GENERAL BETTING RULES. If it’s not stated otherwise in Special Rules or Specific Rules for Event/Market, the result after regular game time applies for all sports (plus possible injury time added by the official referee, for example in football). General race and sports book rules please check your tickets for accuracy before leaving the betting window. Tickets will not be altered or voided prior to the start of an event except at the discretion of management and with the approval of both parties. Tickets go as written and cannot be altered after the fact.
If you are new to sports betting, here you will be able to learn the general sports betting rules. As sports betting is limited to the Las Vegas sportsbooks offline in the United States, most of the rules here will apply mainly to the online bookmakers, although generally the same (or similar) rules will also be in effect with the Las Vegas sportsbooks. But before we look at the sports betting rules, here is the right spot to mention that specific betting rules will indeed apply from sportsbook to sportsbook, which is one of the many factors we consider when listing the best online sportsbooks you can see by following this link.
Sports Betting Rules: First and foremost, the main rule of sports betting, often misunderstood by many, is that you don't necessary compete against the odds makers, i.e. the people employed by a sportsbook or a betting website to set the odds on a particular event. You only compete with the sportsbook in a few occasions, for example, if you bet on a boxing fight or a money line on a football game. In other instances, let's say if you are betting on a football game's point spread, you are not actually betting against the bookmaker, but against other bettors who will wager on the opposite outcome. The bookie always makes money on such bets through the 'juice' or a small amount of the bet. You can read what is juice in sports betting here. So one of the major sports betting rules is never to approach a wager with the mindset that you are betting against the odds makers. Following this rule will allow you to clearly see the sporting event you are betting on and not jump on the favorite right away.
Sports betting rule #2 - always know what you are betting, i.e. the type of bet your are placing. This may seem silly to an experienced bettor, but there are thousands of people all over the world who are just entering the sports betting arena and knowing the types of sports bets is the most crucial part of the 'initiation'. There are many differences between Asian Handicaps and point spread betting, for example, and until you have mastered the rules for these sports bets, don't try any of them as the chance of loosing is much greater when you have no idea what you are doing. You can read more about the types of sports bets here, another small betting guide to help you succeed. The basic of this sports betting rule - if you are unsure about a type of bet, never wager on it. The simplest bet you can make is the 'win or lose' bet, stick with it until you really know what you are doing.
Game-specific sports betting rules: Our final general sports betting rule covers the game-specifics. Unfortunately, these betting rules will be different, depending on which sports betting website you visit. For example, some sportsbooks do count overtime in a football game for all bets, while others will honor the bet for regular-time scores only. For those sports betting rules you will have to check with your favorite sportsbook and make sure you know where its sports betting rules are located. Depending on your betting style, you may have to often reference those game-specific betting rules.
Published on 02/26/2009
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| How to bet on NFL football and college football |
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Disclaimer: All rules, regulations and payoffs contained herein are subject to change and revision by Management without prior notice.
SPORTING EVENTS
Las Vegas rules, regulations, payoffs and wager types apply where not covered herein.
All sporting events with the exception of the Super Bowl* must be played on the date and site scheduled unless otherwise specified. Sporting events postponed by more than 12 hours and or rescheduled, will constitute 'no-action', and all money will be credited accordingly. Special Motorsport Rule: Races must be run within eight (8) days of the scheduled date for your bet to have action.
*All wagers on the Super Bowl stand even if the date, time or site has been changed.
All bets must be made and accepted before the start of the game/event wagered upon. Any bet placed or received after the start of the game/event wagered upon will be void.
Management reserves the right to limit the maximum amount wagered prior to acceptance of any bet. Members are not permitted to open multiple accounts in order to circumvent the limits imposed by our wagering system. If multiple accounts are used then all bets will be void.
We do not recognize suspended games, protests, scoring amendments, result reversals and overturned decisions for wagering purposes.
