If you have seen the notation +7 on a betting sheet and wondered what it really changes, this guide gives a clear, practical explanation. A +7 bet is a type of point-spread stake where the listed team is treated as seven points better than its raw score for settlement purposes. This article walks through the three settlement outcomes you can expect from a straight +7 wager, explains why half-point lines exist, highlights common house rules to check, and provides short worked examples so you can calculate results yourself before placing a bet.

A +7 line means adding seven points to the underdog’s score to decide whether the bet wins, pushes, or loses.

Half-point spreads like +7.5 are used to prevent pushes and force decisive settlement outcomes.

Always verify your operator’s rules on pushes, parlays, and refunds before placing a bet.

Quick answer: What a +7 bet means (and why some searches use '9 bet')

A +7 bet designates the listed team as a seven-point underdog for settlement, which means you conceptually add seven points to that team’s final score to determine the result; this is the basic point-spread convention used across markets.

In practice a straight wager on +7 wins if the underdog wins outright or loses by six points or fewer, it pushes if the final margin after applying the spread is exactly level, and it loses when the margin is eight points or more; operators frequently use half-point lines such as +7.5 to eliminate the possibility of a push.

Investopedia point spread guide

Want a fast pre-bet checklist? Review challenge rules on FundedPlays Challenges

See the short checklist below before placing a +7 wager to confirm the exact line and house rules.

View challenges and practice settlement

One-sentence definition

A +7 line means the team is treated as seven points better than its raw score for settling the bet.

Legal Sports Report explanation of point spreads

Immediate implications for a straight bet

For a straight single wager, the three outcome possibilities are straightforward: win, push, or loss, determined by adding seven to the underdog’s score and comparing the adjusted totals.

DraftKings Nation point spread examples

When a push happens

A push occurs when the adjusted scores tie exactly, most commonly on whole-number spreads like +7.0, and a push usually returns the original stake for single bets unless an operator’s rules say otherwise.

FanDuel help on spreads and pushes

Point spreads explained: what the '+7' actually represents

Why oddsmakers set a spread

Oddsmakers create point spreads to balance expected scoring differences and encourage roughly equal betting on each side; the spread functions as a handicap so the sportsbook can manage risk and the vig rather than rely on one-sided action. See a concise overview on Fox Sports for additional context: Fox Sports point spread overview.

Legal Sports Report on spread setting

How the spread is applied for settlement

Close up of Funded Plays digital betting slip showing plus 7.0 highlighted against plus 7.5 with small explanatory text minimalist dark theme 9 bet

When settling bets you do not change the game score itself; instead, you conceptually add or subtract the spread to a team’s final score to see which side covers, which is why point spreads are often described as a settlement handicap.

Investopedia on settlement and handicaps

Whole-number vs half-point formats

Books sometimes present whole-number spreads such as +7.0, which allow pushes, and sometimes use half-point increments such as +7.5 to force a decisive result and avoid refunds on single bets.

DraftKings Nation on half-point spreads

How settlement works step-by-step: win, push, loss (users often search '9 bet')

Applying the spread to final scores

Step 1: Identify which team is listed at +7; that team is the underdog and gets seven settlement points added to its final game score.

Investopedia settlement step

Examples for win/push/loss

Step 2: Compare adjusted totals. For example, if the favorite scores 24 and the underdog scores 18, adding seven to the underdog gives 25, so the underdog covers and a +7 bet wins.

DraftKings Nation worked examples

Step 3: If the favorite wins by exactly seven points after settlement a straight +7 push normally refunds the stake; if the margin is eight or more against the underdog the +7 bet loses.

Investopedia on win, push, loss outcomes

How does a +7 point spread determine win, push, or loss?

A +7 point spread is a settlement handicap that adds seven points to the underdog’s final score; after adding seven you compare totals-if the adjusted underdog total is higher the bet wins, if equal it pushes, and if lower by eight or more it loses.

Why half-points change outcomes

With a half-point line like +7.5 the previous push example becomes a clear result: the adjusted totals will not tie, so either the underdog covers or it does not, and no refund is possible on a single wager.

Legal Sports Report on half-point effects

Why books offer whole-number and half-point spreads

Push avoidance with half-points

One practical reason sportsbooks use half-points is to avoid refunding bets on pushes, which preserves the book’s action and reduces administrative returns that can hurt margins.

