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Boston Bruins fans can now place bets on their beloved hometown hockey heroes, as online sports betting has been legalized in Massachusetts.
To avoid losing money due to misconceptions about sportsbook rules, it is important to familiarize yourself with the regulations concerning NHL betting odds. Below is a brief guide outlining the fundamental rules set by sportsbooks for NHL bets.
What is necessary for an NHL bet to have action?
In order for NHL games to be considered official by sportsbooks, a minimum of 55 minutes of play must have passed. Unless specifically stated otherwise by the sportsbook, any bets placed on an NHL match that has reached the 55-minute mark and has produced a result should remain valid.
In order for all bets on a specific period to be valid, the full duration of 20 minutes must transpire. Similarly, for any futures bet to be considered valid, a certain portion of the season must have elapsed, unless it is a percentage-based bet.
If a sportsbook cancels a bet for any reason, it is considered as “no action.” For instance, if a futures bet is placed on a team’s total wins but the team fails to reach the required minimum games, the bet becomes void. Additionally, sportsbooks possess the authority to reject bets for various reasons, such as suspicious behavior or mistakes.
Basic NHL betting rules
These are the fundamental regulations for placing bets on the NHL at online betting platforms in Massachusetts:
Date or venue changes
Regular-season NHL games must be played on the scheduled date and at the designated location. Failure to do so will result in the sportsbook voiding any bets placed on that day’s game. For instance, if the Boston Bruins are required to play an unexpected game in Hartford, Connecticut, instead of TD Garden, any bets made on the original game will be nullified.
Shortened or canceled games
If a game is canceled or suspended, the validity of bets may vary depending on the sportsbook. Some sportsbooks allow bets to remain valid if the game continues within a specified time frame, which could be 24 or 72 hours. However, if the game’s date changes beyond the sportsbook’s time constraints, the bet will be voided.
The regulations for NHL player prop odds vary among different sportsbooks. Certain establishments may consider the bet valid if the player has officially participated in a shortened game or contributed to a non-time-dependent bet, like scoring a goal in the match.
Unless stated otherwise by the sportsbook, any NHL player proposition bet involving a player who hasn’t played in a shortened game will be considered void. Bets related to games under 55 minutes in duration may also be deemed void.
Shortened seasons
Futures bets tied to a season that is cut short are typically subject to the discretion of the sportsbook. If the sportsbook specifies that all of a team’s scheduled games must be completed for the bet to be valid, the bet will not be considered. However, if a lower percentage is stated, the bet will remain active as long as the team has played at least that number of games.
As long as the series or season is completed, bets on conference champions, division winners, and the ultimate Stanley Cup winner remain valid, even in a shortened season. Nevertheless, the rules of the sportsbook may be subject to change in the event of a shortened playoff series.
NHL betting rules by wager
Below are the guidelines for placing bets on NHL hockey games, specifically focusing on the main types of wagers:
Puck lines
The puck line bet in hockey is similar to a spread bet. For instance, if the Bruins are favored with odds of -1.5 goals, they need to win by at least two goals for puck line bets on them to be successful. However, if the Bruins are considered underdogs with odds of +1.5, they can cover the spread by winning the game outright or even by losing by just one goal. It is common for puck line bets to have a standard line set at 1.5 goals.
Moneylines
In order to win a moneyline bet on a team, the team must emerge victorious in the game. Unless stated otherwise, overtime and shootouts are considered when determining the outcome. However, it is important to note that in a shootout, the winning team is only awarded one goal towards their overall score, rather than the actual number of goals scored during the shootout.
Over/unders
Betting on over/unders involves predicting the total number of goals scored by both teams in a game, including any goals scored during overtime periods or shootouts. Once a game enters overtime or a shootout, it is guaranteed that there will be at least one more goal added to the total count.
Live bets
For each specific period, any live bets you make will only apply to that particular period. Additionally, the bet will only be considered valid if the period is played until the end. Unless otherwise specified by the sportsbook, bets made for the third period do not extend into overtime periods.
Most team-based bets, like predicting the next team to score, include the results of overtime and shootouts. Yet, when it comes to a player’s statistics, goals scored during shootouts are not taken into account, unlike goals scored during overtime.
