How Football Betting Works: Match Odds, Handicap, Draw No Bet, and Settlement rules

How football betting works: match odds, handicap, draw No Bet, and settlement rules

Football betting includes several common markets that determine how bets are placed and settled.

The most widely used options include Match Odds (1X2), Handicap betting, and Draw No Bet, each offering a different way to predict the outcome of a match.

This guide explains how these betting markets work and how results are settled based on regular time (full time).

 

What does Match Odds mean?

Match Odds (also called 1X2) is a market where customers bet on the final result of a sporting event.

The available selections are:

• Home team win
• Draw
• Away team win

The bet wins if the selected outcome occurs by the end of the event.

 

How does Match Odds work?

Match Odds is the standard way to bet on football or other sports with three possible outcomes.

For example, in a match between Argentina and Croatia:

• A bet on Argentina to win pays out if Argentina wins.
• A bet on Draw pays out if the match ends level.
• A bet on Croatia to win pays out if Croatia wins.

 

How are Match Odds bets settled?

Match Odds bets are usually settled at the end of regular time (full-time), unless specified otherwise.

Some related markets adjust the outcome rules:

• Handicap: One team is given a virtual advantage or disadvantage to balance odds.
• Draw No Bet: The stake is returned if the match ends in a draw.

What is Handicap betting?

Handicap betting adjusts the odds by giving a virtual advantage to one team and a virtual disadvantage to the other.

This bet type is also called European Handicap or 3-way handicap and may appear as Handicap Match Result (No Void).

 

How does Handicap betting work

In a Handicap bet, one team starts with a virtual score advantage or disadvantage.

Example: If a team is given a +1 goal handicap, that team starts the match with a one-goal virtual advantage.

The bet is settled based on the adjusted score, not the actual score at the end of the match.

What is Draw No Bet?

Draw No Bet is a market where the draw outcome is removed.

You can only place a bet on the:

• Home team
• Away team

 

How does Draw No Bet work?

The bet wins if the selected team wins the match.

If the match ends in a draw, the stake is returned.

The bet loses if the selected team loses.

How does Draw No Bet affect odds and risk?

Standard bets on the Home or Away team include the risk of a draw in the odds.

Draw No Bet removes the draw outcome, reducing the risk of losing due to a draw.

If the match ends in a draw, the bet is voided and the stake is returned.

If the selected team loses, the bet is settled as a loss.

 

How does 'Draw No Bet' work in accumulator bets?

If a Draw No Bet selection is part of an accumulator bet and the match ends in a draw:

• that leg is voided
• the leg is settled at odds of 1.0
• the total number of active legs is reduced

Example:

A five-fold accumulator with one Draw No Bet leg ending in a draw becomes a four-fold accumulator.

This allows the remaining legs to continue for a possible payout.

 

What do 'Regular Time' and 'Full Time' mean?

Regular Time and Full Time refer to the standard 90-minute duration of a football match.

A match consists of:

• two 45-minute halves
• injury time added by the referee

 

How sports bets are settled using Regular Time?

Sports bets are normally settled based on the result at the end of Regular Time (Full Time).

Regular Time includes:

• The first 45-minute half
• The second 45-minute half
• Injury time added by the referee

Extra time and penalty shootouts are not included unless the betting market specifically states otherwise.

 

Are there exception for friendly matches?

Yes. Friendly matches may not always follow the standard 90-minute format.

For friendly matches, bets are settled based on the final result of the match, even if the match does not last the full 90 minutes.

PokerStars reserves the right to void bets if a match is played using a format that differs from the standard match structure.

 

What is the official rule for Regular Time settlement?

Sports betting rules state:

“Results will be taken after full time, including any injury time added by the referee. Extra time and penalty shootouts will be excluded unless stated otherwise.”

 

Where can I find the Sports betting rules?

You can find the full betting rules in the Sports Rules section.

To access the Sports rules:

1. Go to the main Sports page on the website.
2. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
3. Select 'Sports Rules'.

The Sports Rules section provides the general betting rules and sport-specific rules.

How can I view rules for specific sports?

Sport-specific rules are available within the Sports Rules section.

To view rules for a specific sport:

1. Open the Sports Rules page.
2. Select 'Games'.
3. Choose a sport from the drop-down menu.

The page will display the betting rules for the selected sport.