What is spread betting?

Spread betting refers to speculating on the direction of a financial market without actually owning the underlying security. It involves placing a bet on the price movement of a security.

Who regulates spread betting in the UK?

In the UK, financial spread betting is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority rather than the Gambling Commission who regulate spread betting on sports.

What is lay betting & how does it work?

Lay betting is where you’re betting that something won’t happen. When you sell, you’re betting that the outcome will be lower than the spread. The more right you are about the spread, the more you’re rewarded. With lay betting, it wouldn’t reward you any more regardless of how right you are in your prediction.

Do spread bettors pay tax?

In the U.K. and some other European countries, the profit from spread betting is free from tax. However, while spread bettors do not pay commissions, they may suffer from the bid-offer spread, which may be substantially wider than the spread in other markets.