As legal sports betting pops up in various states, those new to sports wagering are working on getting up to speed. There’s a lot to take in, the odds to bet types and much more.

While devoting time to pick winning bets seems like an obvious first step, you shouldn’t overlook the rules of sports betting.

Many legal sportsbooks in Illinois share a lot in common regarding guidelines; however, you should watch out for some quirks. Read on as we explore what rules for sports betting you need to know.

Basic sports betting rules in Illinois

First things first, there are specific rules in Illinois when it comes to sports betting. It’s all part of the legislation that was passed in 2019. These rules cover who can legally bet on what sports and so on:

• To wager on sports, users must be 21 years or older.
• Users don’t need to be in-state residents, but they must be within state lines to use Illinois sportsbook apps and websites.
• Wagering is only allowed on sporting events, thus betting on entertainment events like the Oscars is not permitted.
• Betting on in-state college programs online is not allowed, but you are permitted to place bets on other college football and basketball teams. If you wish to bet on in-state college teams, you must do so in person at retail sportsbooks.
• Being employed by a sports league prohibits you from placing bets on that sport.
• An individual listed for self-exclusion in gambling will be unable to participate.

Also, keep in mind that you should always be taking your business to sportsbooks that are legal and regulated in the state. All of our recommended places to play meet those guidelines, and the Illinois Gaming Board keeps an up-to-date list of approved operators online.

What are house rules?

Each legal, regulated sportsbook has a clearly defined set of rules that cover numerous aspects of the book’s operations. Known as the house rules, they lay out what bettors need to know on topics such as placing bets or settlement of results.

All sportsbooks list their house rules on their website. For example, DraftKings Sportsbook has a dedicated section labeled “General Betting Rules,” while BetRivers Sportsbook a “Sportsbetting Rules” link in the page’s footer.

The rules are there so that you know what to expect as a sports bettor. While many of them are basic and relatively standard knowledge for bettors of all experience levels, others are a bit more complex and cover random and unexpected situations that could arise.

For each sportsbook you plan to play on, it’s good practice to review the house rules and any other terms and conditions. By doing so, you’ll not only know what to expect but also potentially save yourself from confusion or frustration when a random occurrences arise.

General sports betting rules

The general betting rules will cover the placement of bets. They outline when bets are considered live action, situations that may lead to changes or voided wagers and much more. Here are the standard rules you need to know:

• As soon as an event begins, all bets placed beforehand are deemed live. However, if the event doesn’t conclude as promoted or is curtailed to an extent that a winner cannot be determined, the bets will be deemed null and will be refunded.
• If a delay or postponement occurs, the bet can still be valid provided the competition is anticipated to finish within a reasonable period, like 24-48 hours. However, if the event gets entirely cancelled, all bets will be nullified and returned.
• The odds and lines of Illinois sportsbook may alter post your betting, however, the numbers posted at the time of placement will remain fixed for you. The sole exception to this would be a total cancellation, resulting in the bet being nullified.
• Bets on player props will be active if the player participates in the game, but will be nullified if the player is removed before the game starts. Bets on future performances of individual players may be nullified if the player suffers a season-ending injury.
• The sportsbook house rules contain the terms and conditions for every type of bet. It’s up to the user to understand these rules. If you make a mistake while placing a bet, you must notify the sportsbook right away, and the issue will be dealt with at their discretion.

Before placing any bet you are unfamiliar with at an online sportsbook or app, you should fully understand the terms and how it will be settled. If you take the time to do that, you’ll gain a sense of whether it works for you and your wagering strategy.

Bet settlement policy

Bet settlement covers all of the ins and outs of how sportsbooks pay out on wagers, such as when bets are official and determination of the final result. Much of what you need to know is straightforward, but unusual circumstances can arise. Here’s some additional information:

• Bets are resolved using official league data and statistics. If a contest is incomplete or not sufficiently finished to determine an outcome, the bet could potentially be cancelled or left open if the game is nearing its conclusion.
• Because outcomes and settlements are determined by official data, the sportsbook will not consider complaints about perceived errors in judgment or bad calls. The outcome stands as it is, whether it’s favorable or not.
• If you place spreads and totals wagers that exactly match the number at sportsbooks – say a spread of three points, or a total of 204 points – they will consider it as pushes. In such cases, there is no winner, and you’ll get your bet amount refunded. You can consider this as a tie when keeping track.
• Bets are settled by sportsbooks according to the odds at the time the wager was placed. Any subsequent changes in the odds will not impact the potential payout of your bet.
• Sportsbooks will only finalize futures bets once the outcome is officially recorded, so it’s essential to maintain a long-term outlook. If an entire event or season is fully cancelled, the sportsbook will invalidate the bet and provide a refund.

