In sports betting, a “hook” refers to a half-point added to a point spread to create a margin of victory that results in a push, or tie. For example, if a point spread is -3.5, adding a hook would make it -3.5, ensuring that if the favorite team wins by exactly three points, the bettor would receive their money back instead of losing the bet. A hook can also refer to the half-point added to a total or over/under bet to avoid a push or tie. It is important for bettors to pay attention to hooks, as they can greatly affect the outcome of a bet.