Soccer Rules

Date/Site Changes

Soccer games must be played on the scheduled date and location (location is a geographical area or city, but not restricted to a specific arena or venue) to be considered action unless otherwise noted in the specific sports rules or the inventory game page within the mobile application, web browser application, or on printed media in the EQC.  A club team playing a European competition is classed as playing at Home if the event is moved from the club’s usual ground to a ground within their national boundaries (e.g. when Tottenham Hotspur played their Champions League home games at Wembley Stadium).

The EQC always tries to identify matches played at a neutral venue.  For matches played at a neutral venue (whether indicated or not), wagers stand regardless of which team is listed as the home team.  If an official fixture lists different team details to our scheduled match, then wagers are cancelled, e.g. Reserves/U21s/Development team.  This does not apply to instances where we list a scheduled match without the term ‘XI’ in the team name or Club Friendlies where all wagers stand regardless of the players used to complete regular play, whereby prices are subject to fluctuation.  If there is a change of venue, all wagers are deemed cancelled.

Specific extra time wagers stand regardless.  This is defined as any scheduled period of play, normally 2 halves of 15 minutes, between the end of regular play and the end of the game. Hence, if any other time period is played these wagers are settled accordingly regardless of the periods played (e.g. 2 halves of 10 minutes).

Minimum Length of Play

For wagering purposes, unless otherwise stipulated in individual Soccer sports wager rules, results are official after 90 minutes of play plus injury time.

Abandoned matches: Any scheduled match abandoned before the completion of regular play is cancelled, except for all wagers where the outcome has already been determined at the time of abandonment.  If a match commences but for whatever reason, including any suspension of play, does not conclude on the same day (local time), all wagers on that match are deemed cancelled except where settlement has already been determined.  For example, where the first goal has been scored by a named player, the First Goal Scorer and Time of First Goal markets, amongst others, stand.  Where the match is concluded on the same day that it commenced (local time), all wagers stand, regardless of any suspension of play.  

Suspended matches:

Wagers on any scheduled match suspended before the completion of regular play are cancelled if the match is not restarted on the same day (local time) and played to completion, even if the governing body declares the result of the shortened match to stand for competition purposes.  Wagers on which the outcome has already been determined at the time of suspension will stand.  For example, where the first goal has been scored by a named player, the First Goal Scorer and Time of First Goal markets, amongst others, stand.  Where the match is concluded on the same day that it commenced (local time), all wagers stand, regardless of any suspension of play.

Example:

Real Madrid v Barcelona is 1-0 and is suspended due to a crowd disturbance after 47 minutes. Match does not continue on same day but is played to a conclusion (48-90) a week later.  Any

wagers already determined are settled (e.g. First Goal Scorer, Half-Time, First Goal, etc.). All other wagers are cancelled.

Real Madrid v Barcelona is 1-0 and is suspended due to a crowd disturbance after 47 minutes.Match continues 2 hours later on same day and is played to a conclusion (48-90).  All wagers are settled as normal.

Postponed matches:

For any cancelled or postponed match, any wagers placed prior to the scheduled kick-off are cancelled. All wagers stand on any match that is delayed prior to the scheduled kick-off time and takes place on the same day.  Matches played in a tournament final, e.g. World Cup Finals, European Championship Finals, or Copa America Finals (but not qualifiers for these finals) are not cancelled if postponed and stand for the new date they are played.

For any wager placed on a match that is played prior to the date or kick-off time originally stated, the wager stands if the wager was placed before the new time, if not, the wager is cancelled.

