Charles Kline McNeil[1] (16 August 1903 – 7 April 1981)[2][3] was the inventor of the point spread in sports gambling.
[4] While gambling on the side, he developed the point spread, betting not on the probability of the final outcome, but on the expected difference in score.
[6][better source needed] McNeil's invention, the point spread, revolutionized sports betting by introducing a method of wagering on the margin of victory between competing teams.
This system, more commonly used in football and basketball, aims to level the playing field by creating a form of handicap between the favorite team and the underdog.
The point spread is represented as a positive (+) or negative (-) number, indicating the predicted margin of victory or defeat.