Alt points, short for alternative points, let you adjust the standard point spread or total in a bet.
They give you more control over the risk and potential payout.
In sports betting, the oddsmaker sets a default spread.
With alt points, you can shift that number up or down.
A riskier line gives you better odds.
A safer line gives you lower odds but a higher chance of winning.
For example, if the spread is -7 and you take alt points at -10, your team needs to win by more, but the payout is better.
Alt points are common in NBA, NFL, and other sports.
They're often used when bettors want to back up their game analysis with a more custom wager.
How alt points work
Let’s say the Lakers are favored by 6.5 points against the Suns.
That’s the standard point spread.
With alt points, you can change the line.
Safer bet: Take the Lakers at -3.5. They just need to win by 4 or more. Your odds won’t be great, but the risk is lower.
Riskier bet: Take the Lakers at -9.5. Now they need to win by 10+. You’ll get better odds but it’s harder to hit.
The same idea works with totals.
Say the Over/Under is 218.5.
With alt total points, you could bet:
Over 210.5 (easier to hit, lower payout)
Over 224.5 (harder to hit, better payout)
Alt points for a player work similarly. If a player’s point line is 21.5, you might bet:
Over 18.5 for a safer option
Over 24.5 for a bigger return
These bets help you match your picks to your confidence level and the payout you’re aiming for.
Pros and cons of alt points
Pros
- ✅ More control: You can shift the line to match your prediction or confidence level
- ✅ Custom risk and reward: Safer alt points offer better chances to win. Riskier ones offer bigger payouts
- ✅ Useful for player props: Player alt points let you bet on a player to score more or fewer points than the default line
Cons
- ❌ Lower payouts for safer bets: Moving the spread in your favor lowers the odds
- ❌ Higher risk for better odds: Adjusting the line against you pays more but it’s harder to win
- ❌ More complexity: You’ll need a stronger read on the game, team, or player performance
Alt points in sports
Alt points aren't just for basketball.
They’re available in most major sports, including football, baseball, and hockey on online sportsbooks.
Here's how they work across different games:
What are alt points in NBA?
In the NBA, alt points in basketball let you shift the spread or player point total.
Let’s say the standard spread is Warriors -6.5.
Safer bet: Warriors -3.5
Riskier bet: Warriors -9.5
For player alt points, if Steph Curry’s line is 27.5:
You might take Over 24.5 for safer odds
Or Over 30.5 for a higher payout
This is one of the most popular uses of alt points, thanks to high scoring and player-based betting in the NBA.
What are alt points in football?
In football betting, alt points let you adjust spreads just like in basketball.
Example: Chiefs -7 standard spread
Alt line options: -4.5 (safer), -9.5 (riskier)
These are helpful when you think the game won’t be close or want to build a teaser or middle bet.
What are alt points in baseball?
Baseball sportsbooks uses alt run lines, which are the same idea as alt total points or spreads.
Example: Yankees -1.5 standard line
Alt run line: Yankees -2.5 (higher payout), or -0.5 (lower risk)
Totals can also be adjusted.
If the game total is 8.5, you might bet Over 7.5 or Over 9.5.
What are alt points in NHL?
The puck line is typically +/-1.5 goals NHL betting sites.
With alt points, you could shift that to:
-2.5 for a better payout
-0.5 for a safer bet
It works the same as basketball or football; more risk means higher reward on sports betting apps and sites.
How we use alt points in betting strategy
We use alt points when we want more control over a bet or when the standard line doesn’t match what we expect to happen.
Here are a few strategies we’ve found useful:
1. Hedging with alt points
When we’re unsure about a bet we already made, alt points help us cover our risk.
Let’s say you bet the Celtics -6.5 early in the week.
As game time gets closer, injuries or trends make you nervous.
You could hedge with an alt bet on the other side, like the opponent +9.5.
This won’t guarantee a win, but it softens the blow if things shift.
2. Middle betting
This one’s all about timing.
If you bet the Lakers at -5.5 early and the line moves to +7.5 for the other team, you can bet both sides using alt points.
If the Lakers win by 6 or 7, both bets hit.
That’s called “middling.”
We’ve used this strategy when the market shifts hard and we still like our original read.
3. Teasers with alt points
Teasers let you adjust the spread across multiple games.
When paired with alt points, you can build a low-risk combo that reflects your confidence.
Say you like three NFL teams, but the lines feel a little tight.
Teasing them down with alt points helps you turn a parlay into something more manageable.
We use this when we feel good about the direction but not the margin.
Alt points give us more ways to play smart.
They don’t guarantee a win, but they let you shape your bets around real insight and protect yourself when games get unpredictable.
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References
Contributors
Josh Miller
Author
Josh Miller, Sporting Post’s Sports & Casino Editor, brings over five years of experience in feature writing, blogging, and SEO.
With a strong background in football coverage and sports betting, his work has been featured in VAVEL.
Josh also writes extensively about online casinos, providing expert insights into games, bonuses, and gambling trends.
His engaging and informative content makes him a reliable resource for Sporting Post readers.
Bradley Gibbs
Reviewed By
With over 12 years of experience, Bradley Gibbs is a seasoned sports betting writer and analyst specializing in uncovering value bets across football, horse racing, tennis, and golf.
His extensive coverage of these sports has been featured on numerous websites and in The Racing & Football Outlook, a renowned UK betting publication.
Bradley's expertise lies in identifying betting edges and delivering insightful, data-driven content for informed wagering.