MLB Betting Rules at MA Sportsbooks

With the recent legalization of regulated online sports betting in Massachusetts, Boston Red Sox enthusiasts can now engage in legal betting on their beloved team (as well as numerous other options).

This is a brief guide that outlines the fundamental regulations of betting on MLB games at online sportsbooks.

When does an MLB bet “have action?”

In order for the MLB bet to be valid, the outcome must be officially recognized. Unless the sportsbook explicitly states otherwise, any game with an official result will be honored.

In order for bets to be considered valid, the inning or innings specified, such as the first five innings, must be officially completed during the game. Additionally, sportsbooks have the authority to reject a bet or refuse to pay out winnings for various reasons, including any mistakes made by the sportsbook itself.

Basic MLB betting rules in Massachusetts

During the MLB season, unforeseen circumstances like venue changes, game postponements, or suspensions may affect baseball games. In such cases, the following rules apply to MLB sportsbooks.

Rules for date or venue changes

The MGM sportsbook, alongside other prominent sportsbooks, typically upholds the condition that regular-season games must occur as scheduled and at the designated venue for bets to remain valid. In the event of any changes, they generally provide refunds to bettors.

If the home team remains the same, certain establishments such as DraftKings prioritize the home team label over the actual venue. Consequently, any bets placed may still be valid even if the location of the game changes.

Rules for shortened or canceled MLB games

Every season, baseball teams often have their games cut short or suspended because of bad weather. According to MLB rules, a game is considered official if it reaches 5.0 innings, or 4.5 innings if the home team is winning. Most moneyline bets remain valid as long as the game lasts this minimum requirement. For example, if you correctly bet on the winner of a game that gets rained out after seven complete innings, you will likely receive your payout.

The determination of payouts for run totals and run lines is up to the sportsbook. They may choose to consider all nine innings or only 8.5 innings if the home team is winning. In the case of suspended games, if they resume within a set timeframe, the bets usually remain valid. However, if the game doesn’t resume within that timeframe, the sportsbook might cancel the bets and provide refunds, following its specific baseball betting rules.

In the event of a canceled or postponed game, all bets will be refunded. Additionally, if a game commences but fails to resume or concludes after a break in play, the sportsbook reserves the right to void and refund bets as deemed appropriate.

Rules for shortened seasons

If the regular season is shortened, the validity of futures bets placed on a team’s win total depends on the number of games required by the sportsbook for the bet to remain active. Typically, this requirement represents a certain percentage of the full season. For instance, at DraftKings, it stands at 98% of the team’s originally scheduled games.

Most futures bets, such as bets on division winners, league winners, and the World Series champion, will generally remain valid even if the season is shortened, as long as it concludes and progresses to the playoffs.

MLB betting rules by wager type

Before placing your bets at the sportsbook, it is important to familiarize yourself with the various methods of betting on baseball games and the specific rules that apply to each. Here, we outline the key rules and regulations for MLB betting.

Point spread

Spread bets in MLB are commonly referred to as “run line” bets, with the typical run line being set at 1.5.

In the case where the Red Sox are favored by -1.5 against the Baltimore Orioles, they need to secure a victory with a margin of at least two runs in order to fulfill the bet requirements. Conversely, if they are given a +1.5 advantage, they would still cover the bet if they either lose by only one run or emerge victorious in the game. In the event of extra innings in a game, the final score is taken into consideration for the bet.

Moneyline

A moneyline bet involves selecting a team to win, irrespective of the score difference. The final outcome includes extra innings, except when the bet was specifically for the first nine innings.

Over/under

Also referred to as totals, these wagers involve predicting the combined number of runs in a game. The objective is to bet on whether the total runs will be below or above a predetermined line set by the sportsbook. Furthermore, all runs scored during extra innings contribute to the overall run total of the game. Additionally, it is possible to place over/under bets on the total number of wins for an entire season.

Live betting

During a game, the odds can change and players have the opportunity to place live bets on these shifting odds. Live bets typically follow the same rules as pre-game bets. For a bet to be valid, the game must be considered official, and any outcomes occurring in extra innings are included in the final results.

Extra inning betting

Unless otherwise specified by the sportsbook, extra innings will be considered for all bets placed on a game. In the event of a shortened or suspended game that occurs during extra innings, the same MLB house rules will apply as they would for any regular game.

