If you’re used to American sports, you may be unfamiliar with the concept of a tie, as most games don’t allow games to end in a draw. If games end with level scores, games like hockey, football, and basketball will go into overtime to ensure a decisive result.
However, in European sports, such as soccer, ties are a part of the game and can even be bet on before and during the match. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of ties in sports betting, don’t worry; we’re here to give you everything you need to know, including the types you’ll come across, as well as helpful tips for navigating them in your bets.
What Is a Tie In Sports Betting?
A tie in sports betting is when two teams finish on equal points at the end of the game. In some sports, this means that the teams keep playing until a winner is determined, but in some sports, the game is over, regardless of whether or not the teams are level on points. This will have ramifications depending on the type of bet you make. If you bet on a team to win in a sport where ties are allowed at the end of the game, your bet will be considered a loss.
However, if your bookmaker does not offer the option to bet on the tie and the game ends in a tie, the bet will be considered a dead heat, which means the bet will be paid out at half the stakes of the original bet. For example, if you bet $10 at NFL odds of 20/1 and the bet is considered a dead heat, your bet will be calculated as a $5 bet at 20/1, meaning you will receive $105 ($100 profit plus the original $5 bet). This decision is at the bookmaker’s discretion; each online sports betting site will have different terms and conditions around this phenomenon.
A sports betting tie can also refer to any event where points are considered level at the end of the event. For example, if you bet on an NFL team with a handicap of -5 points and they win by a score of 30-25, they’ll have won by exactly five points. This means the final NFL score after the handicap is 30-30, making the game a tie.
Types of Ties in Sports Betting
Now that we know what a tie in sports betting is, let’s look at how it can affect different bets we’re likely to make.
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Tips For Navigating Ties in Sports Betting
As you can see, sometimes the tie can work for you, and sometimes it can work against you. If you want to ensure you’re always on the positive side, follow these helpful tips.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Ties in Sports Betting?
While ties in sports betting are sometimes necessary due to the nature of the competition, they’re not always best for sports bettors. Here are some of the pros and cons of ties in sports betting.
🔷 Pros:
In most games, the betting odds of the game ending in a tie are at least +200. This additional option gives players a solid bet with good returns.
If the result can end in a tie and bookmakers offer it as an option, it gives bettors more choice when making their pre-match predictions.
If a match can end in a tie, there is a set amount of time in which the game will take place. This allows people to plan their days around the event, knowing that whatever the result, it will be over by a certain time.
🔶 Cons:
If your handicap bet ends in a tie, it can be confusing as to whether or not you’ve won the bet. However, any team in a handicap bet needs to win by more than the handicap to win the bet, and if the game ends in a tie after the handicap is applied, they haven’t won the game.
If a game can end in a tie, it reduces the bettor’s odds of winning. For example, if teams are evenly matched, there’s a 50/50 chance that either side will win if the game does not allow a draw. However, if there is an equal chance of the game ending in victory for either side or a draw after the allotted time, then anyone who makes a bet only has a 33% chance of winning.
While most bookmakers consider a tie to be a loss on a moneyline or handicap bet, some bookmakers will mark this result as a push if they do not give the option to bet on the tie. This makes things confusing for players and forces them to check the rules of each site before making a bet.
Why You Should Be Aware of Ties in Sports Betting
You should always be aware of how a tie will impact your bet in sports betting, as different sports have different rules around tied games. Some sports will end the game regardless of whether or not the game is tied, so if you bet on a team to win the game, your bet will be marked as a loser. It also affects handicap betting, as some handicaps can result in a tie if a team wins by a certain margin.
