The basis of spread betting is the more you are right then the more you win (conversely the more you are wrong then the more you lose!). Lets take an example.

For a typical football match Sporting Index may put up a spread on the total corners of 11 - 12. This means that the Sporting Index think that 11 or 12 corners will be awarded during the match. If you think that more than 12 corners will be awarded then you can buy at 12 for say £20 a corner. Now if 16 corners are awarded you would win £80 (16 minus 12, multiplied by £20). However if only 10 corners were awarded you would lose £40 (12 minus 10, multiplied by £20).

If you thought that less than 11 corners would be awarded then you could sell at 11 for £20 a corner. Now if there were 16 corners you would lose £100 but if there were 10 corners you would win £20. Needless to say if you thought there were going to be 11 or 12 corners then you shouldn't bet!

It is important to grasp the concept that you always buy at the top of the spread and sell at the bottom of the spread.

Lets look at another example. If Manchester United were playing Charlton at home then the spread firms might make the goal supremacy spread 1.1 - 1.4. This means that the home team is one and a quarter goals favourite over the away team. Now you can't score a fraction of a goal but this doesn't matter. Say you buy at 1.4 for £100 per goal and Man United win 4-0 then you would win £260 (4 minus 1.4 multiplied by £100). If Man United only win 3-1 then you would win £60 (3 minus 1, minus 1.4, multiplied by £100). Conversely if Charlton managed to scrape a 0-0 draw then you would lose £140 (1.4 minus 0 multiplied by £100).

The spread betting firms offer a variety of markets covering goals, corners, bookings, time of goals and various performance indexes. The easiest way to keep up with the different markets and quotes is to look at Channel 4 and Channel 5 teletext or Sky Sports:

There is now also a spread betting exchange website spreadfair which has been setup by Cantor. This operates on the same principles as regular betting exchanges such as Betfair where punters put up their own prices which may or may not be taken up by other punters with opposing views. Winning punters then pay 5% commission on their winnings.