Second Half Betting Rules
For those that enjoy betting on the 1st half of a basketball game, the third column will display live 1st half point spreads. Finally the closing table contains second half lines a very popular way to bet on College hoops. Those second half spreads will go live once the respected game goes to the half. View NCAA basketball odds and bet online legally, securely, and easily on college basketball games all season. AUSTRALIAN RULES. College Basketball. 1st Half 2nd Half Alternate Spread - 2nd Half - Excluding Overtime 1st Half - 3 Way 2nd Half - 3 Way. Overtime counts towards sides, totals, moneylines, 2 nd half wagers. Basketball Wager Specific Rules. 1 st half betting: The first half must be completed for wagers to have action. 2 nd half betting: NBA Games must go 43 minutes, WNBA and College games must go 35 minutes for 2 nd half wagers to have action, Overtime counts towards 2 nd half wagers.
Second Half Betting
by Jeremy Martin
For sports books in Nevada and overseas, NFL halftimes can be the most hectic 15 minutes of the week. The first halves of many games are ending at the same time, especially for the early games, and bookmakers are faced with the task of setting second half lines for all the games on the board and then managing their odds due to the action coming in.
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The professional bettors - referred to as 'wise guys' in the industry - are looking to attack a weak number. Informed recreational bettors, who are making their wager after watching the first half of a particular game, are loading up on the second half. Others are looking to hedge their bets or middle the book (attempting to win both sides of a bet by having the game number fall in the middle of two lines wagered on opposite sides) by going against their straight bet team in the second half.
In situations where many games are entering halftime concurrently, the books have only a couple of minutes to chose their position on a multitude of games. If they make the wrong choice on even one line, it can cost them big time.
'As quick as you put (a bad number up), you have 10 guys on the phone wanting to take it,' said Doc from Rio, the head oddsmaker for Skybook. 'Halftimes in the NFL are just as busy or busier than the actual 10 a.m. (PST) rush. When seven or eight games are going it's also more hectic because you have to be more on top of (the numbers). You really have to be paying attention.'
'You have to be real sharp on your opening second half number,' added Leo Shafto, head oddsmaker for Royal Sports. 'You can't really afford to have a lot of movement on your second half number or you kind of defeat the purpose of what you were hired to do, and that's to manage the risk. By moving the number too much for the second half you create exposure for the sports book. You learn pretty quick that (the professionals) are like vultures waiting on a branch. As soon as you have a flaw in the number they are ready to pounce.'
There are a few shops that post the initial second half numbers then, once the wise guys have flattened them out, the rest of the industry usually goes off of those lines. Books can keep tabs on the numbers posted by their competition by monitoring the Don Best odds service, which most of the bookies in the industry subscribe to. This service allows books to track posted odds and line movements for Nevada and offshore books.
According to oddsmakers, a combination of several criteria is used to come up with second half lines. The original line for the full game is always a consideration, as is the result of the first half of the game. Bookies also set the number according to the betting patterns of their clientele. If they have unbalanced action on for the full game, they may try and use the second half to balance their action or even attempt to middle the majority of their clients in a particular game.
The public prefers to bet the second half rather than the first half, said Shafto. In certain cases where bookies know that the public is going to go after a certain second-half side, the number will most likely be shaded towards the favorite.
'A lot of times we book more second half action than first half action because I think the public likes to bet the second half more,' he said. 'They like to watch the game and see how (the first half) goes. A lot of times they are trying to hedge or try and (get the middle). Or if their side is winning the first half, it might influence them to bet a little more (on that side) in the second half.'
The professional bettors tend to play first halves more because those numbers are available for most of the week while second half numbers are available for only roughly 15 minutes. This gives the wise guys more time to shop around for numbers and get the best value for their wagers. Public bettors prefer the second half because they often believe they have an edge because of what they watched happen in the first 30 minutes of a game.
'(The public) is not so much influenced by the math and the numbers as they are by the performance on the field,' commented Shafto. 'I am not saying that's right or wrong. But generally people take into account what happened in the first half and maybe that is going to be very indicative of what is going to happen in the second half. I don't necessarily believe that to always be true because the coaches are a little bit smarter and they do make adjustments at halftime.'