Winners and losers are official after:
- Football - NCAA & NFL - 55 minutes of play
- Basketball - NBA - 43 minutes of play
- Basketball - NCAA - 35 minutes of play
- Hockey - NHL - 55 minutes of play
- All other sporting events - 55 minutes of play
- Other sports: All other contests that involve a scheduled length of play or time limit must play to their conclusion or have five minutes or less of the scheduled playing time remaining when the contest concludes to be considered official for wagering purposes.
In addition, please note that:
- For Football prop wagers where the possibilities are Odd or Even any results which ends as zero counts as even.
- Overtime periods, quarters or extra innings are counted in the final score when wagering on totals, money line and point-spreads(except in soccer).
- On half-time wagers, overtime is included as part of the second-half in both side and total wagers.
- On fourth quarter wagers, overtime is not included as part of the fourth quarter side or total.
- Scores and stats from overtime periods are also included for proposition bets unless the prop bet specifically states that overtime is not included.
All Bets Action: On certain future (long term) bets there may be a clause stating: ‘All Bets Action’. This means that the wager will have action whether or not the contestant on whom you have bet takes part in the tournament/event.
Live Scores disclaimer: We are not responsible for any inaccuracies in scores posted in our live scores.
Football prop definitions and rules
Live Betting Props:
Next Offensive TD Scorer
Wager on who will score the next TD in an NFL game.
- If there is no ‘next’ touchdown, all wagers on that index will be no-actioned (e.g. if there are 4 touchdowns in a game, all wagers on the 5th touchdown scorer will be no-actioned).
- Any player not listed will be counted under the team grouping of ‘Any other’ . E.g. ‘Any Other Seahawk’
- Any defensive or special teams touchdown scored will also count the team grouping of ‘Any Other’
Next Scoring Play (6 way market)
Wager on the next scoring play in an NFL game, by selecting a team to score a Touchdown, Field Goal or Safety.
- A 6-point Touchdown (Offensive, Defensive & Special Teams), 3 point Field Goal and 2 point Safety counts as a scoring play.
- One and two point conversions do not count.
- If there is no ‘next’ scoring play, all wagers on that index will be no-actioned (e.g. if there are 9 scoring plays in a game, all wagers on the 10th scoring play will be no-actioned).
Outcome of Next Drive
This market offers the opportunity to bet on the outcome of the listed drive.
- Customer can bet on Offensive TD, FG Attempt, Punt and Any Other
- In the case of any turnover or Safety, ‘Any Other’ will be graded as the winning selection
Will there be a first down?
This market offers the opportunity to bet on whether a first down will be achieved on the listed drive.
- If the offensive team gains 10 yards or more and achieves a new set of downs, ‘Yes’ will be graded as the winning selection.
- In the case that an offensive TD is scored on the first set of downs, or an ‘Automatic’ 1st down penalty is awarded then ‘Yes’ will be graded as the winning selection.
- If a team punts the ball on first set of downs, then regains possession via a turnover, “No’ will be graded as the winning selection.
- In the case that an offensive TD is scored on the first set of downs, a special teams TD is scored on a Punt or Kickoff return or an ‘Automatic’ 1st down penalty is awarded, then ‘Yes’ will be graded as the winning selection.
Player Props:
Please note that all Players Must Play unless otherwise stated
Total Player Receptions – This aggregates all receptions caught by the specified player during the game. This does not include catches or faircatches made on Special Teams play. This is inclusive of a completed catch that is later fumbled subsequently in the play.
Total Player Receiving Yards – This aggregates all receiving yards made by the specified player during the game. This total is not inclusive of Special Team return yards.
Total Player Rushing Attempts – This aggregates all rush attempts made from scrimmage by the specified player during the game.
Total Player Rushing Yards – This aggregates all rushing yards from scrimmage made by the specified player during the game.
Total Player Completions – This aggregates all completed passes made by the specified quarterback during the game.
Total Player Passing Yards – This aggregates all passing yards made by the specified quarterback during the game. This figure is inclusive of the length of the throw from the line of scrimmage and all yards made after the catch is made.