Parlays & same-game parlays

In order for a parlay bet (including same game parlays) to be successful, every leg of the bet must result in a win, unless the sportsbook has specified alternative rules. If the sportsbook declares one leg of the parlay void, the entire parlay may be canceled. Alternatively, the sportsbook might choose to remove that specific portion of the parlay and adjust the overall odds for the remaining legs.

Game and player prop rules

Typically, prop bets in games necessitate the game to either become official or reach a specific point, unless the bet is unaffected by the game’s duration. In the event that the game fails to reach the required number of innings, the bet would be considered void and would likely lead to a refund.

MLB player props are considered official by the sportsbook if the player meets the appearance requirement, which is usually one pitch thrown for pitchers or one plate appearance for position players. These bets are typically governed by the official game rules, unless the duration of the game does not affect the bet.

Grading bets, procedures for returned/pushed bets

A graded bet refers to a wager that a sportsbook categorizes as either a win, loss, or push. Payouts are not issued until the sportsbook has evaluated the outcome of the bet. In the case of games, this evaluation occurs only after the final out. However, for futures bets like division winners, the evaluation process typically extends until the end of the season, even if the result appears to be inevitable.

Prop bets that have multiple interpretations can pose a challenge when it comes to determining the outcome. Opting for legal sportsbooks in Massachusetts is a wiser choice in such cases, as they are obligated by law to adhere to fairness and transparency standards. In the event of ambiguity, these sportsbooks prefer to issue refunds rather than face legal consequences. Additionally, resolving disputed bets in favor of the bettor can lead to positive publicity for the sportsbook.

In February 2022, a notable incident occurred involving Nikola Jokic from the Denver Nuggets. A stat correction revealed that he had achieved a triple-double two days after the actual game took place. FanDuel Sportsbook garnered appreciation for honoring affected bets as wins, distinguishing themselves from competitors who did not do the same.

What happens when sportsbooks make mistakes?

Occasionally, sportsbooks may commit errors by mistakenly displaying inaccurate sports lines and odds. However, they take responsibility for these mistakes and rectify them by providing a refund. Nevertheless, if an error remains undetected until after the game, it is unlikely that any payout will be granted.

Sportsbooks have implemented specific measures to safeguard themselves against such errors. Therefore, if you come across the Red Sox being labeled as 15-run underdogs, it’s unlikely that you will reap any benefits unless the sportsbook decides to be exceptionally generous.

In some instances, sportsbooks have been known to honor erroneous odds. Such an incident took place in 2018, when a technical malfunction enabled an individual to place a bet on the Denver Broncos winning at odds of 750-1. While FanDuel had the legal option to invalidate the bet, they chose to pay out the winnings instead.

What happens when stats change after the game?

If there are retroactive changes to the stats, the corresponding bets may also be affected. For instance, during a Red Sox game, a player might initially reach first base due to an error. However, the official scorer could later alter that error to a hit. In such cases, the sportsbooks have the option to modify the outcome of the bet, either resulting in a win or offering refunds. Alternatively, they may choose to uphold the initial outcome of the bet.

What are correlated plays, and why can’t you make them?

Correlated plays involve paired bets where the result of one significantly impacts the result of the other.

If the Red Sox were considered underdogs according to the betting odds, you would not be able to place bets on both their moneyline and run line. Whenever an underdog wins on the moneyline, it automatically covers the run line under all circumstances. Sportsbooks eliminate correlated options to minimize their risk when offering bets.

What are the rules for minimum and maximum MLB bets?

The range of allowable bets is determined by the specific sportsbook and the type of wager being placed. For instance, at BetMGM, the minimum bet can be as low as $0.50, while FanDuel requires a minimum bet of $5. Certain sportsbooks may not have set limits on bet amounts, but they retain the right to decline a bet at their own discretion.

Rules for bonus bets and other bonuses

Sportsbooks entice new customers with exclusive promotions like site credit and bonus bets. However, upon signing up, immediate withdrawal of winnings is typically not allowed. Each sportsbook sets its own playthrough requirements for customers to meet before being able to withdraw their funds.

• The BetMGM MA Sportsbook bonus offers a refundable first bet of up to $1,000. To receive the refund, you need to meet a 1x playthrough requirement on the refunded amount.
• The DraftKings MA bonus offers a first deposit match of up to $1,000, with a playthrough requirement of 25x on the bonus funds.
• The BetRivers MA Sportsbook bonus offers a first deposit match of up to $500, with a 1x playthrough requirement on the bonus funds.

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