Sportsbook Betting Rules

Entering the world of sports gambling can feel overwhelming. Where do you place a wager? How do you place a wager? And do you need a betting strategy to start? On top of that, gambling comes with its own language—terms like parlay, teaser, or alternative odds can confuse even confident beginners.

It’s also important to understand that online sportsbooks and casinos operate under strict rules. These rules aren’t just internal—they’re enforced by state and local governments to promote fair play and help prevent issues like problem gambling.

At MyTopSportsbooks, our goal is to help you navigate these rules with confidence. Whether you’re betting for fun or profit in 2025, we’ll break down the essential sportsbook rules so you can play smarter and stay in control.

Universal Rules

These sportsbook betting rules apply across a wide range of sports and wager types, including horse racing, NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB, NCAA basketball, college football, and MMA bouts. They also cover various bet formats—such as player props, futures bets, straight bets, moneyline wagers, proposition bets, and single-game outcomes.

In this guide, we outline the key rules to help you place smarter sports bets. You’ll find examples ranging from how many points are scored by halftime or in the second half, to who scores the first touchdown in an NFL game, or the total points both teams rack up over four quarters.

You can also place parlay bets—where multiple wagers are combined into a single ticket. As you add more teams or outcomes, the potential payout increases, but so does the risk.

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All Prices are Subject to Change

Sportsbooks post a high volume of odds and lines every week. They can make a mistake without thinking about it, and that is when the fun starts. If an error in the posted line, event scheduled time, or maximum bet, it will declare all bets no action wagers. When that happens, all money is credited to the sports bettors who may have been duped by erroneous information.

Games Must be Played When Scheduled

Games can be cancelled or rescheduled for different reasons. When that happens, the sports book will re-calculate the odds to reflect the new scheduled date due to the circumstances affecting the winners and losers.

Bets Must be Placed and Accepted Before the Event Begins

This is self-evident. You can’t place a bet on a game in progress – live betting excepted – or event. If you do, the sportsbook will void the bet. They want to keep a fair and level playing field for all sports bettors. Integrity and trust are the operators’ reputations.

Restrictions

You can’t bet the moneyline and Point Spread Together on the Same Game or a Parlay. You can’t bet in multiples where one part of the bet affects the outcome of the other part of the bet. Sportsbooks believe in self-protection and preventing this type of bet keeps exposure to a minimum on payouts. You Can’t Bet the Point Spread and the Over/Under of The Same Game

MLB Results are Determined After Five Innings

In baseball, weather delays or other interruptions can affect a game’s outcome. According to MLB rules, a game becomes official after five full innings are completed—or 4.5 innings if the home team is leading—meaning the result will stand if the game is called off at that point.

For bettors, most sportsbooks apply their own rules for run line wagers. Typically, in order to cash a winning run line bet, your team must be leading by at least two runs at the time the game is declared final. If the game ends early, your wager is only valid if this condition is met when the result becomes official. If the game goes into extra innings, the same margin applies—your team must win by two runs for the run line bet to pay out.

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Betting on the “next” event, all wagers will be no-actioned

Betting on the next event, and the game concludes, your bet is no-actioned, no bet and declared a push on any sporting events.

If the odds change significantly between the time the bet is placed and the time it is accepted, the book will reject it outright.

If this happens, the sportsbook will ask you to confirm your bet with the updated odds. This is the fair play, equal opportunity principle that guides sportsbooks. Any injury or suspension can cause an underdog to become a favorite for a regular season game.

Terms and Conditions

Legal & Regulatory Requirements

Minimum age requirement: All bettors must be at least 18 years old, though some jurisdictions require you to be 21 or older, depending on local laws.
Identity verification: Sportsbooks require verification of your identity before processing settlements or withdrawals to prevent fraud.
Tax obligations: Bettors are responsible for reporting and paying taxes on any gambling winnings in accordance with local tax laws.
One account per person: Most sportsbooks enforce a strict “one player, one account” policy. Duplicate accounts may be suspended or voided.

Account & Payment Rules

Deposits must belong to you: Sportsbooks only accept funds from the registered account holder. Depositing with third-party funds may be flagged as fraud.
Funds must be confirmed before betting: You cannot place bets until your deposit has been received and confirmed by the sportsbook.
Bet only what you have: You cannot bet more money than you currently have in your account. No credit or margin is extended.
You are responsible for your login details: If someone else uses your credentials to place bets, the sportsbook isn’t liable for any resulting activity.

Wagering Policies & Risk Management

Sportsbooks may limit or reject bets: Operators have the right to accept, limit, or decline any wager at their discretion.
Maximum wager limits may apply: To manage risk, sportsbooks often impose caps on how much you can bet per event before the wager is accepted.
Winning limits: There are often maximum payout thresholds for individual events or games, which vary by sportsbook.
No bet cancellations: Once a wager is confirmed, it typically cannot be canceled. However, some sportsbooks may allow hedging in special cases.
Suspicion of fraud or abuse: If the sportsbook detects nefarious activity, it can suspend or terminate your betting privileges.
Data privacy and confidentiality: Sportsbooks are required to safeguard your personal information but may share limited data with third parties for regulatory, fraud prevention, or analytical purposes.

Sportsbook Betting Rules FAQs

Find answers to common questions bettors like you have when researching which sportsbook to join.

How do fractional odds work in betting?

Fractional odds in betting show the potential return on a bet compared to the stake that you place. For example, if the fractional odds are 2/1, it means that for every $1 you bet, you can win $2 if your bet is successful.

