Does Overtime Count in Hockey Betting? Rules by Market
Overtime usually counts for hockey moneyline bets, but not every market settles the same way. Learn how overtime and shootouts affect moneylines, regulation bets, puck lines, totals, and period markets.
Yes, overtime usually counts in hockey betting when you place a standard two-way moneyline bet. The team that wins in overtime or a shootout is normally graded as the winner. However, overtime may not count for regulation-time markets, some totals, puck-line bets, or period wagers. The exact settlement rule depends on the sportsbook and the market name.
Before placing a bet, check whether the selection is marked including overtime, regulation time, or 60 minutes. That wording is more reliable than assuming all hockey bets use the same result.
How overtime affects common hockey betting markets
Two-way moneyline
A standard hockey moneyline usually has two selections: Team A or Team B. In most sportsbooks, this market includes overtime and a shootout. If the score is tied after regulation, the team that wins the extra period or shootout wins the bet.
For example, if a team leads 3–2 after regulation, its moneyline bet wins. If the game is tied 3–3 after 60 minutes and that team wins 4–3 in overtime, its moneyline bet also generally wins.
Three-way moneyline or regulation-time result
A three-way hockey result has three selections: home win, draw, and away win. This market normally covers regulation time only. A draw after 60 minutes is therefore a winning result for the draw selection, even if one team later wins in overtime.
Sportsbooks may label this market 3-way result, regulation winner, or 60-minute result. If the market offers a draw, do not assume overtime is included.
Puck line or handicap betting
Overtime treatment for puck-line betting varies more than it does for a standard moneyline. A common puck line uses a handicap such as Team A -1.5 and Team B +1.5. Some sportsbooks include overtime and shootouts, while others settle certain handicap markets on regulation time only.
There is also a practical difference between an overtime goal and a shootout. A sportsbook may use the official final score for an overtime result but apply a specific rule to shootout scores. Read the market rules before betting a 1.5-goal handicap, particularly when the match is likely to be close.
Over and under totals
Many full-game hockey totals include overtime, but this is not universal. A bet on over 5.5 goals may be settled using goals scored in regulation and overtime, while another market may be restricted to the first 60 minutes.
Shootout goals are especially important. Some sportsbooks count a shootout as one additional goal for settlement purposes, while others use the score at the end of overtime or apply a separate rule. A game that finishes 3–3 after overtime can therefore be settled differently across betting operators.
Period and player markets
First-period, second-period, and third-period bets are generally settled only on the specified period. Overtime cannot change a third-period result after regulation has ended. Player goals, shots, assists, and points are also usually governed by their individual market rules rather than the full-game result.
For example, a player to score in the game may be affected by an overtime goal, while a player to score in the third period normally is not. Player-prop rules can also define whether shootout attempts count, so check the sportsbook’s settlement wording.
How to tell if overtime is included
Look for one of these signals on the betting slip or event page:
- Including overtime and shootout: the final winner usually determines the result.
- Regulation time: only the score after 60 minutes counts.
- 60 minutes: the market excludes overtime, even if the game later has a winner.
- Draw available: this often indicates a three-way regulation market.
- Market rules or house rules: these explain how shootouts, abandoned games, and postponed matches are handled.
Do not rely only on the headline displayed beside the odds. Two markets can both appear to be hockey moneyline bets while one includes overtime and the other covers regulation time only.
Examples of overtime settlement
| Market | Game after regulation | Likely settlement |
|---|---|---|
| Two-way moneyline | 3–3, home team wins in overtime | Home team wins |
| Three-way result | 3–3 after 60 minutes | Draw wins |
| First-period total | 1–1 after the first period | Later goals do not count |
| Full-game total | 5–5 after regulation, one overtime goal | Depends on the sportsbook’s overtime rule |
Common mistakes with hockey overtime bets
- Confusing a two-way and three-way market: a market with a draw usually concerns regulation time.
- Assuming every total includes overtime: full-game totals can have different settlement definitions.
- Ignoring shootout rules: sportsbooks may treat shootout goals differently from normal goals.
- Using another sportsbook’s assumptions: market conventions are not identical across operators or countries.
- Checking rules after the game: the relevant terms are the rules attached to the market when the bet is placed.
Frequently asked questions
Does overtime count in NHL betting?
For a standard two-way NHL moneyline, overtime and a shootout usually count. Regulation-time results, totals, handicaps, and player markets can use different rules, so confirm the individual market terms.
Does a shootout count as a goal in hockey betting?
There is no single rule for every sportsbook. Some operators use the official final result for certain markets, while others settle totals and handicaps using the score at the end of overtime or a stated shootout convention.
What happens to a hockey bet if the game is tied after regulation?
For a two-way moneyline, the overtime or shootout winner normally wins. For a three-way regulation market, the draw is the result. Other bets depend on their specific settlement rules.
Is overtime included in hockey over-under bets?
Sometimes. Many full-game totals include overtime, but some are limited to regulation time. Check for wording such as “including overtime,” “regulation only,” or “60 minutes” before betting.
Sports betting rules differ by operator, league, and market. Treat the settlement terms shown on the sportsbook as authoritative, and only bet within your limits.
