One crucial aspect to comprehend when engaging in betting activities is whether overtime is factored into your wagers.
Even seasoned bettors have experienced losses due to a lack of understanding regarding overtime rules.
Does Overtime Count In Betting?
It is essential to carefully review the complete details of the bets you place, paying attention to a common phrase: “All bets include overtime unless otherwise stated.”
By keeping this phrase in mind, you should assume that most bet types, such as money lines, point spreads, and point totals, incorporate overtime.
When practising strategies such as arbitrage betting, paying attention to overtime rules is a crucial step in success.
Covering one outcome with different rules may easily mean losing both outcomes.
While value betting, these rules are not as important.
When considering these bets, overtime becomes advantageous if you hope for a play to exceed a certain value.
While the opposite applies to plays where you anticipate a lower outcome.
Bet Types That Include Overtime
Numerous bet types encompass overtime.
As a general rule, the primary markets, including money lines, spreads, and totals, involve bets that incorporate overtime.
You can easily remember this by considering the focus of your bet when engaging in a main market wager.
Your bet pertains to the overall outcome of the game, not solely the regulation time.
If a bet excludes overtime, it usually pertains to innings, periods, or quarters.
For instance, if you place a bet on the fourth quarter in American football or basketball, the third period in hockey, or the ninth inning in baseball, that bet solely covers the specific playing period.
Overtime or extra innings are not accounted for in a last-playing period bet, which is why the scoring will indicate an “OT” period in the box score.
Remember to conduct thorough research on each sportsbook’s specific rules before placing any bets.
You might want to check my article on American football betting strategies and stop worrying about overtime markets.
Moneyline Bets and Overtime
Let’s examine the four major American sports to determine which moneyline bets include overtime:
- Basketball (NBA, WNBA, NCAAB)
- Football (NFL, CFL, NCAAF)
- Baseball (MLB)
- Hockey (NHL)
As mentioned earlier, full-game moneyline bets typically encompass overtime.
This applies to most sports and leagues available for betting.
However, you should exercise caution when engaging in period, quarter, or inning bets that do not involve overtime.
If you wager on one of these bet types, remember that you are only predicting the outcome for that specific playing period, even if it is the last period of regulation play.
For instance, if you place a money line bet in the fourth quarter, your bet will be evaluated based on the fourth-quarter results only.
Point Spread and Overtime
Let’s explore the four major American sports to determine which point spread bets include overtime:
- Basketball (NBA, WNBA, NCAAB) (Check my proven basketball betting course)
- Football (NFL, CFL, NCAAF)
- Baseball (MLB)
- Hockey (NHL)
You may notice a pattern with main market bets and overtime.
Full-game point spread bets generally incorporate overtime.
This holds true for most sports and leagues available for betting.
However, you should exercise caution when engaging in quarter, period, or inning bets that do not include overtime.
If you wager on one of these bet types, remember that you are only predicting the outcome for that specific playing period, even if it is the last period of regulation play.
For example, if you place a point spread bet for the third period, the evaluation will be based solely on the results of the third period, regardless of previous periods or potential overtime.
Over-Under Bets and Overtime
Let’s examine the four major American sports to determine which over-under bets include overtime:
- Basketball (NBA, WNBA, NCAAB)
- Football (NFL, CFL, NCAAF)
- Baseball (MLB)
- Hockey (NHL)
When it comes to over/under bets, the occurrence of overtime in most sports does not alter the outcome.
The total you wagered on remains the same total that will be used to grade the game, regardless of whether it goes into one overtime or multiple overtime.
However, overtime can present challenges for under bettors.
Consider a scenario where you placed an under 220 bet in an NBA game that is tied at 100-100 at the end of regulation.
The bet seemed promising throughout the four quarters, but in overtime, the total can quickly surpass 220 points, resulting in a loss for the under bettors.
A similar situation can arise in extra innings in baseball.
When determining how much importance to assign to overtime in your total bet, it’s crucial to recognize that the likelihood of overtime varies across sports.
NFL games, being lower-scoring compared to NBA games, have a higher probability of going into overtime.
NFL games go to overtime approximately 12 per cent of the time, while NBA games enter an extra period slightly over six per cent of the time.
Please note that these statistics provide a general understanding, and individual game circumstances may deviate from these averages.
Bet Types Excluding Overtime
To ensure comprehensive coverage, here is a list of the four major American sports and the bet types that do not include overtime:
Basketball (NBA, WNBA, NCAAB)
- Fourth quarter betting does not account for overtime scores.
- Basketball handicap betting: bets that count in overtime are indicated in the name of the market
Football (NFL, CFL, NCAAF)
Fourth quarter betting does not account for overtime scores.
Baseball (MLB)
All bets are considered action regardless of pitching changes. Extra innings are not counted unless otherwise stated.
Hockey (NHL)
Third period betting does not account for overtime scores.
Basketball Betting Overtime Rules
When a basketball game goes into overtime, any scores that occur will be included in full game and second-half bets.
This rule applies to point spreads, moneylines, and total bets.
However, overtime does not affect bets placed solely on the fourth quarter.
As a general guideline, second-half bets include overtime if the game requires it.
This is because overtime is considered part of the second half of the game.
For 1st half bets, remember that once halftime is reached, the first half is concluded.
Quarter bets do not include overtime. Similar to first-half bets, once the quarter ends, it is considered complete.
If overtime occurs in a basketball game, there will likely be a separate overtime market available for live betting, which can be treated as a standard quarter bet.
Understanding 3-Way Lines and Tie-No-Bet
Various sports, such as soccer and hockey, offer 3-way lines for betting.
These allow you to wager on either Team A to win, Team B to win, or for the game to end in a tie and go into overtime or extra time.
In this case, if you bet on Team A to win and the game goes into overtime or extra time, your bet will result in a loss.
In 3-way lines, you must correctly select the exact outcome.
Similarly, there is a bet type called tie-no-bet. In this case, you can choose either Team A or Team B to win in regulation.
If the game goes into overtime or extra time, your bet is considered a push, and your original stake will be returned.
This may also be referred to as a 60-minute line for hockey or a 90-minute line for soccer.
Inclusion of Overtime in Second Half Bets
As mentioned earlier, second half bets include overtime.
Therefore, if you place a bet during halftime for a team to win solely in the second half, and the game goes into overtime, the final outcome will determine whether you win or lose your bet.
This applies to various second-half bet types, including point spreads, total points, moneylines, and even player props.
Exclusion of Overtime in Fourth-Quarter Bets
Despite second-half bets including overtime, fourth-quarter bets alone do not account for overtime.
Betting on the fourth quarter (and third period for hockey) follows the same rules as other quarter or period bets, excluding overtime.
These quarter bets are specific to each playing period and do not extend to any additional time played.
Quarter bets typically include standard options such as point spreads, total points, moneylines, and occasionally player props.
Want to find out more about the most profitable mathematical betting strategies?
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FAQ
Yes, bets placed on spread bets include overtime as well. The outcome of the bet depends on the final score of the game, including OT.
A fourth-quarter bet does not include overtime. Fourth-quarter bets no matter which market they were placed on, do not include overtime unless it is mentioned in the name of the betting market.
