HOW TO SPREAD BET
How To Spread Bet
You will notice that the predictions are presented in the form of two prices. This is a range known as the 'spread' and you bet low (also known as a `Sell’) at the first named price and if you wish to bet high (also known as a `Buy') you would do so at the second price.
For example, if someone asked you to guess their age, you might say `somewhere between 35 and 38 years old'. In the same way, when we make a prediction, we allow a range. If you were placing a spread bet on this prediction you would bet low at 35 years or bet high at 38 years.
How you win or lose?
What you win or lose depends on the stake size you choose and how right or wrong you are. Sporting Index might predict that the 1st goal in a match between Arsenal and Manchester United will be scored in the 36th minute and consequently set a spread of 35 - 37 minutes.
One client who believes there is bound to be an early goal will place his online football bet LOW at 35 minutes while another who thinks that both defences will be at their best will place his spread bet HIGH at 37 minutes. If the 1st goal is scored in the 25th minute, the client who went LOW at 35 minutes wins 10 times his stake (35 minutes take away 25 minutes = 10) while the client who went HIGH at 37 minutes loses 12 times his stake.
Why are there fractions of goals, such as a prediction of 2.4 to 2.6 goals?
How can there be 2.4 goals in a game? Well this is our expectation of the number of goals in a game based upon historical statistics. Going on past results for similar games, and taking other factors like team news in to consideration, if this game was played on an infinite number of occasions, there would be an average of 2.4 goals scored every game. Also by having decimals rather than whole numbers it allows us to ensure that a spread bet is settled either side of a whole number, as a whole number is the only actual result that can occur - i.e. 1, 2 or 3 goals etc.
Section 6: Pros and Cons of Spread Betting
