Difference between a Spread Betting Account and Traditional Account

Hi Guys

I’m really trying to work out the difference between a Spread Betting account and Normal Account when using Alpari UK MT4 account.

The only difference I can work out is the fact that you don’t pay tax on spread betting if you are from the UK.

Everything else sees to be exactly the same when using MT4 like lot sizes etc…

If someone could make this clear, that would be appreciated…

Thanks

In UK and Ireland no tax is payable, provided that trading is not your only source of income, if you trade via a ‘spread betting account’.

Many of the larger US brokers have cottoned onto this market and offer a ‘spread bet’ account to UK and Irish residents, prices etc are the same.

Pretty much the same thing… Also with spread betting when you place a bet you place it as £ per point as opposed to lot size. It’s a bit easier than having to calculate positions sizes.

Even when using Metatrader? so instead of entering lot sizes on MT4 you just enter the price per pip?

For an Alpari uk spread betting account (which I have), on mt4 you place a volume bet where 1 = £1 per pip and 0.10 is 10p per pip. There is no difference between a spreadbetting account and a normal account apart from the tax free point. Alpari set your leverage to 1:500 by default so expect to blow your account unless you really know what you are doing. I changed my leverage.

So I have to make sure I change my leverage to 1:100, but apart from that, its exactly the same (apart from the tax)

Yes, identical in every respect

Apart from £per point in spread betting and Lot sizes on the forex accounts :wink:

Why would anyone in the UK trade forex when they can spread bet instead?

Spread Betting Currencies and Forex Pairs