Pre-Match Soccer Wager Rules

Soccer wagers are accepted in the following manner:

  1. 90-Minute – Wager is on the outcome of a soccer match, determined based on the score at the end of 90 minutes of play PLUS any time the referee adds to compensate for injuries and other stoppages.
    1. 90-Minute wagers do not include periods of extra time or penalty shootouts.
    2. If a match takes place but is not completed as advertised (e.g. it is not a 90-minute match or is split into three periods, rather than two), all wagers in the match will be cancelled.
    3. If any team starts a match with less than 11 players, all wagers on that match will be cancelled.
    4. If a match is postponed or cancelled, any wagers placed prior to the scheduled start of the match will be cancelled.
  2. To Advance/To Lift the Trophy – Wager on a team in a soccer match to advance to the next level or round of competition.
    1. Wagers will be decided on the basis of the score at the referee’s final whistle at the match’s natural conclusion, whether the match is decided in regular time, extra time or in a penalty shootout.
  3. Three Way – A wager in which there are three (3) possible outcomes in a soccer match.
    1. If the wagering offer on a match includes the draw as a third option and the match ends in a draw, wagers on the draw will be paid, while wagers on both teams will be lost.
    2. Three Way wagers will be decided based on the score after 90 minutes of play and any time the referee adds to compensate for injuries and other stoppages.
  4. First/Last Goal scorer – A wager on which player will score first/last in a soccer match.
    1. Wagers are cancelled on player who does not take part in the match or who comes on as a substitute after the first goal has been scored.
    2. Own goals do not count for first goal scorer wagers and are ignored for settlement purposes.
    3. For Last Goal scorer wagers and wagers for a player to score 2 and 3 or more goals, all players taking part at any point of the match are deemed to have played for the purposes of Last Goal scorer wagers, irrespective of whether they were on the field at the time the last goal was scored.
  5. Anytime Goalscorer – A wager on which player will score in a soccer match.
    1. Wagers are accepted on regular play only. This market will be settled on all players who score a legal goal. If a player doesn't enter the field of play during the game at all, then this player is deemed a "non-runner" and all wagers on this player are cancelled. If the game is abandoned at any time, all wagers remain valid if already determined, except wagers on players who have not entered the field of play during the match.
  6. Double Result – A wager on the result at half-time and full-time (i.e. at the end of 45 minutes plus injury time and 90 minutes plus injury time).
    1. Wagers will be cancelled if the match is abandoned prior to the completion of 90 minutes play plus injury time.
  7. Top Goal scorer/Top Team Goal scorer – A wager on the player to be the top goal scorer in a tournament, league or cup.
    1. Goals scored in penalty shoot-outs do not count.
    2. Wagers placed on a player to be top Goal scorer in a given league are based on regular season games only and do not include play-offs.
    3. All wagers are action in a tournament provided the player is named in the playing squad and has the opportunity to play in the named tournament.
    4. If more than one player finishes on the same number of goals, then dead heat rules will apply.
  8. Time of First Goal Wagers on the time of the first goal in a match.
    1. The 1st minute of the game is considered to be from the 1st second to the 59th The 2nd minute is from 1 minute to 1 minute 59 seconds.
    2. If a goal is scored in injury time of first half, the winning selection will be the 41-50 min bracket. If the goal is scored in injury time of the second half, the winning selection will be the 81-90-minute bracket.
  9. Spread and Total - Wagers are settled on outcome of the period the markets relate to.
    1. If the outcome is exactly equal to the wagering line, then wagers will be cancelled.
  10. Total Goals Odd/Even - Resulted on the score at the end of regulation.
    1. No goals counts as even in this market.
  11. Penalty Shootout Winner - Wager on the outcome of the Penalty Shootout. Should a shootout not take place then wagers will be cancelled.
  12. Correct Score - Wager on the final score.
    1. The match must be completed or wagers will be cancelled.
  13. Double Chance - Wager on whether either of the two named teams will be declared the winner for the named market.
  14. Team to Score First - Settled on the first score of the game.
    1. Wagers stand even if game is not completed.
    2. Any periods of extra time do not count.
  15. Team to Score Last - Settled on the last team to score.
    1. Game must be completed.
  16. Highest Scoring Half - Wager on which half will produce the most goals.
    1. Dead heat rules apply if Tie is not an option.
    2. Game must be completed for wagers to stand.
  17. Race to x Goals - Winner being the team who reaches the specified goals tally first.
    1. Should neither team reach the total, and a ‘Neither’ option is not offered, then wagers on that market will be cancelled.
  18. Team to Qualify for Next Round
    1. If a game offered within a specific round of a competition is postponed, 'Team to Qualify' wagers still stand, irrespective of the length of the delay.  If a team qualifies for the next round but no match is played (opposition withdraws/is disqualified), all wagers on the To Qualify market are cancelled.  When a price is quoted for a team to qualify for the next round of a given tournament over two legs, wagers placed on that market are settled immediately on completion of the second match based upon the events that occur during both matches.  This includes normal time, injury/stoppage time added on by the match official at the end of normal time, extra time, away goals if applicable, and penalty shoot-outs; should the tie progress as such.  Matches where one leg of the tie is no longer played at the venue advertised, wagers stand as long as the venue remains in the same country and is not switched to the opponent's ground/another country.  Should this occur, all wagers are cancelled.  Matches originally set to be played in a Neutral country will stand if moved to another country.  If a tie is reduced from 2 legs to 1 leg then all Team to qualify wagers are deemed cancelled.
  19. Corner Markets
    1. All markets that involve the occurrence of a corner kick or number of corner kicks refer to corner kicks taken. If a corner kick is awarded but not taken, it will not count for settlement purposes.

