Sports Spread Betting Sites

What is Spread Betting?

The gambling options in the UK are very different, and we'll explain the main differences in detail. For now, it's best to stick to the basics.

In spread betting you have to choose a market with a number of different outcomes, such as total goals in a football match. The bookmaker might make a prediction as to what the expected final result is likely to be, which is given as a small range. This range is called the 'spread'. It is exciting. You then decide whether the result will be above or below that range.

For example, in an illustrated explanation of online sports spread betting, let's revisit the Total Goals market mentioned earlier. The bookmaker may set the spread at 2.3-2.5. If you think there will probably be more than 2.5 goals (e.g. at least three), you choose to bet on that side of the market. If you think there will be two goals or less, you choose that side instead.

Best Spread Betting Sites

Spread betting may be growing in popularity, but it's still far behind regular fixed odds betting. As a result, you don't have as many choices when it comes to betting sites. However, there are still some excellent contenders for the title of 'best sports spread betting site', and these are your top options at the moment.

SpreadEx

SpreadEx does offer fixed odds markets but, as the name suggests, spread betting is definitely their priority. They're one of the most experienced sites in this area, having been around since 1999 and are still based in the UK. The founder of SpreadEx is a former City trader, so it's no surprise that they offer financial spread betting alongside their sports betting section.

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The latter is absolutely packed with betting opportunities. Football has the most individual SpreadEx spread betting markets, but you can also bet on horse racing, greyhound racing, tennis, golf, eSports and much more.

SpreadEx is particularly good for newcomers. For starters, they have an absolutely fantastic help section that explains both basic and advanced spread betting with incredible clarity. There's also a huge sign-up offer, with up to £300 cash back on spread betting within the first 28 days. Read the SpreadEx review >>

Sporting Index

Along with SpreadEx, Sporting Index are the most famous spread betting specialists around at the moment. They have an even more impressive track record dating back to 1992 and claim a hefty 70% market share for spread betting in their native UK. While you can't bet on financials here, they do offer an excellent selection of sports spread betting markets alongside a solid fixed odds section.

OUR PICK Sporting Index 100% CASHBACK ON NET LOSSES UP TO £250 *New clients only. Applies to first 5 x £25 Spreads bets on pre-match markets. 100% cashback on net losses upon settlement of fifth qualifying bet. Qualifying bets must be settled within 14 days of registration. Fully partially or reverse closed bets do not qualify. Maximum cashback £250. Full terms here. Spread betting involves risk. Losses can exceed deposits. Get Bonus

The range of football markets is extensive, both in terms of the competitions covered and the types of bets available. You'll also find Sporting Index spread betting opportunities on horse racing, cricket, snooker, tennis and more, and this site is strong in both pre-match and in-play betting.

The new account offer here isn't quite as impressive, with just £25 to spread bet with, but you can get a further £75 through a referral deal. There's also a fantastic training center with detailed tutorials for newbies in both text and video.  Read the Sporting Index review >>

How Does Spread Betting Work?

In UK Sports Spread Betting, you simply decide whether you think the outcome will be lower or higher than the site's prediction. If you think it'll be lower, you 'sell' the market. If you think it will be higher, you 'buy' it. 

A key point about online spread betting is that neither the size of your winnings nor your losses are fixed in advance. Instead, they depend on how right or wrong you are. This is calculated by multiplying your stake by the difference between the spread and the final outcome.

To get a better idea of what we're talking about, let's look at some examples of both buy and sell markets. 

Selling

If you have any experience with sports betting, you've probably come across over/under markets. Sports spread betting works in a very similar way, and taking the under is known as 'selling' a market. 

Here’s an example of a successful sell bet:

• West Brom play Wolves
• The total goals spread is 2.25 - 2.45
• You decide to sell the 2.25, with a stake of £10
• The score is 1-0 to West Brom
• The difference between the score and the bottom of the spread is 1.25 (2.25 - 1)
• You make a profit of £12.50 (£10 x 1.25);

Buying

Mechanically, buying in spread betting works the same way as selling. Using our previous analogy, it is the equivalent of taking the over in a traditional over/under market.