Overtime betting
If you place a bet on a game, the outcome of subsequent overtime and shootout will be taken into account, unless you bet on a draw option or an “in regulation time” option. If the game is postponed during overtime or a shootout, the same rules that apply to any other shortened game will generally be followed.
Parlays and same-game parlays
In the event that a sportsbook cancels any portion of a parlay or same-game parlay, the remaining legs of the bet may still be active. However, the odds will be adjusted to accommodate the missing leg.
If a player joins a game at any time, they are eligible for a period-specific bet, regardless of whether they can actually play during that particular period. For instance, if you place a bet on a player to score a goal in the third period, the bet will be invalidated if the player you bet on leaves the game in the first period due to injury or ejection.
Game and player props
The rules for prop bets on specific games are identical to those for any other NHL game bets. In the event that a game is incomplete but an incident has taken place, the sportsbook reserves the right to invalidate the bet.
Player props are settled using official data and statistics from the NHL. If a player is ruled out by their team before the game, sportsbooks will remove any props related to that player from their offerings. Injuries and playing time do not impact the bet, meaning it becomes active as soon as the player steps onto the ice.
How sportsbooks grade NHL bets
A graded bet refers to a bet that a sportsbook categorizes as either a win, loss, or a push. The payout is not determined until the sportsbook grades the bet. In the case of a game, this grading occurs after the game clock reaches zero. However, for future bets, the grading typically occurs at the end of the season, regardless of whether the bet is already a winner before that point. Prop bets can sometimes present challenges in grading due to their ambiguous nature.
In scenarios like these, legal sportsbooks offer a higher level of safety as they are obligated to adhere to laws that ensure fairness and transparency. Moreover, a legal sportsbook may also appreciate the positive publicity that comes with honoring disputed bets.
What happens when sportsbooks make mistakes?
In the event that a sportsbook publishes inaccurate betting odds, a number of outcomes can occur. The most probable scenario involves the bookmaker rectifying the error and either providing a refund or refusing to pay out if the mistake was not detected until after bettors had already emerged victorious. Sportsbooks typically implement precautionary measures to safeguard themselves against such errors. Occasionally, individuals may be fortunate enough to receive the full payout despite the discrepancy, as the sportsbook may choose to award it to them.
In January 2022, a notable incident occurred involving Draymond Green from the Golden State Warriors. Despite being injured, Green chose to participate in a game to commemorate Klay Thompson’s comeback from injury. Aware of his limited playing time, bettors placed under bets on Green-related propositions since sportsbooks still offered options for him.
Despite Green not logging a full minute of playing time, BetMGM and FanDuel still honored all winning bets by paying them out in full.
What happens to bets when stats change after the game?
When there are changes in statistics, all bets are based on official stats. If a player is awarded an assist after the fact, a losing bet can be transformed into a winning one. However, it is at the discretion of the sportsbook whether to honor the initial decision or retrospectively pay out winning tickets.
What are correlated plays, and why can’t you make them?
Correlated plays refer to the strategy of placing two bets that are closely interconnected. In essence, if one of the bets turns out to be successful, there is a high probability that the second one will also be. For instance, a correlated play could involve combining the Bruins as underdogs on both the moneyline and the puck line in a parlay.
If Boston, or any team considered the underdog, manages to win on the moneyline, they would also need to cover the puck line. Sportsbooks generally avoid accepting correlated plays as it may result in financial loss for them.
What are minimum and maximum bets for the NHL?
Sportsbooks typically impose both a minimum and maximum wager amount, subject to variation based on the bookmaker and the specific bet being placed.
For instance, BetMGM allows bets as low as $0.50, whereas FanDuel requires a minimum bet of $5. Although BetMGM does not impose a maximum bet limit, sportsbooks reserve the right to decline excessively large bets at their discretion.
Rules for sportsbook bonuses
Sportsbooks often offer enticing promotions, like deposit bonuses, to attract new customers. However, it is important to note that bettors cannot immediately withdraw the bonus funds. Generally, sportsbooks require you to place bets totaling a certain multiple of the bonus amount (which can range from 1x to higher) before you can claim the money and any associated winnings as your own.
- The FanDuel MA Sportsbook bonus allows you to receive a refund on your first bet, up to a maximum of $1,000.
- Caesars MA Sportsbook offers a bonus of up to $1,250 as insurance for your first bet.
- The BetMGM MA Sportsbook bonus offers a refundable first bet of up to $1,000.
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