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Points Betting

Points Betting

Introduced by the online bookmaker PointsBet, Points betting is a betting system that is based on the margin of victory or loss. In this method, your payout or loss isn’t fixed. Instead, the closer your prediction is to the final result (margin or point spread), the larger your win. Similarly, the more it falls short, the more you lose. So, the system offers the potential for both significant wins and losses.

In this guide, I’ll take you through how this betting system works and what to consider when using it.

How Does Points Betting Work?

As I mentioned, points determine how much you win or lose in the points bets system. If your prediction wins by ten points, then your payout will be 10X your stake. Conversely, if the final result is 10 points less than your predicted outcome, your loss will also be 10X your wager.

So, let’s consider an example. Let’s say you’re betting $10 on the Los Angeles Lakers as the favorite to win a basketball game at a line of -10. This means the Lakers must win by 10 points. If the team wins by day 13 points, that’s three points more than the predicted outcome. In this case, you would win $30 ($10 × 3). However, if they win by day 6 points, that’s four less than predicted, and you’d lose $40 ($10 × 4).

To wager on betting points, start by first determining your stake point. It could be 0.5, 1, 2, 5, etc., The next step is to choose a betting market. There are over 200 markets where you can use the point system. These cut across totals, handicaps, prop bets, etc. Once you know what you’re betting on, you then determine your wager amount, and you’ll have the option to set the maximum win or loss, where the bet closes.

Below is a table that better illustrates the points system:

Stake point $5 wager $10 wager $20 wager
0.5 point  $2.5 $5 $10
1 point  $5 $10 $20
2 points $10 $20 $40
2.5 points $12.5 $25 $100

To explain this process better, let’s consider an example of points in hockey betting. Let’s say we place a $10 prop bet on Andrei Vasilevskiy to make over 20 saves for the Tampa Bay Lightning. If Vasilevskiy makes 25 saves, it means the actual result is 5 points more than what we predicted. If our chosen stake point is 0.5, then the total payout for this bet will be $25 (5×0.5×$10). Similarly, the total payout will be $50 (1×5×$10) when you use one stake point, $100 for two stake points, and $125 when the stake point is 2.5.

What Is a Betting Bank?

An essential factor you must consider before placing wagers on point spreads is your betting bank. This is the money that you have earmarked for betting. Having a predetermined betting bank is important in sports betting because it helps guide your spending. It is even more vital when you consider the risky nature of point wagers.

Ordinarily, betting on points requires you to have more funds in your betting account than in the traditional odds betting system. This is because your potential win or loss is not fixed but fluctuates based on how the game progresses. PointsBet, with the point system, will usually require a higher balance in your account to ensure you can cover any significant loss. So, although you may be placing a $1 bet, the sportsbook may hold $50 if that’s the equivalent of the maximum loss of your wager. It is also safe to assume that all top sports betting sites that adopt this betting type will follow the same route.

For example, if you bet $10 per point on a team to win by 10 points, and they lose by 10 points, you’d lose $200 (20 points × $10). This means you must have had a minimum of $200 in your betting account. To limit outrageous losses, it is, therefore, advisable to only stake a small portion of your betting bank and use a low stake point so that large fluctuations don’t wipe out your bank.

How Much Are Points Worth?

To know what points in betting are worth, you must first determine your betting bank. You then split this value down to 100 points. For example, if your betting bank is $1000, then each point will be worth $10 (1000÷100). This means you should always stake a maximum of $10 (1 point) on each bet. This one–point strategy is advisable because it helps limit significant losses.

The Stop Loss Adjuster

PointsBet provides a stop-loss feature on its points betting system to help bettors limit the losses on each wager they place. This feature also automatically limits your winnings, but it’s advisable to use it as it is safer.

For example, if you place two bet points ($20 with a $1000 betting bank) on the total (over/under) option for a Lakers vs Celtics game to end with over 200 points, you can set the stop loss at 5X. If this game ends with just 190 points, you won’t naturally lose $200 ($20×10). With the stop loss, your loss will be $100 ($20×5). Conversely, if the game had ended with 210 points, you wouldn’t also get the original $200 ($20×10) winning. Instead, you’ll get $100 ($20×5).

Key Considerations for Points Betting

To succeed with the points in betting system, below are some practical guidelines that will increase your chances.

Beware the Under

Betting the under is not an ideal choice in point betting. One primary reason for this is overtime. If a game is tied, particularly in hockey or basketball, overtime can lead to more points being scored, which would likely exceed the underline. Also, with under bets, the maximum win you can get is limited because, even if the total points are below the line you predicted, it’s usually by a small margin. On the other hand, if the final score exceeds your predicted outcome by a large margin, you will face a significant loss.

Use the Loss Limitor

I can’t stress enough how crucial setting a stop loss is when you’re taking the points in sports betting. Without it, your whole betting bank could be wiped out if the game goes terribly against your bet. The stop loss provides a safety net.

Stick With What You Know

It’s completely illogical to bet on a sport you’re not familiar with, as you’ll only make terrible decisions and lose money. You need to be familiar with the sport, teams, and players involved in any game you’re betting on. This helps you understand their strengths, weaknesses, and performance levels, which will inform your bets.

Also, ensure you conduct adequate research and analysis before placing any wager. This cuts across historical data, player stats, injury reports, team dynamics, external factors, etc.

Does the Points Betting System Really Work?

Unlike the popular bet system that’s based on fixed odds, point betting is very volatile. Of course, it works, and you can land significant wins with it. However, the risk involved is also very high. To succeed with this bet type, ensure you prioritize bankroll management. In particular, always use a small percentage of your betting bank and set a stop loss. Also, be wary of the under bet and stick with only the sports you know.

Rebecca E
Author
Writer & Media

Rebecca is a Liverpool gal and a big fan of the club. She likes nothing more than sharing tips and predictions on sports betting. Her other favorite sports include horse racing, snooker, and golf. Rebecca is in charge of writing and media at BetZillion. You can thank her for making our articles look so great.

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