BetMGM blog on half-points and market decisions

Market balancing: price versus spread

Books balance action either by adjusting the spread or by changing the price (odds) available on each side; moving the number is a direct way to shift which side looks preferable, while changing price keeps the line but alters expected value.

Legal Sports Report on pricing and spread moves

When alternate lines appear

Operators frequently offer alternate spreads so bettors can choose between a wider cushion with worse odds or a smaller cushion with better payout potential, letting players tailor risk and reward.

BetMGM on alternate lines and options

How settlement works step-by-step: win, push, loss (users often search '9 bet')

Applying the spread to final scores

Step 1: Identify which team is listed at +7; that team is the underdog and gets seven settlement points added to its final game score.

Examples for win/push/loss

Step 2: Compare adjusted totals. For example, if the favorite scores 24 and the underdog scores 18, adding seven to the underdog gives 25, so the underdog covers and a +7 bet wins.

Why half-points change outcomes

Why some lines center on 7: brief note on scoring and common margins

Numbers like seven appear often in football lines because common scoring plays, such as touchdowns plus an extra point, create natural margins around multiples of seven, which oddsmakers consider when setting initial values. For a focused guide to how common scoring influences lines see OddsJam's primer: OddsJam point spread guide.

Legal Sports Report on scoring influences

Still, 7 is only one factor among many-injuries, situational matchups, and public betting tendencies also move the market as books seek balance.

American Gaming Association on market drivers

Live-game example: how to interpret a +7 line at halftime

To judge a halftime +7 line, add seven settlement points to the underdog’s halftime score and compare the adjusted totals to see the interim settlement outcome; this helps you decide whether to hold or adjust a live position if lines move.

DraftKings Nation on in-play settlement

Remember that live lines can change quickly as markets react, so re-check the updated spread and any timing rules that affect how in-play wagers settle.

Legal Sports Report on live-line movement

Responsible participation and checking operator rules (brand note)

Always read the operator’s specific rules for pushes, parlays, and withdrawals before placing any bets, since those terms govern how outcomes are handled and when refunds are issued.

American Gaming Association basics

No betting model or market can guarantee payouts; outcomes depend on individual performance and compliance with the operator’s rules.

FanDuel help on responsible play

For a skill-focused alternative where you can practice settlement logic in structured challenges, consider FundedPlays as a funded sports prediction platform that emphasizes consistent forecasting rather than wagering. Visit the FundedPlays homepage or our FundedPlays blog for more resources.

FundedPlays challenges overview

Summary: key takeaways about +7 bets and next steps

Key takeaway 1: A +7 line is a seven-point settlement handicap and you add seven to the underdog’s score to determine win, push, or loss.

Minimal 2D vector comparison chart showing win push and loss outcomes when a seven point spread is applied to sample scores 9 bet

Investopedia summary

Key takeaway 2: Confirm whether the line is +7.0 or +7.5 and check your operator’s rules for pushes and parlay handling before you bet.

FanDuel on checking rules

Key takeaway 3: Use the worked examples, the short checklist above, or a practice environment to test settlement outcomes before committing real funds.

BetMGM on practicing with examples

Planned interactive element: simple +7 settlement calculator (tool)

The calculator should accept two final scores, add seven to the underdog, and display whether a +7 bet would be a win, push, or loss, showing both raw and adjusted totals side-by-side for clarity. See our blog post on how FundedPlays evaluations work for related tooling and processes: how our evaluations work.

Determine win, push, or loss for a +7 settlement

Use whole and half-line inputs

Investopedia on calculator logic

Worked examples: applying +7 to real scores

Example 1, settlement win

Favorite 21, Underdog 24. Add seven to the underdog for settlement: 24+7 = 31, which beats the favorite 21, so a +7 bet wins outright in this case.

DraftKings Nation worked examples

Example 2, settlement win by margin

Favorite 28, Underdog 22. Adding seven gives the underdog 29, which is still one point ahead of the favorite, so a +7 wager wins despite the underdog losing the actual game by six points.

Investopedia example of a cover by underdog

Example 3, push and loss

If the favorite wins 30 to 23, adding seven to the underdog yields 30, a push that usually means a refund on a straight bet; if the favorite wins 31 to 23 the adjusted margin is eight and the +7 bet loses.