For same-day events, settlement happens quickly after the event becomes official. In the event of a multi-day competition, the sportsbook will settle the bet upon total completion. On futures wagers, the result needs to be final before you receive a payout on any winning tickets.

Sports betting terms and conditions

The sportsbook terms and conditions can be all-encompassing and touch on a number of categories. However, there are also some things to know:

• The sportsbook has the authority to cancel bets placed at odds that were mistakenly posted. While it’s not a frequent occurrence, even the sportsbook can make errors occasionally.
• Should a customer have a grievance with a book, the initial course of action should be to seek resolution through the provided customer service channels. If necessary, lodging a complaint with the Illinois state gambling board is also an option.
• If a sportsbook determines that a customer is not qualified to play—for instance, they are underage, banned or prohibited—the customer’s account will be deactivated. If this occurs due to a mistake by the sportsbook, it would be reasonable for you to seek a solution.
• The sportsbook will nullify any bets placed by customers after the event has started or after the chance has passed with live sports betting. Therefore, the sportsbook is not responsible for any payouts for such bets.
• Betting as a syndicate, where multiple users collaborate to make a series of bets, is not allowed. If the sportsbook suspects that you’re involved in such activities, they have the right to put your account on hold until a thorough investigation is conducted.

Terms and conditions at online sportsbooks and apps are lengthy and filled with legalese. As such, many users don’t take the time to digest what they say fully. You should take the time to do so, either at the time of account creation or soon thereafter.

Other sportsbook rules and regulations

The previous three categories cover the majority of what you need to know. That said, it’s important to keep in mind that there may be some anomalies that come up that all sportsbooks don’t treat the same. Examples include:

• What portion of the game must be finished for the sportsbook to deem it official?
• How the sportsbook manages player props for injuries that occur during a game.
• The duration of postponements or delays for which it will still regard bets as active.

After you gain a bit of seasoning, it’s normal to find that sports betting is pretty routine and what happens is par for the course. That said, strange situations can and will pop up, so it’s a good idea to educate yourself on how the sportsbook handles such things.

Betting rules for different sports

In addition to the general house rules, sportsbooks will also have regulations in place for individual sports. Much like with the other rules, terms and conditions, it’s typically lengthy and filled with lawyer-speak.

Naturally, the rules protect the sportsbook from liability, but there are some key bits of information on how the book handles bets and settlements when it comes to the major sports. Here are some of the highlights:

• Review the procedures of the sportsbook regarding player props for football (NFL/NCAA) and basketball (NBA/NCAA) players who do not dress for or participate in a game, or who sustain injuries during a game.
• Baseball (MLB): Different types of bets are available, including the option of a listed pitcher. Therefore, ensure to review before submitting.
• NHL Hockey: Bets can be placed based on regulation time alone or can include extra time. Always make sure to review before making hockey bets.
• Soccer: Besides simply betting on who will win, there’s also a “draw no bet” option. In this scenario, if a soccer game ends in a tie, the bet is considered a “push” and is treated as if it never happened.
• Golf: To settle bets, most books necessitate the completion of at least 36 holes in a tournament.
• Tennis: For most tennis bets to be deemed official by the sportsbook, at least one set needs to be completed.
• NASCAR: Official rulings by the governing body will settle races that have been shortened due to weather or other events.
• Betting on Fighting (UFC/Boxing/MMA): If a fight is postponed, bets can still be active for up to 30 days. However, if a fighter is replaced, all bets become null and void.

While these rules cover many of the top situations you have to watch out for, we must stress the importance of reviewing the rules of the sportsbook. Sportsbooks take great pains to dot all of the i’s and cross all of the t’s, so the answer to those unexpected and unforeseen circumstances are almost always covered.

Bottom line on sports betting rules 

Just as there are rules for each of the games and events you can wager on at legal, regulated sportsbooks, there are also rules for betting. Sportsbooks keep a full set of house rules on-site, as well as general terms and conditions.

The responsibility of knowing how things work falls on you. The top online sportsbooks do a decent job of laying out all the information. You’ll usually see a dedicated section for house rules and terms and conditions with info also available in the help area.

By taking the time to familiarize yourself with the workings, you can save yourself some confusion — and potentially even frustration — down the road. While many sports betting results and happenings are clear, others aren’t always as apparent.