To calculate your potential winnings, simply multiply your stake by the top number in the fraction and then add your original stake to the total. So, in the case of 2/1 odds, a $10 bet would return $30 ($20 in winnings plus your $10 original stake).

Another way to understand fractional odds is to think of them as a ratio of the probability of an event happening to the probability of it not happening. So, 2/1 odds imply a 33.3% chance of a win and a 66.7% chance of a loss.

It’s important to note that fractional odds are most commonly used in the UK and Ireland, while other regions may prefer decimal or American odds.

What are the 10 Golden Rules of Gambling?

No Gambling While (Too) Intoxicated.
No Gambling Without Knowing the Rules.
Don’t Gamble With Money You Don’t Have.
Don’t Gamble to Recover Losses.
No Gambling Because You are Bored.
Don’t Gamble if You Must Lie.
No Gambling Without a Strategy.
No Gambling at Shady Gambling Sites.
No Gambling Without VIP Rewards
Don’t Accept a Promo or Deposit Bonus With Bad Terms

What are the six types of sports bets?

There are many types of sports bets that can be placed, but here are six popular options:
1. Moneyline: This is a bet on which team will win the game outright.
2. Point Spread: This is a bet that takes into account the margin of victory or defeat. The favorite team has to win by a certain amount of points while the underdog team can lose by a specific number of points or win the game outright.
3. Totals: With this bet, the total number of points scored by both teams is taken into account. Bettors can choose whether the final score will be over or under a predetermined number.
4. Futures: These bets are placed far in advance of an event and are made on the outcome of an entire season or championship tournament.
5. Parlay: This is a bet that combines multiple separate wagers into one bet. The bettor must win all the separate bets in order to win the parlay.
6. Proposition Bets: These are bets placed on a specific event or occurrence within a game or sporting event, such as which player will score the first goal or which team will commit the first penalty.

What is the procedure for betting?

The procedure for betting may vary depending on the type of betting you are interested in. However, here are some general steps that are followed in most betting processes:

1. Choose a betting website or platform: There are many online betting platforms available, so choose the one that suits your preferences and requirements.

2. Create an account: Once you have chosen a platform, create a user account by providing your personal and payment details.

3. Choose the sport/event you want to bet on: Browse through the list of available sports and events and select the one you want to bet on.

4. Study the odds: Odds are the chances of a particular outcome, and they determine the amount you can win if you place a successful bet. Take some time to study the odds and understand how they work.

5. Place your bet: Once you have studied the odds, you can place your bet on the outcome you predict.

6. Wait for the outcome: After placing your bet, wait for the outcome of the event. If your prediction is correct, you win the bet and receive your winnings in your account.

It is important to bet responsibly and within your limits to avoid any addiction or financial harm.

What does sportsbook mean?

Sportsbook is a term used for a place that accepts bets on various types of sports events. It is also commonly referred to as a bookie or bookmaker, and they offer odds on different sports games and allow people to place bets on the outcome of those games. These bets include options like point spreads, money lines, and total bets, and people can place bets either online or in-person at a physical sportsbook. The goal of a sportsbook is to provide a platform for people to gamble on various sporting events and make a profit by charging fees on winning bets.

Why is it called a sportsbook?

The term “sportsbook” originated from the traditional method of keeping track of bets in a physical book. In the past, bookmakers would record bets in a ledger or notebook, typically called a “bookie”, hence the term “bookmaker”. Eventually, this led to the term “sportsbook” which simply refers to a location, either physical or online, where bets can be placed on sports events. Today, sportsbooks are still a popular term used to describe places where you can bet on sports.

Are there shootouts in NHL playoff games?

Although physical play and fights can be more intense during NHL playoff games due to the high stakes, shootouts do not occur in the playoffs at all. Unlike the regular season, playoff games continue with full overtime periods until a team scores, making shootouts entirely absent from postseason play. Players remain focused on securing a win through regulation or sudden-death overtime rather than relying on skills competitions like shootouts.

How do American odds work in betting?

American odds are commonly used in sports betting and represent the amount you would win on a $100 bet. Positive American odds indicate the underdog, while negative odds indicate the favorite. For example, if the odds are +200, you would win $200 for a $100 bet, while if the odds are -200, you would need to bet $200 to win $100. The closer the odds are to 0, the closer the matchup is perceived to be. Understanding American odds is important in making informed betting decisions and maximizing your potential winnings.

How do decimal odds work in betting?

Decimal odds are one of the most popular formats for presenting odds in sports betting. They represent the potential return on your bet, including your stake.

For example, if the decimal odds for a particular outcome are 3.00, this means that you stand to win three times your original stake if your bet is successful. So, if you placed a $10 bet and the outcome came in, you would win $30 (your original stake plus $20 profit).

Conversely, if the odds were 1.50, this means that you would only win half of your original stake if your bet was successful. So, a $10 bet would result in a $5 profit on top of your original stake.

In general, the lower the odds, the more likely the outcome is to occur, but the smaller the potential payout. Higher odds represent a greater risk, but also a larger potential reward.

Overall, understanding decimal odds is essential for effective sports betting, as it allows you to make informed decisions about which bets to place and how much to stake.

Does gambling have it's own language?

Yes, gambling does have its own language. Many of the terms used in the industry are specific to gambling and may not be familiar to the general public. Some examples of common gambling terms include “bankroll,” “ante,” “chips,” “house edge,” and “odds.” Specific games, such as poker and blackjack, also have their own unique terminology. It’s important for players to familiarize themselves with these terms to fully understand the rules and strategies of each game. Additionally, there are certain slang terms and phrases that are commonly used among gamblers, such as “whale,” “juice,” and “fade.” These terms may not be recognized by those outside of the gambling community.