Often just referred to as “the line,” a betting line is absolutely vital in sports betting. What does line mean in betting, though? It shows the point of spread, or odds, bookies have set for a given event, so guiding your bet amount. The line guarantees that the sportsbook lowers risk by helping to balance the activity on both sides of a wager. Making wise bets and raising your chances of success in the cutthroat environment of sports betting depend on knowing what line means in betting.
Line Meaning In Betting
Let us use a particular Serie A game between Juventus and AC Milan to show what the line in betting is like. Imagine the bookies decided on Juventus as -1.5 favorites. This implies that a Juventus bet on winning has to be won by two goals or more in the game. Conversely, a bet on AC Milan would pay off should they either lose by one goal or less or win the game straight forward.
If the final score is Juventus 3 – 1 AC Milan, for instance, Juventus has covered the spread and bets on them would profit. Should the score be Juventus 2 – 1 AC Milan, AC Milan covers the spread, hence bets on them would be profitable. Knowing what is the line in betting within the context of fixed odds helps to balance the expected performance of the teams and provides a fair betting opportunity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Indeed, the line in betting is changeable even after your bet is placed. Shifts can be brought about by elements including player availability and betting patterns. Once your bet is placed, though, it locks in at the original line and any later adjustments won’t impact your wager.
In betting, a result that exactly falls on the line is known as a “push.” In this instance, your original stake is refunded and nobody wins or loses the bet. A football game is a push, for instance, if its point spread is -3 and the favorite wins exactly three points.