Soccer Propositions

Various unique wagers may be offered from time to time, called proposition wagers. When wagering proposition wagers, unless stated otherwise, extra time/overtime does not count for settlement of wagers. Wagers that relate to the number of occurrences, such as total corners or number of throw-ins, are settled based on the number taken and not the number awarded.

Soccer Futures

Soccer season long futures are unique wagers that will be offered from time-to-time.

Soccer Division Winner Futures

For Divisional/League winner markets, wagers are settled on the final League positions at the end of the scheduled season, irrespective of what happens in any Divisional play-offs, with wagers on “Who Will Win a League” being settled on the team who lifts the trophy. Wagers will stand on any team that does not complete all of its games.

Season match wagers are settled on which of two teams will place highest in the league at the end of the season. If teams finish level on points, then the tie breaker used by the league (e.g. goal difference or head-to-head records) will decide the winner.

Soccer Top Goal Scorer Futures

Wagers placed on a player to be the Top Goal scorer in a given league are based on regular season games only. Any goals scored in subsequent play-off games do not count for wagering purposes. Once a player is named in the squad and has the opportunity to play in the league that season, wagers will stand.

Wagers placed on a player to be the top scorer in a given Tournament, or to be Top Team Goal scorer in a given tournament, will stand as long as the player is named in the squad and has the opportunity to play in the named tournament. If more than one player finishes on the same number of goals, then dead heat rules apply (any tournament top scorer award, for example "Golden Boot" is ignored for settlement purposes). Goals scored in Extra-Time will count, but goals scored within Penalty Shootouts will not count.

Live (In-Play) Soccer Rules

All markets (except halftime, first half markets, overtime and penalty shootout) are considered for regular time only.

If a match is interrupted and continued within 48 hours after initial kick-off, all open wagers are settled with the final result.  Otherwise, all undecided wagers are considered cancelled.

Regular 90 Minutes - Markets are based on the result at the end of a scheduled 90 minutes play unless otherwise stated.  This includes any added injury or stoppage time but does not include extra-time, time allocated for a penalty shootout or golden goal.

Corner kicks awarded but not taken are not considered.

Three Way- Outcome (Away, Home, Draw)
Reg – Which team will win the match; Regulation only
H1 – Which team will win the first half
H2 – Which team will win the second half; Regulation only
OT – Which team will win the overtime; Does not include penalty shootout

Money Line-Winner (Away, Home)
Reg – Regulation only; If match ends in a draw after regulation, all wagers are considered cancelled
Pen – Which team will win penalty shootout; Only goals during penalty shootout are considered

Advance Next Round – Which Team Advances to Next Round (Away, Home)
Game – Includes overtime and penalty shootout if applicable

Win Rest- New Game (Away, Home, Draw)
Reg – Which team will score more goals in the remaining time; Not including overtime
H1 – Which team will score more goals in the remaining time of the first half
OT – Which team will score more goals in the remaining overtime period.

