MLB Betting Rules: Knowing The Game Means Knowing Rules
by Bodog Sportsbook

Don't make the mistake of placing a wager without knowing the rules. There's no disappointment like the letdown from thinking you have won a wager only to find out the rules say otherwise. As always, the smart bettor knows the game and knows the rules.

Know the Game

It's that time of the year again: It's getting warmer, the days are getting longer, and it's time to grab a couple cold ones and fire up the barbeque grill, because the "Boys of the Summer" are at it again. Welcome back Major League baseball, welcome back.

As America's national pastime moves into full swing; for all those who love betting on baseball, Bodog Sportsbook invites you to step up to the plate and get into the action.

Bodog Sportsbook is providing a number of different avenues for you to get your baseball betting fix. Bodog Live Baseball betting puts you right into the game as it allows you to bet in real time on a play-by-play basis. The Bodog Sportsbook also offers spreads, totals and moneylines on a daily basis for Major League Baseball games, where you can put your baseball knowledge to the test.

Know the Rules

When betting on Major League Baseball a number of different factors can affect the outcome of the game, and more importantly, your wager. No, we're not talking about the starting pitcher wearing a garter belt instead of a jock strap, or players getting a little pre-game "nook" like in the movie Bull Durham.
Check that, the classic movie Bull Durham is more of an appropriate title; we know you baseball junkies feel us on that. But, we're talking about rain delays, pitching changes and suspended games. There are certain rules in every Sportsbook that account for these factors and each bettor should be familiar with them before placing a wager.

Key Rules

Most of baseball's wagering rules are common knowledge and are fairly straightforward across the board. However, there are some key rules that one should keep in mind.

When wagering on the runline or total, both listed pitchers must start the game (i.e., they must throw at least one pitch before a pitching change occurs) for your wager to have action. If they don't, your money will be refunded.

Runlines and totals are considered directly related to the respective starting pitchers for obvious reasons, so any changes made to the rotation prior to the game will cause these types of wagers to be deemed no action. When betting on baseball moneylines, it can get a little more complicated.

Betting On Baseball Moneylines

When wagering on the moneyline in baseball, you can specify whether both of the listed pitchers, one listed pitcher or neither listed pitcher must start the game for your wager to have action. In this case, a start means that the listed pitcher must throw the first pitch.

To illustrate this clearly, consider the following moneyline wager:

Team Moneyline Pitcher
Boston +130 Lester
New York -140 Wang

It is your responsibility to independently verify the starting pitchers for each baseball game you place a wager on. When you are actually placing the wager there will be check boxes beside each pitcher. You can specify none, one, or both of the check boxes. Using the above example, let's say you have specified Boston pitcher Lester in your wager; any pitching changes involving Lester will deem the wager as No Action. If the pitching change does not involve the specified pitcher or pitchers, or if you have elected to not specify any pitchers (Action Wager), the odds and payout amount of your wager may not be the same as at the time of the placement of the wager. The odds and payout amounts will be re-adjusted to reflect the new pitching change based on the opening line of the updated pitching change.

Officially Official

Baseball games don't have to go the full 9 innings to completion for your wagers to have action. Games are official for wagering purposes on the moneyline after 5 innings or 4.5 innings if the home team is winning.

However, when you are betting on the runline or totals, the game is official for wagering purposes after 9 innings or 8.5 if the home team is winning. If a baseball game is called or suspended, the winner is determined by the score after the last full inning of play. But hold on, if the home team scores to tie or take the lead in the bottom half of the inning, in this case, the winner is determined by the score at the time the game is called. Your money is refunded
if the home team ties the game and then it is suspended.

Here is where it can get a little complicated if you are not familiar with the Sportsbook rules on how a suspended or delayed baseball game is settled.

Suspended games do not carry over to the following day or a later date. If a baseball game goes 9 or more innings and is not officially completed, as in, it has been suspended due to rain, darkness, earthquakes, hurricanes etc, wagers on the runline and total still have action.

If ever a situation occurs and you are unsure of how your wager will be settled, a complete and detailed run down of all of the Bodog Sportsbook baseball betting rules are also available in the Sportsbook Help section for reference.