Have you made a bet that specifies a particular period of the game and some outcome contained within that period? A highest-scoring quarter bet or something similar? If you’re not sure then see our article ‘NBA quarter betting strategy’ for a better understanding of this.
And you should probably pay more attention to the bets you’re making!
Just saying…
If the answer is “no” then overtime (OT) counts as part of the NBA game for the purposes of your bet. The match ends when the final whistle blows and one team is declared the winner.
IT’S PRETTY MUCH AS SIMPLE AS THAT!
The NBA is fairly unusual when compared with a lot of other sports in that there is always a winning side and a losing side.
There cannot be a draw or tie.
If the deadlock cannot be broken during the scheduled game time then they simply play on until it is.
This applies to NBA games and college basketball games alike.
Depending on the kind of bet you have placed, overtime can be a bonus or a nightmare.
What if you’ve made an over/under bet and chosen the under?
YIKES
All that extra playing time pushes the score ever higher and threatens to derail your wager.
The reverse is also true and it pays to take note of a team’s tendency to take games into overtime when you are assessing your options and making bets.
THIS RATIONALE ALSO APPLIES TO PLAYER AND TEAM PROPS BETS
What if you’ve taken a punt on Rudy Gobert to claim more than 10 rebounds in a particular game (which he does regularly) but he’s had an off day? If overtime kicks in then your bet still has a chance to come good.
Straight or money line bets are not affected by the extra time played. You put your money on the team you hope will be the winner and sit back and watch.
How long it takes them to get there, or how much they win by is immaterial.
On the other hand, if you’ve placed a line or point spread bet then the extra time might play a role. It gives either side chance to cover the spread if they weren’t already doing so. Any handicap bet is kept alive by the extra time played.
Let’s say you’ve got a bit of action on the Hawks to beat the Pelicans by 6 points. If they’re level at full time then that bet is still a potential winner if they can pull away in overtime.
Let’s have a look at the exact wording of the rules and gambling regulations that are affected by overtime.
BASKETBALL BETTING RULES
“Action” refers to a situation where the basketball rules regarding wagering have been satisfactorily met and any bet on that action is considered valid and complete. If a game meets the action criteria then all bets remain valid and are either lost or paid out as required.
The game in question must take place on the listed date in the agreed and published location.
NBA games must pass 43 minutes in length. Any game that is called before 43 minutes have expired will be graded as “No Action” and any and all wagers will be returned.
NCAA college basketball games and WNBA games must surpass 35 minutes to qualify for action. Any game called before 35 minutes is complete will be graded “No Action” and any and all wagers will be returned
Any and all overtime counts towards sides, totals, money lines, and 2nd half wagers.
First half betting: The first half must be completed for wagers to be deemed to have action.
Second half betting: NBA games must fulfill the 43-minute criteria in order to be said to have action. Overtime counts towards 2nd half wagers.
Quarter betting: The quarter must be completed in full for any wager to have action, the 4th quarter does not include overtime.
TEAM/PLAYER PROPS
Props are accepted as single wagers only.
Props include overtime unless otherwise specified. Wagers on the highest-scoring quarter and the team with the highest-scoring quarter do not include overtime.
Where player and team prop bets involve statistical totals, games must be proven to be official. If not then any and all wagers will be deemed to have no action.
Any bets involving a race to a certain number of points will have action after the total has been reached.
Double Result. These bets are graded using the results at half-time and the final game result. Overtime is included.
FUTURES
Teams must play at least 68 games for futures action to be valid. Team relocations or venue changes do not affect wagers of this kind and they will remain valid.
NBA Tie Break rules apply when determining Divisional winners.
The team to win the conference is the team that represents the conference in the NBA Finals.
Future wagers will be graded once the designated number of games has been completed.
There are other criteria regarding the validity and action of NBA betting but these are the most pertinent to the question about the question “does overtime count?”
Let’s take a closer look at the most common types of basketball betting.
Click here to read our article on NBA Betting Resources, where we take a look at some sensible tactics to employ when it comes to your highly-successful, exhilarating gambling exploits.
BASKETBALL MAIN BETS
Unless otherwise stated, it will be assumed that any action (where physically possible) will include any and all overtime (OT) played.
SPREAD BETS
Your betting options are Home / Away
The goal is to predict whether either team will cover the specified point spread for the match.
Overtime is included (unless otherwise specified)
Total
Your bet options are Over / Under
The goal is to predict whether the total points scored (combined for both teams in the entire game) will be more than or less than the specified figure.
Overtime is included.
QUARTER SPREADS
First Quarter – Spread
Your bet options are Home; Away
The goal is to predict whether either team will cover the specified point spread for the 1st quarter
Only points scored during the 1st quarter are considered.