Here’s an example of a losing buy bet:

• Burnley play West Ham
• The Corners Spread is 9.7 - 10.2
• You buy the 10.2, with a stake of £10
• There are only nine corners in the match
• The difference between the outcome and your buy point is 1.2 (10.2 - 9)
• You make a loss of £12 (£10 x 1.2);

Types of Sports for Spread Betting

Sports spread betting is more complex for bookmakers to implement than fixed odds, so you'll usually find fewer sports covered. However, it's usually the more niche markets that are omitted, with all the major sports usually still covered. Below you'll find some of the most popular spread betting sports that are widely available. 

Football Spread Betting

As with fixed odds bookmakers, football dominates spread betting sites. Not only will it be covered on every platform, but it will always have the most individual markets.

The best soccer betting sites offer pre-match and in-game odds on Total Goals, Bookings, Corners and more. You can also bet on the main fixed odds market - the match result - although things work differently here. The most common way to do this is via a handicap, where the favorite might start with 0.05 goals, while the underdog starts with 0.25. 

NFL Spread Betting

American sports have become increasingly popular to bet on in the UK, and the NFL is the biggest of the bunch. During both the regular season and the playoffs, you'll usually find plenty of NFL spreads available to bet on.

Taking a simple Match Winner bet is pretty rare here, even via handicap. The most common bet type is actually Over/Under Points, with this market offering nice, simple spreads. Total Touchdowns is the main alternative, but sites like SpreadEx also offer markets on Field Goal Yardage... and even Touchdown Scorers Shirt Number!

Golf Spread Betting

The nature of golf scoring is absolutely perfect for spread betting. At the start of a major tournament, you'll be given a spread for each golfer's final score (under or over par). This spread will usually only cover two or three shots, leaving you plenty of room to make a big profit either by selling or buying. 

Golf coverage tends to be excellent at spread betting sites. You'll usually find not only the majors, but also all the major tour events. As with football, both pre-match and in-play betting is usually available. 

Horse Racing Spread Betting

Horse racing is widely available for spread betting, with tracks around the world represented. Not only that, but platforms like Sporting Index even offer live streaming of daily races. 

Spread betting on horse racing usually works on a point system. For example, with 10 runners, a horse might be worth 50 points to win, 25 points to finish second or 10 points to finish third. Each runner is given a predicted point spread before the race, so - if you buy one at 20 - you'll win if it finishes second or first. 

Basketball Spread Betting

Like the NFL, the NBA has grown in popularity in the UK over the past decade. It's now an integral part of the spread betting section at most sportsbooks. 

Betting on a team to win is simple enough in Basketball Spread Betting, where each side is given a spread between 0-100 based on their chances (in this market, they finish with 0 'points' if they lose and 100 if they win). You can also bet on the margin of victory, total points, team points or 1st quarter points.

Tennis Spread Betting

In terms of the number of markets, Tennis is easily one of the most popular sports to spread bet on. Even between the four Slams, you'll find betting opportunities on men's and women's tour events almost every day. SpreadEx also offers free live streaming of the action.

Similar to horse racing, Match Winner betting is based on a point system where players are awarded points for winning individual sets and the match overall. You can also get spreads on the number of games or even the points each player will win. 

Advanced Strategies for Spread Betting

While beginners are advised to start small and focus on simple markets, experienced traders can use more sophisticated strategies to maximize their chances of long-term success. One advanced approach is market hedging, which involves taking positions on both sides of a spread in different markets to minimize risk. For example, you might buy total goals in soccer while selling bookings to take advantage of the correlation between aggressive games and higher card counts. This technique requires careful research, but can smooth out volatility between bets.

Another useful method is staking. Instead of placing a single large bet, you gradually increase or decrease your position as the market moves in the game. For example, if you buy corners at 9.8 in a soccer match and notice that the intensity of the attack is increasing, you can increase your position for a greater payout potential. Conversely, if the game slows down, you can reduce your exposure. This flexible approach makes spread betting more dynamic than fixed odds betting.

