Point Spread Rules Hockey
- You will also see point spreads in hockey, baseball, and soccer. They are referred to in different terms, but they refer to the same principle of operation as the spread. In hockey, the spread is called a puck line; in baseball, it is a run line; and in soccer, it is a goal line. Puck lines and run lines are almost always fixed at 1.5.
- In Live Action Hockey betting, wagering is based on regulation time only for sides and totals, not including overtime unless otherwise stated in the wager details. Puck Line Betting Puck Lines wagers are where one team has a spread of -1.5, and the other team conversely has a spread of +1.5, each with their respective odds attached.
Low-scoring sports like hockey and baseball do have point spreads, but they’re almost always -1.5 and +1.5. In hockey, a spread is referred to as the “puck line.” In baseball, it’s the “run line.” The odds are just changed depending on the ability of the team — you won’t get -110 on both sides. The vast majority of point spread wagers are made on football and basketball because of the proliferation of points that are scored in comparison to sports like baseball and hockey, where 1-0 or 2-1 games aren’t that out of the question or out of the norm.
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Most sporting events have a perceived favorite, so applying a spread to the game is the bookmakers’ way of creating an even playing field. This is most often seen when betting on the NFL. When you bet “against the spread,” it’s not enough for the favorite to win the game; now, they have to win by more than a specified amount (the spread) in order for them to “cover the spread.”
As we explained with moneyline betting, a negative number (-) indicates the favorite and a positive number (+) indicates the underdog.
ATS (Against the Spread) Betting: Case Study
As you can see, New England is the favorite in this game by 7.5 points, since they have the negative number. You will often see half-points attached to the spread to avoid “pushes,” or ties for the newbies. As we covered in our how to read odds guide, games with half-point spreads are said to contain a “hook.”
In this circumstance, favored New England is said to be “laying” 7.5 points. This means you subtract 7.5 points from their total score when the game concludes. If they still have more points than the Chiefs, then they “covered.” Therefore, the Patriots will have to win the game by at least 8 points for you to win your bet.
While New England is “laying” 7.5 points, Kansas City is “getting” 7.5 points. This means you add 7.5 points to their total score when the game concludes. If, after doing so, they have more points than the Patriots, then they “covered.” So, in order to win your bet, the Chiefs just cannot lose the game by 8 points or more. For example, if the Chiefs only lose by 3 points, you would win if you bet on Kansas City.
Here are a couple of mock outcomes, with the team who covered the spread in bold.
- Kansas City 21 – New England 24
- Kansas City 17 – New England 25
- Kansas City 3 – New England 41
- Kansas City 30 – New England 27
What Can Change the Spread?
The spreads in football games are subject to change based on where the money is going and weekly injury reports. If Tom Brady is hit by the Madden Curse before the season even starts and is unable to suit up, you’ll see the spread decrease, likely landing around New England -3.5.
Calculating Payouts Against the Spread
Now you may have noticed in the chart above that there is a three-digit number next to each spread, which looks an awful lot like a moneyline. It is, in essence. Those negative numbers (-110 in this case) indicate how much you have to bet in order to win $100. (Sportsbooks still take their cut when you’re betting against the spread.)
Generally, you will see “even bets,” meaning the payout is the same no matter who you bet on. But that’s not always the case, as you’ll see in the chart for our next example.
If the result of this game is Seattle 21 – Green Bay 28, would you win if you bet on Seattle to cover?
(NO! They lost by more than three points.)
Do Other Sports Have Spread Betting Options?
Betting against the spread on the NFL is undoubtedly the most popular form of spread betting, but there are other options.
You will also see point spreads in hockey, baseball, and soccer. They are referred to in different terms, but they refer to the same principle of operation as the spread.
In hockey, the spread is called apuck line; in baseball, it is a run line; and in soccer, it is a goal line.
Puck lines and run lines are almost always fixed at 1.5.
Learn the Basics of Sports Betting
Want to learn more about the basics of betting on sports? Educate yourself with sports betting 101.
POINT SPREAD is a sports lottery game that lets you bet on whether your chosen teams will cover or beat the “spread”. Wager on a minimum of 2 events and up to a maximum of 12 events.
A POINT SPREAD is the number of points by which a favoured team is expected to beat the underdog. This type of game lets you bet on the losing team and still win.
Here’s what a Football POINT SPREAD might look like if Dallas were playing Pittsburgh:
Dallas -6
Pittsburgh +6
In this example, Dallas is expected to win over Pittsburgh by more than 6 points. Dallas is the favourite, as shown by the (-) value in front of the 6. As the underdogs in this scenario, Pittsburgh is represented by the (+) value and have been given a 6-point head start.
If the final score is Dallas 21, Pittsburgh 17, then Pittsburgh’s adjusted score is 23 points (17 + 6 = 23). With an adjusted score higher than Dallas’ real score of 21, Pittsburgh has covered the spread. If you had bet on Pittsburgh, it would be a correct selection.
