How Are The Point Spreads Determined For Sports Betting Odds?

How Are The Point Spreads Determined For Sports Betting Odds?

Tanya Breen

An important factor in the straight bet with point spread is that point spreads move and are adjusted as more money is wagered. Casinos and sports books will raise and lower point spreads based upon how much money has been wagered on one side or another. Not all point spreads for the same game are the same at all online sports books and casinos and for online betting, it’s always best to compare odds and I use this as my go to reference. When a bettor makes a wager they are locked in to whatever the point spread is at the time the wager was made so after checking the odds comparison it’s easy enough to open a new sports betting account and it’s well worth it to know you have placed your wager getting the best odds available. In some other types of wagering, like Horse Racing (referred to as Pari-mutuel), odds are adjusted up until the time the event begins and all wagers placed on a certain winner are adjusted to reflect the new odds, this is not the case in betting on most events. It is very possible that you may plan on wagering on a specific team and think you may be getting or giving a certain amount of points only to find out when it comes time to actually place your wager that the point spread is now different. This difference in the point spread can work for you or against you depending upon what side you are planning on taking. The movement of the point spread is usually referred to as line movement. The point spread that the casino or sports book lists as being current is referred to as the current line or posted line.Often, we see odds or point spreads in our morning newspapers, these postings are called morning lines. The first odds posted on a particular event before the spreads have been moved or adjusted are called the opening lines and the final point spread or odds available before wagering on an event closes is referred to as the closing line. As a rule of thumb I always keep close tabs on the odds and lines and have a number of online sports betting accounts so I am always giving myself the best chance to win.

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