Understandably, a lot of people who are used to placing a wager on a fixed odds sportsbook will want to know exactly how spread betting works on a site such as Spreadex or Sporting Index. Essentially, a spread is a prediction of what will happen in a typical market for an event such as a Champions League game, which will be displayed on the spread betting site as a SELL-BUY range.
As an example, football fans will see total goals as one of the common options. The spread for total goals might be in the region of 2.8-3. If the punter believes that the game will have more goals than the range of the spread, that is when to buy. Those who believe that the number of goals will be lower than the spread should opt to sell instead.
In sports spread betting, the key thing to remember is that the more right you are, the more multiples of your stake will be won. But the opposite is true too. The more wrong your prediction is, the more money will be lost when placing spread bets. You can read our full guide on how spread betting works if this still sounds confusing.
💻 Operator | 🤝 Spread Betting + Fixed Odds | 📺 Live Streaming | 📊 Market Depth (Football) | 👉 Visit Site |
---|---|---|---|---|
Spreadex Sports | ✅ | ✅ | 500-600 | Start Spread Betting |
Sporting Index | ✅ | ✅ | 500-600 | Start Spread Betting |
The number of sports spread betting sites in the UK is still quite low, and while there used to be two main competitors, these have since merged. Spreadex and Sporting Index are the two sites in question, and below we discuss the key features of these.
Spreadex is undoubtedly the leading site when it comes to spread betting in the UK. Interestingly, the site offers both spread betting and fixed odds, aiming to compete with some of the best bookmakers in the UK. If you have not already, we recommend reading our full review of Spreadex, but we will cover some key aspects below.
In total, there are just over 20 different sports on the site and while that might not sound like a lot, spread betting is offered for all of these. With that in mind, the figure is actually rather impressive, and that is also the case for the depth of markets. We found that 500-600 were offered for a Premier League game, which is up there with some of the best football bookies.
In addition to football, Spreadex also has a very comprehensive coverage of horse racing, with live streaming offered for almost every race. Sports such as tennis, cricket and American football are also well taken care of, making Spreadex a great option even for punters who are picky about having many selections.
A variety of common sports spread betting markets are offered, but Spreadex has some niche options for some of the largest events and matches too. For example, its football spread betting includes a market for the total number of minutes that are played in a match, which is even more popular now that new guidelines have been given to the referees.
Live in-play betting is perhaps the most exciting part of sports spread betting and it is fair to say Spreadex excels here, with a strong platform that rapidly updates with all of the latest action. In short, the site has the full package.
Pros
Cons
Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets
Min. Deposit | £10 |
---|---|
Max. Amount | £40 |
Turnover | No wagering |
Expiration | 28 days |
In addition to Spreadex, another good option for spread betting in the UK is Sporting Index. This site used to be a competitor, but Spreadex completed a takeover in late 2023 and the sites now share the same platform. Despite this, there are a few factors that confirm Spreadex's spot at the top of this list.
Given that the platform is exactly the same, the sports offered and the depth of markets are ditto. Regardless if you sign up for Spreadex or Sporting Index, you will not notice any differences in that sense, although the colour scheme differs. Another thing that separates the two sites is the sign-up bonuses offered to new customers.
While new customers at Spreadex will get £40 in free bets - 2x £10 free fixed odds bets, 4x £5 free spread bets and £1 Race Index spread bet- those who sign up at Sporting Index can only get £20 in free bets. This is because the parent company has decided to scrap the spread betting free bets for Sporting Index, only making the fixed odds free bets (2x £10) available there.
As is also the case on Spreadex, there is a lack of payment methods as customers only can deposit via debit card and bank transfer. This is certainly not good enough compared to some of the best bookmakers, offering convenient opinions such as Apple Pay or even the popular e-wallet Skrill, which is great for fast withdrawals.
Both Spreadex and Sporting Index have some work to do, in other words, but they are also two great options for spread betting. Spreadex is the clear winner, though, and that is to be expected given that it is the company's flagship product.
Pros
Cons
Bet £10 Get £20 in Free Bets
Min. Deposit | £10 |
---|---|
Max. Amount | £20 |
Turnover | No wagering |
Expiration | 14 days |
Those of you who are looking to get into spread betting might wonder what the key differences are between Spreadex and Sporting Index. After all, these are the two major players and deciding between bookies can sometimes be difficult. Fortunately, Spreadex has made this decision easy for us, acquiring Sporting Index in late 2023.
As a result, the two sites now share exactly the same platform, meaning the features are all the same. There is only one factor that separates these sites - two counting the different colour schemes - and that is the welcome offer. While new Spreadex customers are offered £40 in free bets for depositing £10, new customers at Sporting Index will only get £20 in free bets.
The additional £20 at Spreadex is for spread betting, though, which might not be of interest to everyone as the losses can exceed the stake. The good news is that punters can claim both of these offers, with no mention of a limitation in the T&Cs, which could have easily been the case given that they have the same owner.
Steven is an experienced iGaming content writer who has been working in the industry since 2018. He is passionate about sports betting and enjoys writing about all aspects of the industry, including bookmaker reviews, betting tips and strategies, and news and analysis. If you have any questions about online gambling in the UK, please don't hesitate to contact him.