Spread Betting in Ontario: Point Spreads and Puck Lines Explained
Spread betting is a wager on the margin of victory: the favourite must win by more than the handicap, while the underdog can lose by less. On 29 October 2026, 12 of the 15 Ontario books we read posted NHL puck lines, at margins from 2.8% to 10.8%.
It asks a harder question than who wins: by how much? The book hands the favourite a handicap and the underdog a head start, and you bet on which side of that line the final score lands.
In hockey it is called the puck line, in baseball the run line, in football and basketball the point spread – and Ontario books disagree on it more than on the moneyline, not only on the price but on the number itself, and sometimes on which team is the favourite.
This guide explains spreads with the real lines of the four NHL games of 29 October, and with NFL, NBA and CFL spreads at the same books, plus a World Series run line.
What Is a Spread Bet?
A spread evens up a lopsided game. Instead of asking you to lay a big price on the favourite or hope for an upset on the underdog, the book moves the finish line: the favourite has to win by more than the spread, and the underdog can lose by less than the spread and still pay. Most of the time the two sides are then priced close to even money.