Point spread When taking bets on sporting events, bookmakers often include a “point spread” that awards the weaker team extra points. In theory, this makes the outcome of the bet a toss-up. Suppose a...

Point spread When taking bets on sporting events, bookmakers often include a “point spread” that awards the weaker team extra points. In theory, this makes the outcome of the bet a toss-up. Suppose a gambler places a $10 bet and picks the winners of five games. If he’s right about fewer than three of the games, he loses. If he gets three, four, or all five correct, he’s paid $10, $20, and $50, respectively. Estimate the amount such a bettor might expect to lose over many weeks of gambling.