Football
To bet on football, tell the ticket writer the bet number of the team you wish to bet, with the point spread and the amount you wish to wager. The payout, unless stated otherwise, is figured at odds of 10/11. This means that a wager of $11 would win $10 and return $21.
This is called a straight bet. A straight bet is the most common type of football bet.
The point spread: When betting on football, the team you bet on must "cover the spread." This means the team must win or not lose by a predetermined margin of points.
Example:
Bet No. Team Line
101 Jets
102 Dolphins -6
Note: The bottom team is always listed as the home team unless otherwise noted.
The point spread is always placed to the immediate right of the team that is favored. If you bet the Dolphins, the Dolphins must win by 7 points for you to win your bet. If you bet the Jets, any of the following will declare you a winner.
(a) The Jets win the game.
(b) The game ends in a tie.
(c) The Jets lose the game by not more than 6 points.
If the Dolphins win by exactly 6 points, the wager is declared a push and all money is refunded.
Point spreads change constantly. The listed point spread at the time you make your bet may be different from the point spread when the game starts. The point spread that is listed on your ticket is your official spread.