Official game times (multiple sports)

This page covers the rules for determining at what point during a game or match the contest is considered to be official for wagering purposes. 

All rules apply to both pre-game and live betting.

Football

Bets on the full game are considered official after 55 minutes of play. If a game is canceled before 55 minutes, straight bets have no action, and parlays & teasers are reduced accordingly.

Bets on 1st halves, 2nd halves and quarters will have action only upon full completion of the period in question. Example: if you bet on the 4th quarter and the game is suspended with one minute remaining in the quarter, the bet will have no action.

Bets on spreads, moneylines, and totals for the full game and 2nd halves always include overtime scoring. Bets for 4th quarter don't include overtime scoring.

The exceptions are any markets whose outcome has already been determined. Example: bets placed on the outcome of the next drive have action as soon as that drive is completed, even if the game is suspended after that point.

Baseball

All full game wagers on baseball are official after 9 full innings (or 8½ innings if the home team is winning). A winner must also be determined and the result deemed official by the league for bets to have action.

This applies to moneyline bets, total runs (over/under) and bets on the Run Line.

The exceptions are any markets whose outcome has already been determined. Example: bets placed on next-play outcome have action as soon as that play is completed, even if the game is suspended after that point.

Basketball
Pre-Game

Bets on the full game are considered official once the game reaches the point when there are only 5 minutes remaining. This will be after 43 minutes of play (NBA) or 35 minutes of play (NCAA or any other League unless otherwise specified, including the NBA Summer League and WNBA).

If the official time of play is not completed, bets on the spread, total, or moneyline are treated as no action, and all parlay and teaser bets will be reduced accordingly.

Bets on 1st halves, 2nd halves and all quarters will have action only upon full completion of the period in question. Example: if you bet on the 4th quarter and the game is suspended with one minute remaining in the quarter, the bet will have no action.

Bets on spreads, moneylines, and totals for the full game and 2nd halves always include overtime scoring. Bets for 4th quarter don't include overtime scoring.

The exceptions are any markets whose outcome has already been determined. Example: bets placed on a player to score a certain number of points will be settled as soon as the player reaches the point total, even if the game is suspended after that point.

Hockey

Bets on the full game become official after 55 minutes of play.

Bets on periods will have action only upon full completion of the period in question. Example: if you bet on the 2nd period and the game is suspended with one minute remaining in the 2nd period, the bet will have no action.

Goals scored during overtime are included for wagers on the full game (sides and totals), but are not included on wagers for the 3rd period. *This applies to NHL ONLY. For all leagues other than NHL, wagers are based on regulation time only, unless otherwise stated.

The exceptions are any markets whose outcome has already been determined. Example: bets placed on the team to score next will be settled as soon as the next goal is scored, even if the game is suspended after that point.

Tennis

Bets on the full match (moneyline, spread, total) are considered official only once the match is fully completed without either player withdrawing due to injury, incapacity or disqualification

Game and set betting - the game or set in question must be fully completed for action.

The exceptions are any markets whose outcome has already been determined. Example: bets placed on the over/under for the total number of games will have action as soon as the total goes over, even if the game is suspended after that point.

Soccer

Bets are considered official (for most markets) based on the result at the end of 90 minutes or full-time.

The terms 'full-time', '90 minutes' and 'normal time' all refer to the period of play including the 90 minutes of regulation plus injury time, but not including any extra periods (overtime) or penalty shootouts.

For games played during the knockout stages in a tournament, you will typically see the option to bet on the Team to Advance. This is an ‘outright winner’ bet, and this option is not limited to 90 minutes + injury time. With this option, you’re betting on a team to win the game any way possible – whether it’s within normal time, during extra periods, or in a penalty shootout (if necessary).

1st and 2nd halves – the half must be completed fully for bets to have action.

The exceptions are any markets whose outcome has already been determined. Example: bets placed on the next goalscorer will have action as soon as the next goal is scored, even if the match is suspended after that point.

NOTE: Game delays, postponements and suspensions follow rules described in the following article: Delays, postponements & overturned results

Was this article helpful?
1 out of 1 found this helpful