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Football Betting Sportsbook House Rules for NFL and NCAA Wagering

by Docsports.com

Doc’s Sports House Football Rules

The following are a list of Doc’s Sports “House Rules” regarding the settlement of football wagers. These rules are for GRADING PURPOSES ONLY for our clients, with regards to how we calculate a win or a loss on a specific football wager.

We can’t stress this enough: the following “House Rules” are limited to Doc’s Sports only. They have absolutely no impact on how your sportsbooks grade their wagers. They are simply an effort by Doc’s for transparency regarding how we grade our wagers with regards to credits and handicapper records.

We strongly urge all bettors to read the specific rules for wagering at their chose sportsbooks. Not all sportsbooks grade the same wagers the same way (like rules on a game not played to completion).

FOOTBALL HOUSE RULES

  • Football games and any games/events not specifically listed must be held within one week of the originally scheduled date and at the scheduled venue when the bet was placed to be considered action.
     
  • For wagering purposes, pro and college football results are official after 55 minutes of play for bets to have action. In the event a game is halted before the minimum time has been played, and not completed within 48 hours of the scheduled start date and time, bets will be voided.
     
  • Playoff Game Rule – In the case of a halted playoff game, all wagers have action until completion of the game, as determined by the league’s governing body.
     
  • In the event a game is halted at any time, and replayed in full as opposed to resumed, all bets will be void.
     
  • In the event a game venue is changed, and the home team remains designated as the home team, bets will stand. In the event a game venue is changed, and the home and away team’s listings are reversed (i.e. the home team becomes the away team), bets placed with the original listing will be void.
     

FOOTBALL WAGER RULES

  • Points Spread Wager – 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. Overtime periods are counted in the final score.
     
  • Money Line Wager – 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. Overtime periods are counted in the final score.
     
  • Total Points (Over/Under) – Wager on whether the total number of points scored in a game is over or under a specified number. 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 based on points scored in the second half. If the second half is not played to completion, all Second Half wagers will be refunded. Overtime periods are counted in the Second Half score and considered official regardless of the length or suspension of the overtime period.
     
  • Wagers on any specified quarter will be decided based on 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.
     
  • 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 team to score. Game must be completed. Overtime counts.
     
  • Race to X Points – Wager on which team will reach the specified points tally first. Should neither team reach the total, and a ‘Neither’ option is not offered, then bets on that market will be cancelled.  Please see Same Game Parlay Football Rules for Same Game Parlay Race to X Rule.
     
  • Touchdown Scorers – These rules apply for any market based on a player or team Touchdown Scorer markets. In the event of an abandoned game, bets stand on scores that have taken place already. Overtime counts for these markets. The touchdown scorer is the player who scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone. (It is not the passing player.) Bets are cancelled on players that do not play at least one snap. Touchdown scorers are offered with the option of others on request. If a player not listed is deemed the winner, all bets stand.
     
  • Winning Margin – Wager on the number of points that a team will win by. Overtime counts. In the event of a wagering tie, the straight wager is considered “no action” and wager is cancelled. Parlays reduce to the next lowest number of teams.
     
  • Football Prop Rules – 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.
     
  • Football Game Props – All time-based props will be settled as per the official scoring time listed on the official league source box scores. Scores exactly on the quoted time count as ‘Yes’ for settlement. For example, a score with exactly 02:00 on the clock will be settled as ‘Yes’ on the ‘Will there be a score in the final 2 minutes?’ prop bet.

Any turnover proposition does not include a ‘Turnover on Downs’ and only includes Fumbles and Interceptions.

Coach challenge props only include a challenge initiated by the coach throwing a challenge flag. Prop does not include booth reviews.

Fourth Down Conversion props do not include first downs awarded by penalty.

Sacks props are settled as per the official league source. Includes 0.5 sacks awarded, however for props such as ‘Player to record a sack in the game’, the player must record at least one total sack (1.0) for ‘Yes’ to be settled the winner.

FOOTBALL PLAYER PROPS

  • On any player prop market, player(s) must participate in at least one (1) play (including special teams) for bets to have action. In the event a player is listed as “inactive” or “did not play” for the relevant game, bets on that player/market will be void.
     
  • Touchdown Scorer – Player must participate in at least one (1) play (including special teams) for bets to have action. In the event a player is listed as “inactive” or “did not play” for the relevant game, bets on that player will be void. A touchdown scorer is defined as the player in possession of the ball in the opposing end zone (a touchdown scorer is not the player who throws the touchdown). All first touchdown scorer bets are action unless the selected player is listed as “inactive” or “did not play”.
     
  • Tackles, Assists, Tackles and Assists, other Defensive Markets – Only defensive plays count. Any plays on special teams do not count. 
     
  • Regular Season Player Props – Player must participate in at least one play (including special teams) in the regular season for bets to have action.
     
  • Daily Player Markets – If the player wagered on does not receive any playing time, bets on that player are void.

FOOTBALL SETTLEMENT RULES

  • All settlements are based on the statistics and results provided by the official website (NFL.com and for college football NCAA.com) or league’s official statistical provider, unless otherwise stated.
     
  • Player markets, or other statistically dependent markets, are settled when the game is final, and when the necessary statistics are readily available on the league’s official website, or by the official statistical provider of the league (NFL.com and NCAA.com). Any subsequent statistical changes after these markets are settled will not result in a re-settlement.
     
  • In the absence of a statistic/result required for settlement of a specific market from the sources listed above, another reputable statistical source will be used to support bet settlement.

 

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