Spread betting is fast becoming one of the most popular betting forms, and creates a betting structure that can be used in a highly flexible way to bet on whole variety of results and combinations that fixed odds betting struggles with. Unlike in fixed odds or exchange betting, spread betting works on size of victory/loss rather than a specific result, and resembles a conventional stock market more than a regular bookmaker. Here is how it works:
 

Cricket Spread Betting Popular

Say that you think that Sachin Tendulkar will make a big score in a one day international cricket match. If instead of wanting to just bet on him to score a half century or other fixed odd bet on a specific scoring milestone, you want to be able to profit from every run he makes, then spread betting is a great option.

You approach the spread market for him in that game and see a figure that says 23-25. This price tells you the market for the number of runs Tendulkar will score. In your case you would want to bet on the ‘over’, which here is 25. If you bet a set figure – say £1 – on the over, then you would win £1 for every run that Tendulkar scores over 25 in the match.

However, if Tendulkar has an off day, and gets out for 2, you lose £23 (one pound for every run under twenty five that he failed to score).
 

Buy and Sell, Support or Oppose

This can just as easily be reversed if you think that Tendulkar will have a bad day. In this case you would take the ‘under’ at 23. If again, you bet £1 a run, you win £1 for every run under 23 that he fails to score. If Tendulkar makes a big score though, you lose £1 for every run over 23 that he scores.

Spread betting positions, just like stock market shares, can be very hard positions to sell at certain points, so be careful before you make any bet and make sure you fully understand the risks involved before making any bet.

Spreadex Football Spread Betting on Man City and Chelsea in the Premiership

Football Spread Betting Markets.