Next Goal- Which Team Scores Next Goal (Away, Home, No Goal Scored)
Reg – Regulation Only
H1 – Only goals scored in first half are considered
OT – Only goals scored in overtime are considered
Pen – Only goals scored in the penalty shootout are considered

Next Goal When- When will Next Goal be Scored (Time Intervals)
Reg – Settled on the time when the goal is scored; 15:01 counts as 16-30; 31-45 and 76-90 include any injury time; The time which is displayed on TV is considered, if not available the time when the ball crosses the goal line is considered and will be settled based on the time clock shown on TV.

Asian Handicap- Winner with Handicap in .25 Increments (Away, Home)
Quarter handicaps split the wager between the two closest half intervals. For example, a $1000 wager on a handicap of +.75 is the same as $500 on +.5 and $500 on +1. The wagers is automatically split between the two. The player can win, tie, or lose, each half.
Reg – Only goals during regulation time are considered
H1 - Only goals during the first half are considered

Total- Total Goals Scored by both Teams in .5 Increments (Over, Under)
Reg – Only goals during regulation time are considered
H1 – Only goals during the first half are considered
H2 – Only goals during the second half are considered
OT – Only goals during overtime are considered

Asian Total- Total Goals by both Teams in .25 Increments
Quarter handicaps split the wager between the two closest half intervals. For example, a $1000 wager on a handicap of +1.75 is the same as $500 on +1.5 and $500 on +2. The wager is automatically split between the two. The player can win, tie, or lose, each half.
Reg – Only goals during regulation time are considered
H1 – Only goals during the first half are considered

Away Total- Total Goals Scored by Away Team (Over, Under)
Reg – Total goals scored by away team in the game
Home Total- Total Goals Scored by Home Team (Over, Under)
Reg – Total goals scored by home team in the game

Match and Total- Match and Total (Team and Total Parlay)
Reg – No overtime
Correct Score- Exact Final Score (Away Team Winning Score, Home Team Winning Score)
Reg – No Overtime

Exact Goals- Exact Number of Goals Scored by Both Teams (0-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6+)
Reg – Only goals scored in regulation are considered
H1 – Only goals scored in the first half are considered

Away Goals- Exact Number of Goals Scored by Away Team (0, 1, 2, 3+)
Reg – Only goals scored in regulation are considered
H1 – Only goals scored in the first half are considered

Home Goals- Exact Number of Goals Scored by Home Team (0, 1, 2, 3+)
Reg – Only goals scored in regulation are considered
H1 – Only goals scored in the first half are considered

How Decided- How Will The Game be Decided (Away, Home in Reg/OT/PKS)
Game – Either team can win in regulation, in overtime, or in a penalty shootout
Both Score- Will both Teams Score (Yes, No)
Reg – Regulation only

Odd Even- Final Combine Score will be (Odd, Even)
Reg – Regulation only
Corner Wager- Most Corners (Away, Home)
Reg – Regulation only
H1 – Only corner kicks in first half will be considered

Corner Handicap- Head to Head Handicap in .5 Increments (Away, Home)
Reg – Regulation only
H1 – Only corner kicks in first half will be considered

Total Corners- Combined Corner Kicks in .5 Increments (Away, Home)
Reg – Regulation only
H1 – Only corner kicks in first half will be considered

Corners Away- Total Corner Kicks by Away Team in Fixed Intervals (0-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7+)
Reg – Regulation only

Corner Home– Total Corner Kicks by Home Team in Fixed Intervals (0-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7+)
Reg – Regulation only