Second-quarter spread
Your bet options are Home; Away
The goal is to predict whether either team will cover the specified point spread for the 2nd quarter
Only points scored during the 2nd quarter are considered.
Third-quarter spread
Your betting options are Home / Away
The goal is to predict whether either team will cover the specified point spread for the 3rd quarter.
Only points scored during the 3rd quarter are considered.
Fourth-quarter spread
Your bet options are Home; Away
Your goal is to predict whether either team will to cover the specified point spread for the 4th quarter.
Only points scored during the 4th quarter are considered.
Overtime is not included.
HALF SPREADS
First/second-half spread
Your bet options are Home / Away
The goal is to predict whether either team will cover the designated point spread for the 1st or 2nd half.
Only points scored during the 1st quarter and 2nd quarter combined are considered.
Overtime is not included
BASKETBALL MONEY LINES
First-quarter – Moneyline
Your bet options are Home / Away
The goal is to predict which team will win only the 1st quarter.
Draw = No action (stakes are returned)
Second-quarter – Moneyline
Your bet options are Home / Away
The goal is to predict which team will win only the 2nd quarter.
Draw = No action (stakes are returned)
Third-quarter – Moneyline
Your bet options are Home; Away
The goal is to predict which team will win only the 3rd quarter.
Draw = No action (stakes are returned)
4th Quarter – Moneyline
Your bet options are Home / Away
The goal is to predict which team will win only the 4th quarter.
Draw = No action (stakes are returned)
Overtime is not included
First/second half – Moneyline
Your bet options are Home / Away
Predict which team will win the first half.
Draw = No action (stakes are returned)
Overtime is not included
3-way – Moneyline
Your betting options are Home / Away / Draw
Predict the winner of the game, or if there will be a draw.
Overtime is not included (no game can end in a draw after overtime)
Money Line / Straight bet
Your betting options are Home / Away
Your goal is to predict the team that will win the game outright.
Overtime is included
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BASKETBALL TOTALS
First-quarter – total
Your bet options are Over; Under
Predict whether the total points scored in the 1st quarter will be over or under the designated figure.
Only points scored during the 1st quarter are valid.
Draw = No action (stakes are returned)
Second-quarter – total
Your betting options are Over / Under
The goal is to predict whether the total points scored in the 2nd quarter will be over or under the designated figure.
Only points scored during the 2nd quarter are valid.
Draw = No action (stakes are returned)
Third-quarter – total
Your betting options are Over / Under
The goal is to predict whether the total points scored in the 3rd quarter will be over or under the designated figure.
Only points scored during the 3rd quarter are valid.
Draw = No action (stakes are returned)
Fourth-quarter – total
Your betting options are Over / Under
The goal is to predict whether the total points scored in the 4th quarter will be over or under the designated figure.
Only points scored during the 4th quarter are valid.
Draw = No action (stakes are returned)
Overtime is not included
First/second half – total
Your betting options are Over / Under
The goal is to predict whether the total points scored in the 1st half will be over or under the designated figure.
Only points scored during the 1st quarter and 2nd quarter combined are valid.
Draw = No action (stakes are returned)
ODD/EVEN
Designated quarter – total points scored – Odd/Even
Your betting options are Odd / Even
The goal is to predict whether the total points scored by both teams for the designated quarter will be odd or even
Only points scored during the designated quarter are valid.
Overtime is not included
First/second-half – total points scored – Odd/Even
Your betting options are Odd / Even
The goal is to predict whether the total points scored by both teams for the first or second half will be odd or even.
Only points scored during the 1st quarter and 2nd quarter combined are considered.
Overtime is not included
Race to X points
Your betting options are Home / Away
The goal is to predict which team will reach the designated number of points first.
If the match ends before either team reaches the goal then there is considered to be no action and stakes are returned.
Who scores point X?
Your betting options are Home / Away
The goal is to predict which team will score the designated point in the match.
If the match ends before the designated point is scored then there is considered to be no action and stakes are returned.
Overtime is included
Odd/even total points scored
Your betting options are Odd / Even
The goal is to predict whether the total points scored (combined for both teams in the entire game) will be odd or even.
Overtime is included
FINAL THOUGHTS
Sports betting is a minefield of small-print and highly specific requirements.
It pays to check gambling regulations before you embark on any serious wagering endeavor.
But for most of us half-assed bettors like the team here at The Jump Hub, it’s never going to be an issue.
You make your choices, accept responsibility for them, and hope your player or team reaches whatever parameters you’ve wagered on.
The rules when betting on NBA basketball work consistently and shouldn’t cause you too many sleepless nights.
But, as with all aspects of this game, the more sports betting information you can accumulate, the better gambler you will become.
So, after all that – does overtime count?
