The point spread is a margin set by oddsmakers that the favored team must win by for a bet on them to pay out. It levels the playing field so there is roughly equal action on both sides of a game.
What exactly is the point spread?
Say the Kansas City Chiefs are playing the Las Vegas Raiders. The Chiefs are the better team, so a straight win/loss bet would attract almost everyone. To balance that, oddsmakers set a spread — for example, Chiefs -6.5. Kansas City must win by 7 or more for a bet on them to win. Raiders bettors win if Las Vegas wins outright or loses by 6 or fewer. Simple as that.
The underdog always carries a positive number (+6.5 in this example). The favorite always carries a negative number. These are the two sides of the same line.
How do you read a point spread line?
A standard spread listing looks like this:
- Chiefs -6.5 (-110)
- Raiders +6.5 (-110)
The number after the spread (-110) is the price. At -110, a $110 wager returns $100 in profit. That extra $10 is the sportsbook's cut, called the vig. For a full breakdown of why that number exists, see how -110 odds work and the vig behind every spread bet.
What does "cover the spread" mean?
A team covers when it beats the spread. The -6.5 Chiefs cover by winning 28–21 (a 7-point margin). They do not cover by winning 24–21 (only 3 points). Covering is the only thing that matters on a spread bet — not who wins the game outright.
If the final margin lands exactly on the spread number — which can only happen with a whole-number spread, like -7 — the bet is a push and your stake is refunded. Learn more at cover and push: what happens when the margin hits the number.
How is the spread different from the moneyline?
The moneyline ignores margin entirely — you just pick the winner. The spread forces you to care about how much a team wins or loses by. Both bet types are available at every major licensed sportsbook; which one fits your situation better is worth understanding before you put money down.
Where can you legally bet the spread?
Online spread betting is legal and live in more than 30 US states as of 2024, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, Colorado, Illinois, and Arizona — all regulated by their respective state gaming authorities. Utah, Hawaii, California, and Texas still prohibit it entirely. Check the full list of states with live regulated spread betting before signing up anywhere.
Must be 21+ in most states (18+ in a few, like Wyoming and New Hampshire). Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Where to go from here
Now that the core concept makes sense, the Spread Basics section walks through every layer — reading lines, understanding the vig, shopping for better prices, and avoiding the traps beginners fall into. If you are ready to place your first bet, the step-by-step spread bet walkthrough covers exactly what to tap in the app. For operator comparisons, the top-rated sportsbooks for betting the spread page lists licensed options available in most legal states.