How to use a Spread betting calculator
Spread betting is one of my favorite bet types because it essentially levels the playing field. Instead of merely betting on a simple win or lose sporting outcome, you bet on the accuracy of the wager, focusing on these three components:
- The Spread:
A point spread is a wager on the margin of victory in a game. You’re betting on whether the outcome will be below or above the spread.
- The Favorite:
This is the stronger team or player more likely to win the game. These lines depict extra points the favorite should cover or win to cover the spread.
- The Underdog:
The underdog is the team with a lesser chance to win. In this case, the team must win the game outright or lose within the given handicap to cover the spread.
What then is a Spread Betting calculator?
As you can see, there are a lot of calculations to be done, and the spread betting calculator comes in to save the day. Forget trying to manually calculate the probability of each wager winning—the calculator does it for you.
The spread calculator for betting eliminates all guesswork from your wager and gives you the probability of a specific bet winning. Players can compare different spreads to determine the overall bet value. This gives you a better indication of the best wager to go with.
Using the calculator
You’ll be happy to know that using the bet spread calculator isn’t rocket science. But while this nifty gadget calculates for you, you need to input the correct info. First, you need to punch in the point spread you’re betting on using the odds from the game. Since you want to make the best possible bet, you need to enter an alternative spread for comparison.
This spread calculator will compare the different spreads and come up with the percentage of the probability of the other wagers winning. The potential payout you will get from each wager is also displayed.
Step-by-step guide
Just like the
Asian Handicap calculator, using a sports betting spread calculator is pretty straightforward. The process might slightly differ between specific calculators, but these are the general steps to follow:
- Open your spread betting margin calculator.
- Enter the Fair Spread points margin.
- Input the Alternative Spread margin.
- Hit “Calculate”.
- The probability of winning is displayed.
- The Fair lines price will follow shortly after.
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Example
It’s easier to comprehend how the spread betting calculator works in practice. Let me walk you through a real-life game example. I’ll use the 2024 NBA game between Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks as an example.
| Team | Fair Line Margin | Alternative Spreads | Probability of winning |
| Boston Celtics | -3.5 | -3 | |
| Dallas Mavericks | +3.5 | +2 | |
If Boston Celtics are favorites at -3.5 with odds 2.63 while Dallas Mavericks have 1.44 odds at +3.5, it means your wager will win if Boston Celtics won by 4 or more points. On the other hand, if you back the Dallas Mavericks, you win if they don’t lose by more than 3 points or if they win the game itself.
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Spread Betting Calculator explained
We’ve established that a sports spread betting calculator is what every bettor needs to place the correct kind of wagers. However, I can assure you that to use the calculator better, you must understand a few things about spread betting.
Sports to use the spread betting calculator on
I've realized that different
betting calculators
are effective for other sports. Below is a list of sports where I found the spread betting calculator to be quite handy:
- Football:
As one of America's most loved sports, the calculator will be useful in the NFL or CFL matches. You’ll be dealing with two-way spreads mainly here because ties are rare.
- Soccer:
The calculator made a difference during the Premier League and La Liga match-ups. Three-way spreads are the most popular in this game because there’s a high chance it’ll result in a tie.
- Basketball:
You can calculate spread bets for your NBA matches and college games. Two-way spreads are more common here.
- Ice Hockey:
Like American Football, these wagers will mostly comprise two-way spreads.
- Baseball:
Spread wagers are possible on all MLB matches, and they’ll be two-way like most US sports.
How much does one make from a Spread Bet?
The odds attached to spread wagers are usually reasonable. They fall in the ranges of between -120 and +100 in most cases. The spread's price impacts how much you can make from a winning wager. This will depend on whether you're looking to win one unit on a bet or you wager on all bets.
Why is this calculator useful?
Ask every seasoned bettor, and they’ll probably agree that a spread betting calculator is the next best invention after sliced bread. I've used it to leverage my sports betting experience to make it more informed and strategic.
Make accurate calculations
When calculating sports betting odds, you'll either wrack your brain trying to calculate your winning potential or you'll resort to guesswork. I can tell you that both routes will result in inaccuracies. A bet spread calculator will make correct calculations.
A spread betting calculator is your go-to for identifying value bets by comparing calculated fair odds and the odds offered by the bookie. This helps bettors identify discrepancies when potential payouts exceed the risk and vice versa.
Once you know the winning probability and potential payouts for each wager, you’re in a much better position to place informed wagers swiftly. The idea is to place a wager that gives you the most value and puts significant cash back in your pocket. A bet spread calculator compares the different spreads and helps you identify the most lucrative option.
Ideally, sports betting should be fun and hassle-free, and this calculator streamlines the time-consuming process of calculating odds. By taking care of all the mathematical equations, you focus on other aspects of sports betting, like adjusting your stakes or refining your strategy. For instance, you can decide if you'll need an
arbitrage betting calculator
to increase your betting success despite the outcome. Overall, these calculators make the sports betting experience seamless and more enjoyable.
What Other Betting Calculators Are Available
The spread betting calculator is just one of the many betting tools meant to make your betting simpler. You can also use numerous other tools, depending on the sports betting options you prefer.
For instance, you can pick a
Kelly Criterion betting calculator. It’s ideal if you want to automatically work out how much you must wager on a bet where there’s a clear distinction between the bookmaker’s odds and true odds.
Spread betting calculator for the win
From the moment I used the bet spread calculator, I was sold. It significantly enhanced my betting experience by helping me place the best wager possible. Yes, it's not foolproof, and other variables might impact sporting outcomes, but it's certainly a start.
It takes care of all the manual effort and potential for human error. Moreover, it gives you the winning probabilities for your wagers and shows you how much you can win if your bet pays off. Plus, you can use it in several mainstream sports. What’s not to like?
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Spread Betting FAQs
📌 Why do I need a spread betting calculator?
As the name implies, this calculator for spread betting is designed for Point Spreads. It works by calculating the probability of your bet winning and how much you’ll get if your wager pays off.
⚙️ How do I use the spread betting calculator?
To use the spread betting calculator, launch it, enter the point spread you’re betting on, and an alternative spread. The calculator will work out how much you can potentially win from that wager.
❓ What is spread betting?
Spread betting is when you wager on the expected final score outcome between two teams. You win or lose according to how close the result is from what you’d have predicted.
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