DraftKings Nation on push and loss distinctions

Alternate lines and strategy: when to take +7, +7.5, or an alternate market

How price shifts change expected value

Choosing between a whole-number line and a half-point or alternate line often comes down to the tradeoff between improving cover probability and accepting worse pricing, since operators typically charge worse odds for safer-looking lines.

Legal Sports Report on price versus spread

When a half-point is worth the price

Taking +7.5 can be sensible when the marginal chance of a push is material to your expected value, but you should compare the altered payout to the probability change before deciding.

BetMGM guidance on trading price for certainty

When alternate spreads make sense

Alternate spreads let you buy or sell points at different prices; they are useful when you want a slightly safer line without committing to full alternate markets, but always weigh the cost against the incremental probability shift.

BetMGM on alternate spread use

How pushes affect different bet types (singles, parlays, teasers)

Single-stake refunds

For single straight bets a push on a whole-number spread normally triggers a refund of the stake, which is why the distinction between +7.0 and +7.5 matters to many players. For an alternative operator perspective see the FanDuel spread guide: FanDuel spread guide.

Investopedia on push refunds

Parlay leg treatment

Parlays usually void pushed legs and proceed with the remaining selections, reducing the multiplier and changing the payout; some books apply different conventions, so check the terms before combining lines.

FanDuel help on parlays

Teaser-specific rules

Teasers typically reprice multiple legs together with a fixed point adjustment and can have bespoke rules for pushes, so do not assume single-bet behavior applies to these bundled products.

BetMGM on teasers and special product rules

Quick pre-bet checklist for +7 lines

Confirm whether the line is +7.0 or +7.5 so you know if a push is possible.

Investopedia checklist tip

Check the operator’s rules on pushes, parlays, and withdrawal or refund procedures before placing money on any market.

FanDuel guidance on where to find house rules

Look at alternate lines and the odds offered to decide whether the marginal protection is worth the price change.

BetMGM on line comparison

What happens if a +7 bet pushes?

On a straight bet a push on a whole-number spread normally returns your stake; parlays and teasers may treat the pushed leg differently, so check the house rules.

Does +7 change the actual game score?

No, the game score stays the same; the spread is added conceptually to the underdog’s score to decide the wager outcome.

Is +7.5 better than +7.0?

A +7.5 line removes push risk but may come with worse odds, so whether it is better depends on the price and your tolerance for a push.

Understanding how a +7 line settles helps you avoid simple mistakes and plan for push scenarios. Use the checklist and worked examples to confirm outcomes, and always consult the operator’s published rules before committing funds. If you want a practice environment, consider trying structured prediction challenges that let you test settlement logic in a simulated setting without traditional sportsbook wagering.

Quick answer: What a +7 bet means (and why some searches use '9 bet')

Want a fast pre-bet checklist? Review challenge rules on FundedPlays Challenges

One-sentence definition

Immediate implications for a straight bet

When a push happens

Point spreads explained: what the '+7' actually represents

Why oddsmakers set a spread

How the spread is applied for settlement

Whole-number vs half-point formats

How settlement works step-by-step: win, push, loss (users often search '9 bet')

Applying the spread to final scores

Examples for win/push/loss

Why half-points change outcomes

Why books offer whole-number and half-point spreads

Push avoidance with half-points

Market balancing: price versus spread

When alternate lines appear

How settlement works step-by-step: win, push, loss (users often search '9 bet')

How settlement works step-by-step: win, push, loss (users often search '9 bet')

Applying the spread to final scores

Examples for win/push/loss

Why half-points change outcomes

Why some lines center on 7: brief note on scoring and common margins

Live-game example: how to interpret a +7 line at halftime

Responsible participation and checking operator rules (brand note)

Summary: key takeaways about +7 bets and next steps

Planned interactive element: simple +7 settlement calculator (tool)

Worked examples: applying +7 to real scores

Example 1, settlement win

Example 2, settlement win by margin

Example 3, push and loss

Alternate lines and strategy: when to take +7, +7.5, or an alternate market

How price shifts change expected value

When a half-point is worth the price

When alternate spreads make sense

How pushes affect different bet types (singles, parlays, teasers)

Single-stake refunds

Parlay leg treatment

Teaser-specific rules

Quick pre-bet checklist for +7 lines

References