How To Spread Bet Ig

How To Spread Bet Ig

My account

My IG

Inbox

Community

Academy

Help

Spread betting & CFDs
Professional
Investments
Institutional

Logout

Spread betting for beginners: a step-by-step guide

Anzél Killian |
Senior Financial Writer , Johannesburg

Jeremy Naylor , Publication date : Monday 11 July 2022 10:39

Ntokozo Ngubeni , Publication date : Friday 27 May 2022 10:07

Callum Cliffe , Publication date : Thursday 30 December 2021 03:08

Tina Heron , Publication date : Friday 15 July 2022 11:09

Jeremy Naylor , Publication date : Thursday 23 June 2022 10:48

What is the number one mistake traders make?

Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

We use a range of cookies to give you the best possible browsing experience. By continuing to use this website, you agree to our use of cookies. You can view our cookie policy and edit your settings here , or by following the link at the bottom of any page on our site.
Explore our comprehensive spread betting guide for beginners and find out how you can take advantage of market movements using this derivative product.
Spread betting is a derivative trading method that enables you to speculate on rising and falling markets without having to own the underlying assets. Instead, you’ll take a position on whether a market’s price will rise or fall by betting an amount of money per point of movement in the underlying market.
The more the market moves in the direction you predict, the more profit you’ll make; the more the market moves in the opposite direction, the more you’ll lose.
Spread betting is popular among many of our clients, because when you place a bet, you don’t have to put up the full value of the trade, only a small deposit ( margin ) – this is called leverage . We offer over 18,000+ financial markets to spread bet on. There’s no commission to pay and spread betting profits are tax-free. 1
Opening a live spread betting account takes just a few minutes, and you can do it online. We offer different spread betting platforms, such as our award-winning web platform, our on-the-go trading app, and MetaTrader 4 (MT4) – which is for the more advanced trader. 2 Our platforms can all be tailored to suit your trading style and preferences, with personalised alerts, interactive charts and risk management tools.
Once you have your own account, there are a variety of ways to fund it, including debit card, PayPal or bank transfer. Once you have funds in your account, you can start placing spread bets. Remember that you only need a small percentage of the value of your position – known as margin – to get started. The size of your margin will depend on the market that you trade. Keep in mind that trading using margin can magnify both profits and losses, as they are based on the full value of the trade.
Not ready to lay down your capital? We offer a demo account that enables you to practice spread betting in a live market environment, but without the risk. To get you started, we give you £10,000 in virtual funds for free.
Our demo account is very advanced, simulating the live trading environment as closely as possible. You can add drawings and indicators to your charts to assess the technical merits of the trade, gauge volatility levels and decide if the trade matches your risk appetite. Find out how a demo account differs from a live account or learn more about using a demo account for trading .
We offer more than 18,000+ markets to spread bet on, including:
We have a range of tools and resources available to help you analyse these markets and identify spread betting opportunities, such as:
When you spread bet, you can take advantage of markets that decline in price (known as going short, or short-selling), as well as those that increase (known as going long). This is because you are betting on the direction in which an asset’s price will move, rather than buying the underlying asset itself.
For example, if you opened a short position on Barclays shares, you would trade at the ‘sell’ price on your dealing platform. A short spread bet for £3 per point of movement would mean that for every point the share price moves downwards you’ll earn £3. But for every point that the share price moves up, you’ll lose £3.
The opposite would be true if you opened a long position. You would trade at the ‘buy’ price on your dealing platform, and you’ll earn £3 for every point the share price moves upwards. However, you’ll lose £3 for every point that the share price moves down.
You can attach stops and limits to your open positions to help restrict your potential losses and secure profits. You can choose between basic , guaranteed and trailing stops . Limits do the opposite to stops – they close your position when the market moves a specified distance in your favour.

