Basketball Rules

Date/Site Changes

Regular season Basketball games must be played on the scheduled date/location (location is a geographical area or city, but not restricted to a specific arena or venue) to be considered action unless otherwise noted in the specific sports rules section or the inventory game page within the mobile application or web browser application.

Minimum Length of Play

For wagering purposes, unless otherwise stipulated in individual Basketball sports wager rules, NBA results are official after 43 minutes of play. College Basketball, WNBA, NBA Summer League and European Basketball are official after 35 minutes of play.

Big 3, 3x3, the Basketball Tournament, other basketball events

Wagers will be settled based on official event rules.  In the event of a game starting but not being completed for any reason, all wagers on the game are cancelled, except for those markets which have been unconditionally determined.

Basketball Wagers

Basketball wagers are accepted in the following manner:

Point Spread

A wager in which a bettor “takes” or “lays” a specified number of points. The team wagered must “cover” the point line for the wager to be deemed a winner. Unless otherwise specified as “Regular Time” on the individual market, overtime periods are counted in the final score.

Money Line

A wager in which the bettor “takes” or “lays” a specified price. The team wagered must win the game for the wager to be deemed a winner. Unless otherwise specified as “Regular Time” on the individual market, overtime periods are counted in the final score.

Total Points (over/under)

A wager on whether the total number of points scored in a game is over or under a specified number. Unless otherwise specified as “Regular Time” on the individual market, overtime periods are counted in the final score.

First Half

Wagers on the first half will be decided by the score at the end of the first half. If the first half is not played to completion, all first half wagers will be cancelled. Once the first half has been completed, all wagers on the first half will stand regardless of the length of the remainder of the game.

Second Half (halftime)

Wagers on the second half will be decided on the basis of points scored in the second half. If the second half is not played to completion, all Second Half wagers will be cancelled. Overtime periods are counted in the Second Half score and considered official regardless of the length or suspension of the overtime period.

Quarters

Wagers on any specified quarter will be decided on the basis of points scored in that specified quarter only. All specified quarters must be played to their completion or the wager will be cancelled. Once a specified quarter is completed, that specified quarter wager will stand regardless of the length of the remainder of the game. Fourth quarter wagers do not include overtime periods unless otherwise stated.

Scoreless Quarter

Scoreless Quarter markets do not include overtime.

Team to score first

Settled on the first score of the game. Bets stand even if game is not completed. Overtime counts.

Team to score last

Settled on the last team to score. Game must be completed. Overtime counts.

Highest Scoring Quarter

Bet on which quarter will produce the most points. Dead Heat Rules apply. Game must be completed for bets to stand. Fourth quarter wagers do not include overtime periods unless otherwise stated.

Race to X Statistic

Wager on which team/player will reach the specified statistic first. Should neither team/player reach the specified statistic, and a ‘Neither’ option is not offered, then bets on that market will be cancelled. In the event of a wagering tie, the straight wager is considered “no action” and wager is cancelled. Parlays reduce to the next lowest amount of selections. Wagers are cancelled on a player who does not take part in the match or who comes on as a substitute after the specified statistic has been recorded.

First Field Goal/Assist/Rebound/Block/etc.

Wager on which player will score the first stated statistic in a basketball match. Wagers are cancelled on a player who does not take part in the match or who comes on as a substitute after the first stated statistic has been recorded. If a player not listed is deemed the winner, then all bets stand. Field goals scored in own basket do not count for first field goal scorer bets and are ignored for settlement purposes.

Player Most Statistic

Wager on which player will have the highest number of the specified statistic. If a player not listed is deemed the winner, all bets stand. Dead heat rules apply.

Buzzer Beater Markets

A wager on if a shot will be successfully made at the end of the game from either team and said shot put the team ahead in the game, with 2 seconds or fewer on the clock. The team who makes the shot must either be losing, or the game is tied the moment before the shot goes in. Only second half and overtime periods are counted in this market. The market will be settled according to ESPN play-by-play data. This can be a 2-point or 3-point attempt. Settled at the end of the game. Postponed/Cancelled match rules apply.

Basketball Props

Various unique wagers may be offered from time to time, called proposition bets. When wagering proposition bets, unless stated otherwise, overtime does count for settlement of wagers. Please see Same Game Parlay Basketball Rules for Same Game Parlay Race to x Rule.

Basketball Player Props

Players do not have to start for action but must play for action. If a player does not take any part in a game, then wagers on that player proposition will be cancelled

Basketball Futures

Basketball season long futures are unique wagers which will be offered from time-to-time. For all season long match wagers and division betting, all wagers stand regardless of team relocation, or a change to team name, season length or playoff format. Unless stated otherwise in the market, team(s) must play in all of their scheduled regular season games as determined by the league’s governing body at the start of the season for wagers to have action.  If team(s) do not compete in all scheduled games then wagers will be cancelled, except for those wagers which have been unconditionally determined.