Since so many public bettors are betting second halves, there are obviously opportunities to get value by going against them. Books tend to overvalue the favorite in the second half just as they do the full game because they know that is where the public money will fall. Many public bettors will jump on a big favorite for the second half that is down heading into halftime. This is exactly what the bookmakers would like to see happen.
'(We) know the public is going to bet that side,' said Doc from Rio. 'Usually the underdog that has played well in the first half is probably going to continue to play well, especially in the NFL.'
Doc’s Sports is offering $60 worth of member’s picks absolutely free – no obligation, no sales people – you don’t even have to enter credit card information. You can use this $60 credit any way you please for any handicapper and any sport on Doc’s Sports Advisory Board list of expert sports handicappers. Click here for more details and take advantage of this free $60 picks credit today
Be sure to check out Martin's article on NFL sports betting.
Also read Rob Gillespie's article about NFL halftime point spreads.
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, web browser application, or printed media in the Borgata Race and Sports Book.Please seeBasketball One Game Parlay Rules for One Game Parlay Postponed Match, Cancelled Match & Venue Change Rules.
Minimum Length of Play
For wagering purposes, unless otherwise stipulated in individual Basketball sports wager rules, US pro basketball results are official after 43 minutes of play. College Basketball, WNBA, NBA Summer League and European Basketball are official after 35 minutes of play.
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 a game does not go the entire first half, all first half wagers will be refunded.
- 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 entire second half is not played to its 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.
- 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 refunded.
- 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 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.
- Race to x points - Winner being the team who reaches 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 void.
- Please see One Game Parlay Basketball Rules for One Game Parlay Race to x Rule.
- In the event of a wagering tie, the straight wager is considered “no action” and wager is refunded. Parlays reduce to the next lowest amount of selections.
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 forsettlement of wagers.
Basketball Player Props
Players do not have to start for action but must playfor action. If a player does not take any part in a game then wagers on that player proposition will be refunded.
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 teamname, 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 refunded, 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 2 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 void 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.
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
Which two teams will meet in the Championship Series. Should no series take place, all bets are void.
Exact Outcome
Which team will win, and who will they beat in the named series. Should no series take place, all bets are void.
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
Team to be the #1 seed 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
2nd Half Bet Rules
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 Tournament 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 action' and the wager is refunded. Parlays reduce to the next lowest amount of selections.
Basketball One Game Parlay Rules
Basketball One Game Parlay rules are the same as Basketball rules stated above, with the following exceptions.
Bet Settlement:
All basketball One Game Parlay selections must win (no ties, draws or pushes) for a bet to be deemed a winner. A selection that does not win, unless explicitly specified in the Basketball One Game Parlay Rules, will be settled as a loser. If one or more selections in any bet are resulted as void for any reason (such as a selected player not participating in the match), the entire bet will be resulted as void. For instance, selections on a team to win a match where it is a draw after overtime (or normal time if no overtime is to be played), even where the draw or tie may not have been offered through One Game Parlay, will be settled as losers. This will not be relevant to NBA or NBL matches as they play repeated overtime periods until a team wins but may be applicable to other basketball leagues or competitions as per their individual competition rules.
Overtime:
All basketball matches will be settled on the official declared result including any overtime.
Player Specific Markets:
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 void. 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 void.
Race to X Points:
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:
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:
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 void. Once the 24 hours have expired, all bets are void and stakes will be refunded.
Cancelled Matches:
Baseball Betting Rules
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:
ONE GAME PARLAYs will be void if they include at least one selection involving a player who has not yet entered the court as an active player. The rules outlined below are all applied subject to and subsequent to the application of this rule.
If every selection within an ONE GAME PARLAY on the game is already a winner where the fact of abandonment had no impact on the outcome of each selection, the ONE GAME PARLAY in its entirety will be treated as a winner. For example, a 2-leg ONE 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 ONE GAME PARLAY has lost and a match is then abandoned, the ONE 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 ONE 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 ONE GAME PARLAY and at least one void selection at the time of a match abandonment, the ONE GAME PARLAY will be treated as void. 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 ONE 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 void. 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 voided.
Venue Changes:
If the venue of a game is changed from the one advertised, all bets on that game will be voided.
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 refunded.
Player
Stat | Points |
Points (PT) | 1 |
Rebounds (REB) | 1.2 |
Assists (AST) | 1.5 |
Steals (ST) | 3 |
Blocks (BLK) | 3 |
Turnovers (TO) | -1 |