Once you’ve opened a spread bet, you can monitor your open positions by logging in to your account. Any running profit or loss will move in line with the underlying asset’s price.
Once you are ready to close your trade, you can do so by clicking on the open position and selecting the ‘close’ button. Your final profit or loss would be realised when you close the trade.
You can also close your trading positions manually by taking the opposite position from your initial trade (unless you force open the new position). So if you opened your position by going long, you would close it by going short – and vice versa.
Remember, when you close your position will depend on your trading style and plan.
To withdraw money from your spread betting account , log in, go to the ‘live accounts’ tab, and select ‘withdraw funds’. You can withdraw funds as a bank transfer, or get your money paid into a card or PayPal account.
Depending on the method you choose, there may be a waiting period when you request to withdraw money from your live spread betting account. Plus, there are rules around minimum and maximum withdrawals.
If you’re looking to start spread betting as a beginner, you should have a set of rules in place to help you manage your risk when trading. By having an effective risk management strategy, you can make a profit even if not all of your spread bets are successful.
To manage risk effectively, you should always be aware of the potential downside of a trade, avoid emotional trading and diversify your portfolio. The best place to start is by having a good trading plan, which will cover things such as your motivation for trading, your trading goals, your available funds and the markets you want to trade.
1 Tax laws are subject to change and depend on individual circumstances. Tax law may differ in a jurisdiction other than the UK.
2 As awarded at the ADVFN International Financial Awards 2020 and Professional Trader Awards 2019.
This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Markets Limited. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients. See full non-independent research disclaimer and quarterly summary .
Explore the range of markets you can trade – and learn how they work – with IG Academy's free ’introducing the financial markets’ course.
We reveal the top potential pitfall and how to avoid it. Discover how to increase your chances of trading success, with data gleaned from over 100,00 IG accounts.
For more info on how we might use your data, see our privacy notice and access policy and privacy webpage .
Find out what charges your trades could incur with our transparent fee structure.
Discover why so many clients choose us, and what makes us a world-leading provider of spread betting and CFDs.
Stay on top of upcoming market-moving events with our customisable economic calendar.
Interested in opening an account? Contact 0800 195 3100 or newaccountenquiries.uk@ig.com
Want to check on your application’s progress? Email newaccounts.uk@ig.com
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Professional clients can lose more than they deposit. All trading involves risk.

The value of shares, ETFs and ETCs bought through a share dealing account, a stocks and shares ISA or a SIPP can fall as well as rise, which could mean getting back less than you originally put in. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

CFD accounts provided by IG Markets Ltd, spread betting provided by IG Index Ltd and share dealing and stocks and shares ISA accounts provided by IG Trading and Investments Ltd. IG is a trading name of IG Markets Ltd (a company registered in England and Wales under number 04008957), IG Index Ltd (a company registered in England and Wales under number 01190902) and IG Trading and Investments Ltd (a company registered in England and Wales under number 11628764). Registered address at Cannon Bridge House, 25 Dowgate Hill, London EC4R 2YA. IG Markets Ltd (Register number 195355), IG Index Ltd (Register number 114059) and IG Trading and Investments Ltd (Register number 944492) are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

The information on this site is not directed at residents of the United States, Belgium or any particular country outside the UK and is not intended for distribution to, or use by, any person in any country or jurisdiction where such distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation.

My account

My IG

Inbox

Community

Academy

Help

Spread betting & CFDs
Professional
Investments
Institutional

Logout

How do I spread bet?

Open a trading account
Find an opportunity
Take a position
Monitor your trade

What are the risks?

Trade with leverage – which can magnify profits, but also amplify losses
Short-selling can give higher exposure to losses if the market traded on moves unpredictably. If an asset’s price increases, your losses could potentially be unlimited
Leveraging means the trade’s full profit or loss is calculated on the total position size, not the margin amount, so losses could substantially outweigh your margin

Award-winning spread betting provider

Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

We use a range of cookies to give you the best possible browsing experience. By continuing to use this website, you agree to our use of cookies. You can view our cookie policy and edit your settings here , or by following the link at the bottom of any page on our site.
Take advantage of rising or falling markets tax-free by spread betting. 1 Offering seamless execution on more than 18,000+ markets and round-the-clock phone support, you’ll soon discover why we’re the world’s No.1 provider. 2
Call 0800 195 3100 or email newaccounts.uk@ig.com to talk about opening a trading account.
Get info fast via our instant help and support portal. Available for account queries, ProRealTime, product info and more.
Visit help and support for more information.
Get info fast via our instant help and support portal. Available for account queries, ProRealTime, product info and more.
Visit help and support for more information.
Call 0800 409 6789 or email helpdesk.uk@ig.com if you have any questions about trading or investing. We're available 24/7 between 8am Saturday and 10pm Friday.
Call 0800 195 3100 or email newaccounts.uk@ig.com to talk about opening a trading account.
Get info fast via our instant help and support portal. Available for account queries, ProRealTime, product info and more.
Visit help and support for more information.
Get info fast via our instant help and support portal. Available for account queries, ProRealTime, product info and more.
Visit help and support for more information.
Call 0800 409 6789 or email helpdesk.uk@ig.com if you have any questions about trading or investing. We're available 24/7 between 8am Saturday and 10pm Friday.
Trade without paying capital gains tax or stamp duty 1
Deal on the UK’s best web platform and app 3
Get full market exposure with just a small initial deposit
Rest assured that you can’t lose more than your account balance 4
Deposit funds safely – your money is held in segregated accounts
Discover opportunities on forex , indices , shares , commodities and more
Spread betting is a way to take advantage of opportunities on rising or falling markets – without having to buy the underlying assets. It’s popular in the UK and Ireland because profits are tax-free. 2
We invented financial spread betting in 1974, and today enable you to take trade over 18,000+ markets.
Enjoy flexible access to more than 18,000+ global markets, with reliable execution
Trade on the move with our natively designed, award-winning trading app

