The majority of sportsbooks agree on how to handle any NFL or college football forfeits triggered by the coronavirus outbreak, but not entirely.
On Sunday, November 4, football fans watch NFL games on the Circa Sportsbook’s 78-million-pixel screen in downtown Las Vegas.
At Las Vegas sportsbooks, a forfeit does not equate a win, but bettors should read the fine language, especially when it comes to season win totals. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Teams could forfeit games this season if they are unable to play due to coronavirus epidemics, according to the NFL and college football.
This is an improvement over last season, when several college games were canceled and several NFL games were rescheduled.
However, even if a team is declared the winner because its opponent is not prepared to play, bookmakers will not profit.
Under traditional rules, which say that a football game must last 55 minutes for action, all sportsbooks agree that game bets will be reimbursed in the event of a forfeit.
This is also the case for season win totals.
A forfeit would not count for a win total bet, and a game that was not actually played would result in a refund, according to most sportsbooks on Friday.
(Win total regulations normally dictate that a club must play its entire slate of games, which for the NFL this season is 17 and for college football is usually 12.) Those rules come up practically every season in college football when a nonconference game is canceled due to inclement weather.
If a club has already clinched going over or under its win total, the bet is reimbursed if it does not play a full schedule.
Red Rock Resort sportsbook director Chuck Esposito remarked, “As always, there will be a lot of education and communication for our guests.”
If a game is forfeited, the South Point, Station Casinos, and Westgate have all stated that season win total bets will be refunded.
An enquiry to the Golden Nugget and William Hill went unanswered.
“I’m not sure yet how season wins will operate,” MGM Resorts director of trading Jeff Stoneback said. Circa Sports is one sportsbook that is going its own way.
Circa placed a caveat on its NFL season wins, according to sportsbook director Matt Metcalf, that forfeits count towards a team’s win-loss record.
Circa hasn’t posted any college victory totals yet.
John Murray, the director of the Westgate sportsbook, said he isn’t concerned about forfeits harming the season.
He said through text message, “No way NFL teams forfeit games.”
“College…,” says the narrator.
Jim Barnes can be reached at [email protected] or 702-383-0277.
On Twitter, follow @JimBarnesLV.