Spread Betting vs. Financial Trading

Sports spread betting has a lot in common with financial trading, particularly in the way profits and losses are calculated. Both are based on buying and selling within a defined spread, and in both cases your risk increases as the outcome moves away from your entry point. The difference is in the underlying market. In sports, outcomes are tied to real-world events such as goals or points, while in financial trading they are tied to asset prices, indices or commodities.

For punters with trading experience, spread betting may seem intuitive. But unlike financial markets, where price movements can often be hedged using derivatives, sports outcomes are binary and irreversible. Once a football game is over, the result cannot be changed. This makes proper risk management even more critical, as there is no way to "spread" losses over time, as traders can in the stock markets.

Common Mistakes in Spread Betting

Even experienced punters can fall into traps when approaching spread betting. One of the most common mistakes is overestimating volatility. For example, punters often assume that a Premier League game will be a high-scoring affair, only to see a cautious tactical battle end 1-0. Misjudging the likely range of outcomes can lead to heavy losses, especially with larger stakes.

Another common mistake is chasing losses. Because losses in spread betting can exceed deposits, it is tempting for bettors to immediately increase their bets in an attempt to recover. This rarely ends well. A far better approach is to set strict stop-loss limits before the market opens and stick to them. Finally, many traders ignore market timing. Entering a position too late, when the spread has already adjusted, often leaves little room for profit. Successful spread betting requires patience, timing and discipline, not just intuition.

How Can I Place a Spread Bet?

While the way sports spread betting works is slightly more complicated than fixed odds betting, the actual mechanics are still extremely straightforward. It involves the same basic steps of finding the market you want, adding it to your bet slip, setting a stake and placing your bet. 

However, for additional clarity, here's a step-by-step example of how to place a spread bet on football using Sporting Index. 

1. Sign up for an account if you haven't already done so
2. Make your first deposit
3. Go to the main Sporting Index website, then click on 'Football' in the top menu
4. Select the league you want to bet on - in this case, the Premier League
5. Click on 'Leicester City vs. Newcastle United' to see the markets for this game
6. You think Leicester will win comfortably
7. The spread for Leicester to beat Newcastle is 1.1 - 1.3
8. Click on 1.3 to buy the market, set a stake of £10 and click on 'Place Bet'
9. Leicester win the game 3-0
10. The difference between your buy point and the final spread is 1.7 (3-1.3)
11. Total profit = £17 (£10 x 1.7)
12. Total return = £27, including your original stake;

What is the Difference Between Spread Betting and Fixed Odds Betting?

These are the three main distinctions between the two forms of gambling. 

Market Selections

In general, you'll find fewer spread betting options compared to fixed odds. The biggest bet types should still be available, but they will be adjusted to be compatible with spreads, often using either a handicapping or points-based system.

Winnings and Losses

With fixed odds betting, you know exactly how much you'll win or lose when you place your bet. With spread betting, the size of your profit or loss is determined by how right or wrong you are.

Special Offers

You'll find fewer special offers on spread betting websites, with promotions generally limited to 'cash back' or 'money back' offers. However, for many punters, the additional control and potential for higher profits with spread betting outweighs this drawback.

Sport Spread Betting Tips for Beginners

As with fixed odds sports betting, there's no clear and defined way to make a profit on your spread betting. However, there are definitely certain steps you can take to dramatically improve your odds, and these are five of the most important online spread betting tips.

Moderate Your Stakes

Betting on spreads is a whole different ballgame from betting on fixed odds. Don't jump in at the deep end. Instead, experiment with the smallest possible bets to begin with (usually $0.05) and build up from there as your confidence grows. 

Stick to What You Know

Just because you can bet on something doesn't mean you should. If you know soccer better than any other sport, that's where you should focus your spread betting. Similarly, focus on teams - or even players - that you're familiar with.