With more than 45 years of experience, we’re proud to offer a truly market-leading service
Enjoy flexible access to more than 18,000+ global markets, with reliable execution
Trade on the move with our natively designed, award-winning trading app

With more than 45 years of experience, we’re proud to offer a truly market-leading service
Log in to your account now to access today’s opportunity in a huge range of markets.
Log in to your account now to access today’s opportunity in a huge range of markets.
Leverage means you can open a position with a small deposit (margin) instead of paying the full value of your position. Loss and profit are still calculated based on the full position size and can substantially outweigh your margin.
Your key payment for trading is the spread – the difference between the buy and the sell price, our charge for executing your trade. Our spreads are among the lowest in the business.
Leverage means you can open a position with a small deposit (margin) instead of paying the full value of your position. Loss and profit are still calculated based on the full position size and can substantially outweigh your margin..
Your key payment for trading is the spread – the difference between the buy and the sell price, our charge for executing your trade. Our spreads are among the lowest in the business.
Create an account with us in just three steps - completely free. Open one today, and you’ll get access to over 18,000+ financial markets.
When you’re ready, you choose your deal size. What’s more, you'll get lower minimum deal sizes for one month while you master the markets.
Depending on your position, you may need to pay overnight funding.
Best Multi Platform
Provider
ADVFN International Financial Awards
Overall Personal Wealth
Provider
Online Personal Wealth Awards
Best Finance
App
ADVFN International Financial Awards
ForexBrokers is compensated by IG for marketing
Best Customer Service
Online Money Awards
Best Spread Betting Provider
Online Money Awards
Open an account to start spread betting today. You’ll gain access to over 18,000+ markets, round-the-clock phone support, and lower minimum deal sizes for one month.
Open an account to start spread betting today. You’ll gain access to over 18,000+ markets, round-the-clock phone support, and lower minimum deal sizes for one month.
Open an account to start spread betting today. You’ll gain access to over 18,000+ markets, round-the-clock phone support, and lower minimum deal sizes for one month.
Open an account to start spread betting today. You’ll gain access to over 18,000+ markets, round-the-clock phone support, and lower minimum deal sizes for one month.
Open an account to start spread betting today. You’ll gain access to over 18,000+ markets, round-the-clock phone support, and lower minimum deal sizes for one month.
Open an account to start spread betting today. You’ll gain access to over 18,000+ markets, round-the-clock phone support, and lower minimum deal sizes for one month.
Discover the features of these two ways to trade, their pros and cons, and decide which is best for you.
Explore the differences between spread betting and share dealing.
Get to grips with the risks of trading, and learn how you can mitigate them.
1 Applies to UK spread betting. Tax laws are subject to change and depend on individual circumstances. Tax law may differ in a jurisdiction other than the UK.
2 Based on revenue excluding FX (published financial statements, October 2021).
3 Best trading platform as awarded at the ADVFN International Financial Awards and Professional Trader Awards 2019. Best trading app as awarded at the ADVFN International Financial Awards 2020.
4 Negative balance protection applies to retail traders only. Should your account fall below zero, we’ll bring it back to this level as soon as possible at no cost to you. Please note that this protection does not apply to professional traders who can still lose more than the balance on their account.
Interested in opening an account? Contact 0800 195 3100 or newaccountenquiries.uk@ig.com
Want to check on your application’s progress? Email newaccounts.uk@ig.com
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail inves
Girl Missionary
Nasty America
Sensual Cherry

How To Spread Bet Ig

Report Page