Basketball Division and Conference Futures

Division Winner markets will be settled on who finishes top of the relevant division after the conclusion of the Regular Season. If two or more teams have the same Regular Season win record, then ties will be broken using the governing body's official rules to determine an outright winner. If no tie option was made available for any match bet wager, wagers will be a push should the teams tie and stakes refunded. Conference Winner markets will be settled on team's performance in the playoffs. Regular season records do not count. If there is any change to the post season structure whereby a Conference Finals Series is not possible, or called early, Conference Winner will be settled on the team that advances to the NBA Finals from that Conference. College Basketball Conference Tournament Winner will be determined by the team winning the Championship game regardless of any post-season suspension.

For Playoff Series Winner, the team that advances to the next round is deemed the winner. Wagers for all other markets are cancelled if the required minimum number of games (according to the respective governing organizations) are not completed, or the number of games changes.

Basketball Grand Salami Prop

The Basketball Grand Salami will be decided by adding up all the scores for the games scheduled for that particular day. All games must be completed for action. Points scored in overtime are included.

NBA Draft

All markets will be settled in accordance with official information available on NBA.com.

Wagers on Over/Under draft position are settled based on when a team selects that player. Should a player go undrafted, Over/Under markets will be settled by assigning the next number after the last player drafted.

Round in which player is drafted wagers will be cancelled should a player go undrafted, unless ‘undrafted’ is an option offered in the betting market.

Wagers on any players who subsequently withdraw their eligibility for that year’s draft will stand. Should a player who is not listed in any market be the winning selection, all bets on that market stand. All markets involving listed players are offered with others available on request.

Wagers on which team will draft a player are settled on the team who officially draft that player as listed on NBA.com. Any previous or subsequent trades will not be taken into consideration for settlement.

International players are defined as any player who played for a non-US team in the previous season, and not by their country of birth. E.g. A US-national who played for Real Madrid in Spain will be deemed an International player.

Basketball Futures List

Division of Winning Team

Wager on which division the winner originates from.

Conference of Winning Team

Wager on which conference the winner originates from.

State of Winning Team

Wager on which state the winner originates from.

Name the Finalists

Wager on which two teams will meet in the Championship Series. Should no series take place, all bets are cancelled.

Exact Outcome

Wager on which team will win, and who will they beat in the named series.  Should no series take place, all bets are cancelled.

Double Chance

Wager on whether either of the two named teams will be declared the winner for the named market.

Head to Head Regular Season Wins

Wager on the number of regular season wins made by two separate teams.

Regular Season Team Total Wins O/U

Wager on the total regular season wins made by a team.

NBA Divisional Odds

Wager on which team will win the division.

NBA Division Finishing Position

Wager on the exact position a named team will finish within their division.

NBA Conference Odds

Wager on which team will win the conference.

NBA Championship Odds

Wager on which team will win the Championship.

NBA Regular Season Award Winners (MVP, Rookie of the Year, Most Improved)

Wager on which player will win the MVP, Rookies of the Year, and Most Improved titles.

NBA Regular Season Wins

Wager on how many regular season wins are achieved by a team.

NBA #1 Seed

Wager on which team will be the #1 seed in a specified conference (Eastern Conference or Western Conference) at the end of the regular season.

NBA Regular Season Team Win Percentage

Wager on the percentage of wins by a team during the regular season.

NBA Head to Head Regular Season Team Wins

Wager on the number of regular seasons wins made by one team vs. another team.

NBA Regular Season Player Totals O/U

Wager on the number of regular season Points, Rebounds, Assists, Steals, Blocks by a named player.

NBA Regular Season Player Averages

Wager on the average number of regular season Points, Rebounds, Assists, Steals, Blocks by a named player. To qualify a player must have played in 70% of their team’s games.

College Basketball Tournament Winner

Wager on which team wins the College Basketball Tournament.

College Basketball Tournament Regional Winner

Wager on which team wins the College Basketball Tournament Region.

College Basketball Conference Tourney Winner

Wager on which teams win the College Basketball Conference.

College Basketball Tournament Wins

Wager on how many wins a team will have in the College Basketball Tournament.

College Basketball Head to Head Tournament Wins

Wager on which team will have more wins in the College Basketball Tournament.

College Basketball Conference Wins

Wager on how many wins a team will have in their College Basketball Conference Tournament.

In the event of a wagering tie, the straight wager is considered "no actions" and the wager is cancelled. Parlays reduce to the next lowest amount of selections.

College Basketball Conference Regular Season Winner

Wager on which team wins the College Basketball Conference in the regular season. If multiple teams are deemed co-regular season champions, bets will be settled based on the team who is awarded the top seed in the conference tournament.