Total Touchdown Passes – This aggregates all successful touchdown passes made by the specified quarterback during the game.
Total Kicking Points – This is an aggregation of the kicking points made by the specified player during the game. Each successful field goal is worth 3 points and each successful XP conversion following a Touchdown is worth 1 point.
Total Player Tackles (Solo + Assisted) – This aggregates all tackles and assists made by the specified player during the game. Including both Special Teams, Defensive and Miscellaneous tackles.
Player to score the 1st Touchdown – To win this bet you must correctly choose the first player who actually crosses the goal line with the ball or receives a touchdown pass. The player throwing a touchdown pass does not count as a winner for this proposition.
Player to Score a TD – This market will be graded as a ‘Yes’ if the specified player makes a rushing, receiving, defensive or special teams touchdown. For quarterbacks passing touchdowns are not graded as a ‘Yes’.
Player to Throw an Interception – This market will be graded as a ‘Yes’ if the specified player throws a pass that is subsequently intercepted (caught in bounds) by a member of the opposing team.
Player to Throw a Touchdown or Interception First – This market is a race for the specified quarterback to throw a passing touchdown or throw an interception. If the player records neither then the market will be graded as no-action.
Player to Record a Sack or a Half Sack – This market will be settled as a ‘Yes’ if the specified player has a solo sack or a half sack when multiple players contribute to sacking the Quarterback. This figure does not include ‘kneel downs’ or Tackles-for-loss where the Quarterback is intending to Rush.
Player to Record an Interception – This market will be settled as a ‘Yes’ if the specified player successfully intercepts a pass thrown by the opposing team.
Player Longest Reception – Will be settled by the yardage of the longest reception made by the specified player from a pass. This number is inclusive of the length of the throw from the line of scrimmage and any yards made by the receiving player after the catch.
Player Longest Rush from Scrimmage – Will be settled by the yardage of the longest rush from line of scrimmage made by the specified player.
Player Longest Completion – Will be settled by the yardage of the longest completion made by the specified quarterback. This number is inclusive of the length of the throw from the line of scrimmage and any yards made by the receiving player after the catch.
Any reception, rush, completion, interception, sack made on a 2 point conversion are not counted towards a players official box score statistics as this is termed a “failed try”.
All bets will be settled as per the official NFL Gamebooks released by the NFL on their website www.nfl.com.
For a wager to be actioned the player must have been on the field for at least one snap of the game. Wagers placed on any player listed as ‘Did Not Play’ or ‘Not Active’ will be no-actioned.
Game Props:
In the event that a game ends as a tie in NFL, bets on Margin of Victory and Double Result will be settled as a loss. Note that this is an extremely rare occurrence.
Most football props are straightforward. Examples of regularly featured basic props are listed below:
- Total points scored by the home team
- Total points scored by the visiting team
- First team to score
- Last team to score
- Will the last team to score win the game?
- Will there be a score in the last two minutes of the first half?
- Will there be a score in the first six and a half minutes of the game?
- Which team will have the longest touchdown?
- Will there be a successful two-point conversion?
- Will there be a safety?
- Which half will have the highest point score?
- Which quarter will have the highest point score?
However, some prop bets are a little more complex:
'What will the first scoring play of the game be?' In this prop bet you will see the following list of possibilities:
- Field Goal
- Safety
- Touchdown Pass
- Touchdown Run
- Any Other Touchdown
If you choose the 'Any Other Touchdown' option then you are picking a touchdown not already mentioned in the list of options. Passing/Running Touchdowns, Safeties or Fieldgoals would not count as they are on the list.
'Will there be a defensive or special teams touchdown?' In this prop 'defensive touchdown' refers to interceptions, fumble returns or offensive drives. A 'special teams touchdown' refers to punt returns and kick returns.
'Will either team score 3 straight times without other team scoring?' In this prop you are betting on either team scoring 3 consecutive times during the game. Only touchdowns, field goals or safeties are included. Any PATs (point after touchdown or 2 point conversions) are not included.
