They are also used to signify how much players can potentially win if they bet on a certain market. What are betting odds?īetting odds are used by bookmakers as a way to represent the likelihood of something occurring. The odds themselves are used to show exactly how likely a certain outcome is to happen in the eyes of the bookmakers, with the odds also used to show how much you stand to win if your bet’s successful.īetting odds can be somewhat difficult for newcomers to understand, which is why we’re here to offer up our comprehensive guide on how to understand betting odds. That’s the beauty of points spreads and handicaps.Knowing exactly how betting odds work is a key factor you need to know in order to bet successfully, with it definitely being worth taking your time to get yourself clued up on the ins and outs of betting odds. It’s easier than you think, and you’ll love that you can win your slip even if a team loses. If you’re new to it, online betting websites might have a guide on how to place your first point spread bet. While it all looks confusing, the point spread betting system is very simple once you learn it. Their odds will surely be in the +200 (or higher) range, allowing bettors to capitalize on an eventual shocking Lakers loss and win big money in return. The Magic’s spread of +5 means they need to win or even lose by up to 5 points for your bet to win. The Lakers need to win by over 15 points to cover the spread. Using the example above, the Lakers will be favorites against the Magic with a point spread of +15 at -100. Reading point spread odds is not hard when you know how American odds to read. That’s all you need to know before you bet the point spread since it relies on American odds. For those unaware, the – sign indicates the favorite, while the + is for the underdog. To read a point spread, you first need to know how American odds work.

How to read odds and spreads