The football season has hit the crazy season. After just three rounds we now have an enforced rest period while International Friendlies take center stage. Still, that gives us time to consider some of our betting options. Spread betting has become popular with spreads being created on a wide range of outcomes. For many, spread betting is a scary venture, one they are not willing to take. Hopefully I can allay some fears, especially those related to losses, which can be huge if you’re not careful.

What many punters don’t realize is that, while your wins can be huge and losses just as huge, you can limit those losses using any one of two features that quality spread betting bookmakers offer. These two features are the ‘close out’ and ’stop loss account’ options. Let’s look at them briefly.

Closing Out A Losing Spread Bet

There are times when you know your spread bet has lost, the only question remaining being how much you are going to lose. You may get lucky and your selection not lose by as much as it may seem, or you could be unlucky having your selection soundly beaten. Quality spread betting firms will allow you to close your bet at any time. This effectively means cutting your losses at that point and conceding defeat.

Closing out does come with a downside, of course. Often, what looks like a losing bet can turn into a winning bet. That is the gamble that bookmakers take when they allow you to close out. You take the loss at that point, even if your original bet becomes a winner. Does it happen? It actually happens more often than people realise.

Creating A Stop Loss Spread Betting Account

A stop loss spread betting account is one where you nominate your maximum loss in any bet (this is also reflected by limiting your maximum win). If a bet reaches a certain loss threshold, the bet is automatically closed out. Because a stop loss account also affects maximum returns, a bet can also be closed out when it reaches the maximum win limit.

You have to take the bad with the good with stop loss accounts, however, for beginners they are a great way to start. Most spread betting agencies accept bet units from as low as £0.05 on some markets – again, great for beginners. If you haven’t tried spread betting, consider creating a stop loss account and betting at some of the lower limits – it can be an exciting betting experience.