On occasions the point spread will be a whole number, for example eight, which means that it is possible for the game to end in a tie after the point spread has been applied. If the game does indeed end in a tie, then the bet will be considered a push, and your stake will be returned with no winner and no loser. A tie is a game decided by 5 points or less.
Other than Timbits hockey, where can one team score more points than the other, yet have the game declared as a tie?
Proline, that’s where.
The provincial sports lotteries have a number of confusing tie rules when it comes to grading your wagers, rules that stack the odds against you a little bit more.
The rules vary by province as well. Here’s a look at what the different provincial sports lotteries consider a tie and what they don’t:
British Columbia Sports Action tie rules
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British Columbia Proline (Sports Action Oddset) allows you to choose between betting with the tie option (3-Way Oddset) or without (2-Way Oddset).
The good thing about 2-Way Oddset is that you don’t have to worry about Sports Action tie rules. Unfortunately, the 2-way oddset (where you pick either Visitor or Home, and a Tie is graded as a ‘push’ paying 1.00 odds) gives much worse odds on the V and H outcomes that you pretty much need to play 3-Way Oddset in order to win any significant money.
For example, the 2-way oddset on a recent baseball game paid 1.50 for the visitor and 1.70 for the home team. Considering the fair odds on a 50/50 proposition are 2.00, that’s a lot of juice.
So now you decide to play Sports Action 3-Way Oddset instead. Just be warned that the British Columbia Sports Action tie rules are the least bettor-friendly of all provincial lotteries in Canada.
Here they are:
- Hockey: any regular-season game that is tied after regulation time and overtime is declared a tie (shootouts do not count). During the playoffs, however, any games that go to overtime are declared a tie (overtime does not count).
- Basketball: any game that is decided by five points or less is declared a tie. Overtime does count towards the final score, so if you pick a tie in a game that goes to overtime and then one team wins by six or more, you lose.
- Baseball: any game that ends with a one-run differential is declared a tie. Extra innings count towards the final score, so if you pick a tie in a game that goes to extra innings and then one team wins by two or more, you lose.
- Football: British Columbia’s Proline tie rules are similar to most other provinces. Any game that is decided by three points or less is declared a tie. Overtime counts towards the final score, so if you pick a tie in a game that goes to overtime and then one team wins by a touchdown, you lose.
- Golf: Any matchup that is decided by one stroke is declared a tie.
If you live in British Columbia, BCLC’s PlayNow is a much better option for you than Sports Action. Click here to read our review of PlayNow and see how it compares to other provincial sports lotteries in Canada.
Western Canada Proline tie rules
WCLC tie rules for the Prairie provinces and northern territories are fairly simple to understand.
- Hockey and soccer: games that are tied after regulation time. Overtime and shootout results do not count.
- Football: games that are decided by three points or less are graded as ties
- Basketball: games that are decided by five points or less are graded as ties.
- Baseball: each game has a winner and a loser – it doesn’t matter how many runs the game is decided by.
For more information, read our Western Canada Sport Select review. It explains bonuses, odds and other rules at Sport Select and compares them to the rest of Canada’s provincial sports lotteries.
Ontario Proline tie rules
Proline tie rules in Ontario are unique when it comes to hockey and baseball, because it’s possible for games to be graded both as ties and as a win for one of the teams.
The other Ontario Proline tie rules are pretty standard.
Let us explain:
- Hockey: any game that goes to a shootout is a tie. However, whichever team wins the shootout will also be declared as the winner. That means if a hockey game goes to a shootout, it will be both a tie and a win for one team or the other. There is no tie option when it comes to playoff hockey.
- Baseball: any game decided by one run is ruled a tie, but it is also a V or H win, depending on whether the visitor or home team won. It is obviously not, however, a V+ or H+, since neither team won by 2 or more runs.
- Football: if a football game is decided by three points or less, it is a tie.
- Basketball: if a basketball game is decided by five points or less, it is a tie.
- Soccer: a game that is tied after regulation time is a tie. Overtime and shootouts do not count.
Proline tie rules aren’t the only reason we consider OLG Proline to be the worst provincial sports lottery in Canada. Read our Proline review to learn why.
Quebec Mise-O-Jeu tie rules
Point Spread Tie Rules
Quebec’s Mise-O-Jeu tie rules are either the least complicated or the most complicated Proline tie rules, depending on which game you play.
If you play the 3-way outcome game, the only sports you need to worry about ties in are hockey and soccer. Mise-O-Jeu does not include overtime or shootouts in its hockey or soccer results.
If you play the 2-way outcome game, ties are not a possible outcome in any sport (soccer is not offered in two-way outcomes).
Hockey games that go past overtime include the shootout to determine a winner. In basketball, you can either pick a team to win straight up or against the spread. In football, you must pick against the spread. Baseball games are never considered a tie, regardless of the differential in score.