'Distance of the FIRST punt of the game' (must be an official punt)(no punt-no-action)
'Total punts by BOTH teams' (must be an official punt) In these props, official punt is defined as follows:
- Official Punt: The punting team punts (for example, 40 yards) and no penalties occur.
- Un-official Punt: The punting team punts (for example, 40 yards) and the punting or receiving team incurs a penalty (which is accepted) during that play.
'Distance of 1st Gross Punt' In props stating 'Gross Punt', this is defined as follows:
- 'Gross Yards' is the total official yardage of the punt.
- 'Net Yards' would take return yardage into consideration.
'Net punting average' In props relating to the Net punting average, this is calculated as follows:
- Net punting average = Gross punting yards, minus return yards, minus 20 yards for every touchback, divided by total punts).
Special Football Season Win Rules
‘NFL Season Win Totals’ only include regular season games and all 16 regular season games must be played for action. Play-off games and pre-season games do not count for this bet offering.
‘NCAAF Season Win Totals’ only include regular season games. Each team must play their scheduled 12 regular season games. Championship games and Bowl games do not count for this bet offering. Teams must play all scheduled opponents.
Canadian Football League
'CFL Season Win Totals' only include regular season games and all 18 regular season games must be played for action. Play-off games and pre-season games do not count for this bet offering.
NBA Playoffs, Exact Games, Series Prop
All NBA Playoff series consist of 7 games. For the Exact Games prop bet, the lines would look something like this:
| Heat vs Mavs - Exact Games - 7 Game Series (2-3-2) (All Bets Action) | |
| 5 Games Heat Win | +300 |
| 6 Games Heat Win | +140 |
| 6 Games Mavs Win | +700 |
| 7 Games Heat Win | +250 |
| 7 Games Mavs Win | +450 |
If you choose, for example, 5 Games Heat Win +300, you are betting on how many games it will take the Heat to win the series (and NOT how many games in a row they will win).
The price, +300 (3-1 in fractional odds or 4.00 in decimal odds) tells you how much you can win.
The numbers in brackets in the bet's header indicates the number of games to be played in each home team court. For example: Mavs vs Heat – exact Games – 7 games Series (2-3-2) indicates 2 games in the Mavs home court, 3 games in the Heat home court and 2 in the Mavs home court for a total of 7 games.
The 'All Bets Action' clause in the header of this particular Exact Games prop bet means that:
- If any game in the series is shortened for any reason but one team is still deemed the winner, all bets will remain action or,
- If a game starts but gets suspended (for whatever reason) with no winner declared and must be replayed later, then all bets remain action.
These would be extremely rare scenarios.
'NBA Season Win Totals' only include regular season games and all 82 regular season games must be played for action. Play-off games and pre-season games do not count for this bet offering.
Note: In the event of a date change all Playoff bets will remain action.
NCAA Basketball
In the event of a tie in NCAA conference wagering, the team entering the conference tournament 'seeded' higher shall be deemed the winner.
“In College Basketball, we have a new rule that stipulates “Wherever Games are Played”. This rule is for College Basketball only and for this Season only, or until further notice.”
NBA/NCAA Player Props
Please note that all Players Must Play unless otherwise stated
Major League Baseball Rules
Major League Baseball games are considered official after 5 innings of play, or 4 1/2 innings if the home team is leading. If a game is subsequently called or suspended, the winner is determined by the score after the last full inning unless the home team ties the score or takes the lead in the bottom half of the inning in which the game was suspended. In that case the winner will be determined by the score at the time the game is called. (This rule holds for betting purposes even if the game is suspended and /or completed on a different day than it began).
7 Inning Games
In the case of games scheduled as 7 innings (as introduced in the shortened 2021 MLB season) the game must complete 7 innings, or 6 1/2 innings if the home team is leading, otherwise wagers on Totals, Run Lines or Propositions and Live betting will constitute a 'no-action' wager”.
