What Does PK Mean in Betting? Pick'em Explained

What does PK mean in betting?

In point-spread betting, the bookmaker gives the weaker team a head start, for example +3.5, and asks the stronger team to win by more than that number, -3.5. When the bookmaker thinks two teams are evenly matched, the spread is set at zero. Instead of writing 0, it is usually shown as PK, short for pick'em.

A PK line says the game is roughly a coin flip in the bookmaker's view once home advantage, injuries and form are taken into account. It does not mean the teams are equal on paper. A stronger away team playing a weaker home team can easily produce a PK line.

You may also see it written as "pick", "pk" or "0" in the spread column. They all mean the same thing.

How a PK bet is settled

Because there is no handicap, settlement depends only on the final result. US spread bets normally include overtime unless the market says otherwise.

PK odds and the vig

A PK line is usually priced at around -110 on both sides, which is about 1.91 in decimal odds. That is not a fair coin flip. Fair odds for a true 50/50 would be +100 (2.00) on both sides.

The difference is the bookmaker's margin, known in the US as the vig or juice. At -110 the implied probability is 52.4% per side, so the two sides add up to 104.8%. It also means you need to win about 52.4% of your bets at -110 just to break even over time.

Prices are not always symmetrical. You might see Team A PK -115 and Team B PK -105 when more money or more confidence sits on one side.

PK vs moneyline: what is the difference?

A moneyline bet is also a straight bet on who wins, so a PK spread and a moneyline look almost identical. The main difference is how a tie is treated.

On a PK spread, a tie is always a push. On a moneyline, it depends on the sport and the bookmaker's rules. Some two-way moneylines push on a tie, while three-way moneylines, common in soccer and hockey regulation-time markets, include the draw as its own outcome, so a tie loses your bet.

When a game is PK, compare the spread price with the moneyline price. If the tie rules are the same, the higher price is simply the better deal.

PK in football (soccer) betting

In football, PK appears in Asian handicap markets. An Asian handicap of 0 is often labelled PK, 0 or "level". You back a team, and if the match ends in a draw after 90 minutes plus stoppage time, your stake is refunded.

That is exactly the same as a draw no bet market. The two names describe one bet, so compare the odds on both and take the higher one.

Watch out for a second meaning. In US soccer coverage, PK also stands for penalty kick. A market such as "Will a PK be awarded?" has nothing to do with pick'em lines.

Why lines move to or from PK

Opening spreads change as news and money arrive. An injury to a key player, a weather forecast or heavy betting on one side can move a line from -1.5 to PK, or from PK to -1.

If you bet early at PK and the line later moves to -2 on your team, you got a better number than the market closed at. Regularly beating the closing line is often seen as a sign of sound betting decisions, although it never guarantees a profit.

Before betting a PK game, check:

• Injury and line-up news for both teams.
• Home advantage, travel and rest days.
• The price on both sides, not just the line.
• The tie rules for the exact market you are using.