Basketball Same Game Parlay Rules

Basketball Same Game Parlay rules are the same as Basketball rules stated above, with the following exceptions.

Bet Settlement (For Same Game Parlay):

If a Basketball Same Game Parlay selection within a SGP is cancelled, then the wager odds at the time of bet placement will be re-calculated using the remaining legs. This only applies to selections placed on NBA and NCAA Basketball. 

For SGP selections on all other Basketball leagues, if any leg in a SGP is void or cancelled, then the entire SGP is void. If all other SGP or Single wagers within a SGP+ are winners, the SGP+ will be paid out at a re-calculated price using the remaining legs.  

Overtime (For Same Game Parlay):

All basketball matches will be settled on the official declared result including any overtime.

Player Specific Markets (For Same Game Parlay):

All player selections will be considered active if a player enters the court as an active player at any point of the relevant match, regardless of whether the selection in question references a specific period of the match. If a player never enters the court during a match, selections specific to that player will be cancelled. For instance, a selection on a certain player to score 10.5+ points in the second half would be active (and therefore settled as a loser) if that player played the first two minutes of a match, was injured, and did not return to the game, regardless of having never been on the court during the second half. However, if that player was injured shortly before the game commenced, was withdrawn from the starting lineup (or bench) and never took to the court, the selection and therefore bet would be cancelled.

Race to X Points (For Same Game Parlay):

Race to X’ selections where neither team reaches the selected score will be settled as losers, regardless of whether a ‘neither team to reach X’ selection was available as an alternate selection or not.

Second Half / Fourth Quarter Markets (For Same Game Parlay):

All second half and fourth quarter market selections do include overtime periods if they occur. For example, a total second half points selection would include the points scored in both the second half and any overtime periods played.

Postponed Matches (For Same Game Parlay):

Where a game is postponed or incomplete, and subsequently resumed or played within 24 hours (inclusive) of the original scheduled start time, all bets will stand. All bets placed on games played which commence more than 24 hours past the originally scheduled start time will be cancelled. Once the 24 hours have expired, all bets are cancelled and stakes will be refunded.

Cancelled Matches (For Same Game Parlay):

If a game is abandoned prior to commencement, it falls within the 24-hour rule for postponed matches as described above. If it is abandoned after commencing but before its natural end point, the following rules apply:

If a player does not enter the court as an active player, then selections specific to that player will be cancelled. The rules outlined below are all applied subject to and subsequent to the application of this rule.

If every selection within an SAME GAME PARLAY on the game is already a winner where the fact of abandonment had no impact on the outcome of each selection, the SAME GAME PARLAY in its entirety will be treated as a winner. For example, a 2-leg SAME GAME PARLAY containing an over total points selection and a certain player to score 10.5+ points, in a game where the required points have been reached and the player did score more than 10 points before the game was subsequently abandoned, will be treated as a winner. In this case, the abandonment had no impact on either selection. The same would not apply to an under total points selection where a game is abandoned while the total score is still under the chosen number, as the abandonment would impact that outcome.

If a single selection of an SAME GAME PARLAY has lost and a match is then abandoned, the SAME GAME PARLAY will be treated as a loser, where regardless of the fact of abandonment, the selection(s) in question had been irrevocably concluded. For example, an SAME GAME PARLAY including a first player to score selection, in a game where a different player scored first and the match was subsequently then abandoned, will be treated as a loser. In this case, the bet had already lost, and this outcome could not be affected in any way by whether the game was subsequently abandoned or not.

If there are no losing selections within an SAME GAME PARLAY and at least one cancelled selection at the time of a match abandonment, the SAME GAME PARLAY will be treated as cancelled. This rule applies where one or more selections are still undecided at abandonment and may have won or lost if the game had been completed as scheduled. For example, an SAME GAME PARLAY including an over total points selection, in a game abandoned while the total points are still below the required amount, will be treated as cancelled. In this case, the total points selection was still undecided and may have won or lost but for the abandonment, so the bet will be cancelled

Venue Changes (For Same Game Parlay):

If the venue of a game is changed from the one advertised, all bets on that game will be cancelled.

Same Game Parlay Plus:

The general SGP and SGP+ settlement rules outlined above apply to all SGP wagers on Basketball events within the SGP+ wager. Wagers within the SGP+ on other sports follow that sport’s house rules.

If any selection (either SGP or Single wager) within an SGP+ is settled as a loss, then the entire SGP+ is settled as a loss.

Basketball Fantasy Wagers

Wagers on individual player or team fantasy points will be settled using Yahoo’s Standard Daily Fantasy scoring system as detailed below unless stated otherwise. The website of the league’s governing body will be the official source for all player statistics.  If a player does not take any part in a game, then wagers on that player’s fantasy proposition will be cancelled.

Player