Pitching Options
When you place a money line wager on game lines where starting pitchers are listed, you can choose whether or not you would like your bet to have action in the event of a pitching change. The options are:
- Listed: both listed pitchers must start.
- Selected: the pitcher for the team on which you are betting must start.
- Opposing: the pitcher for the opposing team must start.
- Action: your bet will have action regardless of pitcher changes.
Note: If there is a pitching change and you have selected to keep action on the wager, the odds of your bet will be adjusted to the odds as they stand when the game begins.
All other baseball wagers where starting pitchers are listed will be accepted as ‘Listed.’ In the event of a pitching change prior to the game, all wagers on the game with said listed pitchers are considered ‘no-action’. All wagers will be refunded to members’ accounts as soon as official confirmation is received allowing you to make the bet again with the new pitcher and the new price if you so wish.
Note: Each team’s starting pitcher is defined for betting purposes as the pitcher that throws the first pitch.
No Listed Pitchers
All wagers placed on Money Lines, Totals or Run Lines where starting pitchers are not listed will be considered action at the confirmed price.
All baseball props must go the full 9 innings (8½ if the home team is winning) unless otherwise stated. They also must start with the listed pitchers. If a game is suspended and/or completed on a different day than it began, props will be graded ‘no-action’ unless otherwise stated.
In baseball, all games that go at least the full 9 innings and finish tied as a result of a suspension of play, shall be graded as a push on all money line bets. However, all run line and total bets will have action. Note that this is an extremely rare occurrence. In the event of a change in Las Vegas rules, we will adhere to the decision set forth in Las Vegas.
MLB Series Price: Any and all baseball series wagers must have all 3 games played by the end of a specified date for the wager to have action. If all 3 games are not played by that specified date then all wagers have ‘no-action’, regardless if one team has 2 wins. All 3 games must be official by Las Vegas Gaming Standards (see our rules regarding baseball wagers and what constitutes an official result).
Note: If we provide a baseball series price for a series that has 4 games, for grading purposes, the wager is based on the initial 3 games.
‘First Five Innings Bets':
Money lines and run lines are official after 5 full innings of play, or 4½ if the home team has the lead and the game is called before completion of the inning.
-4½ innings with home team winning and total is over: over is winner
-4½ innings with home team winning and total is under: no action
‘Team to Score First’ props are accepted as ‘listed pitchers’ and will be graded as soon as the first team has scored and the home team has had a turn at bat. If the home team scores first, that bet will be graded at that time and bets are action regardless of game suspension or postponement. If the visiting team scores first, the bet will be graded once the home team has completed its turn at bat.
‘Will there be a Score in the First Inning?’ props are accepted as ‘listed pitchers’ and will be graded as soon as the first inning ends. All bets will be action regardless of game suspension or postponement, as long as the first inning is completed.
‘Total Runs + Hits + Errors’ props are accepted as ‘listed pitchers’ and the game must go the full 9 innings (8½ if the home team is winning) for bets to have action.
For ‘Live Betting’ games must go must go the full 9 innings (8½ if the home team is winning)
For Live Betting purposes if a game is suspended in extra innings all bets will be No Action, excluding events that already concluded.
Baseball Player and Pitcher Props are accepted as ‘listed pitchers’. The game must go a full 9 innings (8½ if the home team is winning) for bets to have action. If there is a pitching change, all player props for that game will be closed immediately. When the game starts and it is confirmed that a pitcher other than the pitcher listed on the bet threw out the first pitch, those props will have ‘no-action’. (If the game is suspended and/or completed on a different day than it began, Player/Pitcher Props will have ‘no-action’).
Baseball Grand Salami: The Baseball Grand Salami will be decided by the total runs scored in all major-league games scheduled for that day. All scheduled games must go at least 9 innings (8.5 if the home team is winning). If any scheduled game is canceled or stopped before the completion of 8.5 innings, all wagers on the Baseball Grand Salami will be canceled. No pitchers will be listed for the Grand Salami; all wagers will have action regardless of the starting pitchers.
