What is Against the Spread (ATS)?
Let's say you are betting on the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks, in a 2 team reverse. Basically, you are betting two separate if bets. On each bet you are risking $55 to win $50. If both the Bulls and the Knicks win, you will return $200 and get back $310. An activity characterised by a balance between winning and losing that is governed by a mixture of skill and chance, usually with money wagered on the outcome. Present participle for to bet money or something else in a gamble.
One of the most popular types of sports betting is betting against the point spread also known as ATS. The point spread is a number aka the 'betting line' set by bookmakers at the sportsbook which is intended to even the playing field between two teams and give a reason for bettors to bet on either side of the game. The betting Favorite is considered the better team and listed with a Minus (-) sign while the Underdog is listed with a Plus (+) sign. A bettor wins his bet on the 'Favorite' if the team wins the game by more points then the 'spread or line', the opposite is true for the 'Underdog' where the bettor wins if the team loses by less then the spread or wins the game outright! There are two types of spread betting, the first is betting with the spread and the second is betting against the spread.
Betting With The Spread
When you bet with the spread it means you are taking the favorite to win and cover the spread. For example in the NFL the Dallas Cowboys are Favored at -3 over the Philadelphia Eagles. Taking the Dallas Cowboys -3 means you are betting with the spread and want the Cowboys to win by MORE then 3 points.
Betting against the spread means you are taking the Underdog and the points in a game. To win you want the 'underdog' to either win the game outright OR lose by less then the 'Point Spread' you are given. A example of this we will use the following. The New England Patriots -7 vs NY Jets +7. In this example we are taking the underdog the NY Jets and +7 points. In order for us to win our bet one of two things must happen. First the Jets win the game OR the Jets lose the game but the final score has the Jets losing by LESS then 7 points. Should the final score be exactly 7 points this is a push and your bet is refunded.
What is ATS in Betting?
ATS is short for Against The Spread! Its a term used to track how well one team does against the spread meaning their won/loss record based on the spread rather then their regular wins and losses.
You get your original bet back plus your winnings. For example if you bet $110 to win $100 you would receive $210 back.
What if the result of the point spread bet is a loss?
You lose your entire original bet. For example if you bet $110 to win $100 you would lose $110.
This is considered a 'push' and you are refunded your original bet back. For example if you bet $110 to win $100 you would get the $110 back.
How do you bet against the spread?
This is called a straight bet. A straight bet is the most common type of bet for betting on the NFL, NBA, College Football & Basketball. It uses the the point spread: When betting a straight bet you are betting on the team to 'cover the spread the point spread'. Referring to our examples above you are either Betting with the spread or Betting against the spread.
This is same as betting against the spread however it may be used in NFL Pickem type pools rather the placing a straight bet.
Here are some wagering examples of bets Against the Spread
NFL – Football:
Team: NY Giants -7
Team: Dallas Cowboys +7
Final Score: NY Giants 28 – Dallas Cowboys 20
If you took the NY Giants as your pick at the sportsbook against the spread you would have won your bet! 28-7=21 Final score against the Spread is 21-20 Giants win!
NBA – Basketball
Team: Golden State Warriors -10
Team: Denver Nuggets +10
Final Score: Golden State 99 – Denver 90
If you took the Golden State Warriors as your pick at the sportsbook against the spread you would have lost your bet! 99-10=891 Final score against the Spread is 89-90 Denver Wins and covers against the spread, you would have needed to take the Nuggets +10 to win this bet ATS at a Vegas Sportsbook.
Other Information:ATS in sports betting means – Against the Spread. Most sports bettors and handicappers use the acronym when referring to a teams won loss record against the spread AKA ATS.
Related Topics In Our Sports Betting Guide:
Table of Contents
- Essentials of a Wager
- What are not Wagers? – Exceptions
- 1. Contract of Insurance are not wagers
What is a Wagering Agreement?
Agreements entered into between parties under the condition that money is payable by the first party to the second party on the happening of a future uncertain event, and the second party to the first party when the event does not happen, are called Wagering Agreements or Wager. There should be mutual chance of profit and loss in a wagering agreement. Generally wagering agreements are void.
Wagering Agreement – Meaning, essentials, exceptions, effects
Wager means a bet. It is a game of chance where the probability of winning or losing is uncertain. The chance of either winning or losing is wholly dependent on an uncertain event.
Parties involved in a wagering contract mutually agree upon the nature of the agreement that either one will win. Each party stands equally to win or lose the bet. The chance of gain or the risk of loss is not one sided. If either of the parties may win but not lose, or may lose but cannot win, it is a wagering contract.
The essence of a wagering contract is that neither of the parties should have any interest in the contract other than the sum, which he will win or lose. Parties to a wagering contract focus mainly on the profit or loss they earn.
Example 1:
A and B agree with each other that if it rains on Tuesday, A will pay Rs. 100 to B and if it does not rain on Tuesday, B will pay A Rs. 100. Such an agreement is a wagering agreement and hence is void.
Example 2:
There is an agreement between A and B which provides that if Indian Cricket Team beats Pakistan Cricket Team, A will pay Rs. 1,000 and if Pakistan Cricket Team beats Indian Cricket Team, B will pay Rs. 10. The agreement is a wager.
Essentials of a Wager
1. Dependence on Uncertain Event
One of the important essentials of a wagering agreement is that it must depend upon an uncertain event. Event may be past, present or future, but the parties must be unaware of its future or the time of its results or the time of its happening.