Do Your Research

There's a huge amount of statistical information and analysis out there, most of which can be used - free of charge - to inform your spread betting. Many expert tipsters also offer free advice which, even if it's not specifically about spread betting, can be very helpful in this area.

Mix Your Volatility 

If you're just starting out, stick to low-volatility markets. Examples in soccer are Winning Margin and Total Goals. Even if you get on the wrong side of these spreads, you won't lose a lot. Later on you can mix in more volatile markets with lower stakes. 

Use Live Betting Tools

Betting on spreads in-play can be lucrative, allowing you to take advantage of opportunities that simply aren't available before the game. But even more important is knowing when to cash out. When a spread bet goes the wrong way, it's often better to cut your losses before they get out of control. 

Spread Betting Glossary

When you're just starting out with spread betting, the language involved can be quite confusing. To help clarify things, here are explanations of the most common terms you're likely to hear. 

• Bet: The amount of money you wager. This is immediately deducted from your account and then returned, with a profit, if you win. If you lose, the stake is also lost;

• Spread: This is the range of outcomes reserved by the bookmaker. You cannot bet inside the spread, only above or below it. The size of the spread varies greatly depending on the sport and type of bet;

• Buy: The equivalent of taking the over in an over/under bet. You are betting that the eventual outcome in a market will be higher than the upper end of the bookmaker's spread. How right you are determines the size of your profit;

• Sell: The opposite of a buy bet. You are predicting that the final score will be less than the lower end of the bookmaker's spread. For example, if you sell a 2.1 - 2.5 over total market, you're betting that two goals or less will be scored;

• Points: This usually refers to how handicaps are created in spread betting. Each side is given a false starting point - their 'points' - with the favorite starting with more points. The more points a side starts with, the less money you make buying their market (and vice versa);

• Volatile: The 'volatility' of a spread betting market refers to how unpredictable it is. This in turn is determined by the range of possible outcomes. For example, a Winning Margin bet on football has low volatility, but a Total Points market on basketball is much more volatile;

• Collateral: With spread betting, you may lose more than your original stake. If this happens, the money must be paid out of your 'collateral'. This will be taken from the money in your account first, but you will be responsible for any further losses not covered;

• Push: When placing a spread bet, you are betting either above or below a defined range of outcomes. If the final result falls within that range, your bet is a push. This means that it neither wins nor loses, and your stake is returned to you;

Final Thoughts

Chances are, if you're like most punters, you've stuck to fixed odds betting. If you're looking to experiment, spread betting is a very tempting alternative. 

Spread betting on sports gives you much more control than fixed odds betting. It can also be more satisfying, as the size of your winnings increases according to how 'right' you are. However, spread betting is also more volatile, and the fact that you don't know how much you'll win or lose means it's not for the faint-hearted.

If you're interested in giving it a try, we'd highly recommend doing so at one of the UK's best sports spread betting sites - either SpreadEx or Sporting Index. Follow the tips in this article, bet intelligently and responsibly, and you should have an enjoyable and exciting betting experience.

FAQ

Is spread betting legal in the UK?

Yes - spread betting is perfectly legal for UK punters. All legitimate spread betting sites in the UK are licensed and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Is it possible to spread bet on NFL?

Absolutely. The NFL is one of the most popular sports for spread betting. While you can place simple match winner bets, it's more common to take over/under bets on total points.

Is sports spread betting profitable?

It can happen. As with regular sports betting, there is no guarantee that you'll make a profit. However, if you're smart, you have the potential to make bigger profits on spreads than on fixed odds.

What is a point spread?

Of all the outcomes of a particular market, the 'point spread' is the specific range reserved by the sportsbook. You cannot bet within this range, only above it by 'buying' the market, or below it by 'selling' it.

Is sports spread betting risky?

Like all gambling, sports spread betting is inherently risky as you could end up losing all the money you deposit into your account. With spread betting, your losses can also increase depending on how "wrong" you are. However, if you moderate your stakes and bet responsibly, you can certainly manage this risk.