Game and Team Totals Odd or Even - bets are 'listed pitchers'. If there is no score all bets will be settled as even.
'MLB Season Win Totals' only include regular season games and 160 regular season games must be played for action. Play-off games and pre-season games do not count for this bet offering.
Wagers on 'Total Bases by Player' prop will be settled as follow: Single=1 Double=2 Triple=3 Homerun=4 All Else=0.
Other Baseball Tournaments or Leagues
For NCAA Baseball, MLB Pre-season or other international baseball leagues, pitchers are generally not listed so all wagers will be considered action at the confirmed price. If pitchers are listed, games will be treated in exactly the same way as MLB games.
NCAA Baseball
NCAA Baseball Games are not official until a winner is declared. If an NCAA Baseball game begins, then is delayed to a later date, all wagers will have action with the final score result on that new date.
Hockey
For wagering purposes, winners and losers are determined by the final score, provided that the game has gone the minimum time as specified above.
Overtime: For wagering on games in the National Hockey League, the final score includes overtime. Regardless of the number of goals scored during the shootout portion of overtime, the final score recorded for the game will give the winning team one more goal than the score at the end of regulation time.
Personal Player Stats and other Stats achieved during an NHL Shootout are not taken into account for certain proposition bets, for example: Player Total Shot on Goals, Player Total Points, Player Total Goals, Team to Score First, Team to Score Last.
Game and Team Totals Odd or Even: If there is no score all bets will be settled as even.
Las Vegas rules, regulations, payoffs and wager types apply where not covered herein.
NHL Player Props: Please note that all Players Must Play unless otherwise stated.
'NHL Season Point Totals' only include regular season games and all 82 regular season games must be played for action. Play-off games and pre-season games do not count for this bet offering.
Note: In the event of a date change all Playoff bets will remain action.
Parlay or Multiple Betting
No parlay wagers can be accepted where individual wagers are ‘connected’, ‘dependent’ or ‘correlated’.
Using a baseball game as an example, let's say you want to take the Boston Red Sox to win on the money-line and the Boston Red Sox on the run-line. If the Boston Red Sox win the game, it is also likely that they will win by at least two runs therefore the selections are said to be ‘correlated’ and cannot be parlayed together. For the same reason, we do not allow the favorite/underdog on the runline and the over/under of the same game to be placed in the same parlay.
In the same way, you cannot parlay the line for the first half of a football game with the line for the whole game or the total for the first half of a football game with the total for the whole game, as the two are ‘dependent’. Less obviously, but nonetheless correlated, are the favorite/underdog on the spread and the over/under of the same game placed together in a parlay or teaser bet when the spread is greater than or equal to 30% of the total.
Dead Heat Rule
General Sport Betting Rules
In the event of a dead heat (a tie), stakes will be divided by the number of selections that have tied, with the divided stake settled at full odds. Remaining stakes are lost. If the tie was a betting option, then the dead heat rule does not apply. The dead heat rule only applies to 'future' wagers. For example, if there is a 3 way tie for the top scorer in a basketball game, then your winnings are calculated by taking your stake, dividing it by 3, and multiplying that amount by the odds on your betting ticket.
Buying Points
Buying points allows you to change the point-spread or total of a football or basketball game.
You can move the point-spread so you get more points when betting the underdog or you give away fewer points when betting the favorite. When buying the first ½ point or full point we charge 10 cents per ½ point. But after the first point, we charge 20 cents per ½ point.
You can only buy a maximum of 3 points in Football and Basketball, both College and Professional.
There is a special rule when buying points on the spread in football:
General Sport Betting Rules Yahoo
- When buying on or off the 3 there is an extra cost of 15¢ on NFL and 10¢ on College Football.
- When buying on or off the 7 there is an extra cost of 10¢ (both NFL and College).
General Sport Betting Rules Against
Disclaimer: All rules, regulations and payoffs contained herein are subject to change and revision by Management without prior notice.