spread Bet ?
Below are the only current recommendations, I may add more in the future, but some are fairly new and not as financially stable as the ones below.
The world leaders in spread betting, an extremely impressive and professional set up.
Sporting Index have more markets than any other spread betting firm, and the rest have a long way to go, to get anywhere near as good as this. Constant promotions of the highest quality, and their staff are only to willing to sit on the phone with you, for as long as it takes for you to understand the query you have put to them.
Sports-Punter.com rating 11/10 – Yes I did say eleven, they are that professional.
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