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What Does ‘Laying Points’ Mean in Sports Betting?

what-does-laying-points-mean

In simple terms, “Laying points” means you are betting on the favorite in a point spread bet.

You are “laying” or “giving” a certain number of points to the underdog, which your team (the favorite) must overcome.

How to Spot It

You’re “laying points” when you bet on the team with the minus sign (-) next to their name.

  • Dallas Cowboys -7.5
  • New York Giants +7.5

If you bet on the Cowboys, you are “laying 7.5 points.”

How You Win

To win your bet, the favorite must win the game by more than the point spread.

Using our example:

  • You bet on the Cowboys -7.5.
  • If the Cowboys win 30-20 (a 10-point win), your bet wins!
  • If the Cowboys win 28-24 (a 4-point win), your bet loses, even though they won the game.
  • If the Cowboys lose the game, your bet loses.

This is the opposite of “taking the points,” which means you’re betting on the underdog (the team with the + sign).