Should You Buy Half Points?

Almost all the big sports betting companies offer bettors the chance to buy half points on their game of choice, but are the actually a good thing? The fact that the sportsbooks are so eager to offer them should indicate to you that they do not convey a large advantage for the bettor.

Half points, as the name implies, allow you to move the spread by half a point. In exchange, however, you have to risk more – so if the normal bet was risk $11 to win $10, you would have to risk $12 to win $10 instead, or even more, depending on the game. Often in football, for example, buying a half point can increase the cost to $13 to win $10.

Buying half points can seem attractive if they move the spread to something you believe is more likely, but in most cases it is not a good idea. You already need to win 52.38% of your bets to break even on an 11 to 10 bet, but if the half point changes the bet so you are laying 12 to 10, that percentage increases to 54.55! 

Most sportsbooks charge extra for a half point that affects a three point spread, so you should never buy half points in that case. It can be advantageous to buy a half point that would allow you to move the spread to seven points, but many sports books are charging extra on such points – if you can get a bet where you are laying 12 to 10 in this case, take it, but never lay 13 to 10.

Don't be tempted to buy a half point that affects a three or a seven just so that you can win where you would ordinarily have gotten a push. The extra commission charged by the sportsbook will erode any profit that you could make from those cases where the half point would have led to a win. 

A good rule of thumb is to buy a half point if it allows you to lay at 12 to 10, and will turn a potential loss into a win. Don't buy a half point if you have to lay at 13 to 10, or if you are trying to turn a push into a win.