Example:
A football match between team A and team B is to start at Mumbai on 30th June 2016. C and D enter into an agreement that C will pay Rs. 500 to D if team A wins, and if team B wins, D will pay Rs. 500 to C. This is a wagering agreement and is void.
2. Mutual Chance of Gain or Loss
Another element of wagering agreement is that each party to the agreement should stand to win or lose as per the result of the uncertain event.
Example:
A cricket match is to start at Hyderabad between India and South Africa. If India wins the match, A agrees to pay B Rs. 500, whereas if South Africa wins the match, B agrees to pay Rs. 500 to A. This is a wagering agreement. In this case. each party has the chances to win or lose. Here the gain of one party will be the loss of the other and vice versa.
3. No Other Interest in the Event
Neither party should have any interest in happening or non-happening of the event other than the sum he will win or lose. If either party has some other interest other than the sum he will win or lose, it will not be a wager.
Example:
A, a owner of a house, insures his house against fire with GIC. A has to pay an Insurance premium of Rs. 50 per month as per the terms of contract. If the house is destroyed by fire, GIC will pay the actual amount of loss suffered by him. Here A has interest in his house. Further on the happening of the event i.e. fire, A will not gain anything. Hence, it is not a wager.
4. No Control Over the Event
The parties to the contract should not have any control over the happening of the event one way or the other. Silver oak casino codes. If one party has the events in his hands, the transaction will not be a wager.
Example:
A and B enter into an agreement that if A resigns his job, B will pay Rs. 500 to A and A will pay Rs. 500 to B if he does not resign his job. Here A has the event under his control. Hence not a wager.
5. Promise to Pay Money or Money's Worth
The wagering agreement must contain a promise to pay money or money's worth.
What are not Wagers? – Exceptions
The following transactions are not wagers:
1. Contract of Insurance are not wagers
Insurance contracts are contracts of indemnity. They are entered into, to safeguard the interest of one party to the contract. In this contract, the insured has insurable interest in the property or life Hence, it is not a wager.
Distinction between Wagering Agreement and Contract of Insurance
An insurance contract differs from a wager in the following respects:
1. In a wagering agreement, there is no insurable interest, whereas contract of insurance has insurable interest
2. Wagering agreement is a void agreement, whereas contract of insurance is a valid one.
3. In a wagering agreement, neither party has any interest in the happening or non-happening of an event. But in an insurance agreement, both the parties are interested in the subject-matter.
4. Wagering agreements are conditional contracts, whereas insurance agreements are contracts of indemnity except life insurance contracts which are contingent contracts.
5. The object of a wagering contract is to speculate for money or money's worth, whereas an insurance contract is to protect an
interest.
Italian job game. 6. Caesar casino codes. A wagering agreement is just a gamble, whereas a contract of insurance is based on scientific and actuarial calculation of risks.
2. Skill Competitions are not wagers
Free slot tournaments. Skill plays a substantial part for the successful solution of certain competitions. For e.g., crosswords competitions, picture, puzzles etc. Here, the prizes are awarded as per the merits of the solution. Such competitions are not wagers. However, if prizes depend upon a chance, that is a lottery and therefore a wager.
Example:
A crossword puzzle was given in a newspaper and it was stated in the newspaper that whose solution of the crossword puzzle would correspond with the solution kept with the editor, he would be given the first prize. This is a game of chance and therefore a lottery. And thus, is a wager.
Further, as per law, the prize competitions involving games of skill are not wagers. But if the amount of prize exceeds certain amount, they will be regarded as gambling and void.
3. Horse Race Competition is not wager
State Governments may authorize the horse race competition, if it is permitted by the local laws. In such cases, any subscription or contribution of the value of Rs.500 or upwards made towards any prize or sum of money which is to be awarded to the winner of any horse race, shall not be unlawful. In other words, agreements to subscribe or contribute towards such prize or sum of money is also valid and enforceable.
Example:
A entered into an agreement with the Race Course Authority who was permitted to conduct the race course competition, to contribute Rs. 600 towards the money which was to be paid to the winner of the horse race to be held on a particular day. This is not a wager.
4. Share Market Transactions are not wagers
Transactions for the purchase and sale of shares and stocks, with an intention to take and give delivery of shares, is not a wager. However, if the intention is only to settle the price difference, the transaction is a wager and hence void.
What Is Wagering Agreement
5. Sports Competitions are not wagers
Sports competitions such as Athletics, Wrestling, Indoor games, Boxing, Football, Cricket, Hockey etc. are not games of chance. It is decided by skill. Hence, they are not wagers.
Effects of Wagering Agreements
In India, wagering agreements have been expressly declared to be void. So it cannot be enforced in any Court of law. Sec. 30 of the Act states that
Places to gamble in louisiana. agreements by way of wager are void; and no suit shall be brought for recovering anything alleged to be won on any wager or entrusted to any person to abide by the results of any game or other uncertain event on which any wager is made.
What Is Wagering Requirement
As a matter of fact, though a wagering agreement is void and unenforceable, but it is not forbidden by law. That is, the wagering agreements are void but not illegal. However, in the States of Gujarat and Maharashtra, the wagering agreements have been declared to be illegal.
As far as collateral transactions are concerned, as the wagering agreements are void but not illegal, they are not void. Therefore, they are enforceable. For e.g., where a person lends money to another person to enable him to pay of a gambling debt, the lender can recover the money so paid.