Mise-O-Jeu offers a nice variety of betting lines, but we still rank them behind PlayNow and Proline Stadium when it comes to the best provincial sports lotteries in Canada. Our Mise-O-Jeu review explains why.
Atlantic Canada Proline tie rules
Atlantic Proline tie rules are similar to tie rules in British Columbia, with the exception of hockey.
Here are the Proline Stadium tie rules:
- Hockey: neither overtime or shootouts are included in the results. If a team scores in overtime, the game is still considered a tie.
- Football: games decided by three points or less are graded as ties.
- Basketball: games decided by five points or less are graded as ties.
- Baseball: games that end with a one-run differential are considered ties
- Golf: matchups decided by one stroke are graded as ties.
- Soccer: overtime is included in the results, but not shootouts.
Maritimers get pretty good service from their provincial sports lottery, compared to the rest of Canada. However, our Proline Stadium review details why you’re still better off betting sports at online sportsbooks.
Online Sportsbook Tie Rules
These tie rules are pretty simple.
If you bet on a team to win the game at an online sportsbook (otherwise known as the moneyline), you win if they win. It doesn’t matter if a basketball team wins by less than 5 points, a football team wins by a field goal, or if a hockey team wins in overtime.
If you bet on a point spread or an Over/Under and the final score lands on the exact number (ie. when you bet a favourite -3 points and they win by 3, or when you bet Over 6 and there are 6 goals), that is ruled as a push. A push is essentially the same as having your bet cancelled, and your initial wager will be refunded.
Not having to worry about the weird Proline tie rules are just one of the 13 Reasons Why Sportsbooks Are Better Than Proline.
How Proline NHL Point-Spread Betting Works
Typically hockey is not a popular sport when it comes to point-spread betting because most games are decided by only a goal or two. Sports like football and basketball are better for point-spread betting mainly because they are higher scoring sports. However, Proline does offer NHL point-spread betting and it can get confusing so let’s take a look at how it works.
Proline will set a point spread for each game of either -0.5 / +.05, -1.0 / +1.0, or -1.5 / +1.5. If you choose -0.5 the team must win by 1 goal or more to win your wager. If you choose +0.5 your team must win or tie the game. Note that OLG Proline includes the shoot-out for point spreads so there are never any ties for the -0.5 / +0.5 spreads. If you choose the -1.0 spread your team must win by 2 or more goals to win the bet. If they win by 1 goal exactly it is a push. If you choose the +1.0 spread your team must win the game by 1 or more goals. If they lose by 1 goal it is a push. If you choose the -1.5 spread your team must win by 2 or more goals. If you choose the +1.5 spread your team must win the game, tie, or lose by 1 goal to win the bet.
OLG Proline in Ontario and WCLC Sport Select in Western Canada offer NHL point-spread betting but they have different rules. ALC Proline in Atlantic Canada offers puckline betting and 3 way NHL regulation-time betting.
OLG NHL Proline Point Spread Rules
You can choose between 2-12 outcomes.
Overtime and the shoot-out does count for NHL point-spread results in Ontario. Whenever you see a game -0.5 essentially both teams have a spread of -0.5 and your team has to win the game for you to win the bet. Lately there have been more -1.0 / +1.0 NHL spreads in Ontario. If you choose the -1.0 spread and the game goes to overtime you cannot win the bet. You can only push the bet if your team wins in overtime or the shoot-out. Conversely, if you choose the +1.0 spread and the game goes to overtime you cannot lose the bet but will push the bet if your team loses in overtime or the shoot-out.
You cannot mix sports with Proline point-spread betting. All point-spread picks must be for the same sport. Bodog Canada allows point-spread betting between multiple sports.
Point Spread Tie Rules Olg
A tie reduces the payout. For example, if you pick a 5 game point spread and pick 4 games correctly with 1 tie your ticket will pay 10x your wager insread of 20x your wager.
Did You Know?
12 of 12 correct point-spread picks only pays 1,000 to 1 on OLG Proline.
Bodog Canada pays more than 2,000 to 1 for 12 of 12 correct point-spread picks.
Plus, Bodog Canada allows you to combine point-spread bets on multiple sports.
WCLC Sport Select NHL Proline Point Spread Rules
You can choose between 2-12 outcomes.
Overtime counts but the shoot-out does not count in Western Canada for NHL point-spread betting. If you choose the -0.5 spread your team must win before the end of overtime. If you choose the +0.5 spread your team must win the game or be tied after the end of overtime to win the bet.
You cannot mix sports with Proline point-spread betting. All point spread picks must be for the same sport. Bodog Canada allows point-spread betting between multiple sports.
A tie reduces the payout. For example, if you pick a 5 game point spread and pick 4 games correctly with 1 tie your ticket will pay 8x your wager insread of 15x your wager.