However, if the final score is Dallas 21, Pittsburgh 6, then Pittsburgh’s adjusted score is 12 points (6 + 6 = 12). In this scenario, Dallas beat the spread, winning by more than 6 points, and a Pittsburgh pick would result in an incorrect selection for this specific event.
Alternatively, if Dallas wins by exactly 6, then their points equals the spread number exactly, resulting in a PUSH.
Finally, if Pittsburgh wins the game outright, they would automatically beat the spread because they have a 6 point head start. In this case, if you had bet on Pittsburgh, it would be a correct selection.
TIP
When playing POINT SPREAD, the event list will only show the spread as it relates to the team favoured to win, expressed as (-).
How to play POINT SPREAD in 5 steps
Set your play budget. The best way to play is to always bet with money you can afford to lose.
Choose your sport. Check the Event List at PRO•LINE.ca, on the PRO•LINE App, or at your OLG retailer to choose the sport you want to wager.
Select your wager. You can bet as little as $2 and as much as $100 per ticket, per day.
Make your predictions. Using the selection slip at your OLG retailer or the PRO•LINE App, predict whether your team will cover or beat the spread.
Buy your ticket. Take your completed selection slip or PRO•LINE App picks to your OLG retailer to buy your ticket. Be sure to cheer on your teams!
1. Set your play budget
Savvy sports bettors know there’s no way to guarantee a win. That’s why they set aside a play budget and only use money they can afford to lose. To do this, set aside a separate play budget and think of it as money you would spend on entertainment. Like tickets to a game.
POINT SPREAD offers wagering on American and Canadian Professional Football, Professional Hockey, Professional Baseball, College Football, Professional Basketball, and American College Basketball. You can view the sports list online at PRO•LINE.ca, by using the PRO•LINE App, or at an OLG retailer.
Matchup Stats are available to assist you with your picks. This information can be accessed by clicking on the link at the bottom of each game on the sports list. Matchup Stats display information like ballpark stats, player performance, head-to-head details, recent trends and more.
TIP
Upsets can happen in sports. While the information provided in Matchup Stats can help you make your picks, they cannot predict or guarantee a specific outcome.
3. Select your wager
You can wager a minimum of $2 and a daily maximum of $100 on each POINT SPREAD ticket.
4. Make your selections
In order for your POINT SPREAD ticket to be valid, you must select between 2 and 12 events to wager. You can use the selection slip at your OLG retailer or use the PRO•LINE App to make your picks.
TIP
All POINT SPREAD selections on a ticket must be from the same sport. Players can combine American and Canadian Professional Football on one ticket, but can’t combine College Football with Professional Football.
Breaking down the Selection Slip
Step 1:
Select the number of events on which you wish to wager. You can choose anywhere between 2 and 12 events.
Step 2:
Make your predictions.
Step 3:
Select the amount you wish to wager.
5. Buy your ticket
When you’ve completed your selections, fill in the total number of events you’ve wagered in the box to the left of the selection slip. If you’re using the PRO•LINE App to make your selections, simply show it to your OLG retailer when buying your ticket.
Your POINT SPREAD ticket
Hang on to your POINT SPREAD ticket until all your selected games are complete. On it, you’ll find the following information:
A
The sport
B
The POINT SPREAD list number and event numbers
C
The selected team (either Home team or Visitor team) for each event you’ve selected
D
The spread associated with each event
E
The scheduled date for each event
F
The payout factor
G
Your wager
H
The potential prize payout based on your selections
How do I know if I’ve won?
To find out if you’re a winner, check your ticket in one of the following four ways:
1. Scan the ticket barcode using the ticket checker at a participating OLG retailer
2. Ask a participating retailer to scan the ticket barcode using the lottery terminal
3. View winning results by event at PRO•LINE.ca
4. Scan ticket barcode using the OLG Lottery App
There is no clear winner. Now what?
In sports, the rules of the game make it clear who wins and who loses. In POINT SPREAD, there are additional factors that affect whether your bet is a winner including tie outcomes, PUSH results, or if an event is postponed or cancelled. As with any game of chance, the more you know about how to play POINT SPREAD, the better informed you’ll be when making your predictions.
The more outcomes you correctly wager on, the more money you can win. Payouts start at 1.25 times your wager. The most you can win is 1000 times your wager for successfully predicting 12 out of 12 outcomes.
TIP
You may be tempted to bet more in hopes of winning more. But remember, no outcome is ever guaranteed and the more money you wager, the more you stand to lose.
How to claim your prize
You can claim your prize, up to a certain amount of money, at your local OLG retailer. Prizes over the amounts redeemable at individual retailers must be collected at the OLG Prize Centre.
More ways to play
Up the excitement of your favourite sports, and increase your betting knowledge by learning to play these additional sports lottery games.
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